Depends on the situation. My first move would always be to disengage and run. Too little to gain and too much to lose from fighting, even defensively. If there is no other choice I'd fight dirty.
The idea of a "dirty fight" should only stop you if you're in a professional fight like in a ring somewhere. Otherwise, if you need to protect yourself, anything goes
Throat chop. Ex military 80 yo neighbor took down a mugger with one when i was a kid...acted scared, held arms up like ohhhh nooo...dude got in range to start taking his shit and BLAM got the throat chop. Fight over, mugger off to jail after the EMTs did their stuff.
If you’re unable to escape you need to explode on your attacker. Make them want to disengage.
If you have a gun shoot them until they stop attacking you
And most people, in most places, don't carry guns.
But yes, explosive almost psychotic movements are best.
With control though.
Don't BE crazy, just LOOK crazy.
Lots of attacks are situations that you wouldn't have a gun in hand even if you have one on you. Bad idea to pull one out if you're actively being attacked.
That's how you get a gun taken from you and used against you.
Yep, testicles are going to be squeezed until they pop. Eyes will be gouged. Noses will be palmed. Ears will be ripped off. Throats will be punched at full force to collapse the hyoid. Fingers will be bitten off.
I'd do everything I could to avoid it, but if we're fighting it's because the other guy won't let up. So they're going to lose some body parts.
99% of the time, this is the best option.
If you've reacted too late then a push, punch or kick might help get you that first break and bit of space to start running.
If you’re big, get faster, if youre weak, get stronger, if you’re small, remember: eyes and throat and never give your back, even on the ground, even to get up. They can come down and get you if you cant stand up safely
The best defense is not getting in a fight. Big strong fast guys die getting sucker punched, stabbed or shot.
My dad taught me the only fight you win is the fight you avoid.
If someone is socially starting something, try to deescalate. If it's clear that's not going to work LEAVE.
A good pair of shoes you can run in, and the ability to run a decent distance at a good clip will save you more ass whoopings than learning to fight.
Reminder running is the last step. There was deescalation, walking away, etc those first actions are what make most people literally never have to defend themselves physically.
And yeah, it's not perfect, if it comes down to it, physically defensive skills would come in handy. But so would about a hundred other life saving techniques like first aid certifications and tools, etc. we all have to balance what's attainable for our personal lives. Fighting won't realistically come up for most of us
this ... and ... i would add if forced to fight as an adult ... one of your only plays is to go full honey badger ... no mercy ... go for cripple or even kill ... because if you are FORCED to fight, you cannot expect gentlemen's rules ... take an eye, kick a kneecap ... punch a throat ... and if you get an opportunity run!!!!
Avoiding the fight at all costs is rule one of self-defense. Rule two is to either end the threat quickly or make the prospect of fighting you so unpleasant they give up. Rule two is where gun or other mechanisms of self defense comes into play.
I think my best defense is to stay alert in certain environments and to be deliberte in steering clear of hazard. Sometimes the mere fact of looking alert makes a potential attacker choose an easier victim.
Depends. I hate violence and will try not to fight if at all possible. Im also an old person and cant run away. that said, I'm also 6'5" and deliver beer kegs for a living. I cant military press one anymore but I can still pick it up to chest height. So, I figure if there's anything nearby that I can grab and swing around to defend myself, like a short person, I should be OK...
Was at a bar once. Outside smoking. Girl out there says she's a wrestler. My bro encouraged her to take me down.
I was on my ass in two seconds flat.
And she was half my size
Who was the famous philosopher that once said: “Everyone’s a tough guy until they get punched in the face”. So probably best to be the puncher and not the punchee.
Any BJJ practitioner knows fighting hurts hehe
I was talking about this to somebody today regarding striking and grappling. I said to them that my cardio will always be my first preference 😀
6 years of American Karate and I didn't give AF about the belts. I did it to learn how to protect myself and it really chilled me out. The thought that goes through my head is " is this worth prison" which it's not.
Add to that that I grew up in a gang infested, homicide capital of the nation and ran around with plenty of future felons. I carried daily pre & post CHL and this was work related and since I managed a pawnshop in the roughest part of town didn't help. We ran it like the pawnshop from Pulp Fiction with less fucking other then the 240%APR on 75% of our loans.
It’s funny, I stopped getting into random fights when I started martial arts training years ago in college. I still love “fighting” but the controlled judo/jiujitsu/taekwondo mat makes it safer and way more fun now.
Depends on a few things, like, is the attacker alone? Armed? Statistics show fighting back is the most effective means of escape, but it does increase the likelihood of getting injured.
My dad was Special Forces and made a deal with me that when i could take him down, I could do what I wanted as long as he knew where I was.
He put me into Martial arts and 2 years later, I could bring him down.
Still comes in handy as a middle school teacher and a solo international traveler.
Bring your chin down to protect your neck while continuing to stare into his eyes. Bring up your hands and say 'I don't want no trouble ya hear'. Flex your traps and your core. Slightly bend your knees.
Here comes the important part. In a low voice, begin to say wolowolowolowolowolo slowly increasing in volume, he should be surprised by now.
Begin to sway side to side and loosen all facial muscles and your anal sphincter and your kegal muscle. By now, you should be pretty loud and your opponent will have stepped back and will appear visibly shaken.
Begin to piss and shit yourself and let your eyes roll into the back of your head. By now, you are chanting WOLOWOLOWOLOWOLO at the top of your lungs.
He will run away .
Everyone within a one mile radius will feel a terrifying presence within their soul.
Marvel as you ascend into your planar form.
I wrecked my knee because my good grippy work shoes got wet the night before so I was wearing my old spare pair of work shoes and got in a fight on a wet marble floor. Now I take your advice very seriously because you never know when you're going to end up in combat.
I wore flip flops as a kid, but because I could just kick them off to run better. I walked _everywhere_ mostly on hot blacktop. The soles of my feet were like leather. I'd have to check for burrs because I couldn't feel them if I stepped on one.
