Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with selfdefense

Help me choose a knife, machete and training manuals for self defense.

Not Supplied — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:31:29 -0800

Help me choose a knife, machete and training manuals for self defense. I'm going abroad on short notice to a knife carrying country on short notice and want to pick up some additional tools and skills for self defense. I will have time to train over there, but not much time beforehand! I haven't done any knife work before, but have trained in hand to hand combatives for about 6 months and I'm reasonably ok for self defense purposes.

I thought that a tactical folder would be the easiest knife to get into for a newby. Would you agree with this or do you recommend a sheath knife? Which models are good?

I thought of something like the spyderco delica with or without the wave opener.

Then I was thinking of a machete for more outdoors situations. Possibly going for one of . I know they're probably not the greatest but they're cheap and cheerful..I would spend a bit more for something better but not hundreds.

Which pattern of machete is best if it's main purpose is self defense? I was thinking of the kukri as it's got that weight on the front, but never tried any of them.

I also need training materials. Someone recommended this manual by hock hockheim. What do you think about this? I'm not sure about some aspects of his system as I've seen them demonstrated but dunno really. Any other thoughts?

If there's any links to knife and machete basics on the web it would be appreciated.

I didn't find a good forum on search and the one I used to go to closed down so if anyone can post/pm links to good info on forums it would be great.

Sorry it's all vague, but don't have long before I fly off :)

Cheers!

Who Punches The President?

artof.mulata — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:38:54 -0800

does the president of the u.s. receive any self defense training? and, if so, what sort and from whom? and are there any good articles or books on that subject?

Can you recommend protective gear for Krav maga sparring?

benzenedream — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:09:31 -0800

Can you recommend protective gear for Krav maga sparring? I've done some boxing and am now planning on doing Krav Maga sparring. They offer a package at the gym I go to but I already have some of the things in the package (cup, mouthguard, fight gloves). I need shin guards and protective headgear. Can any fighting Mefites suggest good quality gear? I'm not looking for a specific store rec, but pointers to a specific model. Headgear should include chin padding but not a full face visor.

Help me choose a sport

mateuslee — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:15:25 -0800

Jiu jitsu vs. aiki jitsu vs. kick boxing vs. thai boxing etc: Which is best? So I noticed that the gym to which I belong has a bunch of interesting sports that are more appealing than the usual bunch (jazzercise, nordic walking, etc) and this seems interesting, but I know nothing about these sports... jiu jitsu sounds like fun, but then again, I'm not really sure what its all about. Sure, I could try them all, but I don't really have time and so I hope you guys can give me some hints.

I am in my late 20s, moderately healthy, walk/bike regularly.

I'd like to do a sport that keeps me in shape and, being the practical person that I am, will also give me some other benefit (e.g. learning self-defense). Yeah, walking and swimming will keep you in shape, but what of it? This is why these courses seem more appealing, like two birds with one stone.

So, happy to hear from those of you with experience in one of these sports and with some insights for a total novice.

Thanks!

Where can I go to try and hurt people safely?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:27:10 -0800

Where can I go to let my rage out by really trying to hurt people, but safely for me and for them? Ideally, this would be like a self-defense scenario, with two or more padded and armored attackers I can go all out against, but who are willing to accommodate my individual scenario over just an hour or two. Difficulty: I am a big guy with martial arts experience. When I was about eight, I was sexually assaulted. It was really quite minor, in the grand scheme of things - one man held me while the other groped my crotch through my clothes. I thought I had really forgotten about it until I started therapy to become more emotionally open, and I realized that the feeling of powerlessness from that moment had really shaped my life.

My way of dealing with the emotion of that time was to provide as much control in my life as I could. I studied martial arts in college for personal safety. I am still very aware of my surroundings when I am outside, and often visualize what to do if invaders were to come in my house. I also tried to keep total control over my emotions when stressed. All this worked for a while, but I found my life flat and and sterile because suppressing the bad emotions suppressed the good ones as well.

So I started therapy. Now, in my early forties, I have a great and loving wife and a happy life. I am more able to care and love and be happy. But I still have in my this incredible rage from my assault. I think of it as my "killing rage" and am scared - terrified - to let it out. But it is bottled up with other emotions that I want, and I really feel the need to just work it out by letting the rage out to see what happens and what comes with it. The problem is, I don't want to hurt anyone. I am a very big guy, and though it is 20 years past, still remember lots of striking and kicking basics.

So what I am looking for is a supportive, controlled environment where I can recreate my assault, but in this case let the rage out and fight back as hard as I could. I envision fighting a couple of opponents quite brutally for just a minute or two, then taking a break to get back in control, but doing this several times over an hour or two. I would want the opponents to be safe, which means padding and armor and enough skill to protect themselves.

Where can I go to do this? Is there a self-defense studio that would understand and accommodate me? Northern Virginia/DC area is best, but it is important to me and I would be willing to travel if needed.

I have set up the email address stompingmywaytoinnerpeace@gmail.com if you want to contact me offline.

Thanks for any recommendations.

P.S. - I know the emotions I am feeling are not uncommon. Is the way I want to deal with them totally odd? This was my idea, and my therapist is totally on board with it.

