As of today, do you feel competent enough to defend yourself?

Question

Another thought experiment. I'd like you to give each scenario serious consideration. You don't have to propose your way out, but I'm curious if you feel you're lacking in any area. Assume worst case scenario (talking your way out is not an option, and injury/death is imminent if you don't do something).

1.) You're in an unfamiliar area and make a wrong turn and end up cornered and held up at gunpoint. You have no cash and little of value and the guy is looking nervous.

2.) You're at a party and an acquaintance and your friend end up in an argument (for instance, your friend accidently hit on the other guys girlfriend and he took offense/became enraged). You know the acquaintance to have a fairly well rounded martial arts background, and your buddy is a little bit on the timid side, so you step in to try to defuse it and end up the target.

3.) You're in a traffic collision where you accidentally rear-end someone. You limp over behind the other car and as you get out of your car, he's already coming at you with melee weapon in hand (knife, glass bottle, pipe, tire iron, etc.). Your car will not restart, and while you can stay in your car, he's more than capable of breaking the window.

Personally, my problem would stem from a situation where I'd be stuck in my car. Maybe I could use the seat belt or steering wheel to help lock him up from a seated position, but I haven't really trained from it.

What about you?

Answer 1

Communication skills go a long way in calming even the hottest heads man.  Use caution sure, but remember first and foremost, that most people aren't even trained in any type of martial art enough for me to even worry about their actions.  Minus the hand gun senario, in that case I'd have to rely on not making eye contact keeping my hands in plain sight and worrying more about the guys "unstable mind" than anything else.... if I can't talk him into calming down I guess I'm just dead in that senario.  Most people shy away from violence, even the toughest bada**es can turn into a total wuss bags once that distant gap is closed and you're looking them eye to eye.  In any type of situation as you've mentioned ( minus the hand gun ) I keep in mind that my training and technique will be there it's all in how I react should I actually become attacked.  Once I've grounded a man ( have in the past to protect my family ) he usually looks up in total shock that it happened so quickly.  I usually hear, "Hey man I don't want to fight dude" right afterwards and with a firm and fair warning I've let would-be attackers go about their merry way and I usually never see them again.  Not one time have I had to actually strike a man in my life because of my own calmness ( the killer frontal lobe brain usage I have ).  I've never really sweated the "gun" thing because the Lord has been with me thus far and really I'm not looking to get into a crowd or any kind of social activity where a "gun" is going to become a problem.  However like I said, if mugged by a man with a gun communication skills is all any of us really have in that situation .... even your every day cop knows that much.  Not allowing "emotions" to take over ( frontal lobe brain usage ) is the key in any situation and allows any one to use rational thought rather than having irrational panic set in which will effect you and turn you into a victim.  I feel pretty d**n good about my abilities actually and just spent most of the summer "qualing" fights right out in front of my home .... did pretty d**n good If I do say so my self.

Answer 2

the 2nd one

Answer 3

You say the gunman is looking nervous, which indicates that he is not a trained professional and can be easily disarmed.

   Being held at gun point would be the worst case scenario [of course.  If you dont do something in the first second or two, you probably wont get another chance.  If the guy is already looking nervous you can count on him being caught off guard with the slightest movement. Distract the guy some how, like with a sudden hand movement away from yourself. If he is standing in front of you gun in right hand, you step to the right at the same time with your left arm make a hard sweeping throw from your inside to outside, knocking the gun hand away, or knocking the gun from his hand. While he is off balance or off guard, kick, push or tackle him to get him down while you get away.

  As far as the party scene, thats easy, you step in between the 2 people. If 1 comes at you you do an ear slap (very painful)  with a cupped hand. As he turns his head away bring your knee up into the face, problem defused.

  as for the third scene, I get back into the car, if he busts out a window, he will have to come in to get me, At which time i begin frantically kicking as i get out the other side. while hes still in the car coming after me he is quite vulnerable if he is coming through the car, if he backs out and tries to come around, we play cat and mouse around the car as a barrier until help arrives or he gives up. If any  of the 3 do get a hold of me the throat poke works very well. You stick your index finger right into the small hole just above the breast bone and just bellow the adams apple. using a curved finger push hard he will go down immediately. If you keep pushing, following him to the ground you have control.

Answer 4

lmao I love you Kung-Fu guys always coming up with some scenario that couldn't possibly  be solved without martial arts.

The reality of it is, your the ones going to get killed, people see you guys a mile away and would NEVER let you get close enough to do s*** to us.

But that pisses you off, you hate that.

You train and train FOR WHAT!

Just to get mowed down by a pop gun, lmao.

You must be getting flashbacks that you're ten years old again, getting a beaten from your daddy.

Only now you must feel like you're fighting GOD when we use a gun.

Bless you my child.