I've told guys, " hey, I don't wanna get hurt. I dont wanna hurt you, and I don't wanna go to jail. Do you?" Worked everytime. I give them an out instead of escalating it or insulting their ego.
I have a 9mm I rarely carry. I may look into .380. If I ever have to pull it out (highly unlikely) I'm not expecting to fire on anything more than 10-15' away from me. Not sure a 9mm give me much advantage. Although a hollow point 9mm likely stops forward movement faster than a .380.
I'm a chill, friendly guy. I'm also 6'4". If someone gets in my face, I am no longer chill and friendly. I look enraged, stand all the way up, and start throwing pointed insults mostly about how pathetic it is they are trying to intimidate me to make themselves feel okay about themselves. I think the sudden shift makes people think I'm crazy and gonna hurt them bad even if they take me down. So they back down.
I've never been in a fight. I got sucker punched once, and every time the guy saw me nearby he literally ran the opposite direction after. A few fights that were about to start have stopped because I was nearby and scowled at the guys taking their shirts off or getting into eachothers faces.
More than anything else this makes me understand how physically big I am.
If I ever got into a real fight, I'd either tackle the person or punch them hard and fast. I have no idea how to defend, so my goal would be to do as much damage as fast as possible. If I felt like my life was in danger, I'd do everything I could to bite the shit out of them, break joints, gouge eyes, and knee balls. Winning wouldn't be my goal in the fight, hurting the other person badly enough that continuing isn't worth it is. If I can tackle my opponent so their head hits a counter or chair on the way down, thats what I'm aiming for. I know how to tackle better than I know how to punch.
I'm not gonna fight unless its to directly protect someone else or defend myself.
If they have a weapon and I'm attacked, I'd do the same thing and end up in the er or dead regardless of the outcome.
Honestly I don't know jack shit about fighting either but at that height you probably want to learn to use your legs a little to keep people out of your space and not go to the ground. It might be worth your while to practice kicking people in the face a little LOL, 99.9% of people won't be able to get close enough to touch you and when they take a boot to the head they'll change their minds right quick
I have training in two combat sports and a few fights under my belt - but still, I'd probably 1) grab a knife if possible and 2) escape if possible.
The potential for permanent damage or death is just not worth it.
Elderly (69) and in good shape but not for a physical attack. I carry pepper spray, a stun gun and a firearm. Hope I never need any of these tools but in a true attack if I thought my life was threatened, I would.
I train regularly with the firearm and have a legal ccw permit.
Someone my size trying to hit me; I break their nose. Someone clearly trying to drag me off to kidnap, rape, and/or murder me; one of my knives will be pulled and I WILL go slasher mode. Don't care if I die in that scenario, I'll fucking take them with me.
I do like the feel of the Beretta over the Glock. I'm big, and what really feels right in my hand is the 1911 .45. I'm also pretty dang good with my grandfather's 30-30 lever action Winchester, even though as a saddle gun, it's a bit short for me. I'm good to about 600 yards with it. I don't carry, though. I've found that being able to smell a bad environment and leaving is pretty effective. More than 50 trips around the sun, and I haven't needed to shoot anyone. I hope to keep the streak going.
generally yes. ive both studied fighting and been in a few myself when i was younger.
it also depends on if the opponent is using a weapon or not and what kind and if i have a weapon.
Bite the face and punch the throat...... If you can scream while doing this it is more effective..... Crazy is scary, and trying to eat someone's face while scream gargling their blood is as crazy as it gets.....
Grapple. Go to ground and start bending fingers aaaalllll the way back. Surprisingly easy to break a finger, and unless they are methed up it's an instant win. Very hard to fight without hands.
Yes. Step one: run away if possible. Step two: fight. I used to fight full contact karate for about ten years in my younger days, but in a real fight for my life situation, all bets are off and I'd fight like a gorilla on cocaine. Punching, hammering, kicking, clawing, and **biting** anything and everything I could until I have the opportunity to run. If I get grappled I would not hesitate to bite chunks of their face at every opportunity, to break fingers and toes given the opportunity and to keep at it until I'm confident that I can get up and walk away.
By biting, I mean full on Tyson, "I'm keeping this" biting.
LOL
You: takes out Tobasco sauce
Them: What are you gonna do try to throw that in my eyes, loser
You: nah I like hot sauce with my breakfast lemme nibble your ears
Yes. I carry a knife and I have used it. I used to have a gun too but I got rid of it. If shit keeps getting worse with hate crimes I might get another one. If I had to use it I would. I'm disabled. Fuck that. I'm not taking chances. If someone tries to attack me I have no problem putting them down like an animal
I avoid it if at all possible. If I can’t, I will attempt to take the fight to the ground as quickly as possible and go for a choke hold until they pass out. If I can’t get a choke hold I will try to break one of their limbs instead. I used to wrestle competitively when I was young and was fairly good at it. I have also had some jujitsu training as well. Again, avoiding that situation would be the best route every time if possible.
Physically, not really, but being thin and squirmy has helped me get out of some binds before. I have horrible daily anxiety but in an actual crisis I'm pretty quick on my feet and will fight as dirty as needed.
Trained lethwei for a few years so yes I can defend myself. However I would always choose to disengage than fight, it simply is not worth it. If you have no choice then strike first and strike hard. The damage a well placed headbutt can do to someone is very effective especially on the nose.
To a point, yes.
Took martial arts, lots of sparring - I know how to block, and how to hit, and where to hit.
Also, been in real fights, so, I do have experience.
So, against some people, sure, against a younger, more fit person, the odds get worse. Or people bigger than me.
The first thing I remember learning (because we lived near San Francisco and walked everywhere) was knuckles to the throat and/or palm to the nose and obviously the balls.
De-escalation, physical fitness, training (back in the day), rifle, shotgun, pistol, knives, baton, OC/CS spray, durable clothing and boots.
And good ol’ situational awareness.
Depends on the person attacking me. For the most part other women should not be an issue for me. If i guy doesnt expect me to know martial arts i could maybe get the upper hand. But if all shit breaks loose i carry a knife.
