[Spearchucker]

Krav Maga. First thing it teaches you is to stay away from areas where something like this is possible. The next thing they teach you is to run away. If you think you'll look like a coward, compare that feeling to having a knife in your arm. If none of that works out for you, they teach you how to defend yourself. Brutally. Even how to extricate your wrist or arm from a grab. Physical size and strength (yours and your assailants) doesn't matter.

Just a couple of lessons should equip you well enough to avoid what happened here. Give the lessons some time and you should have enough to deal with multiple assailants, knife, stick and gun threats.

I see this as a basic life skill, right up there with at least enough knowledge to differentiate a Monet from a Van Gogh, or a Beethoven from a Rachmaninoff.

[rb2k_]

Kind of a stretch to call that a "basic life skill".

In my last 30 years, I never had to fight anyone or differentiate a Monet from a Van Gough or a Beethoven from a Rachmaninoff. Then again, I don't life in crime heavy neighbourhoods or go to dinner parties that fancy.

Maybe that's something for the next 30.

[lotsofmangos]

You should get out more, I've needed those skills in one evening.

edit - Defending yourself is a basic life skill. Not ever getting into a fight means you are already fairly good at it.

[jessaustin]

Let me guess: when you drink beer, you prefer Dos Equis.

[lotsofmangos]

Wasn't familiar with the advert till I just looked it up. But no, I have to say, that if I am feeling pretentious, I would have to claim to be more Churchillian in my tastes. What really sets you up for breakfast is some Carlsberg Special Brew, washed down with a nice glass of Buckfast Tonic Wine.

[collyw]

Buckfast Tonic Wine. Are you a Weegie?

Yeah, getting intimidated by neds was part of my growing up. You learn how to show them enough respect not to annoy them, without looking wimpish enough for you to be an easy target.

Some people must have proper sheltered lives.

[sehr]

Some people must have proper sheltered lives.

It is a software dominated forum. This is just an anecdote, but I'd guess >80% of the developers I have met are from comfortably middle - upper middle class families/areas.

[rgrieselhuber]

His name is spearchucker, so it may not be a stretch to call that a basic life skill in his neighborhood.

[Spearchucker]

I'm aware of the connotation. I chose the name based on my favourite character in MASH. HN offers no way of changing my name. Another basic life skill is asking rather than assuming.

[rgrieselhuber]

It was just a joke, spearchucker.

[guard-of-terra]

Why would you want to change it?

[Spearchucker]

Some view it as a racial slur.

[BugBrother]

What... against whom?

OK, I don't expect rationality from racists or anti racists (but then, in Sweden "anti racist" seems to be a code word for antisemite. No, sadly not joking.)

But... I can't off the top of my head name a culture that has never used spears and javelins.

Edit: First, spears is an universal farmer's weapon most everywhere. Second, thanks guard-of-terra: It is a shame -- considering all the English I have consumed for decades (both professionally and in literature etc) -- that I don't even seem to know the basic racist insults. :-)

[Spearchucker]

I understand that not everyone lives the same kind of life, so have a look at this - it's full of seemingly inane or useless skills some consider basic life skills: http://www.amazon.com/The-Modern-Gentleman-2nd-Edition/dp/16...

I'm interested in these things because I can't predict the future, but like to prepare for it. Also because knowing how to mix a drink or who composed Peter and the Wolf makes for interesting conversation with people I naturally feel comfortable around. Each to their own I guess.

[judk]

Basic life skills for the upper crust, coasting through life on privilege and shibboleth.

Statistically speaking, not interesting or relevant to almost anyone, and a net drag on society in general.

[Spearchucker]

Upper crust?!? Dude you have no idea. But thanks, I'll take this as a compliment.

[romanovcode]

If you're learning martial arts for self-defense in 21'st century you're wasting your time. Your karate skills won't help vs someone with a led pipe, crowbar or a knife.

Just get a gun and get it over with.

[JoeAltmaier]

Maybe exaggerating? Martial arts vs lead pipe can be very effective. Likewise crowbar. Knife - everybody gets hurt but you can still 'win'.

