> > At one of the stages along the correct path, you'll need to keep on the attack when you have Jean-Claude at a disadvantage, and resist the urge to pick up something you just dropped.
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> At the stage where he is at the greatest disadvantage (staggering backwards) I keep lunging and picking up my knife. This repeats the same action over and over and it accomplishes nothing. Is this on the right track or am I way off?

There are actually two stages in which he has just staggered backwards, and in either case you drop your knife to make that happen. If you're on the right track, you'll still have another weapon that will work if you use it immediately (as opposed to picking up the knife right away).