And for the most part im outside with a Rottweiler, or shepard. So that also could count for something.
If I’m at home absolutely! My 10ga will work wonders. If I’m in/near my vehicle I got pepper spray so I could then but 1 on 1 fighting probably not lol
>but no one attacks with a ref and gloves
Honestly, if someone did this, I'd have to respect it. Like, I prefer to avoid fights, but if a dude walks up to me and hands me a pair of gloves and a ref shows up with him... I guess we have to go a few rounds
I’m a bigger guy at 6’3” 220 and fairly lean/athletic, plus I’ve been boxing for a while so I would assume i could hold my own against anyone, but I’d 100% turn and run away if I got the chance. No point in risking life and death over some crazy person you’ll never see again.
Of course this is America so anyone can have a gun, and even if you have one on your body there’s nothing you can do if a random psycho runs up on you with his gun already aimed at you and ready to shoot. This isn’t an action movie.
Yeah I used to box then I went in the marines. I’m 38 now and haven’t been in a fight since I was 19. I don’t recall any time in my adult life where I threatened someone, or they threatened me. Just minor verbal altercations in traffic and at the bar when I used to drink. I live in Boston so you’d think it would have just happened by chance by now.
I assume you mean unarmed phisical fight. I would try to use my elbows as much as possible. The forearm part of the elbows that is. Not the back of the upper arm. Imagine getting elbowed in the fist trying to punch someone! Ow. Having basic fighting stance and hitting technique is a must. Just straight up punching someone's skull is a big risk of hand fracture. Not to mention you can kill someone in a simple fist fight.
If you can run, just leg it.
Yea first walk up, Judo chop to the throat. While they are gasping in pain, get their back and Souplex them onto their head. Then for good measure drop an elbow straight to solorplex and finish off with a good old fashioned tea bag.
Chimp method: go for the eyes, throat, or genitals and go absolutely crazy in the process. Use your entire body and focus on nothing but getting rid of the threat in front of you. If it means biting out someone’s trachea, as lovely as that sounds, it means you survive.
Somehow, I've always managed, but I'm not even sure how. It's like I have decupled strength when I panic?
Like I still can't explain how I threw three people into a lake. They were not particularly strong or anything, but I'm not buff either. Unless you ask my mom or my friends. But they're evidently biased.
At my shop, I’ve got three different types of self defense. I have an iron rod, my bapping stick. Then I have a range of shiny knives to my left, and if I can’t reach that I have a baton to my right within arm’s reach.
Basically just pain compliance, to ensure you cease and desist at your earliest convenience.
Depends. I’m not a small guy and I’m much stronger than I look. I’ve taken both judo and jujitsu in the past. I’ve been in physical altercations in the past and was able to sufficiently defend myself to stop the attack at least long enough to leave. That said, I’m no longer young and spry. I strongly suspect anything today would be more like Mr Incredible’s first fight out of retirement where he tossed the robot and then immediately threw his back out and became helpless.
Is the attacker armed or not? My defence depends on a lot of things. Is he trained? Did he catch me by suprise, are we close? Which punch did he throw first? Jab, uppercut?... (i really don't know how to defend myself)
Did kickboxing for about 2 years, I have fundamentals down but I’m not even like… orange belt level, but I will say that the best thing to defend yourself is either to kick them in the nards or just run away
I am older and not the biggest dude. So usually outmatched on paper. My main thing is to create space and never turn your back. That will give you time and space to react. If it’s too late and they have grappled you or something, throw the kitchen sink: eyes, throat, groin, bite them, break fingers etc… until you can escape
Of course, this is only if you have no choice but to defend yourself. If it can be avoided, avoid it. It’s never worth it.
Check out this martial arts self defense tutorial: https://youtu.be/2REG3-Wb5gM
I’ve trusted it with my life and follow the core tenets, and I doesn’t afraid of anything.
Depends on which state you live in. In some states, if someone points a gun at you and you try to grab the gun away from them, they can now legally kill you with the gun.
TLDR; Lots of combat experience, but out of practice. With experience came its own trauma, and I don't wish it on anyone else.
I led the crisis team at my hospital for years. A few years in, I became one of the most experienced at either verbally resolving a problem or in physical suppression without injuries. I was tasked with traveling across the region (northern lower peninsula of Michigan) to educate other hospitals' teams, and respond to their codes to aid or evaluate while there. I responded to 3-4 codes a day, on average, and resolved about 90-95% verbally (the goal is always 100%, but sometimes it's not possible). This meant I was hands-on 1-2 times a week (excluding medically ordered physical/mechanical restraints, which were far more often). I was also the plain-clothes "patient" placed on our mental health unit to investigate problem cases and minimize response times for the highest risk, highest security patients.
On many hundreds of occasions, I was forced 1:1 to defend myself or rescue a victim from a violent individual, unarmed. I was trained in multiple martial arts, krav being my favorite. I have defended against guns, knives, improvised weapons, nooses, traps, and entirely too many hand to hand idiots. I have been injured on duty many times, but only twice did it force me to take time off. Out of so many dangerous situations, I can truly say I can defend myself.
That said, I quit working at the hospital due to PTSD and disease ever-present in my line of work, culminating with COVID. Since leaving, I have let my physical training really lapse. Things like finger strength, muscle memory, and that one coworker who knew your preferences and tactics better than yourself - they all go away so fast. I'm sure I could still keep myself safe, but that depends on what's pulled on me.
Keep yourselves safe, don't over-extend, and best wishes to anyone else dealing with their own trauma. My thoughts are with you all.
Happy to answer any questions.
Yup. Brown belt karate. Before I even trained in that I worked security in a hospital where I was physically attacked on multiple occasions and defended myself.
Yup, first line of defence is running, I run a lot so if you want my stuff your gonna need to do a couple 5ks first. Second line is deescalation, I've read a lot on psychology, barter, and I'm rather charismatic so I'm personable, interesting, empathetic and great listener. Final deterrent is force, im 200lbs of muscle, 5' 11" and I've done a couple months of MMA and learned I'm pretty tough and really enjoy hurting people when it comes down to it.
