lost 50% of your physical strength due to HRT. I deliberately stopped doing hard labor, such as hiking with a 50lb backpack up hills and doing arm weight lifting to lose muscle mass and become frailer looking, but in the process, I feel I lost about 50% of my physical strength and muscle mass. My question, is as it pertains to unarmed personal self-defense...
1. Do you adopt more of a female self-defense regimen, due to loss of strength?
2. What would you suggest from personal experience would be the best approach?

1. I'm personally looking into more women's self-defense courses(dvds and downloads), and exercising my best assets in strength, my legs, in the form of running away from the threat.
2. But as it pertains to a ambush or pummelling, I'm looking into Rory Miller's excellent DVD on The Logic of Violence and his book Conflict Communication (ConComm): A New Paradigm in Conflict Communication(Amazon.com) and the Personal Defense Network (personaldefensenetwork.com) women's unarmed self defense download and the Bulletproof Mind download.

All answers welcome....since we know that us as TG people are a targeted minority for bigots

P.S. The reason I mentioned MTF's, is that we lose much more strength on estrogen/progesterone/spirolactone/srs and convert to the weaker sex in the eyes of many bigots and conversative people as opposed to FTM's. I have a background in physical security as a USMC MP and law enforcement and crime analysis, the reason I bring this topic up. I'm pretty sure, we as a collective we can come up with some great responses, to mitigate violence against our community.

I haven't trained but I am fully ready do use any dirty trick in the book if attacked. Stamp on their foot, gouge their eyes, knee between the legs, break their nose and use anything in my hands like keys as a weapon. Much of it's a matter of having a clear head and taking advantage of any opening that you are offered. I have not had need to use any of this because I avoid risky locations but I am alert and I keep my eyes open for anything that's out of place.

I just carry pepper spray in my purse...

Quote from: EmilyMK03 on July 27, 2016, 11:53:19 PM
I just carry pepper spray in my purse...

That is great but you have to be able to get it and use it when necessary.

I have actually thought about self defense classes, martial arts stuff but had been advised that due to my spinal problems and disability, that it wouldn't be a good idea.
My main strategies are to run away from trouble, and to try to avoid obvious places and times that are more dangerous. I guess like any cis-female does.
I mistakenly thought that I would be able to fight my way out of an attack, scratch, claw, stamp, knee, etc... but in actual fact, just like most cis-females, if you've been on hrt for a long time (and maybe also post-op) you are now much weaker than most guys.
If a big strong guy decides he wants to do things to you, then you very quickly realise that you can't usually overpower them. And they can pin you down and have their way, and you can scream and cry and thrash about but it can be to no avail, as I found out.
So yeah, being trans is tough, but so is being female, as I now know.
What's the solution? Carry rape alarms and tasers and pepper sprays about in your bag all the time?
I just blot it all out and soldier on.

Sorry so dark.

I actually had quite extensive training in much younger days but still was surprised and stabbed on my way walking from my martial arts class over to a friends place

Luckily I was young and strong then and was able to still fend the guy off and make it to my friends place to get help

My friend happened to be a Marine Corps Capt. and another friend who was a Corpsman happened to be there as well

Even though much of that training stays with you, I don't know if I would be so lucky these days, I'm quite a bit older, pretty much alone for the most part, have several injuries and have lost allot of strength

I did manage to defend myself a few times over the years and even just a few years ago but got dinged up pretty good in the process

