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The subject of self-defense is always a ticklish one. Many people have their own favorite martial arts discipline, or weapon, or hero, and are reluctant to consider anything else. To some others, the whole idea of violence, even in self-defense, is distasteful, or even fearful. I can only talk about what I've found effective, and make some general recommendations. Unfortunately, if the day we're preparing for actually comes, others might view our food stash, our tools, our weapons, our water, as easy pickings for themselves. Some of us have to deal with these things already. I've just finished watching a Weather Channel segment about a family whose home was looted after a major flood. To defend it, they lived in their van in the driveway, armed with a 12-gauge shotgun. If societal structure really breaks down, this and worse could be the way of life for most of us. This site won't get into the use of firearms, mostly because I'm still a neophyte in that area. Go to a local gun shop, join a local gun club, find out who in your area is knowledgable and pick their brains. What I want to deal with here is SELF-defense. What to do if a looter threatens you or a member of your family. How to react if you're grabbed, menaced with a gun or knife, knocked down, or otherwise attacked. The method I recommend is not actually a "method" at all. It's a way of using your own body's natural reflexes to keep yourself from being harmed, and if possible, to disarm and disable your attacker. The "method" goes by various names, but the one I've seen most often is "Close Combat Training" or some similar description. Several companies sell videos and training manuals online. I have personal experience with only one, and because of their marketing practices, I recommend them reluctantly. However, the product was as described and I found the videos easy to follow. Could I defend myself against anyone now? Certainly not, but I don't feel helpless either. Before getting into details, one thing is essential to understand. You can't go into a self-defense scenario with the idea that you're just going to fight off the other person. He or she isn't going to attack you unless they either have no compunction about killing you, or are so hungry, terrified, or desperate that their former social conscience is no longer operating. Against either of those, you have no choice but to eliminate the threat. Does that necessarily mean attempting to kill? Not always, but as long as the other person is able to get up and come back at you, you're still in danger. If you cannot deal at all with the possibility of taking another life, even in a true self-defense situation, then you need to be mentally prepared to give up yours. That may sound harsh but it's fact. Even if you're prepared to give up your life, are you ready to sacrifice your children and spouse's lives? Even if they weren't directly threatened, the loss of your skills could mean the difference between survival and death for them. |