Answer 5

really i'd be more worried about the first one since i am cornered and held at gun point so i couldn't escape

the second one the worst that could happen is i get my *** kicked which is very likely an out come

and if i was in the last situation i'd be safe because i always have something in my car to defend my self like this weird night stick i found in my attic

Answer 6

oh I am fine and can definatly defend myself...trust me...

Answer 7

the best thing is to negotiate first. the best defense is always to step away from trouble. but if there is not much of a choice..

1. for the first scenario, i'd probably give him what i have on my pocket, i'd throw it to the ground and if he picks it up carelessly, then i could probably defend myself by kicking his gun away first, then with hand to hand combat, i could have better chance of kicking his butt. if he's the smart type of thug, i'll probably just let what i have go.

2.like i said before, talk your way out of a fight. things can be settled like gentlemen without the use of force. a good martial artist does not show off what he's got not unless he doesnt have a choice(like being stuck in a corner nowhere to go and surrounded by thugs.).

3. if the guy is in blind rage, evade the attack and kick him hard in the nuts! lol if he's stunned, put him down. i'd probably be hit one time but not a second time.

Answer 8

I'd be most scared of being held at gun point. Yet I don't think it takes much skill other than running because unless the person has very good aim the odds of getting hit are pretty small. If the guy is nervous my best bet would be to make a loud noise to startle him and run in a weaving path away. I'd probably get injured if shot, death points are pretty hard targets.

For the 2nd one I'd probably get a hit in, I might also get a few more people on my side. I'm against violence but in self defense I may as well do my best. Getting my butt kicked isn't that bad and I doubt it'd be that bad since the initial anger was not directed at me and they only want to get me out of the way.

The car is a scary one, as I am scared of knives. I'd use the car as something I could run around in a never ending came of chasy until some sort of authority or someone else steps in to help. If I find something to defend myself with I use it. I'm sure this situation would get you the most help, (the law would be on your side)

I wouldn't actually know what to do until it happens to me, and the chances are that it wont.  

Answer 9

1, First things first give him all and any of your possessions. If you have no cash and little of value, it wouldn't be smart to risk little value over your life. Second try to negotiate, if he is forcing you to go somewhere, or go with him, like an ATM or even your own house. Of course deny, and he looks ready to shoot, try your best to evade the point of the gun. I have taken a few defense classes, and the best thing to do is to get out of the line of target.

2. Try to negotiate, and avoid any serious situation. If he forces you into a fight, I say fight. But instead of being fueled by rage, try to stop him. For instance, I train in MMA and I love to GnP ( =] ) so I would take him to the ground, secure a dominant position, and force him to disengage. If I can, get him in a submission hold, and apply the same force I would use in class or training until he is forced to clam down.

3. I have no car yet. But when I do get one, and this situation were to occur, my first instinct would probably be to lock the doors, call the police and move to the passengers side. And if he goes to passenger side, vice versa. If he somehow manages to get inside the car, I get out, and use the car to put distance between us, he moves one way, I go the other. Call for outside help, any passing bystander, police, anyone. And if all else fails and he gets to me, I took a knife defense seminar, so I would use what I learn if I was FORCED to engage. Other than that, I would most likely be so nervous I would run.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

1.) I guess since I'm not competent enough to defend myself, I'll let him rape me in the bullet hole he's about to put in me.

It's so sad I never learned Martial Arts.

2.) I guess I'd be bitchslaped till I'm knocked out.

It's so sad I never learned Martial Arts.

3.)I guess I'd be pissing my pants with a turtle head sticking out, hoping the cops get there in time.

It's so sad I never learned Martial Arts.

Hey how come you did use the bully at the beach scenario, you know.

4.) Your at the beach having a great time, some guys who's all buff and more than a man you'll ever be, kicks sand in your face making passes at your woman like a dog in heat.

I mean that's a classic and you didn't use it, how come?

Answer 11

Number 2 is the worst,I feel I could get out of the Other situations with the Least damage,I dont know what I would do,but for those people saying they would fight dead on when he has his gun drawn,Get real. I hope it doesnt happen to you,but dont sit there all Cozy on your PC and tell me you will fight close range with somone with a gun. I would try to Talk him out of it,and Pray that By standers are watching,somone will call the Police,and negotiate.

Answer 12

1. But I have a gun too.

2. I have a gun.

3. I have a shot gun in the car.

Guns are great, they make everyone equal.

Answer 13

1) Pull out my pants pockets and wallet/if I even had that to show him. Turn around let him see there's nothing in any of my pockets. Lift my shirt. Depending on his response then, I would react.

2) Knowing how to talk could easily diffuse the situation. I've been in many, many of those.

3) I'd grab a pen/my keys, use my cell phone, leaving it on for dispatch to record what's happening. I would stab the individual with whatever weapons I had available. I used to carry a 6" dagger and pistol in my car.

If I was out already and had keys in hand I'd go to the trunk and pull out my tire iron.