Self Defense

[ThePubSA]

Ya but that oke on the bike is a boomslang............ ALOT of hissing SSSsss hh sss hh s h.. scare anyone off.. might think uve got the flu.... want to keep their distance..

[rudi-h]

I"m also on the page of not putting up a fight. 8/10 times you might be lucky with an opportunistic criminal trying his luck at pushing you off your bike. In these cases you can almost certainly get the upper hand with some SD training, but then there is the 2/10 times where you will be facing experienced criminals that have the ability and the lack of morals which can and will kill you. If you put up a fight with these blokes you might be making matters worse for yourself.

 

ps, this is IMO and I have no experience of muggings, hijacking or bike jacking, I just know that I haven't ever been in a bar fight, so probably don't stand a chance against people who fight and kill every day, even if I would do some specific training.

[No Hare]

I'm all for this. The intension of self- defence is to get out of a situasion alive. If you want to win in a hijacking/ rape/ sodomy/ just-getting-your- ass-kicked-situasion one can go all out pistorius or join a buddist monastery and learn to art of the purple fower for the next 10 years.

 

now one can learn how to fall

condition your body to handle the pain

do situation conditioning

learn to use your hands and feet

learn how to talk to your attacker

learn how to walk away with your self esteem intact even though you may have lost your bike.

 

(Request assitance in spell and grammar tjek from Language specialists- thanks)

[ThePubSA]

people get killed for 5 rand in south africa... not the place to play kung fu practice... best defense is to learn when to leave a situation or see it coming...

Leave martial arts for the dojo.... these guys have no qualms killing you.... and that cant be taught..

[Fabian46]

Im all for self defense training. The only problem is sending a lady to 3 or 4 classes, and now she feels confident to take on an attacker. Self defense classes will boost your confidence and make you feel safer...but it needs to always be stressed that knowing a bit of self defence doesnt make you bruce lee. It takes time to master techniques. a few classes will give u better chance...but will never guarantee you safety.

 

I try to teach my wife as much as possible that i know would be practical according to her strength and ability. She's definitely learnt how to limit damage...and could probably at this point do a decent heel hook...:-)...but against a strong guy...i dont know

[Wayne Potgieter]

Im all for self defense training. The only problem is sending a lady to 3 or 4 classes, and now she feels confident to take on an attacker. Self defense classes will boost your confidence and make you feel safer...but it needs to always be stressed that knowing a bit of self defence doesnt make you bruce lee. It takes time to master techniques. a few classes will give u better chance...but will never guarantee you safety.

Completely agree.

 

Defense should be a lifestyle.

 

Not a few evening classes.

 

It must be practised and perfected indefinately.

 

You should make it part of your nature.

[Martin Vos]

In my opinion Self Defence is esential not only on cycling but part of everyday life in South Africa.

 

Learn diffrent styles and diffrent ways of deffending yourself.

 

Self defence normally you don't have any time to think just react. Therfore veryimportnat while riding, walking or running be vigilant and aware of your surroundings all the time.

If you are expecting someone to attack at any time you are prepared and will stay cool headed to react to any and all situations. Most importantly in any situation if possible avoid confrontation and run or ride away if you can. If not Cyclist/MTB riders have some of the best weapons on them at all times there bikes and there cleats sometimes hand pumps you'll be surprised how it hurts if you get hit in the face with the drinking part of a water botel even your cycling helmet can be used as an effective weapon. Golden Ruel be prepared know your enviroment trust your gutt.

 

Drive safe and have fun any training is better than none

[mtb_nik]

Just want to add my 2c here..

 

I am on the side of not putting up a fight for your possessions.. And will agree with those of you that said awareness and avoiding being out on your own or avoiding dodgy areas are the main defense strategies.

 

However, there are some situations in which you possessions are not the main concern and running away is impossible. This is a situation that I faced 2 years ago, and at that point I would have been very grateful for a couple of well-trained moves in my arsenal.

