I have fought many times xD, i think is the best way to achieve peace

And yes muay thai or Kick-Boxing are better in the street 

a knee in the chest/face is  my recommendation today



Im doing bodybuilding legs only to make a powerfull knee XD

I want this 

something very important you learn from martial arts classes are your strengths and weaknesses, so i recommend it even just for this reason

other things i learned, from capoeira, is to always dodge. dodging the entire situation would be the best. blocking only works if you're physically stronger
also, scream if you're attacked. screaming both attracts other people's attention, and helps raise your confidence
and if you're short your knee goes in the attacker's crotch. very basic and in most cases also very efficient. there are no dirty tricks in real fights
take-downs are also nice to learn

If I wanted to learn a self-defense style, it would have to be Krav Maga. It's "anything goes" attitude makes it better suited for actual street encounters. But if I felt like I was in a situation where I needed to learn self-defense, I'd just get a conceal and carry.

I grew up fighting so im not really worried about this. Lets just say I have a few videos on youtube from highschool that im not very proud of.

Lemme see.

Have a can of mace in your purse like any normal woman would. Let them have it in the eyes.

Quote from: Francis Ann Burgett on July 29, 2011, 03:11:12 PM
Have a can of mace in your purse like any normal woman would. Let them have it in the eyes.

I do not reccomend mace. Get yourself a revolver, a 38 special, if you know guns then get a 40 or 45

Kate D

I would not physically be able to fight, but I have thought about getting pepper spray and maybe some sort of loud whistle or alert device.  I don't usually go out at night alone, but if I have to, I'm very conscious of my surroundings, try to stay in open, public, and well lit areas, etc.

A friend of mine would carry a spray of some kind and one of those small air horns    Her plan of action (that she would practice and was pretty good at) was to simultaneously whip out the spray and air horn on whoever and kick them in the groin with her Dr. Martens

I've lost contact with her, but I can just imagine the poor soul that tries any monkey biz with her    She's a rather feisty one

Quote from: Sunnynight on July 29, 2011, 01:45:16 PM
If I wanted to learn a self-defense style, it would have to be Krav Maga. It's "anything goes" attitude makes it better suited for actual street encounters. But if I felt like I was in a situation where I needed to learn self-defense, I'd just get a conceal and carry.

My instructor made one thing very clear. IF you are going fight, attack to kill. If you only try to wound your opponent, you'll probably just end up making him/her angry. Then you'll get the snot beaten out of you.

Quote from: kate durcal on July 29, 2011, 07:12:25 PM
I do not reccomend mace. Get yourself a revolver, a 38 special, if you know guns then get a 40 or 45

Kate D

NO!!!!

Only carry a gun if you are 100% certain that you could point it at someone and pull the trigger. If you can't do that, your opponent will disarm you, and you will be faced by an attacker holding your gun on you.

I had 4 uncles that were Army Rangers, Korean War Vets and Michigan Militia.  They raised all the boys in our family to be ready for the Race Wars that were going to break out any day.  So my mantra when threatened is, "Pity the fool who messes with the wrong ->-bleeped-<-, and I'm that ->-bleeped-<-."

In the wild, fighting ability is secondary to confidence in fighting ability.  If you show no fear, it scares the other wild animals.

That being said, everybody should know how to defend themselves, just in case.

For me, judo has always been the most effective martial art.  Turning an attacker into a kinetic energy weapon aimed at a wall always puts that attacker out, and scares everybody else.   Only rarely does it damage the wall.

I have never had to defend myself as a woman.

Sadly, it is true that women generally have to be more cautious than men about where they go and what they do.  Further, transpeople generally have to be more cautious than cispeople.

My 7 personal rules of thumb regarding dealing with trouble:

1)  Always be aware of your surroundings. Trouble can often be avoided by just crossing the street, waiting 5 more minutes in the Starbucks until "creepydude" drives away, or even just buying a new drink when your old one has left your sight at the bar/party.

