In my training, and hopefully in a real situation, when confronted with a life threatening situation, empty hand or otherwise, my goal is only unconditional survival. This frees you to do whatever it takes to see another day.
This way, whether I get cut or not, I win just by not dying. Also remember, it is possible to win the fight but lose the war by perishing afterwards.
Possessing the will to survive regardless of circumstances is critical.
Having irrational and/or unrealistic expectations, based on whatever skills or experience you may have, can also lead to severe post-traumatic syndrome even though you survive. The result of these unrealistic ideas, can allow denial, uncertainty, paranoia, and/or fear to traumatize/control you for the rest of your life.
While perusing these types of forums, I have encountered many responses to these types of things to be of the nature that the attacked individual was permanently scarred emotionally and physically, when confronted by violence, because they felt like they should have been some kind of superhero and it did not work out the way that they would have hoped. Stop fantasizing and realize that you will get hurt, things will not go as planned, and it will affect you afterwards.
When forced into a dangerous situation, try to breathe, keep moving, use awareness, good judgment, your warrior spirit, but above all: SURVIVE and go from there.
Just my opinion. Tim