I did knife fighting training using wooden dowels as simulated knives, in a martial arts setting. This training was provided by a military combat instructor. You had about a fifty percent chance of being killed. For the most part it was pure luck. Your only real advantage is if your attacker is unaware that you know a couple of counter moves, and maybe you can catch him by surprise and kill him with his own knife instead. That actually also works 50% of the time even if your attacker knows you have the moves, and what those moves are. Speed and knowledge are key to your improved chances of survival. You have to be faster than your opponent. At least, with this training, you know what you have to do. You are not frozen with indecision. Basically, you keep out of the way of the knife, and take down the arm that wields it. If you must be cut, try to be cut on less harmful areas of your body, and keep that blade away from stabbing you, or say, slashing your neck. Superficial slashes you can survive. Using a knife is also a detriment... because it occupies the arm that controls 1/2 of your ability to fight. The same arm that defends that side of your body. A hand holding a knife is not available for any other use. Also, the attacker will usually try to hang onto the knife. So, if you are able to neutralize that arm, for even a second, the attacker is then wide open to a physical attack on the knife wielding side. Good time to punch him in the head, for example. Maybe break some ribs. All cops should do hand to hand combat training for an hour, twice per week, for their whole active career. Physical self defense, thus practiced, becomes as natural and reflexive as breathing after a while. Then the body automatically reacts to the movements of others in a defensive way in anticipation of an attack, before the conscious mind has the time to think about it.. Like waving away a mosquito near your ear. It is instantaneous at the subconscious level. Any such trained individual has an extreme advantage in a physical scenario, against almost any close combat weapon, simply as a matter of reflex. That said, if you have a gun and the time to use it, you still shoot the knife wielding attacker. Physical training is for if you are caught without access to your weapon. Say a surprise attack. Someone tries to sucker stab you. Your odds go way up with the physical training. Besides, continuous close combat training tends to keep you hyper-aware of your surroundings. You become much harder to attack by surprise simply because you are always looking for that.