Self defense while walking

Tarapritchett

Need some advice/recommendations for my later evening/early morning walks that I have recently started taking. While I feel like I am in a safe neighborhood, I don't ever feel like I can ever be too safe!

We are going to a gun show this weekend, and I know they will have other self defense items there - tazers, pepper spray, etc. What do some of you fellow MFPers take with you when you're walking alone? What products do you recommend?

Fit_Vixen1

I live in Chicago. I walk alone both in the morning & in the dark. Act like you're crazy & they will leave you alone, lol. It's worked for me so far.

TheRoadDog

Don't carry a weapon unless you are prepared and trained to use it.

I personally carry two knives when I walk. Sometimes, when I am on a motorcycle run, I will carry a pistol as well.

Jane61849

In addition to pepper spray, wear some kind of light colored clothing. Over and over people are walking in our neighborhood at night in all black and they assume I'll see them and stop. It's not always easy when you're driving around a corner to see the pedestrians that are crossing the street (against the light!).

fbmandy55

Don't carry a weapon unless you are prepared and trained to use it.

I personally carry two knives when I walk. Sometimes, when I am on a motorcycle run, I will carry a pistol as well.

PSh, and you say you aren't a 1 percenter.

Tarapritchett

In addition to pepper spray, wear some kind of light colored clothing. Over and over people are walking in our neighborhood at night in all black and they assume I'll see them and stop. It's not always easy when you're driving around a corner to see the pedestrians that are crossing the street (against the light!).

Absolutely - I actually bought a white jacket and have reflective tape on my shoes, just in case! Thanks for the tip!

IronSmasher

A real mean looking dog.

Micahroni84

I personally like the retractable baton.

jnichel

Need some advice/recommendations for my later evening/early morning walks that I have recently started taking. While I feel like I am in a safe neighborhood, I don't ever feel like I can ever be too safe!

We are going to a gun show this weekend, and I know they will have other self defense items there - tazers, pepper spray, etc. What do some of you fellow MFPers take with you when you're walking alone? What products do you recommend?

Get a lot of tattoos, grow a scary looking goatee and always scowl. Works for me. :laugh:

Seriously though, my wife carries a kubaton. Check the local karate dojo's to see if they offer a cheap or free self-defense course on how to use it.

stumblinthrulife

1. Carry an alarm - attention deters criminals. And if no-one pays any attention to a rape alarm, you shouldn't be walking in that neighborhood. When walking, have it in your hand, with your finger on the trigger.

2. Carry a non-lethal weapon - tazer or pepper spray. Practice using it in a pressurized situation. Get your husband or a strong friend to put on a welders mask or something, and 'attack' you. He has to make it fairly real though, you need to be struggling against his strength. Again, have it in your hand. If you can find pepper spray that also sounds an alarm when fired, that would be perfect. If there isn't such a thing, there needs to be.

3. If you go to a "self-defense" class, make sure they train in a pressurized way. None of this grabbing slow motion punches out of the air crap. If the instructor wants to show you a move, and asks you to throw a punch so he can demonstrate, hit him. Really, really try to hit him, preferably from a direction other than he asked. If (s)he can't defend against that - walk out, (s)he's wasting your money. IMHO, as an ex martial artist and kickboxing instructor, 90+% of self-defense classes are complete bullsiht - ineffectual at best, downright dangerous at worst.

4. Learn a small handfull of 'blunt motion' techniques that you practice in highly pressurized situations - kick to the groin, right cross to the nose, etc... If you think you are going to perform an intricate trap and lock technique when a 200lb drunk guy is bearing down on you intent on rape, you are only kidding yourself.


Finally, if I haven't said it enough already, practice in a pressurized environment. It's amazing what adrenalin and fear can do to you. The first (and only time) I was ever attacked in the street, my mind went blank. And that was as a 180 pound guy with years of martial arts training, and without the fear of rape. That was when I realized that what we proclaim to be 'self defense' is complete and utter rubbish.

TheRoadDog

Don't carry a weapon unless you are prepared and trained to use it.

I personally carry two knives when I walk. Sometimes, when I am on a motorcycle run, I will carry a pistol as well.

