Which knife defense corresponds to a forward diagonal attack?

• A. Knife Defense (Forward Diagonal Attack)
• B. Knife Defense (Straight Thrust)
• C. Knife Defense (Reverse Diagonal Attack)
• D. Shrimping

Answer: (A)

In knife defense, you address the exact direction the blade is coming from. A forward diagonal attack moves the knife along a diagonal line toward your body, so the best defense is one that lines up with that same diagonal. This means stepping offline and guiding or redirecting the blade along its diagonal path while controlling the attacker’s wrist or hand, keeping the blade away from you and creating an opportunity to create distance or counter. The defense dedicated to a forward diagonal attack is designed to intercept that specific angle, making it the most effective option for neutralizing this threat.

The other defenses target different attack directions: a straight thrust comes straight at you and requires a defense that addresses a direct line to the center; a reverse diagonal attack comes from the opposite diagonal and needs the corresponding diagonal defense on that side; shrimping is a ground-movement escape rather than a standing defense against a diagonal knife threat.