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General Question

by bobgalle10001
13 replies
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Are there any self-defense tactics I can use without receiving specialized training?
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Yep. Lots of em.

    The best defense starts with knowing what is around you. Always be aware of your surroundings.....and that means do not forget to look UP. Make direct eye contact with anyone you feel is a threat, and never show fear. Fear is their signal that you are a target.

    Anything and everything can be used as a weapon when needed. Use your head and think of how you can use things you carry with you against an attacker. Remember that anything in your hand can be taken from you if you allow someone to grab your hand. Carry a hand taser if you can get one. Guns are always good. Wear a hat pin on a collar and use it if necessary. They hurt and are small enough they are hard for the perp to get ahold of and take away from you before you can stick them with it.

    Know areas of the body that are extremely sensitive - eyes, temples, nose, throat, solar plexis. An elbow to the solar plexis will make someone release you pretty fast. These areas are more reliable than an attempted kick to the groin - if you miss the groin, you have one adrenaline hopped mugger on your hands. If you smack them in the temple, throat, solar plexis, eyes, etc, you will slow them down or incapacitate them very easily.

    A good specialized lighter that shoots a good size flame is always a good weapon. Sprays such as pepper spray is good as long as you remember not to spray it when you're standing downwind from it. LOL. ouch. For more intense danger, a squirt gun full of pepper spray for eyes and noses is good - at home, for intruders, fill one with amonia. You will most likely permanently blind the intruder if you get it in their eyes, but hey, if they are intruding while you are home, they aren't worried about your health. Trust me on that one. Also if you miss the eyes, the fumes are strong enough to slow them down and make vision murky.

    If you know someone is messing around outside and you are worried about them - boil some water so you can hit them with it if they open the door. Also if anyone is outside, turn off your lights so you can see them without them being able to see where you are. Do not close the blinds - you want to be able to see what they are doing.

    Keep mirrors by your doors so intruders will see their own movements and be distracted for a few seconds when they first get in the house. If they get scared and shoot the mirror, they will usually flee the house directly after doing so.

    If you have a car alarm, keep your keys with you in the home and if someone is in the yard, set the car alarm off to scare them off. Strip some old electric chords to metal about two inches at the end and wrap them onto metal window frames and/or door knobs and be ready to plug them in if someone tries to get in a door or window.

    That should be enough to get you thinking.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Sprays such as pepper spray is good as long as you remember not to spray it when you're standing downwind from it. LOL. ouch.
      I could totally see myself doing exactly that. :p
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Sal fights more than I do:p

        Without any training....I'd be limited to three

        Scream
        RUN
        Play Dead
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        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
        ***
        Live life like someone left the gate open
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        • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
          One piece of advice I once received from a self defense expert:

          Get a Kiyoga Baton. It's a seven inch steel cylinder that, with a flick of the wrist becomes a seventeen inch spring coil baton with a heavy duty metal tip. That flick of the wrist creates a whipping effect which builds momentum and it'll give you a hell of a lot of striking power. It's only a fraction over seven inches long when it's retracted so you will be able to conceal it easily in a pocket or a purse.
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          • Profile picture of the author HeySal
            Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

            One piece of advice I once received from a self defense expert:

            Get a Kiyoga Baton. It’s a seven inch steel cylinder that, with a flick of the wrist becomes a seventeen inch spring coil baton with a heavy duty metal tip. That flick of the wrist creates a whipping effect which builds momentum and it’ll give you a hell of a lot of striking power. It’s only a fraction over seven inches long when it’s retracted so you will be able to conceal it easily in a pocket or a purse.
            I love sticks. Used to have arnis sticks (my ex disappeared them, lol). Like I said, though - make sure you know how to use them because you don't want something like that taken away from you. If someone ever grabs a long stick from you, grab it with both hands and use their tork to take a good flying leap with a foot right into their solar plexus, neck, or nose. They will never forget you and may never be brave enough to ever attack another female. With practice you can learn to pivot a leg around their neck. That's for a kill. Get your leg around the neck, then two hands on the head and push. SNAP. Takes gymnastic skill but usually the perp will give you a boost.