[Spearchucker]

Crow bar is a long range weapon, so get in close. Knife is probably the most difficult to defend against - certainly more so than a gun.

I did this exercise once, where my training partner held a paintball gun a couple inches from my chest. My job was to disarm him without getting shot. His job was to shoot as soon as he saw me move. It took five attempts before I got it. And getting hit at that range is a great incentive - all we had on was a facemask and overalls over shorts and a t-shirt.

[michaelochurch]

I see this as a basic life skill

While self-defense is a useful skill, there isn't a good way to practice actual street fighting except to actually do it. (Martial arts sparring is not the same thing.) And, in street fights, even if you're skilled, you can die. So it's best to avoid the context in which those skills are gained.

The only sane option is to avoid street fights whenever possible.

Give the lessons some time and you should have enough to deal with multiple assailants, knife, stick and gun threats.

No martial art makes it safe to deal with a guy with a weapon. Even an idiot with a knife or a brick can get lucky. You're best off just not to carry a lot of money in unfamiliar places. If you're in a risky place, put a small amount of money in a decoy wallet (losing the cash isn't a big deal compared to losing ID, credit cards, passport) and, if you have them, some expired cards. Most robbers are junkies who don't care about the cards anyway, because you can't buy drugs with a card. Flash the bills (at least a couple of $20s preferably), chuck the wallet, and get the fuck out.

Likewise, with four assailants, no martial art is going to give you the upper hand. 4-on-1 is just a bad place to be. In the movies, putting serious hurt on one of them intimidates the other three and allows you to fight them (or chase them off) serially, Oldboy style. In real life, it doesn't usually work that way. They might run away, or they might get even more pissed off after you fuck up their friend. You're betting on 3 people all choosing "run away". Not great odds.

You're somewhat better off with the martial arts knowledge than without, and it probably gives you the upper hand in 1-on-1 when there is no weapon (even against a physically stronger opponent) but the thing about street fights is that you're making decisions in split seconds and you never know when a weapon will come out or friends will be called in. Again, even an idiot can get lucky and knock you out or kill you. With 4 people, it's even more likely that they'll continue to fuck you up after you're down.

[krapp]

>No martial art makes it safe to deal with a guy with a weapon. Even an idiot with a knife or a brick can get lucky.

Yep. If someone approaches you with a gun or a knife, and your opponent is actually willing to shoot or stab you, even a black belt is probably getting stabbed or shot. The best defense is always to not be there at all. Though sometimes that's not an option (but more often than not, it is.)

[dm2]

I've never even considered a decoy wallet, that's a good idea.

I often think about how much of a hassle it would be to cancel all credit cards, get new IDs, and replace everything in my wallet.

[jotm]

Decoy wallet or a few bills in a separate pocket "guys, here's $20, it's all I have on me". Unless they're drunk or crazy, they'll take it. But they'll also want your phone these days.

[Spearchucker]

4 on 1 is not a good place to be, indeed. It's preferable to being on the ground with multiple attackers, but that's another story. Search Youtube for "krav maga multiple attackers". It's not easy, but with some training it's not difficult either.

Another good point you make - sparring is nothing like the real thing. Totally agree. You can train for that too though, and there are a number of good techniques to prepare for it. Some good book on the subject include Facing Violence by Rory Miller, and On Kiling, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.

[S4M]

> 4 on 1 is not a good place to be, indeed. It's preferable to being on the ground with multiple attackers, but that's another story. Search Youtube for "krav maga multiple attackers". It's not easy, but with some training it's not difficult either.

Dude, please don't say that. Maybe someone who has trained at least for ten years could handle a 4 vs 1 fight. Maybe. And never with 100% probability of winning.

If you are in such a situation, just run the fuck away, or give them what they want. And stop believing and spreading the fact that handling a 4 vs 1 fight is doable "with some training".

[Spearchucker]

Of course. Sorry. Stupid me, I should know it's not possible. What an idiot, huh?

Hey did you do the search on YouTube? Guess not. Sergei and Larry should've just given up too. They were told search is a dead end. They were also super stupid, not listening to people who totally knew better...