Should I Hit A Woman In Self Defense?
Somebody asked me, “what would you do if a woman was legitimately attacking you, trying to hurt you, either with punches or a weapon?” It’s an interesting question, and one that I’ve gotten before. It’s worth a detailed answer. My flip answer would be, “well I’d probably rely less on groin strikes.”
Somebody asked me, “what would you do if a woman was legitimately attacking you, trying to hurt you, either with punches or a weapon?” It’s an interesting question, and one that I’ve gotten before. It’s worth a detailed answer.
My flip answer would be, “well I’d probably rely less on groin strikes.”
Should I Hit A Woman In Self Defense?
Somebody asked me, “what would you do if a woman was legitimately attacking you, trying to hurt you, either with punches or a weapon?” It’s an interesting question, and one that I’ve gotten before. It’s worth a detailed answer. My flip answer would be, “well I’d probably rely less on groin strikes.” Let me break [...]
Somebody asked me, “what would you do if a woman was legitimately attacking you, trying to hurt you, either with punches or a weapon?” It’s an interesting question, and one that I’ve gotten before. It’s worth a detailed answer.
My flip answer would be, “well I’d probably rely less on groin strikes.”
A Perfect Self Defense System
Let me be clear, there is no such thing as a perfect self defense system. When I talk about a perfect self defense system, I am also not opening up the old “which is the best style in the world” debate. That debate is nonsense. Always has been. Always will be. To make a bold [...]
Let me be clear, there is no such thing as a perfect self defense system. When I talk about a perfect self defense system, I am also not opening up the old “which is the best style in the world” debate. That debate is nonsense. Always has been. Always will be.
To make a bold statement: style doesn’t matter. Style is the particular expression of certain physical teachings, sometimes combined with history. I am not talking about style.
Responding to the Boston Marathon Bombing
The bombing, deaths, and injuries at the Boston Marathon horrified the world. I lived in Boston for 20 years, have friends who were running in and watching the Marathon live. I feel deeply about what happened. Despite the initial horror, and sense of loss, I can’t help but feel touched by the heroic and generous [...]
The bombing, deaths, and injuries at the Boston Marathon horrified the world. I lived in Boston for 20 years, have friends who were running in and watching the Marathon live. I feel deeply about what happened.
Despite the initial horror, and sense of loss, I can’t help but feel touched by the heroic and generous actions by people everywhere.
The Myth About Professional Fighters and Self Defense
Recently, Black Belt Magazine posted a quote from the late legend Joe Louis: Against a professional fighter’s speed, accuracy and field-tested willpower, I don’t believe any self-defense expert, regardless of style, would have a prayer. While I have the greatest respect for Joe Louis, this quote represents another myth that’s common in martial arts circles. [...]
Recently, Black Belt Magazine posted a quote from the late legend Joe Louis:
Against a professional fighter’s speed, accuracy and field-tested willpower, I don’t believe any self-defense expert, regardless of style, would have a prayer.
While I have the greatest respect for Joe Louis, this quote represents another myth that’s common in martial arts circles. The myth is that doing well in sport fighting makes one invincible “on the street”. It’s one I particularly dislike, and I take it apart below.
The Overconfidence Lie In Self Defense
Over at my I Love Martial Arts Facebook Page, I shared a story from a woman who had successfully defended herself against a sexual predator. I also shared that I knew people who had defended themselves against even armed multiple attackers. People, trained and untrained, defend themselves successfully every day. So, some nice person replies [...]
Over at my I Love Martial Arts Facebook Page, I shared a story from a woman who had successfully defended herself against a sexual predator. I also shared that I knew people who had defended themselves against even armed multiple attackers. People, trained and untrained, defend themselves successfully every day.
So, some nice person replies with one of my least favorite lies about self defense, “people who get a little bit of training get overconfident and go out and get themselves into trouble.” Excuse my French, but that’s horseshit.
I am not saying that NEVER happens. I believe that any behavior that humans are capable of has happened. Fake bravado specifically caused by self-defense training is rare. The effect of such junk logic can be to dissuade people from getting training they need.
Let me break it down for you:
Police Zap Blind Man With Taser – Hoplophobia
Police in the UK, hunting for a man with a sword, used a Taser on a blind man with a cane by mistake. Even worse, the man was 61 and had previously suffered two strokes. Thank goodness he was OK. Now, I wasn’t there so I’m not going to guess at what happened. The poli [...]
Police in the UK, hunting for a man with a sword, used a Taser on a blind man with a cane by mistake.
Even worse, the man was 61 and had previously suffered two strokes.
Thank goodness he was OK.
Self Defense Is An Affirmative Defense In the Law
It’s amazing to me sometimes how many self-defense instructors seem to have little knowledge or regard for the law. Often you’ll hear phrases like, “it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.” I really dislike that saying. I am not a lawyer (and certainly offer no legal advice here), but I do [...]
It’s amazing to me sometimes how many self-defense instructors seem to have little knowledge or regard for the law. Often you’ll hear phrases like, “it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.” I really dislike that saying.
I am not a lawyer (and certainly offer no legal advice here), but I do me best to study my local laws with regard to self-defense. Why? Because I am a very good looking man, and have no desire to fight off prison rape for the rest of my life.
Seriously.
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Women’s Self Defense Course in Southern Maine
In the US, 9.1 million people a year will be victims of violent crime. 1 out of 6 women will be the victims of attempted or completed rape. It just makes sense to get some self defense training. On November 5th and 12th, I will be teaching my first public seminar in Maine. A Women’s [...]
In the US, 9.1 million people a year will be victims of violent crime. 1 out of 6 women will be the victims of attempted or completed rape. It just makes sense to get some self defense training.
On November 5th and 12th, I will be teaching my first public seminar in Maine. A Women’s Self Defense class.
Why Tactical Pens Suck
I am a fan of improvised weapons, but not a fan of weapons designed to look or function as something else. I think they can get you into unsuspected legal trouble, and they often aren’t good weapons. In the following video, I take a look at tactical pens. I demonstrate, using the Uzi branded tactical [...]
I am a fan of improvised weapons, but not a fan of weapons designed to look or function as something else. I think they can get you into unsuspected legal trouble, and they often aren’t good weapons.
In the following video, I take a look at tactical pens. I demonstrate, using the Uzi branded tactical pen, why I don’t like them for self defense.
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The Aurora, CO Shooting – A Step Back
When events like the shooting at the Batman premiere in Aurora, CO by suspect James E. Holmes take place, they are understandably frightening. People’s reactions under such conditions are understandable, and predictable. The anti-gun folks and the pro-gun folks will both use events like this to stump for their respective positions. People will look for [...]
When events like the shooting at the Batman premiere in Aurora, CO by suspect James E. Holmes take place, they are understandably frightening. People’s reactions under such conditions are understandable, and predictable.
James Holmes (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)
The anti-gun folks and the pro-gun folks will both use events like this to stump for their respective positions. People will look for simple answers and reasons why this occurred. Everything from the media to politics, to mental illness will be blamed. Poorly thought-out solutions will be proposed.
One thing that happens when extreme emotion (particularly fear and horror) is involved, is that we actually stop thinking with the human part of our brain. Our own survival mechanism kicks in and we shift into what Marc “The Animal” MacYoung cals our “monkey mind”. We physically get less cerebral. This is not a great place to make decisions from.
