Bad Things Happen, So I Happen First

[Magpie]

While I can agree that the "Good Girls don't" mindset is a problem, it oughtn't prevent one from realising that you can be attacked. That is just stupidity. (And severe lack of empathy, as it means that any victim clearly deserved it...)

My husband says that one of his classmates had heels that were probably reinforced. If my knees could take it, I'd get shoes like that. She could lean back in her chair with all her weight supported by one heel. And she had these boots for a while.

And I thought that the reason you lifted your knee at the groin was so that he wasn't expecting you to slam the foot down on his instep. The brain goes "eek, protect the delicate bits", and misses the actual threat.

[Igorina]

Of course, if I actually did get attacked, I'd probably just run like the scared little Nancy-girl I am.

There is nothing wrong with running away.

When I started martial arts, my first instructor told me that martial arts was a good way to build up cardio so one could run away faster than the bad guy could chase.

[cinema guy]

I've discovered a good way to strengthen your wrists is to use a can of diced potatoes as a weight and just do little arm reps while watching TV.

Yep. I'm doing that as part of my physiotherapy. Over the edge of the table, 10 reps, 3 times a day, along with a whole bunch of other stuff.

[Pagan]

I've discovered a good way to strengthen your wrists is to use a can of diced potatoes as a weight and just do little arm reps while watching TV.

This is one reason why I am now grateful that my parents made me take piano lessons for 10 years. I've got incredible wrist strength and a surprisingly (to some people) strong grip. Although, my grip in my right hand isn't quite what it normally is due to a very painful arthritic knuckle.

[Whiskey]

"Ew! That's gross!"
Eye gouges are gross

I carry a bottle opener on my keychain, sharp side out, for this express purpose. (For reference, this is what I'm talking about.

[Canarr]

There is nothing wrong with running away.

Jep.

I saw an interview with a young woman once, German Master in her age and weight category for Judo a couple of years ago. The reporter asked her what she'd do if some man came at her with a knife in a dark alley.

The woman just shrugged and said, "Run."

I took some self-defense classes years ago that had all sorts of helpful tips; not just for actual techniques, but for posture, awareness and behavior. Teach you not to be a victim, you know the drill.

One thing the instructor said, when demonstrating how to defend against an attacker wielding a knife: "If your opponent has a knife, you *will* get cut. Prepare yourself for that, it's inevitable. The best thing you can do, is to decide, where it's gonna be."

[Yurimaru]

Igorina, this sounds SO familiar... My friend and I (both female) have been doing the exact same thing at our martial arts school. We even made the women's defense classes free on weekends, so women can come learn what to do to get away from attackers. We get the silly girls who scream that everything is "gross". When we hold pads for them to try strikes, they come over and pitty-pat.

One lady, around 50, told me she had NEVER thought of fighting back if she were attacked. Never. I suppose she just would have given up and hoped the guy was only a robber/rapist and not a murderer, so she'd live. At least she knows now that she has a choice.

Finally, I had to tell them it's either do something "gross" or be killed in an attack situation. If they choose not to eye gouge, or throat strike, or rake the face, and they give up, then they are going to be killed.

They got very quiet after that and started listening more and trying harder with the moves we were showing to them.

[Pagan]

We get the silly girls who scream that everything is "gross". When we hold pads for them to try strikes, they come over and pitty-pat.

Man, I hate women that hit like girls! I about laid out one of my ex's one time with a right jab and he was a head taller than me and weighed twice as much as me. Granted I surprised him and caught him in the solar plexus.... His reaction was, "Remind me not to piss you off."

[LadyAndreca]

Self-defense was part of freshman PE in college. Most of the techniques I'd learned in high school from a coworker who practiced karate, but the one that stuck with me from that class was how to use a purse as a weapon, and to carry a small maglite at night--even the purse-sized ones are heavy enough to have some weight if you shove it into someone's eyes/nose/cheekbones with your body weight behind it. And to slam your fist on the hood of every car you run past to try to set off some alarms, break a window if you have to, make some noise, do ANYTHING to draw attention!

I was out many, many times past midnight in that town, and any time I went out between midnight and sunrise, I took a buddy with me. A few years later, when I had a temp job that required walking to work in Manhattan at 4 AM (that is CREEPY, by the way!) I saw ONE other person and he and I crossed to opposite sides of the street to avoid each other.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Yeah, I've had some discussions with coworkers now and then (or fake tussles where we're not really trying to hit each other) about self-defense, and they always seemed shocked when I would go for the "dirty" tricks.

When they called me on it, I shrugged and said, "I don't take martial arts, so if I get in a fight, I'mma try to make you stop hitting me."

After all, in a real fight, they don't take points away for fighting dirty.

[Andara Bledin]

Another thing on the flashlight angle: Get a nice bright LED flashlight. When it's dark out, those things will really ruin a person's night vision.

^-.-^

[morgana]

After all, in a real fight, they don't take points away for fighting dirty.

In a real fight with a real predator, they GIVE you points. Get enough points, and you get to live.

[chainedbarista]

don't forget the foot stomp to the instep; that's a good trick as well. i fail to see how being a 'good girl' has anything to do with getting attacked, but then again, i have to remember it's the mindset of the naive and stupid.

i wish more places taught self defense in schools and made it mandantory, along with rape education classes. time to pull your heads out of your asses the sand ladies, and live in the real world.

[protege]

When it's dark out, those things will really ruin a person's night vision.

...and a 4-cell Maglite can be used to clock someone upside the head

[Dips]

No. Plenty of people here own guns.

If anyone wants to debate the pros or cons of gun ownership, please take it to fratching. Threads about that subject tend to go south fast around here.

Thanks!

ETA: The post this is referring to has been deleted by another mod after an edit that took it into fratching territory, but I'm leaving this up because the warning is for everyone.