davidtx wrote:A self defense discipline such as Krav Maga.UncleBob wrote:[
Cool - so what are some other options the non lethal tactics? I know, escape, pepper spray.... stun gun? And can these items be concealed legally?
+1 on a good martial arts program. I'm a little fat and out of practice now, but in the past I've dabbled in American Kenpo Karate as well as a little ju-jitsu. I've been wanting to get back into it for the exercise as much as the self-defense aspect, but I'm still shopping around for a good dojo that is reasonably close to my house with a schedule I can work with. The only reason I stopped before is that I went through a period of time when I was moving around a lot.
Also, you don't have to be a black-belt for martial arts to be effective...you would be surprised how crummy the average bad guy is at hand-to-hand combat. Just knowing the basics of how to stand, how to punch/kick/throw, and how to block a punch/kick/throw is a HUGE advantage over the training most people have...which is little to none. It's a huge boost to self-confidence and gives you another tool for ending confrontations WITHOUT using deadly force.
Furthermore, don't get caught up too much in the "what style martial art is best" debate. It's like asking what caliber is better in a handgun. You have some people who are strongly opinionated, just like with the caliber debate, but what's important is that it's something you will stick with and use, and that you enjoy it. I've heard good things about Krav Maga, and I liked the last school I attended because they blended Kenpo karate with ju-jitsu throws and grappling. It was a very practical school focused on self-defense.
If you've ever been to a martial arts seminar where masters from different styles do presentations, you start to realize that aside from minor differences in technique, and what they're named, many of the techniques are the same across the board. An outside foot sweep is an outside foot sweep, whether you simply call it that or call it by it's Japanese name, "Osoto Gari".
MojoTexas
