I thanked you in this post because I agree with your basic logic:
Fighting against weapons are the same as fighting against an unarmed person, except if you screw up the consequences are worse.
Yes, that is true. It is also the same in that unless you're in a consenual duel, your main intent should be to defend and effect escape.
Your enemy's body has to move the same way, he'll come at you from the same angle he would without a weapon, so do any technique, just don't get stabbed.
Actually, no. He will have angles that an unarmed opponent would not be able to take advantage of without a weapon. With a sword, I can come at you from angles that would be impossible with my hands or feet. Even your ability to block is affected.
Now, where I agree with you
here is that the principles of distance, footwork, and timing all remain the same, though you need to execute at your best level when fighting for your life against an armed assailant. Also, the main goal is
most definitely still to escape, not to stand against the opponent.
just move, hit, and turn. He'll fall down. You might be a bloody mess, but he'll fall down.
Yes, but being a bloody mess after he falls down is not the most desireable outcome. Move, hit and turn, but you must do so against an opponent who's range has been extended by a minimum of a few inches and can badly injure you with what would normally be a lighter blow. You are correct in that the
principles of fighting remain the same. But the
dynamic changes substantially with the addition of a weapon. As you rightly indicate, you can end up a bloody mess, and with far less effort on your attacker's part and in ways much deadlier than a bloody nose.
Limbs that were once your shield not only lose that ability, but now become potential targets, as cutting deep into certain parts of the leg or arm can sever arteries and kill you. Get hamstrung and you may not bleed out, but you'll now be at his mercy.
Often, the
weapon becomes your focal point and this can be a downfall if your attacker can get you following the weapon instead of reading his movements.
Daniel