Yet Another Self Defense Thread

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Judge Dredd

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Are there any resources or advice I should look for when it comes to self defense, especially hand to hand?

Context and power level. I used to be good at fighting in school (I'd say about 8/10) and I did some kickboxing nearly 20 years ago. I was looking for something to knock the rust off and the advice online and locally has been lacking.

The advice I see over and over.

1. Get a gun.
I'm a brit, and even in the US people don't have their guns all the time. Same applies to knives, pepper spray, and other self defense weapons. Handy, but assumes you carry them all the time.

2. Get swole.
The most common advice. But given the abundance of buff roided out manlets who get destroyed by even the most basic bouncer or mall cop, it doesn't seem that effective. General fitness certainly helps, but relying it as your first and only line of defense seems dumb. Which brings me to-

3. Rely on tard rage.
This is the most stupid advice. The idea is if their life is in danger they would get a surge of adrenaline that would give them super human strength and reflexes. Not a great plan.
(Off topic, but I've seen movies and books where they have a fake tooth with PCP, which they take and allows them to break handcuffs, kick car doors off their hinges, etc. I have no idea if this is a real thing. I doubt it, but I've seen episodes of Cops where some drug addict is basically immune to being tazed.)

4. Learn boxing/muay thai/karate.
The best advice so far, but the problem with combat sports as a self defense option is that, yes, knowing how to punch and kick is better than not, they are still sports at the end of the day. Being "regional boxing champion" seems to be a common brag among wannabe tough guys. Things quickly fall apart when someone does something outside the rules of the sport. Another problem is that I've yet to find any classes outside of college. They are always for kids, or they flake immediately.

There are exceptions. I heard good things about Krav Maga back in the day, but never found anyone who claims to teach it. I assume there's books that teach the principles, but I've not really looked.
 
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Sounds like you just need to try multiple MMAs. Anything that avoids ground game (even though that shit is gay as fuck) will be a waste since it sounds like you already have striking experience. Guess join a few different gyms and pick up some sparing partners, if you can find somewhere that will let you spar multiple opponents at once that would be invaluable. Finally get a loicence for dem lungz, and start building as much stamina as possible.

I would suggest a good knife and some training in that, but you're probably white so winning a knife fight would incarcerate you.
 
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Things quickly fall apart when someone does something outside the rules of the sport.
The solution to this is to learn how to grapple and learn how to strike. Wrestling, judo, and BJJ are three that I've heard the best of, though I'm not personally acquainted with either save for a modicum of judo, and it's been years.

"Keep your head up when you fall" is very good advice and the one thing I do remember. Moreover, as a general aside, developing a stronger neck is good insurance for your skull.
 
:deagleleft: Marry an American :stickup: and buy a gun lol :deagle:
 
Dude. Gonna be straight with you. Isreali's do not engage in hand to hand combat they shoot brown children miles away with big fucking guns. Krav maga is meme shit. If you don't want to use a weapon learn how to box for when you are standing. Learn how to wrestle when you are on the ground. Learn how to parkour or just run for when you can't do either. You need to be in shape for all three so get in shape. You don't need to be the Hulk but realistically you have to stronger than the average guy if you want to feel safe.
 
There's not much to be said seeing how you have all the advice you need. If you don't like relying entirely on boxing, which is already the most solid way to condition yourself for hand to hand imo, you can also try learning other combat sports in tandem and incorparate them into some sort of MMA.
Since you're in the UK, I assume you're going to be fighting machete/knife niggers so get yourself some chainmail or stab proof clothing. But when you do defend yourself, you'll likely be locked up into the rape dungeons so that's another thing to consider. Really though, I'd almost advise getting good at sprinting since the cards really are against you. Understand that there's no solid way to guarantee you will come out on top when you have to fight for your life, nothing can make it so you're assured a 100% success rate.

Also
>even in the US people don't have their guns all the time
lol, lmao
 
I heard good things about Krav Maga back in the day, but never found anyone who claims to teach it. I assume there's books that teach the principles, but I've not really looked.
Where I live there are ample places to learn it. For materials, the only books I've heard of are the "manuals" that pertain to instructor levels (which are called "belts"). There are probably more books, but the "official manuals" are probably worth a look.
This: https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Krav-Maga-Official-Self-Defence-Program/dp/B00SFXVOKE

Krav Maga is all knee drills, kicking the crotch (yes as a drill), basic grapple hold and switches, 360 defence (basically, L-shaped arm up/down left-arm/right-arm to break punch trajectories; often simultaneous with a blow with the other arm), elbow strikes, palm strikes (so you don't bleed as easily if you hit something sharp, like a tooth) and multiple-attacker tactics.

Then occasionally, minimal kobutan technique, gun-and-knife drills, rear chokes, ground defense and how to get up safely, and situational drills (from a chair; with objects; with environment; defense against groups; hit-orient-and-bounce tactics).

I've practiced some Systema (also ample here), that was more fun and flexible, and included a kino strike technique - a kinda dead-weight strike, with shoulder and elbow 'detached' but controlled, and intended to drive into the spine through the body. You can see Mikhael Ryabko always demonstrate it, it takes a moment to understand what you're supposed to do:

Jan Bloem is very clear on controlling / breaking an attacker's structure in various situations; here's a seminar that also shows how intellectually processing the techniques / combining training with bio-mechanic analysis is part-and-parcel of Systema:

And here's a more entertaining intro to Systema:
 
I have had the opposite experience where I live. If not a majority, at least a very sizable plurality of people carry a gun at all times, including many who cannot be bothered to put it in the glove box before going into the post office, picking their kids up from school, etc. I do not know of any cases where someone was prosecuted solely for having a gun in a "gun free zone," and there have been a couple cases where a "good guy with a gun" stopped a shooting in a gun free zone and charges were never filed.

