Poll: Do you know self defense?

[Shadowsole]

my school has a guy come in every year to tell the guys that no means no and pointing to you crotch while going uh hun hun ha after driving a chick home does not = sex,

While the chicks learnt how to talk our way out of sex and an hour of how to hurt a guy.

i only have an hour of self defence training

so, no

 

[foxlovingfreak]

Got a green belt in Tae Kwon Do and a certifcate from a local tourment so I know few things

 

[teebeeohh]

i did about 5 years of judo and for time had to adopt that knowledge to defend myself on a weekly basis. other than that i prefer taking cheap shots, take every advantage you can get

 

[coldshadow]

my self defense is a swift kick to the balls, why should I bother with honor when im being attacked?

 

[Naeo]

Unless "having good reflexes" counts, then no.

 

[Berethond]

The Nike Defense is all you'll ever need.

It's nice to have the option to run away, but you don't always have that option. It is better to have both kung-fu and running shoes on your side. You don't have to pick just one, and violence is sometimes the only option.

Oh, I know.
That's what <url=http://rustyknives.com/images/fixed/western_shark1.jpg>old faithful is for.

 

[ethaninja]

Ninjutsu 4 years and counting.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

my self defense is a swift kick to the balls, why should I bother with honor when im being attacked?

I agree, why would u want to fight with "honor" when your assailant has you cornered with a knife and demanding money, or threatening something else of value to you (girl/boyfriend, family etc), or just glassed your friend giving him a 12-stitch wound. You aren't exactly going to bow to them first and refuse to hit them while they're down now are you.

OT: The above is taught in the first class of Krav Maga, of which I did 2 years. Also have done 4 years of Zenshin Karate (much like Kyokushin, not very well known though), and 2 years of boxing, and half a year of Muay Thai. Would like to learn some grappling/ground stuff though, that seems to be a table-turner in most one-on-one situations.

But being able to defend yourself largely depends on the attacker, as much as yourself...

 

[Kawatoo]

This counts as self-defence right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3K-mrlYG7Y&feature=related

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

A little Shaolin Kempo. I made it to purple belt, which was the fourth out of ten.

 

[zfactor]

my self defense is a swift kick to the balls, why should I bother with honor when im being attacked?

I agree, why would u want to fight with "honor" when your assailant has you cornered with a knife and demanding money, or threatening something else of value to you (girl/boyfriend, family etc), or just glassed your friend giving him a 12-stitch wound. You aren't exactly going to bow to them first and refuse to hit them while they're down now are you.

OT: The above is taught in the first class of Krav Maga, of which I did 2 years. Also have done 4 years of Zenshin Karate (much like Kyokushin, not very well known though), and 2 years of boxing, and half a year of Muay Thai. Would like to learn some grappling/ground stuff though, that seems to be a table-turner in most one-on-one situations.

But being able to defend yourself largely depends on the attacker, as much as yourself...

There's no such thing as "unfair" fighting in the real world (which is why I dislike sparring in class) because in real life I would go for the eyes, snap a knee or elbow, put a pen in their neck, etc etc...

 

[alandavidson]

Not to disclaim anybodies asskicking abilities, you really can't know how you'd do in a fight until you actually get into a fight. No matter how much training someone has, if they can't adapt to the pressures of having clear and present danger right in front of them they will lose. I was a competitive boxer for five years and have seen plenty of people hesitate when they need to make a move. In a real fight, hesitation is the same thing as letting your opponent/attacker kill you.

Also, most martial arts schools available to the public don't normally teach their students anything applicable to a real combat situation. They're geared to get asses in seats paying membership fees and not teaching you something that could kill somebody and get you thrown in jail.

Speaking from firsthand experience I would have to say that if you wanted something that could be used in a life or death situation, find a real mixed martial arts gym, learn wrestling, or join the military. If your just looking to be able to kick ass and kill if neccessary, just get a guy who is ex-special forces to teach you a thing or two.

Lastly, if you don't know anything about fighting and find yourself in a situation where you have to defend yourself from extreme violence(worst case scenario), try to use anything and everythig you have on hand as a weapon. do anything you can to put the person in front of you on the ground and then run for help. Remember, in real life there is no fighting fair, there is only making sure your ass doesn't get killed.

As a self-defense instructor I have to say that I agree with this statement completely. I cannot count the number of times I have seen a person trained in traditional martial arts attempt to perform self-defense in class, only to fail miserably.

The problem is not so much the technique - a good punch or kick is crucial to any fight - it is the mentality. In a ring there are judges and referees to call it off when the going gets too tough. On the street there is no towel to be thrown. The mindset of self-defense is truly one of total brutality, wait for your opponent to strike, then use crippling blows until he cannot or does not wish to continue the fight. It is mostly about timing and brutality.

I know this from experience. I have never been in a streetfight that lasted more than 15 seconds because I knew that if it did the playing field would quickly even out.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, most people do not know how to talk down an attacker and avoid the fight altogether. Keeping cool and talking your way out of conflict is the most desirable course of action. Asking questions, agreeing with your potential attacker, speaking in a calm, soothing voice, rationalizing the situation, negotiating, these are all elements of self defense. Once again, I know this from experience. I have avoided countless fights because I talked my opponent down.

Overall, I think that people are afraid of violence. They see it on TV and in movies and applaud it, but once it comes into their lives and homes they are terrified. People do not realize that knowing violence does not make you a violent person. Violence is a last resort, a necessary evil if you will. Learning brutal action must be accompanied by learning peaceful minds. Only then can you truly be able to defend yourself.

 

[Colonel Alzheimer's]

does shoot gun count I find it to be a very powerful close combat move that disables or even kills most oppents i am up aginst

Yes, shoot gun does have that effect.

 

[Dags90]

Oh Gosh no. I have enough trouble walking without hurting myself (making progress). The only thing I'd have to me in self defense is my wits. I also weigh like, 110 lbs.(55 kg) so I'd be pretty well screwed without a weapon regardless.

 

[CrystalShadow]

I study tai-chi, which is definitely a martial art, and a surprisingly brutal one if you see how the form relates to the physical applications.

However, it also involves a philosophy that goes against aggression, and most tai-chi masters go out of their way to talk down any potential attacker long before it ever gets to the point of a fight.

I don't consider myself good at self-defense though; And fortunately, I've never really had to find out either.

Tai-Chi as a fighting style is demonstrably more effective the more aggressive your opponent is, and the calmer you remain.
I've seen this in demonstrations, and first-hand when playing around with friends.


But, as to what would happen in a serious situation, I have no idea.

 

[Abanic]

My snub-nosed, hammerless, .357 Magnum loaded with low-recoil 130gr HydraShok rounds, and a concealed handgun license make for the best self-defense.

 

[Lt.Snuffles]

I don't look it, but I am actually quite good in a fight. I've done judo (yellow), however that was quite a long time ago so my tactics consist of A) bear hugging them to the floor, B) twisting wrists/arm lock

 

[Bravo 21]

well, compared to most of this, I feel woefully unprepared, but the nike defense has always served me well, that or intimidation

 

[TehCookie]

The closest thing I get is having an older brother. We'd get into fights all the time so it's mostly form experience, he didn't take it easy either. One thing I learned from fights with him and scuffles outside of school is that people aren't used to the rabid monkey approach. In my self-taught style of fighting you get behind your opponent and claw at their face like a possessed cat or something. I keep my nails long for that reason.