There comes a time in life when it may be fine to be physically fit and healthy for ones age, but if it came to it would you be able to defend yourself ‘adequately’ if you were set upon or even confronted in a threatening manner?
It may be okay to be big and strong, but do you have that “natural fighting instinct” to get out of potentially life-threatening situation? Or would you run and hope for the best?
Have you ever thought about some kind of self-defence class just to give you that added self-confidence to help you in a typical situation?
I went to a self defense class that involved using walking sticks, I can’t remember any of it.
I’d certainly fight back though if anyone tried anything!
Hmm there was the case of the old chap who was mugged in the train he was collecting for some charity.
He drew his walking stick ( it was in fact a sword stick ) and defended himself.
The mugger was injured and the old chap was taken to court for GBH.
Honestly I wouldn’t know what to do , I don’t think I have the core strength to fight back but then I guess we don’t know till it happens , hopefully not . I think I’d go into shock . Yes I’d go to a class if there was one near by
Swims, I notice from this clip that a lot of the defence seems to involve kicking the mugger in his privates.
A lot of women wouldn’t be able to do that very easily, as they don’t walk about in working boots and steel toe-caps like the man in the video.
How would they manage with just summer sandals or flip-flops I wonder? It’d break their toes.
In fact, I can’t imagine many women, especially our ages, having the strength to do any of those moves easily.
I was taught a lot of techniques by a Aikido /Judo sansei as part of a warm down after training.
These days i could not use any involving my legs, but still could use some of the others, one thing with using the rollator i no longer have a stick, which i have used once effectively.
As im seen as disabled i feel im marked as a target, so im suspicious of people following behind me.
The best self defense is avoid any potential unsafe situations if you can.
And ladies SD is not always about strength. Timing, tricks and, technique come in to it, but courses can give you confidence and ability to act.
Trouble is Nom, I would imagine if I was attacked, my instinct would be to try and defend myself, rather than attack the other person. By defending myself I mean trying to fend off blows, knives or whatever. But I am not sure that I would have the thought or inclination to actually go forward and physically attack someone back.
The only circumstance I could imagine I would be likely to do that is if anyone tried to hurt or take my dog. Then I would fly at 'em, I know I would.
I must admit, if someone was standing in my path wielding a kitchen knife, I probably be a dead pretty quick.
My problem has always been that I get angry a couple of hours after the event and not at the time. I am glad that guns are not readily available because I would surely have shot a few people in my time and I would now be doing life in Prison.
Self defence classes are good because they train you to remain calm as well as defending yourself. I wish I had taken up self defence when I was younger.
Mups, never ever, try to kick a man in his groin, it takes too long and implies a degree of flexibility many of us old ones do not have.
Sideways, the knee, they are not expecting it and they stumble.
If you cannot reach the knee, a foot or shin stamp, again off balance and unexpected, gives you time.
Claw or stab their eyes with your fingers.
It is an instinctive human reaction to protect the eyes, they will release you to do so, claw and jab as hard as you can.
Game over for the average mugger, keep going, push as hard as you can into the eyes.
If you do it hard enough, there is no way they will lash out at you, they are far more focused on protecting their eyes and they will be temporarily blinded, so you can get away.
Horrible, aren’t I?, but you come first, second and third, you have done nothing wrong.
Thank you Swims.
I still think I’d be a bit of an easy target though, as I expect you know, I am only small so doubt I’d reach a big blokes eyes! I’d also have to risk leaning over his knife to do that, therefore leaving my tummy an easy target…
I really think if I was confronted by a mugger who wanted My bag/purse, I would just freeze,is it worth getting Myself hurt, or worse,knifed,just to prevent Them taking it?..I rarely have money in it and cards can be cancelled easily…I just don’t know what I would do unless/until it happened,and I hope none of Us here ever find out.