 

Learning self-defense is not solely for learning how to get the upper hand or beat the hell out of your attacker (because lets face it, attacks don't take place under favourable conditions- weapons, outnumbered etc). The purpose of self defense is also to teach one how to react to the situation you face. ie: can I get away? how would I do that? What can I do to fight back against someone if I don't manage to get away?

"Fortunately" in most of the bike-jacking incidents the guys are mainly focused on getting out of there with your bike, so once handing over possessions (get good insurance!!) you might even get away unscathed. But especially for the other girls out there, self defense doesn't have to be your first move, but if you are placed in a situation where you have to fight, knowing a few tricks will go a long way!

 

Oh, and I agree that a couple of classes is not going to cut it.

 

First step of self defense: BE AWARE.. that's what saved me! And don't make yourself an easy target by being alone (don't want to include being in dodgy area here, as these things can happen anywhere)

[J∆kk∆ls]

Rules for self defence:

1) Avoid dodgy areas

2) Avoid dodgy situations

3) Run / Escape should always be the first option

4) Submit if you can determine that you will not be harmed

5) Fight as the last option, and to be effective at defending yourself you need lots and lots of hours of training on a continuous bases to create confidence and effective "techniques".

 

Point 5 is the one that most defence practisioners think they can master with a couple of lessons.......

Point 5) You are wearing a helmet so Headbutt in the face on the nose if you can. if at night use your head light to blind assailant then headbutt or knee in the b@lls!

[velomonatiCT]

yeah that's a great idea ....

die over your bike (that's probably insured )

 

you will probably have noticed that almost all the cyclists getting robbed ..

haven't fought back

and haven't been hurt

 

let change the dynamic lets fight the armed numerically superior muggers who aren't wearing stupid cleated shoes

 

yeah go be a gung ho stupid wannabe and die for your bike

[FrankieKnuckles]

The point I am making is that the training teaches you first of all, when to retaliate and when to flee or succumb. Education is power.

 

Then...if you choose to fight...how best to do that.

 

Gun to the back...no probs

 

My wife has done extensive weapons training as well as rape and hijack prevention.

 

Wouldnt you feel better knowing your family is prepared and educated?

I would DEFINITELY feel better knowing my wife, my kids and I are prepared and educated.

That's why we are emigrating.

[J∆kk∆ls]

@velomonatiCT physical self defense is always a last resort. 9 out of 10 times thinking smart should do the trick. But it is never a bad idea knowing how to fight to live. I have said before bikes come and go. So insure it and get over it. But when you are in trouble...

[Tubehunter]

There is nothing that opens your eyes to how incapable you are than to do some training. On the contrary, training will not make you Rambo, but it convinces you first hand that watching a few action flicks will not get you prepared for a situation that cannot be diffused by simply handing over you stuff.  

 

Most people who do any training, don't do it to puff up their ego, but rather to gain some confidence in their ability which surprisingly means you end up less hot headed and far more calm, which in turn means you walk away from so much more than you did before training.... Go figure?

[mazambaan]

Oh boy so the time has come.  Anyone got a recommendation for self defence classes in Cape Town - Pinelands / Northern suburbs?

[VicanZA]

Err I've been jacked it doesn't play out like that! A knobkerrie is going to f*** u up ugly before u get the first ss.. Ss.. Out.

 

And don't forget gun beat all even if u think u Jean Claude van damme.

[J∆kk∆ls]

Oh boy so the time has come.  Anyone got a recommendation for self defence classes in Cape Town - Pinelands / Northern suburbs?

Best advice I can give you is get a punching bag and gloves. Practice hitting the bag for 5 to 10 minutes every night while keeping your guard up. 

 

This will not make you fight ready, but will help build some confidence and you'll know what it is like to actually hit something. Use elbows too, great close quarter attack. 

 

Going to a few classes to get going will help. Boxing or Judo or even both (great combo) will be best for real world situations. Krav Magra if you really want to learn how to m@er someone. 

 

Lastly my mate (2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do) Very fast and capable was held up at knife point. It happened so fast that he could do nothing as the knife was at his throat and he was cornered. He said the only thing that saved him was the ability to stay calm and talk his attackers into letting him go unhurt. He thanks the training for that! 

 

Stay alert and be safe!