My first pair of converse all-stars, OR attempting mugging OR my cheek hurts realbad

[winstonsmith]

Umm... I wasn't using ipod headphones, i had mundane although large black ones.


I saw three of them again today, told the security guard, security guard called the cops... the 'bangers left... So now twice they've had the cops called on them because of me.

Tell me about pepper spray.. it seems I can carry it legally with a note from my parents.

 

[XLMiguel]

You may want to start here, http://www.foxlabs.net/ - good stuff! Also use teh 'search' function, lotsa god poop on OC/pepper sprays has been posted here. HTH

 

[Denko]

You need to get some combative skills training.Visit some of the local schools,the first lesson is always free.If it is not free or they try to get you to sign a contract go else ware.Good training will change your life.

 

[Gordon]

Lot's of good advice. Yeah take up martial arts!
But here a quick idea. Since you didn't injure the maggot's ego infront of his pack , he prolly won't be right back especially if you have nothing visable of value.
Ok I will 'share' with you to start carrying a clip board, coarse a lexan one is best , but an aluminum one works OK (get one from an ambulance). That could of blocked that punch if you did not know how to execute a rising block. The edge of the clip board , specially after a few file strokes, would slice an attacker open real good! Any weapon is better than none. Since they can't bust you in high school for a clip board and pens; a pocket full of real strong industrial art sharpies could be delivered real fast and deep. Think shield and ice pick-drive it in !
The down side of this is they may do a drive by on you later

 

[Coltdriver]

I think you did just fine. Walking away intact from these nut cases is a victory in my book. These fellows sound like a bunch of sissies following a brave sissy. It they took off running when the brave one hit you, they are not genuine killers. That does not make them less dangerous.

That said, I got in a fight every year I was in school from 6th grade to my junior year by which time nobody would screw with me because they knew I would maul em even if they mauled me worse which happened on a few occasions. I got picked on, I think, because I was tall and skinny.

I was once accosted by a gang in my neighborhood. I escaped and went home. My Dad and I went back to where we knew they were. I beat the crap out of the one that started it and my Dad acted as my second. None of the other punks jumped in. Today that could easily get you thrown in jail or killed.

I am not advising that you take any such action because you have a situation that is more potentially deadly. Sounds like you can handle it with intellect instead of getting beat or worse to prove a point. If you can simply outsmart these people it is a better course to take. You only need to bide some time in order to get out of school.

If you can carry pepper spray, do it. It will give you a great chance to stop the fight and run like hades.

For what it is worth, punching someone is a felony. Felony assault is one notch under murder in the greater scheme of felonies. If I were looked at cross eyed by these fellows one more time I would go to a judge and get a restraining order. It won't keep you from getting harrassed and it won't keep you from getting beat up. But, with it you can escalate the punishment they get fairly dramatically if they repeat on you. Trust me, you are just one more stepping stone in the life of these scum. If your action does not divert them, some one elses action or victimhood will. But I would only go to a restraining order if they singled you out. Its not likely that they have the focus in life to do that.

If you can simply avoid these people it is a better course. They will forget about you soon enough. If they don't forget about you just remember there are no rules of any kind in a fight. There is no such thing as fighting fair.

Good luck and let us know if this all turns down in the next few weeks. Do you go to school year round or are you out for the summer?

 

[winstonsmith]

I've been taking martial arts for most of my life, including kenpo, Judo, Krav Maga, and most recently Hapkido. But there were 7 of them, all huge. That stuff only goes so far.

Good advice all, thank you.

 

[Alex45ACP]

If this had happened to me, each of these kids would have something bad happen to them, one by one...

 

[Kevlarman]

Peppery-type spray at the very least, and how about some nice steel-toed boots for a swift kick in the shins?

 

[winstonsmith]

Kevlar, I usually wear steel toed combat boots, with a nice stout heel for those knee-incapacitating slide-side kicks... That was the first day in literally years I hadn't worn those to school.

Thinking about bringing a small hammer tomorrow. Damn the consequences.

 

[pete f]

DO you have a camera phone? small digital camera? take pics of them. better for the ID, look for them, keep them in sight, if you see something illegal on them, smoking up, a knife, etc, call the cops, tell them :"rasheed has a knife at school:" hang up they will be there in ten minutes and he will be gone.