2) Use common sense in planning activities.  If a certain part of town you need/want to visit has a bad reputation, don't go alone and don't go after dark.  Park your car in a well-lit part of the parking lot. etc.

3) If you are confronted, try leaving and/or talking your way out of it.  The best way to win a fight is to defuse it before it can even start.  Your pride is never worth a possible beating...or worse.

4) If a conflict seems imminent and you don't think you can get away on your own, make noise...lots of it. A good shout for help can often end a conflict.  If it doesn't, it may still bring valuable assistance. Also, try to memorize everything you can about your potential opponents; especially thinks like tattoos, unusual voices, scars, t-shirt designs, unusual bling, names, license plates, customized car styles, and anything else that might help identify them later. Don't wait for the fight to start, notice as much as you can BEFORE the panic sets in fully, and keep trying to notice things until the situation is resolved/concluded.

5) If you have to fight, don't play fair. Ever! Fight to win. Fight with everything you've got. Use every "dirty trick" you can think of.  Go for the eyes, ears, solar plexus, "junk", and anything else that will be painful or cause damage. Fair play is for the gym, not the street.  Knowing the practical use of one or more martial arts can help, but be prepared to practice regularly and often. As soon as you see a chance to escape, take it!

6) If you want to carry a weapon, whether a gun or something else, make sure you can use it properly, without hesitation, and without remorse.  Do not carry a gun unless you know you have it in you to end a hostile person's life in a very loud and messy way.  Any weapon you cannot use effectively WILL be taken from you and used against you.

7) Assuming you either escape or survive whatever your attacker did to you, get to safety and call the police RIGHT NOW!  Remember that no matter what happened, you are not to blame in this.  You did not ask to be attacked. You need to tell the authorities right away, and you will very likely need to talk about it later with a therapist/counselor or a trusted friend or family member. Do not try to hide away and keep it to yourself no matter how embarrassing the situation was. If it is bothering you, solitude and isolation are not your friends.

Your mileage may vary, but it's what I live by.

Yes we should all know how to defend ourselves or at minimum how to avoid it. In response to Lisbeth

Quote from: Lisbeth on July 29, 2011, 10:52:35 PM

NO!!!!

Only carry a gun if you are 100% certain that you could point it at someone and pull the trigger. If you can't do that, your opponent will disarm you, and you will be faced by an attacker holding your gun on you.

I fully agree and its the first question I ask anyone that wants to get a gun for self defense. If you can't say yes, don't get one, and never point a gun at anyone unless you intend to use and put them 6 feet under! If you don't that's where you'll end up!

And especially for us we have the ability to defend ourselves, as many of us have military, street fight'n, etc. experience that most Women don't have.

When we assume the female role it does put us at risks of violence we either didn't have or were minimal to us before. I also carry a small "sap", and I know where to hit you!

Quote from: Dana_H on July 30, 2011, 01:02:35 AM
Sadly, it is true that women generally have to be more cautious than men about where they go and what they do.  Further, transpeople generally have to be more cautious than cispeople.

5) If you have to fight, don't play fair. Ever! Fight to win. Fight with everything you've got. Use every "dirty trick" you can think of.  Go for the eyes, ears, solar plexus, "junk", and anything else that will be painful or cause damage. Fair play is for the gym, not the street.  Knowing the practical use of one or more martial arts can help, but be prepared to practice regularly and often. As soon as you see a chance to escape, take it!

6) If you want to carry a weapon, whether a gun or something else, make sure you can use it properly, without hesitation, and without remorse.  Do not carry a gun unless you know you have it in you to end a hostile person's life in a very loud and messy way.  Any weapon you cannot use effectively WILL be taken from you and used against you.

Well put!

Quote from: kate durcal on July 28, 2011, 07:31:48 PM
I have a 3rd degree black belt, I carry a 1911, and have a lawyer in a retainer. Ah! THE POWER OF MONEY. Go ahead punk, make my day!

Kate D

P220, it doesn't have to be "accurized" like a 1911 (lol)!