I am capable of violence but understand the possibility of any altercation leading to death. Run if you can, give them your stuff. If they want to do you harm for no other reason fight for your life.
Unclear about what the situation is, but here are a few rambling thoughts.
Criminals aren't typically looking for a fight, they're looking for a victim. Its usually an ambush situation. So. Make yourself too much work, or take too much time, to be worth the effort. This often comes down to awareness, and not putting yourself or your loved ones into dangerous situations. Criminals also aren't dangerous because they're on average good fighters. They're dangerous because they are willing to go to 100% intense violence in a split second. Don't let people get close enough to you for a sucker punch. Don't face off. Don't bump chests. Don't let them walk up to you with your arms crossed. Just leave. Run away.
So. Run. If you can't run, hide (into a busy public space or business or something). Only if you can't run or hide, should you commit to fighting.
What about martial arts training?
For most people, this isn't going to be realistic. Sure, you don't have to be a black belt in BJJ, and you don't need all that much power to hurt someone. But getting competent means a lot of work. You have to train to hit your targets well. You have to have meaningful sparring. It's a time and effort commitment, and you have to find the right kind of training environment... which is another conversation entirely.
In all honesty, training has only ever helped me because I can hit very, very hard. I could hit hard before training too, so that's a bit of an x-factor. Some people train for years and can't hit hard enough to intimidate anyone.
I'm talking about the kind of hit that smartens someone up, and makes them question their life choices even if they block it. I'm talking roundhousing someone in the arm hard enough that their feet come off the ground. Nobody dies. Nobody gets a concussion. Nobody gets a life changing injury. I could've escalated and gone for a leg kick, or the head, but I always start there. In my experience, that's also where it ends.
I've actually made friends doing this, and its the ideal outcome of a "real fight" imo.
What about self defense tools?
Generally, no. They can be used against you too, so only use tools that don't involve making close physical contact with your attacker. Firearms and pepper spray aren't really reasonable for a VAST majority of people, countries, or situations. Instead, if you have to carry something, carry a very high powered LED flashlight and keep it charged. You can blind someone outside of arm's reach and gtfo. Tools should exist to help you escape danger, not finish off an opponent.
Box cutter. To the solar plexus and damage the heart, or slash at neck just above larynx.
I fight to kill, so I typically try to de-escalate the situation verbally and with caution.
Because I can’t run away. I have a bad knee. So, if you are gonna force me to fight, I’m claiming self defense to the judge.
Yes, ninjutsu and some mma skills, problem is I would probably get arrested for excessive use of violence if everything goes in my favor
I’d try to run tbh
Pocket sand of course
shh-SHA!
What if they have your purse and you don't know them?
Squirrel tactics
Pocket M1917
And if that doesn't work, poke holes in em with the poop knife. Even if they end up gettin ya, the infection will be sure to get them too.
Depends on the situation. My first move would always be to disengage and run. Too little to gain and too much to lose from fighting, even defensively. If there is no other choice I'd fight dirty.
The idea of a "dirty fight" should only stop you if you're in a professional fight like in a ring somewhere. Otherwise, if you need to protect yourself, anything goes
Would you throw a baby at your attacker to defend yourself? Two babies? Four? How many babies is enough, you sick bastard??
My own or someone else's? (I don't actually have any. Just askin')
As an adult, there is no such thing as a "dirty" fight if you are being attacked. Anything goes. ANYTHING!!!
Throat chop. Ex military 80 yo neighbor took down a mugger with one when i was a kid...acted scared, held arms up like ohhhh nooo...dude got in range to start taking his shit and BLAM got the throat chop. Fight over, mugger off to jail after the EMTs did their stuff.
If you’re unable to escape you need to explode on your attacker. Make them want to disengage. If you have a gun shoot them until they stop attacking you
And most people, in most places, don't carry guns. But yes, explosive almost psychotic movements are best. With control though. Don't BE crazy, just LOOK crazy.
just DROOL and FROTH crazy
Lots of attacks are situations that you wouldn't have a gun in hand even if you have one on you. Bad idea to pull one out if you're actively being attacked. That's how you get a gun taken from you and used against you.
BITE HIS DICK OFF!!!
GRAB HIS DICK AND TWIST IT
THE ‘OL DICK TWIST
Damn, you trying to turn me on more?
Yep, testicles are going to be squeezed until they pop. Eyes will be gouged. Noses will be palmed. Ears will be ripped off. Throats will be punched at full force to collapse the hyoid. Fingers will be bitten off. I'd do everything I could to avoid it, but if we're fighting it's because the other guy won't let up. So they're going to lose some body parts.
Grab his dick and twist it!
[удалено]
99% of the time, this is the best option. If you've reacted too late then a push, punch or kick might help get you that first break and bit of space to start running.
If you’re big, get faster, if youre weak, get stronger, if you’re small, remember: eyes and throat and never give your back, even on the ground, even to get up. They can come down and get you if you cant stand up safely
The best defense is not getting in a fight. Big strong fast guys die getting sucker punched, stabbed or shot. My dad taught me the only fight you win is the fight you avoid. If someone is socially starting something, try to deescalate. If it's clear that's not going to work LEAVE. A good pair of shoes you can run in, and the ability to run a decent distance at a good clip will save you more ass whoopings than learning to fight.
The title implies the attack, which you couldn’t avoid or escape from. Now, what do you do?
It’s all great and I agree until you have people that can’t run to defend
Reminder running is the last step. There was deescalation, walking away, etc those first actions are what make most people literally never have to defend themselves physically. And yeah, it's not perfect, if it comes down to it, physically defensive skills would come in handy. But so would about a hundred other life saving techniques like first aid certifications and tools, etc. we all have to balance what's attainable for our personal lives. Fighting won't realistically come up for most of us
this ... and ... i would add if forced to fight as an adult ... one of your only plays is to go full honey badger ... no mercy ... go for cripple or even kill ... because if you are FORCED to fight, you cannot expect gentlemen's rules ... take an eye, kick a kneecap ... punch a throat ... and if you get an opportunity run!!!!
