What are the non-gun self defense alternatives?

[carpettbaggerr]

http://www.gutterfighting.org/Umbrella.html

Fit guy under 50 carrying a cane would make me look twice. An umbrella? Hmmm. Didn't know it was supposed to rain.

 

[confinedbythecurtain]

I would go with the Asp or the blackjack. I would think that one would hesitate to stab an attacker, they might be quicker to cave his head in with an asp or a blackjack. Just my opinion...

 

[komo]

Self Defense for kids

There are two 5th-grade boys. One is very small, wimpy, etc. The other is almost a head taller, muscular, "hard as a rock", even works out, and so on. They are friends. When they wrestle, the bigger one always wins. When they put on boxing gloves and sparred, the bigger one almost knocked out the smaller one. The question is, can it be said with 100% certainty that somehow the smaller kid could find a way to physically hurt the bigger kid? And how?

 

[Snowdiver]

Diversion!

 

[LanEvo`]

A big bandana snapped like a locker room towel to the face, eyes, neck seems to grab the attention of most people...Now, take that same bandana and sew a small ball bearing into one of the corners...if you go to snapping that thing on someone it will break bones in the face, pluck an eye out

What you're describing sounds an awful lot like "slung shot." And slung shot are specifically disallowed in just about all jurisdictions. Could get you into some serious legal trouble.

 

[hso]

komo,

Welcome to THR!

When facing greater size/weight/strength opponents, speed, skill and thinking are all that is left to you.

The smaller boy could train to be faster or train to develop skills needed to balance out the larger boy's advantages. He could work on techniques needed to use the other boys weight against him. Techniques for avoiding the larger boy getting a solid controlling grip.

The smaller boy could find ways to outthink the larger one. Make friends, establish common goals or find ways to confuse him or take on the role of the agressor. He could decide to become more ruthless and take the fight to a more dangerous level by attacking more fragile parts of the larger boy.

He could decide to use tools to counter the greater strength and weight of the other boy.

All this can fail if the larger boy isn't easily outthought or if the larger boy is also quick or if the larger boy just get's lucky and his advantages all line up at the right time against the smaller boy.

 

[10-Ring]

My first thoughts were: pepper spray, pocket knife, kabutan, karambit, ASP, blackjack and Taser. I'm sure there are others, but these should be enough to keep you busy & well protected for a while

 

[Korbin]

Depending on the situation, I think a good bluff can turn the tide before it gets violent. I've used it a couple of times, but once a friend and I were walking down a lonely street 2 in the A.M. in Toronto and some guy started following us and yelling stuff at us. There was NOBODY else around. I spun around and started yelling in my loudest, deepest voice at him and waving my arms. By yelling I mean foam spewing from mouth, giant-vein-in-the-forehead yelling. And quickly walking toward him. He turned around and briskley walked the other way. No harm done.

And by bluff, I do mean bluff. If he didn't get scared I would have been SOL. lol I'm a wimp.

 

[walking arsenal]

A Good Hickory cane is a great SD weapon.

Brian makes a good point.

Theres been a lot of complicated suggestions.

My favorite is a good old fashioned stick. I have a few that i bought, found, whatever. I couple of those red oak dowels from home depot, one rides in my car next to my seat and another comes with when i go for walks around town. It goes with the gun and knife.

Folks have been clubbing the snot out of eachother since the beginning of time. No reason it wouldnt work now.

.02

 

[up_onus]

well, if your REALLY concerned about defense...
First off, start getting in shape...and why not getting in shape doin a martial art????
Secondly, EBAY you can find tear gas, 35 bucks a can.
Third, for night I would get a http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=217912&highlight=flashlight+bear, this can blind an attacker for your "chance" to use a) the flashlight your holding b)martial arts c)RUNNING AWAY. c) The tear gas you purchased.
Fourth, IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO USE A KNIFE IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW, again this takes TRAINING TO BECOME GOOD,

STOP BEING LAZY -- if your worried about your "well being" dont think there is an easy way out. Like everything else in life there is a right way and every other way and the right way may be hardER.

 

[walking arsenal]

Wow.

 

[usmccpl]

A roll of coins that fits your hand good.I watched a 5 year old KO a full grown man with a roll of dimes in his hand.Also I have never been any where that it was illegal to carry money.




one shot one kill

 

[walking arsenal]

I bet theres a good story there. Care to tell?

 

[hso]

Welcome to THR, Korbin!

 

[Rachen]

My Grand-uncle

was a soldier in the Chinese Communist 8th Army during the Anti-Japanese War. They had nothing but swords and spears in 1938, yet they managed to slaughter an entire Japanese division at Pingxingguan.

When it comes to non gun self defense, I would use my Wushu training I learned as a kid, a pair of sharpened chopsticks that can be lethal within 10 yards.