It's not worth the risk to my freedom and right to carry a gun to do this, but many people feel that it is. It's not exactly a good look to go after a guy who saved a bunch of lives by disregarding a fake and gay sign, even in very anti-gun areas.
 
Are there any resources or advice I should look for when it comes to self defense, especially hand to hand?
I'll give you the honest answer:

Majority of martial arts are a waste of time. They're a sport. Sometimes you'll get guys that are genuinely knowledgeable. 90% will be shit

The real answer to defending yourself? Your first line of defense isn't your hands. It's your mouth. Say the right things. Don't be a moron. Don't look for fights. Two tigers fight, one dies, the other bleeds to death three days later. Don't fight at all if avoidable.

A knife gets whipped on you? You give them whatever they want. Don't be brave, don't be stupid. If you don't have a gun, or are breaking arms and wrists with a mere sweep, don't bother.

If you want hand to hand combat experience, here's the real answer: Your first teacher is yourself. You teach yourself the way your body moves. Don't rely on fancy moves, just reflexes, good hand positioning sense, sensitivity, and reactivity. If you find a teacher who promotes these things, stick with them. Your fucking roundhouse kick is worthless if I charge in on you and shove you to the ground. Your reflexes are the real martial arts and worth their weight in gold. That's REAL self defense.
 
Where I live there are ample places to learn it. For materials, the only books I've heard of are the "manuals" that pertain to instructor levels (which are called "belts"). There are probably more books, but the "official manuals" are probably worth a look.
This: https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Krav-Maga-Official-Self-Defence-Program/dp/B00SFXVOKE

Krav Maga is all knee drills, kicking the crotch (yes as a drill), basic grapple hold and switches, 360 defence (basically, L-shaped arm up/down left-arm/right-arm to break punch trajectories; often simultaneous with a blow with the other arm), elbow strikes, palm strikes (so you don't bleed as easily if you hit something sharp, like a tooth) and multiple-attacker tactics.

Then occasionally, minimal kobutan technique, gun-and-knife drills, rear chokes, ground defense and how to get up safely, and situational drills (from a chair; with objects; with environment; defense against groups; hit-orient-and-bounce tactics).

I've practiced some Systema (also ample here), that was more fun and flexible, and included a kino strike technique - a kinda dead-weight strike, with shoulder and elbow 'detached' but controlled, and intended to drive into the spine through the body. You can see Mikhael Ryabko always demonstrate it, it takes a moment to understand what you're supposed to do:

Jan Bloem is very clear on controlling / breaking an attacker's structure in various situations; here's a seminar that also shows how intellectually processing the techniques / combining training with bio-mechanic analysis is part-and-parcel of Systema:

And here's a more entertaining intro to Systema:
Systema is mcdojo garbage. I’m going to assume you don’t understand martial arts very well, since you linked a video to Ryabko, who is a huge grifter. Systema© is not what Spetznaz uses and neither is Krav Maga©, another grift, used by IDF. It’s on-par with the Kung Fu mcdojos of the 80s and 90s, where people were learning bullshit katas and thinking that the things they saw in Hong Kong movies were real life. If you want to be able to practically defend yourself, you need to learn the basics: be able to strike, grapple, and run.
 
Less lethal since some of you live in gay ass states. Not all pepper spray/OC is the same - that pink keychain bullshit at your local sporting goods store is the lowest grade shit on Earth. Almost every police dept and prison system in the US uses either Fox or Sabre Red. You can find these on either Amazon or order directly from manufacturer websites.

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The Fox also has a slightly weaker variant called "mean green" that stains skin for multiple days and clothing allowing for later identification of a feeling attacker. If you're gonna carry spray these are the only ways to go.

Both companies offer multiple dispersal methods - cone, stream and foam. For most situations stream is preferable - foam is excellent against dogs but perps have been documented for grabbing the foam and throwing it off them or even at the victim.
 
Avoiding fights is the best move. If you can run, then run. Swallow your pride and do it because the odds of you or the other guy getting seriously hurt is not worth the fallout if you can get away. I have seen dudes try to stand up for themselves only to see their heads bounce off pavement before they're carried off in ambulance. Fighting should always be the last resort.

With that said, learn to wrestle and grapple. Striking is important to know but, in my experience, is less reliable. You might hit the guy in the head and end the fight quickly, or you will just piss him off. One time a guy tried to sucker punch me in the head and then panicked when I didn't go down. I grabbed him and gave him a little hug until the bouncers showed up. I didn't even use some cool MMA move or anything like that, I literally just restrained the dude as best I could and he didn't know what to do.

MMA is useful but often contextual and - like boxing - is not the end-all be-all. Street fights are very random, fluid, and fucking terrifying. That's why I say run away if you can. Even if the guy is in your face and saying all the right shit to upset and humiliate you, you could get a bad concussion or kill the other guy and it is not worth it. Like @Party Hat Wurmple said, in a street fight you have to react quickly to what is happening and the options available rather than think about specific techniques because they might not work in the moment. Or maybe they will, but you have to be intuitive about it because you have no clue what the other guy knows or will try to do.
 
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