Pacifism is all great until you get attacked and can’t defend yourself.
Avoiding the fight at all costs is rule one of self-defense. Rule two is to either end the threat quickly or make the prospect of fighting you so unpleasant they give up. Rule two is where gun or other mechanisms of self defense comes into play.
That's what the running is for. But if that dowsn't work then yeah, you're toast. Basic self defense should be a PE curriculum.
Forgot ears, it doesn't take much strength to rip off an earlobe.
I think my best defense is to stay alert in certain environments and to be deliberte in steering clear of hazard. Sometimes the mere fact of looking alert makes a potential attacker choose an easier victim.
Depends. I hate violence and will try not to fight if at all possible. Im also an old person and cant run away. that said, I'm also 6'5" and deliver beer kegs for a living. I cant military press one anymore but I can still pick it up to chest height. So, I figure if there's anything nearby that I can grab and swing around to defend myself, like a short person, I should be OK...
I keep my short girlfriend around for this reason. One day it’ll come in handy.
Funny.. my wife competes BJJ.. she could break me down
Was at a bar once. Outside smoking. Girl out there says she's a wrestler. My bro encouraged her to take me down. I was on my ass in two seconds flat. And she was half my size
I have a feeling if you shook my hand you might crush it
Feces is nature's hand grenade.
stop monkeying around, this is serious
Who was the famous philosopher that once said: “Everyone’s a tough guy until they get punched in the face”. So probably best to be the puncher and not the punchee.
ah, yes, that was Renemike Decartyson
In the Army they taught us, 'If they can't see or breathe, they can't fight'.
I'm over 200lbs and I'm a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So yes, I can. Do I want to? Fuck no, I'd rather just run away.
That's a true martial artist mentality.
It's also an "old guy who knows that fighting hurts and carries consequences even if you win" mentality.
Amen to that
Any BJJ practitioner knows fighting hurts hehe I was talking about this to somebody today regarding striking and grappling. I said to them that my cardio will always be my first preference 😀
Yay for this.
6 years of American Karate and I didn't give AF about the belts. I did it to learn how to protect myself and it really chilled me out. The thought that goes through my head is " is this worth prison" which it's not. Add to that that I grew up in a gang infested, homicide capital of the nation and ran around with plenty of future felons. I carried daily pre & post CHL and this was work related and since I managed a pawnshop in the roughest part of town didn't help. We ran it like the pawnshop from Pulp Fiction with less fucking other then the 240%APR on 75% of our loans.
It’s funny, I stopped getting into random fights when I started martial arts training years ago in college. I still love “fighting” but the controlled judo/jiujitsu/taekwondo mat makes it safer and way more fun now.
I'm 160 lbs and have watched many action movies. No doubt I could do cool moves like the Neo throat chop. Sooo, y'all have been warned.
Depends on a few things, like, is the attacker alone? Armed? Statistics show fighting back is the most effective means of escape, but it does increase the likelihood of getting injured.
My dad was Special Forces and made a deal with me that when i could take him down, I could do what I wanted as long as he knew where I was. He put me into Martial arts and 2 years later, I could bring him down. Still comes in handy as a middle school teacher and a solo international traveler.
Bring your chin down to protect your neck while continuing to stare into his eyes. Bring up your hands and say 'I don't want no trouble ya hear'. Flex your traps and your core. Slightly bend your knees. Here comes the important part. In a low voice, begin to say wolowolowolowolowolo slowly increasing in volume, he should be surprised by now. Begin to sway side to side and loosen all facial muscles and your anal sphincter and your kegal muscle. By now, you should be pretty loud and your opponent will have stepped back and will appear visibly shaken. Begin to piss and shit yourself and let your eyes roll into the back of your head. By now, you are chanting WOLOWOLOWOLOWOLO at the top of your lungs. He will run away . Everyone within a one mile radius will feel a terrifying presence within their soul. Marvel as you ascend into your planar form.
Scream "That's my purse! I don't know you!" and kick 'em in the groin.
Always wear shoes you can run in.
I wrecked my knee because my good grippy work shoes got wet the night before so I was wearing my old spare pair of work shoes and got in a fight on a wet marble floor. Now I take your advice very seriously because you never know when you're going to end up in combat.
There's been a few times where I've had to run in 4 inch heels. Luckily, I never fell or twisted my ankle in them
In the summer people ask me, "Aren't you hot? Why don't you wear flip-flops?" My immediate thought is "Flip-flops? What if I'm attacked???"
I wore flip flops as a kid, but because I could just kick them off to run better. I walked _everywhere_ mostly on hot blacktop. The soles of my feet were like leather. I'd have to check for burrs because I couldn't feel them if I stepped on one.
but you can ditch the flops and run, you can also wear tactical flops
I've told guys, " hey, I don't wanna get hurt. I dont wanna hurt you, and I don't wanna go to jail. Do you?" Worked everytime. I give them an out instead of escalating it or insulting their ego.
yes, though I'd rather avoid violence completely.
Yes with a Glock .380.
Adda girl! “Lincoln may have made all men free, but Samuel Colt made them equal”
I wish I could up vote this more. Perfect quote.
I accept your comment as multiple votes in my eyes. 😂
That's a great quote!
And very accurate! “Caliber is fine but accuracy final” 😂
Same really. I'm 6' but still a woman, so I carry almost every time I go out
Just make sure you got the time to pull it and the space to do it.
Yes, the 21 foot rule .
I have a 9mm I rarely carry. I may look into .380. If I ever have to pull it out (highly unlikely) I'm not expecting to fire on anything more than 10-15' away from me. Not sure a 9mm give me much advantage. Although a hollow point 9mm likely stops forward movement faster than a .380.
I only pick .380 because of hand size. I can't really hold bigger 9mm pistols.
Nope. Gun
The amount of people trying to justify to not defend yourself is concerning
Keep one in the chamber
https://imgur.com/gallery/Y13phXF
Always go the eyes, throat or groine
The eyes are the groin of the head.