PSh, and you say you aren't a 1 percenter.

I'm not a 1 percenter. Never have been. No club will ever come before my family and friends. I will not blindly give my allegiance to a club. One Percenters give the rest of us a bad name.

Tarapritchett

1. Carry an alarm - attention deters criminals. And if no-one pays any attention to a rape alarm, you shouldn't be walking in that neighborhood. When walking, have it in your hand, with your finger on the trigger.

2. Carry a non-lethal weapon - tazer or pepper spray. Practice using it in a pressurized situation. Get your husband or a strong friend to put on a welders mask or something, and 'attack' you. He has to make it fairly real though, you need to be struggling against his strength. Again, have it in your hand. If you can find pepper spray that also sounds an alarm when fired, that would be perfect. If there isn't such a thing, there needs to be.

3. If you go to a "self-defense" class, make sure they train in a pressurized way. None of this grabbing slow motion punches out of the air crap. If the instructor wants to show you a move, and asks you to throw a punch so he can demonstrate, hit him. Really, really try to hit him, preferably from a direction other than he asked. If (s)he can't defend against that - walk out, (s)he's wasting your money. IMHO, as an ex martial artist and kickboxing instructor, 90+% of self-defense classes are complete bullsiht - ineffectual at best, downright dangerous at worst.

4. Learn a small handfull of 'blunt motion' techniques that you practice in highly pressurized situations - kick to the groin, right cross to the nose, etc... If you think you are going to perform an intricate trap and lock technique when a 200lb drunk guy is bearing down on you intent on rape, you are only kidding yourself.


Finally, if I haven't said it enough already, practice in a pressurized environment. It's amazing what adrenalin and fear can do to you. The first (and only time) I was ever attacked in the street, my mind went blank. And that was as a 180 pound guy with years of martial arts training, and without the fear of rape. That was when I realized that what we proclaim to be 'self defense' is complete and utter rubbish.

Thank you for this!

MirjaH79

1. Carry an alarm - attention deters criminals. And if no-one pays any attention to a rape alarm, you shouldn't be walking in that neighborhood. When walking, have it in your hand, with your finger on the trigger.

2. Carry a non-lethal weapon - tazer or pepper spray. Practice using it in a pressurized situation. Get your husband or a strong friend to put on a welders mask or something, and 'attack' you. He has to make it fairly real though, you need to be struggling against his strength. Again, have it in your hand. If you can find pepper spray that also sounds an alarm when fired, that would be perfect. If there isn't such a thing, there needs to be.

3. If you go to a "self-defense" class, make sure they train in a pressurized way. None of this grabbing slow motion punches out of the air crap. If the instructor wants to show you a move, and asks you to throw a punch so he can demonstrate, hit him. Really, really try to hit him, preferably from a direction other than he asked. If (s)he can't defend against that - walk out, (s)he's wasting your money. IMHO, as an ex martial artist and kickboxing instructor, 90+% of self-defense classes are complete bullsiht - ineffectual at best, downright dangerous at worst.

4. Learn a small handfull of 'blunt motion' techniques that you practice in highly pressurized situations - kick to the groin, right cross to the nose, etc... If you think you are going to perform an intricate trap and lock technique when a 200lb drunk guy is bearing down on you intent on rape, you are only kidding yourself.


Finally, if I haven't said it enough already, practice in a pressurized environment. It's amazing what adrenalin and fear can do to you. The first (and only time) I was ever attacked in the street, my mind went blank. And that was as a 180 pound guy with years of martial arts training, and without the fear of rape. That was when I realized that what we proclaim to be 'self defense' is complete and utter rubbish.

This is so true! I used to do Krav Maga back when I was 18 and we had outdoor training sessions where one of the instructors (big *kitten* fellows) would jump out of a bush or behind a corner. When the adrenalin kicked in I was able to do something, but eg. kicking a guy in the groin is not as easy as it would seem, it DOES take practise in pressurised situations!