Seeking information about self defense course(s) and related activites/classes.

iamkimiam — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:03:32 -0800

I am interested in self-defense classes. There are lots of methods and places to do this. The options are a little overwhelming and I know very little about the topic. Can somebody break it down and make some suggestions and/or recommendations that might be best suited for me? Based on the following (below), what would be a well-rounded type of self defense that might be most effective for confidence-building, safety, and exercise?

• I am a 5' tall, physically active, late 20s female
• I have lots of free time (could attend one class, or a series, but don't know what the difference is between a single session or an intensive course)
• I live in Oakland and can travel
• Would be interested to martial arts (there's so many kinds!) and/or other forms of activity
• Classes that allow me the opportunity to meet other women and/or men in the area would be great too

Any other info and ideas welcome. Thanks!

You don't have any more information, do you, Nina?

quadog — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:45:55 -0800

The type of self-defense demonstrated on the Fox series 24 is quick, brutal and decisive. Although obviously make-believe TV, it strikes me that this probably an accurate portrayal hand-to-hand confrontations when somebody knows what they are doing. What style of self-defense does the character Jack Bauer employ in subduing or neutralizing his targets?

What's an effective and practical personal safety device?

crack — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:28:41 -0800

What's an effective and practical personal safety/self-defense device to carry when walking home alone at night in a shady neighborhood? This is for my friend who was grabbed from behind and threatened with a gun last night around 9PM. There was a struggle, and the attacker quickly gave up and ran away. This occurred two blocks from her home in Southeast DC. In addition to getting self-defense training, she is looking to carry a safety device (like pepper spray and/or a personal alarm). She does not have anyone to walk her home (at least not on a regular basis) and so would like to carry a protective device for the immediate future. She wants to make a quick purchase tonight online but has no idea what to look for, and she wonders whether something like pepper spray or mace is more trouble than its worth? Product and vendor recommendations, as well as any other pertinent advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?

salvia — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 22:47:02 -0800

I just moved down the street from a crack house... Safety tips? I just moved to north Oakland. Turns out there is a crack / pimp house three doors to the south, across the street (we're right on the corner). To the east, the corner at the end of the block is apparently "owned" by some gang, so a male housemate (who's big and completely laid-back) never goes that way because two SUVs can come from either side and "pinch" you. There have been five murders on my corner in the last six years, all drug-related (someone selling on someone's turf, not paying what they owed). There's this 11 PM - 2 AM rush hour when people gather in the street and yell about things (last night's refrain: "I'm the best ho I know!") Of course, there are car break-ins, and this house's owner had his car stolen a few years ago.

Enter me. White female, just under thirty. Last night I went running at 10:30 PM, so I'm not the paranoid type. I've always considered fear of crime to be a waste, I don't want it cramp my style more than absolutely necessary, and it's kind of impossible to never walk home late. There are people outside, so it's not like some deadly chemical fallout is occurring -- I just have to figure out how not to be a target.

So, I'd like tips for making smart decisions and behaving in a way that keeps me as safe as possible. How can I tell who's just hanging out and who's actually dealing drugs? Under what circumstances would dealers treat me as a problem? Do I really need to completely avoid this "gang-owned" corner (it's the fastest route many places and I've gone through there a lot without even noticing anyone)? What kinds of drug users are dangerous, how can you tell? Walking down the street, should I generally greet people respectfully or have closed-off body language? Look around openly or mind my own business? (I'd like to maximize "don’t mess with her, that’s the girl who lives on the corner" or even "she's a cool girl" without triggering "what are you looking at??" or "I think that girl is watching us.") How to react if someone were to get hostile? Anyone had to go into dangerous neighborhoods for work and learned to be part of the landscape rather than a potential target?

Thoughts? Resources?

P.S. I read this thread, so the few suggestions relevant have been absorbed.

Martial art instruction in N/NE Dallas area

arathorn — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 12:36:41 -0800

Have any recs for good adult-oriented martial arts training in the North/Northeast Dallas area? I'm twenty-seven, in reasonably good shape, and have no martial arts experience. I'm looking for good, experienced instructors, not a belt factory. I'm not too concerned about the style being taught, as long as the instruction is good. Thanks! If I should be more concerend about the style being taught, I'd be open for advice on that also! I'm tall and lanky, if that helps narrow things down...

Self Defense Lobbying in the UK

lunkfish — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:12:04 -0800

Are there any groups in the UK campaigning to change the laws on self-defense and weapon ownership? I would like to join groups campaigning to allow British citizens more rights to defend themselves, and to legalise the carrying of handguns/other weapons.

Does anyone know what organizations are doing work in this area?

I'd like to steer clear of anyone promoting discrimination, extreme politics etc.

Ideally they would be inclusive groups without a political agenda.

Also are there any websites summarizing weapons laws in different countries around the world and different US states?

What do I do when I am attacked by a big dog?

deafmute — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 19:24:36 -0800

I'm being attacked by a big, vicious dog; what do I do? I know what to do when faced with a bear, but what about a dog? What's way to stop from dying?

Martial Art Recommendations

LittleMissCranky — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 13:02:18 -0800

I would like to start taking classes in some kind of martial art. I'm interested in something that will help me get in shape and also provide a little self defense. What flavor should I pursue?