Just be aware of your surroundings and take evasive action when necessary

I have over 13 years martial arts experience, and I raised this question with myself.   However, while evaluating myself, I also began to realize that while I'm not as strong as I used to be, I began to remember my pressure points, vital organs and I also remember that one of my advanced hand to hand classes, showed us how to use a persons weight and momentum against themselves.  I am a combat veteran and I have always advocated to run if that's an option, however, in a surprise attack, you have a couple of things working for you, one is adrenaline and the other is your basic need for survival. In a situation such as an ambush, your instincts and training will take over.  Martial arts are great, as are other forms of self protection, but in the end, nothing can stop a attacker that has the upper hand.   Personally, I carry multiple weapons, ie, knives and I also open carry.  I was in a situation after I transitioned, where a 6'3 guy got out of his car and began to threaten me because he thought I had my bright lights on.  (My truck has a 3" inch lift)  so my lights we're shining right in his rear window while at a drive thru at McDonalds.  I grabbed my magazine out of my console, walked to the back of my truck, and removed my sidearm and bolstered it, then walked to the front of my truck.  When the would be person saw it, he made the choice to shut up and get back in his car and wait for his food. Law enforcement was called, unbeknownst to me, and arrived after the person left the scene.   I talked to the officer, and he told me that what I did was very smart.  He knew the person due to prior altercations, he was going to go talk to him about the situation.  My point is this, know your surroundings, go out in pairs if possible, and most of all, you can only do what you can do.  When I go out alone I always have my phone in my hand and accessible.  I hope you stay safe, continue your  martial arts training, be smart, and be aware of your surroundings.

I have always relied on my ability to talk my way out of confrontations as well as remaining situationally aware enough to avoid trouble before it starts.  I also have training from the Army on how to disable or kill someone using various weapons or my hands.  However,  I really haven't given it much thought lately.  Maybe I should though because in the past I also relied heavily on presence and body language.

Rule 0) Avoid the confrontation!  I try to stick to safe situations whenever I can.

Rule 1) Situational awareness!  Be aware of who is around you, where you are, and what openings are available to move through.  We (should) do this when driving a vehicle, and walking is no different.

Rule 2) Preparedness!  This is where the training and pepper spray come in handy.  I'm reasonably fit, and still have my ancient military training to fall back on.  "Stomp the instep, knee to the groin..." 

I carry pepper spray.  It's in an open part of the purse, on a lanyard clipped to the front strap (as I carry).  I don't have to pause to fish around for it, just slip my fingers from the strap onto the lanyard, tug, and grip.  The release winds up under my thumb.  Slide right.  Squeeze and sweep across the eyes... 

Late evenings, going from the train to my car, I may have one hand inside the purse already gripping the spray.  I'll be VERY alert to who is around me and how they are moving.

Hi Sanadora,

I've had some experience during my service in the Marine Corps along with Wun Chun and in my early years TKD. and to a far lesser extent regarding"experience" is being the "goon" for my friend's tkd self defense class every now and then.

For self defense I believe what we learn from MCMAP tan belt is more than enough.
I don't see my friend teach that many more escape moves.  It just all comes down to practice.
Knowing the sequence of actions so well that you forget it.. it becomes such like a reaction that it is just 1 movement.
the Practice it on different people so you get use to the adjustments needed against people with different height, girth, stance, strength and center of balance.  Also practice getting that adrenaline rush and how your body feels  during that flight or fight stage.

best as many have said is just taking preventive measure.  and keep  our 2nd general order in mind...keeping always on the alert and observing everything  within sight or hearing.

In the end of it all  it is true that cis-women are on average, weaker than cis-men.  The physiological difference muscle fiber, bone density, bone size, make it so that the average male by nature (or God)  are stronger, The 2 exceptions to this

• women do gain an increase of strength during their monthly time of period. (scientest also recently discovered that during this period they have an weirdly hightened sense to detect snakes.......)
• The female heart is stronger
  

But none of this really has to do with the ability to kick ass.  Wun Chun, the style that Ip Man uses and taught Bruce Lee was developed by a cis girl,  the same goes for White Crane boxing which is the origin of Karate.  oh and that indonesian movie "the raid" yup cis-fem was the og for that as well 

Just prior to HRT, I had joined the Guardian Angels for a plethora of reasons. The most important reason was that   I wanted to add some new self defense skills. I may not be able to throw a man anymore, but I can still put up one helluva fight. Paying attention to the "what not to dos" gave me the knowledge to permanently stop someone as well.

One thing I have always kept in mind, since I was maybe around 19, is that if I have to fight it will be to the death of either me or the other one.  That does two things.  First it gives me a tremendous motivation to avoid those situations to begin with.  And second, it removes the need to do much thinking if the situation ever arises.  Fortunately for me, I have not had to test the second part out ever.