I was the school punchin bag until second week of junior year, I was getting picked on during passing period until I just decided I had had enough. Boy had dumped my books on the floor and was laughing at me and turned his back on me and reached into his locker. I did a full body slam on his locker door with his arm inside the locker. By the end of the day it was all over school i had done a Hoffa on the guy and beat him senseless and then put his arm in the locker and kicked it shut till his arm broke, no not the way it happened but the story made me out to be someone not to be hassled. Sometimes making a stand is the way to stop it. At least then you feel you have done you part.

 

[Grump]

However, if they wanted to kill you, you'd be dead.

Generally true, almost to the usefulness of the self-fulfilling prophecy...

Consequently, by your inaction, they now see you as an easy target, IMO.

I tend to disagree. This target resisted just enough that the ringleader went away empty-handed. This target took a punch and bounced back up....didn't cry...didn't beg for forgiveness and hand over the goods...and in general, didn't join the group of folks who are *fun* to punch or harass because they give such entertaining responses.

I once walked away from a gang-bully (who was alone at that moment) who was displeased that I had pummelled his buddy the day before. Tough guy threw a roundhouse kick to my side as I walked away, but it space between my coat and my body soaked up all the force. Hands in pockets while saying "I'm not going to fight you", holding the closest and most likely impact area almost tight like that trash bag in the Jackie Chan commercial. He gave up. I was no fun.

Did no one comment on the *good* thing done while getting cornered--he got into the sight and company of witnesses who knew him. I cornered myself once and nothing happened, 'cause getting cornered happened as I drove into the local PD's parking lot while the toughs were following me in their car. I just didn't feel like shooting anyone that day, okay? Gotta love surveillance cameras operated by the cops!

 

[Denko]

I've been taking martial arts for most of my life, including kenpo, Judo, Krav Maga, and most recently Hapkido. But there were 7 of them, all huge. That stuff only goes so far.

Blocking with your face doesn't get you very far either.There is a big difference between taking martial arts and learning martial arts.The arts are useless without fighting spirit.Maybe this will help you to develop some.I worked in the criminal warehouse for twenty years.These criminals now have you marked as an easy victim.They ran because of witnesses.Life's lessons can be tough,decide if you are a possum or a tiger.I had to learn this lesson the hard way myself,SO realize I am not putting you down.Train hard,your life may well depend on it.

 

[CAS700850]

You went home, with nothing more than a black eye. Meaning, you did fine. No matter what, all that truly matters is that you go home when all is said and done. Are you now a "marked man"? Who knows? Unfortunately, the only way you'll really find out for sure is if you get a repeat performance. The question is, what do you do in the meantime?

Prepare yourself, as best you can. No, you can't arm yourself with a tricked out M-4, but if you can get some pepperspray, do it. Learn how to use it, and carry it daily. It will be easier to fight the gang, God forbid, if they have trouble seeing you after catching a face full of pepper. Continue with your martial arts training. No, you're not Jackie Chan, but it sure beats curling up in the fetal position, praying that you'll survive.

As for dress, forget dressing to intimidate. Try dressing for action. Pants the fit, not too loose so as to trip you up or too tight so as to restrict your movements. Shoes that you can run and jump in, as necessary.

AS for the iPod, keep it in the backpack when your out walking. Got a cell phone? Calling for help is not a sign of cowardice, it's a sign of intelligence. How about a couple of textbooks in the backpack. Swing that around and it'll get someones attention pretty quick. Avoidance is good advice. Look into alternate routes. Don't be predictable. Vary your routine as much as possible, to minimize the risk of ambush.

Above all else, think about all of this. And think about it some more. Play "what if" in your mind as much as possible, so that you actually have thought out the options, the possibilities, and your response options. As they say, prior planning prevents p!$$ poor performance.

 

[TechBrute]

I've been taking martial arts for most of my life, including kenpo, Judo, Krav Maga, and most recently Hapkido. But there were 7 of them, all huge. That stuff only goes so far.

Yeah, and it goes even less far when you don't even use it. Good thing for you that they got scared by you falling down.

1. Ditch the Ipod. I could write pages on why, but I'll stay off the rant button and leave it at that.
2. If they are following you and continuing to provoke you, they're not going to stop by you continuing to turn your back on them and walk. Either fight or flight. Turn or run. Don't continue to walk and interact with them.
3. As you noticed, corners are bad, but so is being out in the open when there's 7 of them, plenty to surround.
4. Being a ninja (or whatever kenpo, Judo, Krav Maga, and most recently Hapkido makes you), you should be more familiar with using "ordinary" objects as "weapons". A roll of pennies, a surefire flashlight, a small wooden dowel, a screwdriver, and many other things make great improvised weapons.

You were real lucky this time.