My friend works part time at a shopping mall and was instructed how to use a coloured pepper spray with a loud alarm. That sounds like a useful thing to have in your hand when walking alone - it draws attention, burns the attackers eyes so they will cry all the way home, and they will be bright pink for a few days!

muffin_shufflin

My stepdad makes me carry a huge mag light if I go for a late walk. You can see AND defend yourself. Win/win!

tomomatic

I like the Mag Light idea. I have one and it's heavy enough to do some serious damage.

I also have police baton. It's a little heavy for running but if you can find the right thigh holster, it might be ok. Very Black Widow from Avengers.

My mother has mace and a stun gun. I bought her a stun baton. (She insists on staying in her bad neighborhood)

stresco

ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING you can carry can be used as a weapon, but If you don't have the training to use it effectively any weapon you have can be taken and used against you. I train in martial arts almost daily and teach as well, but I am no fool either, I carry concealed when I have others with me that I must protect, so I have taken close quarter combat training with firearms, as well as outdoor firearms training, force on force firearms training, Arnis (Filipino Stick and Knife Fighting), etc. No matter what you choose or is available to you, get training on how to use it effectively. Even if you choose to carry mace or a taser, get some training on effective and useful self defense techniques.

laserturkey

Look around in your area to see if there is a martial arts school that offers self-defense seminars. You can learn effective self-defense methods that do not require you to carry a weapon or spray that can be used against you. The self-defense training is sometimes as short as one full day, but some places may have courses that run for a few weeks of shorter sessions.

redheadedgal

I carry a basebal bat and proudly show it off. It works for keeping dogs away too, as I live in the country.

Dark_Roast

I have a mean looking dog, but he is getting old. Now I carry mace on my wrist, it works on rabid dogs as well as rabid men.

stresco

Look around in your area to see if there is a martial arts school that offers self-defense seminars. You can learn effective self-defense methods that do not require you to carry a weapon or spray that can be used against you. The self-defense training is sometimes as short as one full day, but some places may have courses that run for a few weeks of shorter sessions.

+1

LittleMissNerdy

In addition to pepper spray, wear some kind of light colored clothing. Over and over people are walking in our neighborhood at night in all black and they assume I'll see them and stop. It's not always easy when you're driving around a corner to see the pedestrians that are crossing the street (against the light!).

THIS. I'll never understand why runners/walkers wear all black at night. It's dangerous!

TeachTheGirl

Don't carry a weapon unless you are prepared and trained to use it.

^THIS.

I attended a self-defense class recently that didn't even teach you anything physical unless you were prepared physically to KILL someone if it meant defending you/your family.

Some non-physical things to remember are not to be distracted, to keep your head up and keep looking around being aware of your surroundings. Avoid neighborhoods where you feel uncomfortable if possible. And if you are being followed, or even fear that you are being followed, CALL 911.

brent44622

I usually take a Glock 23. Its extremely effective.

BlackStarDeceiver

I usually just drop trou and they run away when they see my downstairs mix up.


On a serious note... Make sure if you purchase something to use for self defense you are aware and trained of how to use it. Don't give yourself a false sense of security.

MorgueBabe

I walk with my German Shepard AND Walker Hound. :-D

Always have your cell phone, walk with a light, I'd get a tazer if you're that concerned.

BurtHuttz

Mean dog. Someone can take a weapon from you. No one will take my dog.

TheRoadDog

My wife and daughters take me with them when they go for a walk.

wigglypeaches

Look around in your area to see if there is a martial arts school that offers self-defense seminars. You can learn effective self-defense methods that do not require you to carry a weapon or spray that can be used against you. The self-defense training is sometimes as short as one full day, but some places may have courses that run for a few weeks of shorter sessions.

Take a self defense course. There's no object that can replace that. And, as an added bonus, the fitness benefits are out of this world!

Edit: Missed the earlier response.

Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt

I take my dog, and walk with a key chain that has two sharp points on it, specifically made for warding off attackers (looks like a kitty). They sell them at defensedevices (dot) com. Or ebay. Also, learned a little bit through self defense classes when I signed up my daughter for Tae Kwon Do lessons. (and sat in on them often)

stresco

Training, training, training...

Terasome

An aluminium torch and my phone. But then again we arent allowed to carry guns/knives/pepper spray/tazers here in Australia.