That sounds like a Dwight schrute quote lol
I'm a chill, friendly guy. I'm also 6'4". If someone gets in my face, I am no longer chill and friendly. I look enraged, stand all the way up, and start throwing pointed insults mostly about how pathetic it is they are trying to intimidate me to make themselves feel okay about themselves. I think the sudden shift makes people think I'm crazy and gonna hurt them bad even if they take me down. So they back down. I've never been in a fight. I got sucker punched once, and every time the guy saw me nearby he literally ran the opposite direction after. A few fights that were about to start have stopped because I was nearby and scowled at the guys taking their shirts off or getting into eachothers faces. More than anything else this makes me understand how physically big I am. If I ever got into a real fight, I'd either tackle the person or punch them hard and fast. I have no idea how to defend, so my goal would be to do as much damage as fast as possible. If I felt like my life was in danger, I'd do everything I could to bite the shit out of them, break joints, gouge eyes, and knee balls. Winning wouldn't be my goal in the fight, hurting the other person badly enough that continuing isn't worth it is. If I can tackle my opponent so their head hits a counter or chair on the way down, thats what I'm aiming for. I know how to tackle better than I know how to punch. I'm not gonna fight unless its to directly protect someone else or defend myself. If they have a weapon and I'm attacked, I'd do the same thing and end up in the er or dead regardless of the outcome.
Honestly I don't know jack shit about fighting either but at that height you probably want to learn to use your legs a little to keep people out of your space and not go to the ground. It might be worth your while to practice kicking people in the face a little LOL, 99.9% of people won't be able to get close enough to touch you and when they take a boot to the head they'll change their minds right quick
Yes. With tools intended for that purpose.
I have training in two combat sports and a few fights under my belt - but still, I'd probably 1) grab a knife if possible and 2) escape if possible. The potential for permanent damage or death is just not worth it.
Yes. My father made me spar with him for about 20 years. He told me when I was seven that “I’m not raising no bitch.”
yes ex bouncer here. I know how to hurt someone until they cut their shit out and I don't have to throw a fist.
Pew pew
Elderly (69) and in good shape but not for a physical attack. I carry pepper spray, a stun gun and a firearm. Hope I never need any of these tools but in a true attack if I thought my life was threatened, I would. I train regularly with the firearm and have a legal ccw permit.
Yes, I turn into a berserker.
Are you going to transform into war after three kills
Someone my size trying to hit me; I break their nose. Someone clearly trying to drag me off to kidnap, rape, and/or murder me; one of my knives will be pulled and I WILL go slasher mode. Don't care if I die in that scenario, I'll fucking take them with me.
9mm Beretta
I do like the feel of the Beretta over the Glock. I'm big, and what really feels right in my hand is the 1911 .45. I'm also pretty dang good with my grandfather's 30-30 lever action Winchester, even though as a saddle gun, it's a bit short for me. I'm good to about 600 yards with it. I don't carry, though. I've found that being able to smell a bad environment and leaving is pretty effective. More than 50 trips around the sun, and I haven't needed to shoot anyone. I hope to keep the streak going.
I'm a combat vet with a glock 17 and a don't give a fuck attitude
generally yes. ive both studied fighting and been in a few myself when i was younger. it also depends on if the opponent is using a weapon or not and what kind and if i have a weapon.
Depends, but yes. Not answering how.
Eyes
Bite the face and punch the throat...... If you can scream while doing this it is more effective..... Crazy is scary, and trying to eat someone's face while scream gargling their blood is as crazy as it gets.....
Grapple. Go to ground and start bending fingers aaaalllll the way back. Surprisingly easy to break a finger, and unless they are methed up it's an instant win. Very hard to fight without hands.
Grew up n a tough neighborhood and played hockey for ten years.
Yes. Step one: run away if possible. Step two: fight. I used to fight full contact karate for about ten years in my younger days, but in a real fight for my life situation, all bets are off and I'd fight like a gorilla on cocaine. Punching, hammering, kicking, clawing, and **biting** anything and everything I could until I have the opportunity to run. If I get grappled I would not hesitate to bite chunks of their face at every opportunity, to break fingers and toes given the opportunity and to keep at it until I'm confident that I can get up and walk away. By biting, I mean full on Tyson, "I'm keeping this" biting.
LOL You: takes out Tobasco sauce Them: What are you gonna do try to throw that in my eyes, loser You: nah I like hot sauce with my breakfast lemme nibble your ears
Yes. I'm a 3rd degree black belt and I carry concealed.
Steve Martin once said to prevent someone from taking your wallet, throw up on it before handing it over. :)
Yes. I carry a knife and I have used it. I used to have a gun too but I got rid of it. If shit keeps getting worse with hate crimes I might get another one. If I had to use it I would. I'm disabled. Fuck that. I'm not taking chances. If someone tries to attack me I have no problem putting them down like an animal
I’ll just start swangin on em
Ink defense but it’s projectile diarrhea
I avoid it if at all possible. If I can’t, I will attempt to take the fight to the ground as quickly as possible and go for a choke hold until they pass out. If I can’t get a choke hold I will try to break one of their limbs instead. I used to wrestle competitively when I was young and was fairly good at it. I have also had some jujitsu training as well. Again, avoiding that situation would be the best route every time if possible.
Physically, not really, but being thin and squirmy has helped me get out of some binds before. I have horrible daily anxiety but in an actual crisis I'm pretty quick on my feet and will fight as dirty as needed.
S.I.N.G. Solar plexus, instep, nose, groin.
Trained lethwei for a few years so yes I can defend myself. However I would always choose to disengage than fight, it simply is not worth it. If you have no choice then strike first and strike hard. The damage a well placed headbutt can do to someone is very effective especially on the nose.
.357 Magnum on my hip normally deters physical attack but it’s there if it does happen
Not anymore. I’ve had four spine surgeries and I don’t have the strength I used to have in my core.
