OK, here's my 2 cents worth!
I began the study of knife fighting back in 78. I was camping, was sitting next to the fire and got to thinking about survival tactics. Almost everything I did required a knife...clean a fish, build temp. shelter, whittle kindling, so I had a knife...but didn't know how to use it for defense...got to thinking, suppose the only tool I had was a knife?
Suppose the situation came where the only tool I had with me was a knife...
I have over the years purchased all of the books, video's and have taken personalized instuction from "prison" trained knifers!
Cold Steel Knives has a video by Lynn Thompson, its as good as most, gives you some feel for the blade...
Now, if your caught without a weapon against the knife...move out of the knifers reach and watch him move towards you on his "forward" leg. You can then kick the knee cap, or do a sweep. Scream as soon as his foot moves within reach, and launch an explosive attack, kicks towards the knee, finger tips towards the eyes, you will have about 1/2 second if you have caught him by surprise...as for the gun, a man with a knife can be within reach in under a second this is moving 20 feet. He rushes you pulling his knife while your trying to get your holstered gun out...not pretty!
I agree the stick is better than the knife, if you have the area to move about in. Take a crowded bar, you can't move with the stick, but you can get in close and do massive amounts of damage with the knife. Now go out into the parking lot and the stick, with mobility, area to move is a better weapon!
Target with the stick (impact weapon) the ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, calf muscle, throat, and collar bone!
Knife targets, muscles (hands extensor/flexor), femour artery, liver, kidneys, throat, eyes, soft palate, testicals!
All weapons require "specific" targets...gun, knife, stick...so get a copy of Grey's anatony out of the library and learn where the targeting does the most damage with what ever weapon your using!