What to do when you just mind your own business. Then out of no where a car drive by and stop in front of you to start a fight. What can we do? Should we fight? should we try to run? How do we handle this type of problem?

Walk away.  If that doesn't work... run.  Fight?  Me?  Only in court.

Cindi

Here we got few people gotten beat up for no reason already. The police didn't even know who they are. As much as i would like to walk away I have a feeling they don't take that so easy. This is second to time i got target.

I agree with the walk or run away.  I trained for years in the martial arts and one story I like to tell is about a 10 on one situation that I had.  Basically 10 lowlifes that thought the pizza delivery person had a lot of money and that they deserved the money more than those who had worked for it.  They started piling over and then, before they knew it, I was out of there like a shot.  I was faster so I won.    The younger students never got why I ran when I probably could have handled them.  Most were not very street savvy and did not realise that in that type of situation all kinds of things can go nasty.  The story of that incident however, did drive home that even though one know how to fight does not mean that one should fight whenever an opportunity arises.

Be aware of who and what is around you so that you know where you can go should the situation pop up.  When I was taunted, I never talked to them nor did I give any type of an attitude, I simply moved on.  With most that will work just fine.  In the US all cell phones have to be able to dial and connect to 911 whether or not you have a service agreement with a carrier or not.

Good luck and be safe.

My advice is to always be alert to what is in your immidiate surroundings. Never be alone in poorly lite areas at night and never alleys and the like. If you can get away then that is likely the best option. Dialing 911 won't do much good in the immdiate short term as most authoraties will take long enough to arrive for you to be physically harmed.

If it does come down to hand to hand combat, a rabbit punch to the larnyx will drop the biggest of attackers, but it can also be deadly to them and then your up for murder more then likely. A sharp kick to the outside of the knee joint can also be most effective and allow you to escape.

No matter what these issues are a very good reason NOT to wear Heels unless you can kick them off quickly cause you aren't gonna run very fast in them.

Byee,
  Brina

Try not to put yourself in situations where you'll be alone.  I've had three situations where I have been stalked/chased/challenged and every time I was alone.  

One time I was coming out of a burrito place late at night.  I had seen 6 or 7 young guys inside and I saw the way they looked at me.  There was trouble in their eyes.  As soon as I walked out of the place I sensed they were following me.  As I walked to my car I turned around and they were behind me when they saw me looking back at them they started running after me.  I ran to my car, unlocking it with the remote on the way.  I got in and took off.  They were banging on my car as I sped away.  They would have probably would have caught me and beaten the crap out of me if I wasn't paying attention.

The other two times I had to stand up for myself.  There was no choice.  I think I shocked the hell out of them by the way I acted because I was furious and it showed.  One guy just stood there silent like he was stunned.  The stalker got back in his car as fast as he could and took off.  I guess I was like the smaller creature in nature that makes itself look ferocious to scare away predators.  It worked but I avoid those situations now.  I am very careful where I go when alone.

Julie

Quote from: brina on December 13, 2006, 02:37:46 PMMy advice is to always be alert to what is in your immidiate surroundings. Never be alone in poorly lite areas at night and never alleys and the like. If you can get away then that is likely the best option. Dialing 911 won't do much good in the immdiate short term as most authoraties will take long enough to arrive for you to be physically harmed.

If it does come down to hand to hand combat, a rabbit punch to the larnyx will drop the biggest of attackers, but it can also be deadly to them and then your up for murder more then likely. A sharp kick to the outside of the knee joint can also be most effective and allow you to escape.

What's that saying?  Better tried by twelve than carried by six.  I agree with everything else you said, particularly about 911.  The police don't prevent crime, they investigate it after it has happened.

Martial arts are good as far as they go, but if your attacker is twice your size...well, they don't go that far.  I'd say, if it's legal where you are, get, learn to use properly, and carry a gun.  Then pray to whatever gods you believe in that you never have to use it.  Then practice with it enough that if you do have to, you can do it right purely from muscle memory.

And of course, keep the basic street smarts in mind.  What's that other saying?  The one about an ounce of prevention?  

Quote from: brina on December 13, 2006, 02:37:46 PMNo matter what these issues are a very good reason NOT to wear Heels unless you can kick them off quickly cause you aren't gonna run very fast in them.

You mean you need a reason not to wear heels?

If that were to happen to me, I would scream for help an run away at the same time.  But what if they caught me, would I fight then?  sure I would with all my might.  I don't know how to fight, but I'd try to save my life with whatever means I have, hands, teeth, rocks, kicks, finger nails to eyes, knees to you know where.....etc

As someone else mentioned here, the best thing is to avoid dangerous places, parked vans, teenagers who walk in groups, empty parking lots, desolated streets....and so forth.

tinkerbell

Given any situation where getting away, permanently is not possible, I can and have stood firm in my footsteps and invited all that was offered.  I can, due to my past do this kind of thing and I've lived to a ripe old age for my kind, but I would not suggest just anyone, including myself, take this as the only option always available.