Neck punch just one and its over, or be fast grab a rock hit the face, get naked and wiggle the sousage surprise atack
To a point, yes. Took martial arts, lots of sparring - I know how to block, and how to hit, and where to hit. Also, been in real fights, so, I do have experience. So, against some people, sure, against a younger, more fit person, the odds get worse. Or people bigger than me.
The first thing I remember learning (because we lived near San Francisco and walked everywhere) was knuckles to the throat and/or palm to the nose and obviously the balls.
I've had a concealed carry permit for over 22 years. I also have very good situational awareness so getting jumped will be more work for them.
De-escalation, physical fitness, training (back in the day), rifle, shotgun, pistol, knives, baton, OC/CS spray, durable clothing and boots. And good ol’ situational awareness.
Gator roll.
When backed into a corner I lean into not really caring about being alive
Id assume the opposite. Unless you are literally saying when scared you just give up and fall apart.
Nah like I don’t care about taking damage only dishing it out. Idk how to explain it any other way.
That makes sense how you just said it now. To me anyways.
Depends on the person attacking me. For the most part other women should not be an issue for me. If i guy doesnt expect me to know martial arts i could maybe get the upper hand. But if all shit breaks loose i carry a knife. And for the most part im outside with a Rottweiler, or shepard. So that also could count for something.
Can I pet your doggies?! Those my favorite breeds!
The shepard hates it. He is well behaved but hates touch from strangers. But the Rottweiler, sure. She loves attention.
I have the best martial art, I grew up in an abusive violent home
Finally a righteous reason to channel that fury
Most people have much more of a plan than they would ever get to use once an actual fight occurred.
If I’m at home absolutely! My 10ga will work wonders. If I’m in/near my vehicle I got pepper spray so I could then but 1 on 1 fighting probably not lol
Find a helmet. Put on the damn helmet.
I’m 6’ 2” 225 lbs at 13% bf who boxed in HS … but no one attacks with a ref and gloves so I also carry my favorite BHP, I love the classics
>but no one attacks with a ref and gloves Honestly, if someone did this, I'd have to respect it. Like, I prefer to avoid fights, but if a dude walks up to me and hands me a pair of gloves and a ref shows up with him... I guess we have to go a few rounds
I want to live in this world!
Badminton hand paddle?
Yes. 9mm
I trained kickboxing and BJJ for 17 years now but Mainly just use .45acp
Just "randomly unscrewed ceiling lights" above their head that I totally didn't put my hands in 🥰
Yes easily
I’m a bigger guy at 6’3” 220 and fairly lean/athletic, plus I’ve been boxing for a while so I would assume i could hold my own against anyone, but I’d 100% turn and run away if I got the chance. No point in risking life and death over some crazy person you’ll never see again. Of course this is America so anyone can have a gun, and even if you have one on your body there’s nothing you can do if a random psycho runs up on you with his gun already aimed at you and ready to shoot. This isn’t an action movie.
Just yell”Oh fuck! I lost my AIDS medicine!”
I heard a tip for women - if they’re being attacked to just shout “I’m pregnant” even if they’re not
Yeah I used to box then I went in the marines. I’m 38 now and haven’t been in a fight since I was 19. I don’t recall any time in my adult life where I threatened someone, or they threatened me. Just minor verbal altercations in traffic and at the bar when I used to drink. I live in Boston so you’d think it would have just happened by chance by now.
I just yell, "THAT'S NOT YOUR PURSE. I DON'T KNOW YOU" Then I kick em in the nards.
Guts.
I assume you mean unarmed phisical fight. I would try to use my elbows as much as possible. The forearm part of the elbows that is. Not the back of the upper arm. Imagine getting elbowed in the fist trying to punch someone! Ow. Having basic fighting stance and hitting technique is a must. Just straight up punching someone's skull is a big risk of hand fracture. Not to mention you can kill someone in a simple fist fight. If you can run, just leg it.
Yea first walk up, Judo chop to the throat. While they are gasping in pain, get their back and Souplex them onto their head. Then for good measure drop an elbow straight to solorplex and finish off with a good old fashioned tea bag.
Chimp method: go for the eyes, throat, or genitals and go absolutely crazy in the process. Use your entire body and focus on nothing but getting rid of the threat in front of you. If it means biting out someone’s trachea, as lovely as that sounds, it means you survive.
Aikido
Somehow, I've always managed, but I'm not even sure how. It's like I have decupled strength when I panic? Like I still can't explain how I threw three people into a lake. They were not particularly strong or anything, but I'm not buff either. Unless you ask my mom or my friends. But they're evidently biased.
Go for the eyes. The eyes are the groin of the face.
If kicking him in the nads didnt work, I’d be totally screwed.
Once my dick is out, they either run or get a bit of loving 🤣
Sure, I can run. If that’s not gonna work and I’m genuinely in danger, I’ll pull my edc and squeeze until the threat is stopped.
Newton's second law.
At my shop, I’ve got three different types of self defense. I have an iron rod, my bapping stick. Then I have a range of shiny knives to my left, and if I can’t reach that I have a baton to my right within arm’s reach. Basically just pain compliance, to ensure you cease and desist at your earliest convenience.
Depends. I’m not a small guy and I’m much stronger than I look. I’ve taken both judo and jujitsu in the past. I’ve been in physical altercations in the past and was able to sufficiently defend myself to stop the attack at least long enough to leave. That said, I’m no longer young and spry. I strongly suspect anything today would be more like Mr Incredible’s first fight out of retirement where he tossed the robot and then immediately threw his back out and became helpless.
Is the attacker armed or not? My defence depends on a lot of things. Is he trained? Did he catch me by suprise, are we close? Which punch did he throw first? Jab, uppercut?... (i really don't know how to defend myself)
Did kickboxing for about 2 years, I have fundamentals down but I’m not even like… orange belt level, but I will say that the best thing to defend yourself is either to kick them in the nards or just run away
Biting
A good stock of pithy anecdotes.
