Story advent!

[changeling]

...continues apace. I wrote yesterday, but not very much, and I was almost falling asleep at the keyboard so I gave the blog update a miss.

Tonight, I'm researching knife fights for the big climactic scene that I'm in the middle of writing. The closest I've been to a knife fight is acting out the choreography of the big fight of West Side Story backstage with a friend while we waited for our cue to go on.

I love this bit, it made me laugh (and I think I'll steal this move for my Hero):

Now for the big secret in knife fights:

DO NOT USE YOUR KNIFE.

Yes, you heard me. Do not use it. Your opponent will be so fixed on your knife, that you will easily be able to beat him up with the other hand. Therefore, if you are right handed, hold your knife in your left hand, or vice versa. Then, move your knife away from your body, and watch your opponent follow its tip with his eyes. Now hit him hard in the face with your free hand.

Comments

[recessional]

*blink, blink blink* Uh. Only steal that advice for your hero if your climactic knife-fight is between two people who don't actually know how to knife-fight, but have simply managed to pick up knives.

Because otherwise, that's, um, bollocks. As it were.

[changeling]

Haha. Well, I thought it might work simply because Our Hero is fighting someone who he doesn't want to fight. And would rather not hurt. But isn't above knocking him out if that's what it takes.

[recessional]

Mmmm. See, the problem with knife fights? Is that as soon as the knives come out, someone is going to get hurt. It's just a matter of how badly.

The experiment is this: take a red felt pen and, wearing as few pieces of clothing as you can, stage a mock knife-fight with them. When you're done, notice how often you get stained with red, and be aware that every single one of those is a nick or a cut.

If the other person DOES NOT KNOW how to use a knife at all, then you MIGHT - MIGHT be able to pull off a knock-out like that, but probably not, because unless you're super-trained you will telegraph knockouts like fuck.

But honestly, in real life, 90% of the time if a knife comes out, someone is dying. SWORD WORK, you can have a duel where no one dies. Knives are close, intimate, and you are going to lose blood.

I . . . don't know who's writing what you're researching? But what I'm telling you is coming from my roommate (who went oO;;) who trains with knives in a martial art designed to kill.

The only guaranteed way to survive a knife fight is to stay out of it.