tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post6561067331551472555..comments2024-02-11T01:14:21.904-08:00Comments on SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA: Self-defense Recommendations for Women?FerFALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-57697176844095483302010-11-18T06:45:43.378-08:002010-11-18T06:45:43.378-08:00If you want to find a great women's martial ar...If you want to find a great women's martial art school that offers self-defense, I suggest looking up the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, there have a listing of schools. I've been taking Martial Art and Self Defense classes for five years at Valley Women's Martial Arts in Easthampton, MA. If you're ever nearby, I encourage you to stop by and take a class, they're great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-54414283178993591002010-09-29T09:45:21.009-07:002010-09-29T09:45:21.009-07:00If you have a boxing gym near you, I’d enroll in t...If you have a boxing gym near you, I’d enroll in that first. Boxing is a no-nonsense martial art and a great way to get in shape. Three months at a gym and you’ll be in great shape. You develop great reflexes, stamina, and learn to absorb real punches. I did Karate-Do for 6 years in a very traditionalist Dojo. We kept it as real as possible. Even then, though, when I compare the Karate sparring sessions to lasting 3, three minutes rounds in the boxing ring punching and receiving it’s whole different thing.<br /><br />Now, street fights are a different animal. Growing up through the teen years, back when I was in Karate, I got into a few fights and was assaulted twice. Dojo experience does not translate well into street fighting. Assaults, on the other hand, are quick as lightning and vicious. One moment they are just in your face, and if you are trained to react, you either fight or flight. I’d would venture to say that this is the main advantage of training in a martial art. It engrains in your psyche the reflex to react as opposed to just paralyze with fear. Our instructor used to tell us, keep improvising and keep moving. Today’s society is too civilized, and people have lost the ability to recognize and react to aggression. Getting hit and training in a controlled environment helps you awaken the dormant survival instincts we all have inside.<br /><br />Gallo@gta forumAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-52489274484134122152010-09-29T09:04:55.957-07:002010-09-29T09:04:55.957-07:00e) Ferfal's advice in his book re the importan...e) Ferfal's advice in his book re the importance of sparring is very good. <br /><br />Anyone can show you how to do a knife hand chop to the carotid. <br />CIA officer Lindsay Moran, in her book "Blowing My Cover" , indicates<br />that Hand to hand fighting in CIA <br />training was covered in 2-3 days.<br /><br />Which may be fine if your plan is to just sucker-punch someone while he is still verbally threatening you.<br /><br /> It takes more instruction, however, to learn how to use the legs and waist to put a lot of power into punchs while not leaving yourself open to counterattack. <br /><br />It takes even longer --and experience in sparring -- to learn how to spot opportunities for strikes against an opponent defending themselves and trying to strike you.<br /><br />Dueling ain't smart but sometimes it's unavoidable. Criminals are hard to sucker punch because they are often expert in it themselves.<br /><br />f) Finally, there is a wide range of things encompassed by self defense beyond fighting. <br /><br />Making your house a hard target for an invader with strong doors, locks, and alarms. Some police departments will be glad to send an officer over to look at your apartment/house and give advice on how you can upgrade it to make it more impervious to burglars.<br /><br /><br />Another aspect is Learning how to control your environment at all times while away from home -- remaining alert and avoiding situations that leave you vulnerable and spotting hostile surveillance early, for example. Not getting lost and wondering into bad neighborhoods.<br /><br />In his book, Ferfal discusses the proper use of the automobile, for example. although possibly not in ways your police would approve of, hee hee.<br /><br />g) Women traveling --e.g, on business -- are particularly vulnerable. Defensive avoidance measures --i.e, to avoid situations where you become vulnerable to attack -- are covered in more detail in travel safety books like<br />"Travel Wise: How to Be Safe, Savvy and Secure Abroad" by Ray Leki. Again, your library can probably get a copy to review.Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-40618991218098213782010-09-29T09:01:36.807-07:002010-09-29T09:01:36.807-07:00I am not an expert but will suggest some other thi...I am not an expert but will suggest some other things to also consider:<br /><br />a) You might also ask some local policemen if they know of any<br />good self-defense trainers --but take their suggestions as advice, not Holy Writ from on high. Emphasize that you are not looking for trouble or lawsuits. <br /><br />But realize that lots of police don't like the idea of civilians defending themselves --although some support it.<br /><br />b) There are plenty of books on self-defense that your library can get via interlibrary loan which you can examine as a check on your instructor. <br /><br />As a start, I would suggest "Self Defense Techniques and Tactics" by Joseph Walker and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Manual (MCRP 3-02B) available online here:<br />http://www.scribd.com/doc/13080261/MCRP-302B-Marine-Corp-Martial-Arts-Program-MCMAP<br /><br />Although, give the size of MCRP 3-02B, you may want to get Adobe Acrobat (free download) and then download a copy of MCRP 3-02B from here:<br />http://www.everyspec.com/USMC/MCRP_3-02B_13346/<br /><br />(The Marine manual covers attacks and defenses for hand to hand, use of knife and use of stick and other improv weapons.)<br /><br />I not saying those are holy writ -- I'm saying they have some things of value. But use your judgment in all things -- esp re the idea of trying to disarm someone with a gun or knife.<br /><br />c) There is a strong conflict between self-defense and the social conditioning imposed by our laws and communities. If you are seriously threatened by someone you will have to hurt them badly to stop them and you will probably face a lawsuit even if the police don't arrest you. <br /><br />Unfortunately, the same pacifists, lawyers, prosecutors and judges who do nothing to protect you are the first to condemn you -- especially if you avoid risking your life by using ruthless and effective measures like a knife. <br /><br />d) So you probably want to check with a good local lawyer -- one with local influence and who will win if you have to hire him to defend you. That will also give you the confidence you need if you have to act strongly -- when you are being attacked is not the time to ponder the legal issues of a counterattack.<br /><br />At the same time, realize that even the police are held to the standard of a "Reasonable use of force" -- and that only certain situations justify use of deadly force.Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.com