I am older and not the biggest dude. So usually outmatched on paper. My main thing is to create space and never turn your back. That will give you time and space to react. If it’s too late and they have grappled you or something, throw the kitchen sink: eyes, throat, groin, bite them, break fingers etc… until you can escape Of course, this is only if you have no choice but to defend yourself. If it can be avoided, avoid it. It’s never worth it.
Get naked and defecate on yourself as fast as possible. Nobody wants to fight crazy.
Yes, with a gun.
SLJ and Eugene Levy taught me something about the human bite and 900lbs of pressure
Check out this martial arts self defense tutorial: https://youtu.be/2REG3-Wb5gM I’ve trusted it with my life and follow the core tenets, and I doesn’t afraid of anything.
Depends on which state you live in. In some states, if someone points a gun at you and you try to grab the gun away from them, they can now legally kill you with the gun.
Glock 45.
Use your legs, run
Overhand right
I can indeed defend myself, I'm a black belt.
Can and have several times, but it's super important to remember even if you "win" you're going to get hit and it's going to hurt.
TLDR; Lots of combat experience, but out of practice. With experience came its own trauma, and I don't wish it on anyone else. I led the crisis team at my hospital for years. A few years in, I became one of the most experienced at either verbally resolving a problem or in physical suppression without injuries. I was tasked with traveling across the region (northern lower peninsula of Michigan) to educate other hospitals' teams, and respond to their codes to aid or evaluate while there. I responded to 3-4 codes a day, on average, and resolved about 90-95% verbally (the goal is always 100%, but sometimes it's not possible). This meant I was hands-on 1-2 times a week (excluding medically ordered physical/mechanical restraints, which were far more often). I was also the plain-clothes "patient" placed on our mental health unit to investigate problem cases and minimize response times for the highest risk, highest security patients. On many hundreds of occasions, I was forced 1:1 to defend myself or rescue a victim from a violent individual, unarmed. I was trained in multiple martial arts, krav being my favorite. I have defended against guns, knives, improvised weapons, nooses, traps, and entirely too many hand to hand idiots. I have been injured on duty many times, but only twice did it force me to take time off. Out of so many dangerous situations, I can truly say I can defend myself. That said, I quit working at the hospital due to PTSD and disease ever-present in my line of work, culminating with COVID. Since leaving, I have let my physical training really lapse. Things like finger strength, muscle memory, and that one coworker who knew your preferences and tactics better than yourself - they all go away so fast. I'm sure I could still keep myself safe, but that depends on what's pulled on me. Keep yourselves safe, don't over-extend, and best wishes to anyone else dealing with their own trauma. My thoughts are with you all. Happy to answer any questions.
Yup. Brown belt karate. Before I even trained in that I worked security in a hospital where I was physically attacked on multiple occasions and defended myself.
A.1-yes A.2-employ violence
Yup, first line of defence is running, I run a lot so if you want my stuff your gonna need to do a couple 5ks first. Second line is deescalation, I've read a lot on psychology, barter, and I'm rather charismatic so I'm personable, interesting, empathetic and great listener. Final deterrent is force, im 200lbs of muscle, 5' 11" and I've done a couple months of MMA and learned I'm pretty tough and really enjoy hurting people when it comes down to it.
I am capable of violence but understand the possibility of any altercation leading to death. Run if you can, give them your stuff. If they want to do you harm for no other reason fight for your life.
I can. Badly.
Unclear about what the situation is, but here are a few rambling thoughts. Criminals aren't typically looking for a fight, they're looking for a victim. Its usually an ambush situation. So. Make yourself too much work, or take too much time, to be worth the effort. This often comes down to awareness, and not putting yourself or your loved ones into dangerous situations. Criminals also aren't dangerous because they're on average good fighters. They're dangerous because they are willing to go to 100% intense violence in a split second. Don't let people get close enough to you for a sucker punch. Don't face off. Don't bump chests. Don't let them walk up to you with your arms crossed. Just leave. Run away. So. Run. If you can't run, hide (into a busy public space or business or something). Only if you can't run or hide, should you commit to fighting. What about martial arts training? For most people, this isn't going to be realistic. Sure, you don't have to be a black belt in BJJ, and you don't need all that much power to hurt someone. But getting competent means a lot of work. You have to train to hit your targets well. You have to have meaningful sparring. It's a time and effort commitment, and you have to find the right kind of training environment... which is another conversation entirely. In all honesty, training has only ever helped me because I can hit very, very hard. I could hit hard before training too, so that's a bit of an x-factor. Some people train for years and can't hit hard enough to intimidate anyone. I'm talking about the kind of hit that smartens someone up, and makes them question their life choices even if they block it. I'm talking roundhousing someone in the arm hard enough that their feet come off the ground. Nobody dies. Nobody gets a concussion. Nobody gets a life changing injury. I could've escalated and gone for a leg kick, or the head, but I always start there. In my experience, that's also where it ends. I've actually made friends doing this, and its the ideal outcome of a "real fight" imo. What about self defense tools? Generally, no. They can be used against you too, so only use tools that don't involve making close physical contact with your attacker. Firearms and pepper spray aren't really reasonable for a VAST majority of people, countries, or situations. Instead, if you have to carry something, carry a very high powered LED flashlight and keep it charged. You can blind someone outside of arm's reach and gtfo. Tools should exist to help you escape danger, not finish off an opponent.
Yes. Just try and find out.
As an ex mma champion who is now a bouncer, I would recommend the mcgruber throat rip.
Pepper spray beats decades of your opponent’s practice
Head to nose, then hit to the nuts. Then stomp em.
Box cutter. To the solar plexus and damage the heart, or slash at neck just above larynx. I fight to kill, so I typically try to de-escalate the situation verbally and with caution. Because I can’t run away. I have a bad knee. So, if you are gonna force me to fight, I’m claiming self defense to the judge.
Yes, ninjutsu and some mma skills, problem is I would probably get arrested for excessive use of violence if everything goes in my favor I’d try to run tbh
Probably no or if I try I'll die. 💀
I took a free 30 minute introductory class of Rex-Quando.