When I am in the open, my head is always on a swivel.  More than one person has actually commented on how I am constantly aware of what's around me.  I have a state Weapons License and I generally have two different type weapons on me most of the time.  Plus I keep an ASP in the car.  However, in an ambush situation,  you're not going to have a chance to use the weapons immediately.  Dena mentioned the eyes and yes, that's a great equalizer if you can.  Not being able to see will end a fight quickly.  Another dirty fighting technique is biting.  I'm not talking about leaving teeth marks on skin, I'm talking about biting as hard as possible and trying to rip out as much skin and muscle as you can.  Yes there's a slim possibility of blood born virus but that's a future threat, not immediate.  Finally, in the case of a sexual assault, stick your finger as far down your throat as you can and throw up on him.  Seriously!  It should give you a moment or two to pick an avenue of escape. Basically remember, a lot of things can be a weapon even a handful of dirt to the eyes. 

There's no such thing as women's self defence. It doesn't exist. There's just self defence. What's effective is effective for men or women. The stuff that men don't use won't suddenly be effective when a woman does it. Dirty tricks are available to your opponent too. 

It's a scam. They'd have you learning nonsense like disarming knives and trapping incoming punches, and have you thinking you can rely on crotch shots and eye gouges.

In terms of unarmed self defence, just the physical side of it, in order of priority:

- Sprinting and cardio training.
- Grappling - Brazillian ju jitsu ideally.
- A proven striking art that uses hard energy: like karate from a good instructor. Not kung fu, wing chun, Taichi, aikido, or any other soft energy art. 

Or an MMA or  Jeet Kune Do class that incorporates these aspects. 

You really gotta go hardcore with your training to be effective I'm afraid. Regardless of gender.

I have always gone after effective pressure points, especially the throat. Normally, when a guy feels fingernails digging in where his carotid arteries are, it's over. In a more standard fight, flip him to the ground, and put a foot against his temple, while you call the authorities.

When you know how to handle yourself, the self confidence will show, and you will be less likely to be attacked. Criminals prefer easy targets that look like easy prey.

You have a foot. They have Nuts. Pretend you're Planters and are harvesting. Got to shake them almonds from the trees. I know this is simplistic but that's me. 

Situational awareness and learn to recognize the body language of someone who is prepping to attack or cause trouble. It is different from that of people who are not.

Use every means at your disposal if you are being seriously attacked. That can include acting to throw someone off guard, to learning pressure points and vulnerable spots.

1) avoid spots of trouble
2) If you can't avoid them, try not to escalate
3) If you can't avoid escalation avoid being hit - avoiding a strike is infinitely preferable to being hit
4) If you can't avoid being hit, know some rudimentary blocking moves; or if someone grabs you around the throat or hands, there are some very simple/effective techniques to break a grip (personally I learned Hun Gar breaks because my dad was trained in it).

Remember that in any situation avoiding violence is better than welcoming it. Not least because if you end up breaking your attacker's neck or something, the laws in your country might not look favorably on the defender. In my country we were only awarded the right to defend our own property from intrusion in the last decade or so.

Personally I carry a kubotan as a keychain and sometimes a knife, so I am never completely "unarmed". A knife is not a 'good' defensive weapon I might add, but it is useful as a tool in situations other than an attacker so I carry one. A kubotan or some other defensive object is more appropriate for everyday situations. Just be aware that some police forces (like the one in my country) consider the kubotan to be a potentially offensive weapon. Keep it out of sight. 

Walking to your car? Place your keys between your knuckles, if assaulted. Go for the eyes,or throat. Use as much power as you can muster. Jab as many times as you can. Don't be afraid to use your keys to unlock his grey matter. You probably are going to get only one shot, make is as painful as possible

I learned knife fighting in a course.  The biggest takeaway from that is if you get in a knife fight then expect to get cut.

Quote from: Deborah on July 28, 2016, 04:28:15 PM
I learned knife fighting in a course.  The biggest takeaway from that is if you get in a knife fight then expect to get cut.

Exactly. In my case I carry one only as a last resort.