One of the reasons I prefer adapting Greco-Roman wrestling to the weapons based environment is because it teaches hand fighting and if a confrontation does go to an entanglement, then the problem is managed with a high degree of limb control. More limb control, less damage from knives.
Outside of contact range there's a no man's land where you're to close to draw a weapon and a "pick-up" is required to get you to an angle of escape or into an attachment for better control. ALL pick-ups are dicey but probably the better one is a split X. Marc Denny calls this the "Dog-Catcher" which is a ghey name but is essentially the same technique. You'll see it in numerous FMAs including Illustrisimo, Inosanto/Lacosta, Lameco, Pekiti, Doce Pares, and Serrada.