            Also - don't keep your weapon in your purse. It belongs in your hand or belt. Muggers do not stop and give you time to hunt through your purse for things. Your first thought in a lot of cases is to blind someone if you can so they are defenseless themselves. Even a handful of sand can accomplish that feat.

            Kay - I actually used to have a problem. I am usually thinking of two things at once and my balance looks off a lot because of the hole in my inner ear (but it's not as bad as it looks when I'm not paying attention to my stride). I'm small, too. So - perfect victim look about me. I took the time to get training because I ended up in a few scary situations and was lucky enough to have men around that took care of it for me. I knew that wouldn't always be the case. Now I can intimidate an attacker just by looking at them. LMAO.

            And looks are an important part of defense. If you are in public, walk with volition, pay attention to who's near you, and look them dead in the eye if they get too close for comfort. If they do - visibly square off like you are ready for a fight (strighten up with shoulders back, move feet apart for balance, and give them a look that says "I don't feel like hassling with this, but will end it if you start it." Just your demeanor will put most people off enough to leave you alone. Men who attack women are usually looking for easy prey. Let your posture and face tell them, that's not you by a long shot. Don't forget - women aren't attackers as frequently as men, but don't consider a woman safe just because she's a female.

            This is the type of stuff I taught at the crisis center. I saw just one too many victims that were there just because they showed fear when approached instead of showing possible harmful conflict.
            Signature

            Sal
            When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
            Beyond the Path

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            • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
              Banned
              Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

              And looks are an important part of defense. If you are in public, walk with volition, pay attention to who's near you, and look them dead in the eye if they get too close for comfort. If they do - visibly square off like you are ready for a fight (strighten up with shoulders back, move feet apart for balance, and give them a look that says "I don't feel like hassling with this, but will end it if you start it."
              I'm all for Kay's idea. More my speed.

              Scream
              Run
              Play Dead

              Oh, and blind yourself with pepper spray by spraying against the wind ... ha ha
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              • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                I'm all for Kay's idea. More my speed.

                Scream
                Run
                Play Dead

                Oh, and blind yourself with pepper spray by spraying against the wind ... ha ha
                Um...Suzanne? If you look like your avatar, you're halfway there already. You do NOT look like someone that someone's going to perceive as the ready and willing victim. LMAO.
                Signature

                Sal
                When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
                Beyond the Path

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                • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                  Um...Suzanne? If you look like your avatar, you're halfway there already. You do NOT look like someone that someone's going to perceive as the ready and willing victim. LMAO.
                  I'd have to divulge a trade secret to answer in full and then I'd have to kill everyone in the thread.
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                  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                    Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                    I'd have to divulge a trade secret to answer in full and then I'd have to kill everyone in the thread.
                    Be careful of the one with all the self defense techniques to share, huh?
                    Signature

                    Sal
                    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
                    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    Offer money. Charm your way out of a scrape. Wear your best suit.
    If all else fails repeatedly scream, 'Fire!!' REALLY LOUDLY.

    Alternatively, hide in a hole in the ground and never interact with any type of potential 'trouble'. Good luck!
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    "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      Offer money. Charm your way out of a scrape. Wear your best suit.
      If all else fails repeatedly scream, 'Fire!!' REALLY LOUDLY.

      Alternatively, hide in a hole in the ground and never interact with any type of potential 'trouble'. Good luck!
      LMAO -- that's kinda funny. Actually, looking behind someone and giving a quick, excited "watch out!" actually can buy some time. Not everyone buys into it but anyone in the area will look up in that direction...........

      Of course.......most people prefer to attack people when there aren't a lot of witnesses. Criminals are funny about having witnesses. Makes rape cases a complete bitch in court.
      Signature

      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
      Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Actually, if they want money - drop them a small amount on the ground and while
    they are distracted by that, run the other way.
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Actually, if they want money - drop them a small amount on the ground and while
      they are distracted by that, run the other way      .
      Just when you have such a clear shot at their nose? LOL. No way. I can't run as fast as most men.
      Signature

      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
      Beyond the Path

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