• The primary strategy when dealing with an attacker with a weapon is to use verbal self-defense and negotiate with the attacker.  It is important to find out as soon as possible what the attacker wants from you.  It may be something that you can give up, or you might be able to negotiate and give up something you feel like you can part with, and the attack might end there.
• CAE does not advocate fighting against a weapon, except as an absolute last resort.  We stress the difference between attacks against your person and your property.  We do not advocate fighting to protect property.  However, like everything in self-defense, you make your own decisions.
• It’s a good idea to think ahead about what you’d give up, and what you wouldn’t.  For example, if an attacker has a gun and demands your money, what would you do?  And on to harder choices, involving sexual assault and other kinds of physical attacks.  Sometimes, you don’t have options or alternatives: an attacker may overpower you.  You may feel you have to do exactly what the attacker says because you fear for your life.  Remember: self-defense is anything you do to survive.  Cooperation (or submission) is not consent.  This means that even if you go along as a strategy to stay alive or avoid being injured it does not mean that you agreed.  You are choosing a strategy that seems best at the time, to try to make it out of the situation alive.

• Breathe.
• Be aware of your environment:  Who is around you?  Is there anyone who may be of help?  Anyone who should be avoided?  Are there ways of getting away, or areas to avoid?
• Think:  “What can I do?”

• Breathe.
• Think.
• Talk:  For example, “What do you want?”  Also, talk to make yourself a person, a human being, and to try to have some human contact.  People have asked questions about the attacker’s family or interests, or kept chatting about whatever enters their minds.  Others have made conversation about unrelated topics to divert attention.  It’s useful to practice this form of verbal self-defense.
• Negotiate:  For example, “I’ll do anything you want, but I’m not getting in that car,”  “I’ll do what you want, just put the knife down.” (You’re under no obligation to stick to any statement you make, or keep a promise.)

• Wait for or create a moment to strike or escape.  Situations change from moment to moment.  Try to be alert for opportunities that may come up.
• Don’t make sudden movements unless you have decided to physically resist.  It’s best not to have your back to the attacker, so you might say, “I’m going to turn around,” to let the attacker know that you’re going to move.

• Get out of range.
• Throw anything you can (change, garbage, food) toward the attacker’s face and especially the eyes.
• Use objects like jackets, large bags, or a small chair to shield and to keep distance between you and the weapon.  Try making a “Figure 8” motion with a jacket, bag, or belt to keep the attacker from getting in on your body.  See the demo video below.
• If there are no covering objects around, protect your vital organs and sides of your neck with a Boxer’s Block:  hold both forearms vertically, making a screen in front of your head with the insides of the arms facing the body.  Hold your fists about 5 inches from your face, next to your temples.  Imagine your elbows are heavy; keep them pointed at the ground.  
• Kick to the knees and/or strike for the eyes and throat.  It’s possible to get cut and still survive; there are parts of your body (like the outsides of your arms) that can sustain cuts better than others (like your trunk and major veins and arteries that run on the outside of the neck, and inside of the arms and legs.)