I was highly trained in hostile environments and encounters at a young age and so look at it as a form of "lifestyle".  The worse that can happen probably will someday, but I can't make molehills out of lifes events, and my own life doesn't warrent any special consiquences.

In my own view, fight when a fight is in your face, but after two strokes in less then a year, I know I'm working with limited resourses and I am becoming more cautious of my surroundings.  

The big question is, how much would winning the fight mean to you and your's ......

Sometimes thats the point you must consider in any situation.

Terri Gene

After reading this, seem best just to avoid. Here the street is light but not as bright as other place. Before this place was great to be in. There was no worry, everyone here was all night and great. However, now people start to be mean and things just seem to get worst and worst each year.

The best form of defence is prevention. If at all possible don't put yourself in a situation where you could be in danger.

There are many places, roads, paths etc that a woman would avoid placing herself in, and for good reason. In male mode I'll admit to paying scant thought to such issues - I am well built, and probably don't look like the type of person you would chose to start of fight with. However, in female mode that natural defence is gone, and I would be crazy to present myself in a vulnerable place.

If a "situation" does present itself, no matter how you are dressed the best response is to get out of there. If you are in a car then drive off, if on foot then run. Be aware of what is around you, and try to avoid giving clues (such as obviously looking behind you) of what you are about to do as that will buy you a few extra seconds. It is better to be a bit out of breath having run a short way for no reason than waking up in hospital because you gave them a head start!

Take self defence lessons, but hope you never have to use them. They are a good idea for anyone, but essential for those of us who know we are going out in a manner likely to attract unwanted attention. They will give you a much better chance of dealing with the situation if you can't get away, but remember  there are many random factors you can't control in a fight, so avoidance is always better.

Finally, never carry or produce a weapon of any nature that you don't know how to use and are sure that you are prepared to use. Once you draw a weapon of any kind you are "upping the stakes" and may make your attackers feel like they are now fighting for their own survival - which can make things a lot worse for you. Remember as well that anything you introduce into the "arena" can potentially be taken off you and used against you unless you know exactly what you are doing with it.

Quote from: born2learn on December 13, 2006, 01:42:15 AMWhat to do when you just mind your own business. Then out of no where a car drive by and stop in front of you to start a fight. What can we do? Should we fight? should we try to run? How do we handle this type of problem?

I do street and event photography, and as said, the first rule, is keep an eye on your surroundings and keep your wits. Almost all street photographers have had people physically threaten or intimidate them while photographing scenes or people. The first rule is, as also said, run, and if you can't run, use your camera to protect yourself. It's replaceable.

--Susan--

True. I start to watch my surrounding and that did help. Just hope it doesn't get worst anymore. Sure would be great to have street smart lessons :p

Combat lessons maybe here...
1.  as stated be aware of your surroundings, almost always you should be (this is hard to do when we are almost never in a fight or flight mode..)
2.  Escape routes are easier to pick than fighting procedures when almost in an incident.-keep your enemy or attackers in front of you or in sight..
3. Verbal Negotiation depending on the incident at hand? somebody just "mad" can maybe be soothed down.. Somebody drunk or on drugs or psychotic?  another story..
4.  in the end i would only refer everyone back to their own states laws on self defense or use of force.  in Pa use of "deadly" force (aka a knife or gun) is only allowed by law when your physical self is in threat of dying and you have no meaningful escape route.. Even at home the law (pa law in the use of deadly force to protect oneself)states you should flee your home if possible if your life is in immediate jeopardy.  The laws here do not allow you (like in texas) to use deadly force to protect property or land.  Only yourself.. Not even a loved one, you'll end up doing jail time if you kill someone cause they are attacking your sig other...
So in the end having a glock (or a few for that matter is nice..) but using one is not to be taken lightly at all...
Ricki

Good point about knowing local laws about deadly force.

I would add that people use guns to defend themselves, according to some statistics, thousands of times a day in the US, and that most of these times, the gun is never fired, only shown.

I don't have a significant other, but I tried imagining someone trying to kill my best friend.  If I had a chance to, I would kill them every time to save my friend's life.  One can never tell, and I hope to never know, but I don't think I'd ever regret it either.  I cannot see that as a crime.

That law needs changing.

Child of Light..
Good point you mentioned

Quotethe gun is never fired, only shown.

Bad thing is if ( as is a lot of the case where the bad guys turn you into the bad guy..) you brandish a weapon the authorites here can take it away (you usually get it back) but your privelege of a permit for concealed carry is usally lost forever...
for this permit you pretty much need to have a squeeky clean record int he first place.
Good thread B2Learn....
Especially with the holidays and theives and muggers in their "season" so to speak....Never hurts to just have that conscious thought on your mind about now!
Everyone be safe