Some individuals don't have the ability to "pull the trigger", nothing wrong with that, but know that you can't! Sorry for your past experience, but it can happen to Transgender's too!

Thank you for so many replies, it's an interesting read. I don't have time in my life right now to start practising and honing a martial art but I do have intentions of taking a self defense class.

Tasers are unfortunatly illegal here

Quote from: V M on July 29, 2011, 08:32:03 PM
A friend of mine would carry a spray of some kind and one of those small air horns    Her plan of action (that she would practice and was pretty good at) was to simultaneously whip out the spray and air horn on whoever and kick them in the groin with her Dr. Martens

I've lost contact with her, but I can just imagine the poor soul that tries any monkey biz with her    She's a rather feisty one

I like this plan a lot actually =)

As a horse back rider I sometimes end up going into town with my spurs on. I'd love to see the look on an attacker's face If I decided to use some nice rollers on him lol. Of course they'd have to be behind you  to nail then with some metal but still, what a painful shocker that would be ahaha.

Anyways, i don't make it a habit of walking about bad neighborhoods and I never go places alone at night so situationally I suppose i'm pretty safe, still it would be nice to be able to escape a bad situation. I've also been told to carry my keys between my fingers pointing out if I'm in a parking lot or parkade. Does anyone know if that would actually do anything? I suppose a right hook with keys sticking out between your knuckles would hurt but I could see it hurting you as well, and it's hard to get a good fist with keys in your hands in all honestly.

I suppose it's all just about avoiding and talking your way out of bad situations. I hope I never end up in one but i'll still take the self defense (and when I get more time in my schedule probably take up a martial art) and get myself a little air-horn and mace so I at least stand some kind of chance.

Quote from: Sebastian Fox on July 30, 2011, 01:21:42 PM
I don't have time in my life right now to start practising and honing a martial art but I do have intentions of taking a self defense class.

Try Kick-Boxing  is not a martial art

Quote from: Lisbeth on July 29, 2011, 10:52:35 PM
My instructor made one thing very clear. IF you are going fight, attack to kill. If you only try to wound your opponent, you'll probably just end up making him/her angry. Then you'll get the snot beaten out of you.
NO!!!!

Only carry a gun if you are 100% certain that you could point it at someone and pull the trigger. If you can't do that, your opponent will disarm you, and you will be faced by an attacker holding your gun on you.

Not at chance Honey, I been in combat, and you know, it never leaves you; perpetual state of situational awareness. I know how to handled a side arm, and I know the law pertaining it lawful use, and I do have a permit to carry a cancelled weapon. I will run and do everything I can do to avoid using a side arm, but if my life or somebody life is at stake then I will do not hesitate to use it. In the past, just discharging the side arm is enough to get everybodies attention.

My main defense is not to frequent places where scum bags are likely to to be. I do agree with you, if you do not have experiences with firearms, take a training course, most local police department offer gun safety courses.
Kate D

Quote from: Sebastian Fox on July 30, 2011, 01:21:42 PM
Thank you for so many replies, it's an interesting read. I don't have time in my life right now to start practising and honing a martial art but I do have intentions of taking a self defense class.


I've also been told to carry my keys between my fingers pointing out if I'm in a parking lot or parkade. Does anyone know if that would actually do anything? I suppose a right hook with keys sticking out between your knuckles would hurt but I could see it hurting you as well, and it's hard to get a good fist with keys in your hands in all honestly.

I suppose it's all just about avoiding and talking your way out of bad situations.

1. Are there any physical threats in your life right now?
2. What do you know how to do to defend yourself?
3. Yes keys will work and you don't have to put them in between your fingers (but yes that would work too), you can use your keys like a sap/blackjack and     
     flail your attacker with them.
4. Avoidance! But sometimes it comes at you anyway...fight or flight!
5. Practically anything can be used as a weapon, take a magazine or a newspaper and roll it up tight, now you have something to strike or jab with...