Self defense in a hostage situation?

Question

What would you do in a hostage situation?

What methods of attak would you use? Let me make this a bit clear.

Let's say if you hold someone hostage and the hostage knows how to defend themselves, what would the person who's holding the hostage hostage do?

I mean you never know in a situation like this when choosing a hostage that who knows how to defend themselves and who don't.

Ppl that practise martials arts, can ppl tell that you're a martial artist?

Do you give a martial arts vibe?

I really shouldn't choose someone who wears a karate outfit right?

Answer 1

Unless you are knowledgeable in weapons disarmament I would wait for the cavalry to come.  If you are in a  multiple gunman multiple hostage situation, give it up, wait for the cavalry to come.

If I were to hold someone hostage, I would keep them at a meters length at least, the closer you get, the more likely a trained person can attempt a disarm.  The question then becomes what next, will your disarm create a dangerous situation for other hostages.  Hostages are usually held as bargaining chips for something, otherwise they would be dead.

If you alone are being held hostage by a lone gunman, attempt a weapons disarm, what do you have to lose except your life.  if you hear the gunshot in a disarm, you are still alive and in the game.

The job of the hostage rescue team is to asses the situation, plan and then act.  Bad guys like to establish dominance and keep the hostages in a group or groups, our job is to figure out how to best get in, get the bad guys out of the picture and get the hostages secure.  There are many ways to create confusion, but please be careful, don't give the bad guys enough time to clear their heads and start killing anything not their own.

This is not easy, as my predecessors went to  Uganda and rescued 135 hostages, they really set the bar high.  We do a lot of this.  It is a very aggressive kind of action and the adrenaline is pumping.  We kind of wrote the book on hostage rescue.

Even then, if a group of hostages is taken, the person who may have the capability has to have a plan or they will get a lot of people dead.  If I were in a group of people, some with military experience, I would try to work out a plan prior to trying anything. Even then, it is a risky thing.  I remember two US Navy SEALs were injured when the Air France jet was hijacked, on the way to Uganda, they were not trained in CT tactics at the time.  Maybe I would feel comfortable if I knew some of the others.

As far as giving off a martial arts "vibe", you will be either the first one the bad guys kill or beat down, they have the guns, you don't.  As a hostage I would not want to be the guy in the gi.  As a bad guy he is the first one I would beat down to discourage the rest.  Don't give of the "bad ***" vibe, or you will be the first one to get hurt.  Seem helpless, surprise works best.

Look, if this is a single hostage, single gun man scenario,  it is different, you are risking your own life.  If this is a multiple gunman multiple hostage situation, you have to think of others as well as yourself.  Even then, surprise is your best friend.  This is a situation where the only life you are risking is your own.

Best to wait for the cavalry to come.

Answer 2

They should expect the unexpected and never judge a book by its cover :)***

Answer 3

you never know when someone is a martial artist (esp. the Gracie Family) but i suggest that one should choose the skinniest guy.

Gracie Family?: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WlYD-j9GSvo&f...

Answer 4

In honor of the 4th of July, in rememberance of the heroes of Flight 93,

I say "We're going to rush the hijackers!" (click)

Answer 5

Why do you want to know how to take people hostage, and attack hostages who know how to defend themselves?

Answer 6

I'd pick a male hostage who would know graplin... need i say more?!?

Answer 7

With enough traiing you can learn to see how someonke moves and from that you can tell if they have alot of training or not.  I would steer clear of taking a hostage especially if it were myself or any of my students you would most likley end up hospitalized or dead

Answer 8

The best line of attack for anyone holding someone hostage is to not have to deal with retaliation. So, the proper plan would include the right tools like:

Chloroform

straight jacket

small chains

sledge hammer

gun

Stun gun

masking clothing

and a secret hide away

Approach from behind and stun gun you mate, umm I mean hostage. Chloroform them, and drag them back to your hide away. wrap them tight in the straight jacket and pin them down with the chains. The sledge is a useful deterrent for escape, but it all depends why you want them in the first place. The masking clothing and gun are obviously practical. And depending on your lover, umm victim, a muzzle and or  Novocain could come in handy.

Have fun