Preventing Close Combat

[Blood Legend]

Are there any options that help prevent close combat besides retreating or waiting?

If you point your weapon at a foe who wishes to enter into close combat, wouldn't it make sense that they would have to 'evade' the sword before they deal with your defense strategy without you physically taking part in any action more involved than a wrist flick?

Why can't a shield be used in close combat? Having done some amateur HEMA, I was disarmed at one point and only had a knife as backup, my opponent had his sword and shield, and proceeded to toy with my inability to get past the shield. He simply had it against his side inches from his body. I could grab it, but that's grappling rules, it still physically kept me from stabbing him. Is this not considered blocking in Gurps or is this scenario not considered close combat? He could still bash me with the shield too, not as significantly of course, but enough to knock the wind out of me.