Self Defense When You Travel

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Take practical, real-world self-defense course. Avoid flashy martial arts with those fancy spin kicks and high kicks. That's not real world and it takes way too long to master. You'd have to warm up. And, you have only practiced in your karate uniform and in a safe dojo with an ideal floor (as opposed to real-world ground).

Observe a class before you pay. If they spend half the time doing calisthenics, avoid it.

If they show you how to deal with a knife or gun attack, run. Unless they show you how to run away.

It seems that the best self-defense course should fixate on grappling, wrestling, ground fighting and basic striking (low kicks, elbows, fists) without teaching 20+ different strikes. Just know how to throw an elbow, heel-palm, slap, and fist in all directions with optimal force. Learning how to put all your body into it. Judo, Jujitsu, Krava maga, or some grappling/wrestling art seem best. Ideally, you want to have a mix.

Boxing is better than Karate for arm strikes. If I were going to take Karate or Kenpo I'd think just of focusing on straight ahead low kicks.

Don't go to the ground unless you're taking them down. I mean there are moves where you drop to the ground and kick a person, etc. No dice!

Learn how to best use a club or bat.

Frown. Force your eye brows down. Makes you feel and look tougher.

Tilt head down to guard your throat and chin. Also, it hides your nervous throat action (swallowing, etc.).

Fixate on all the bs you've been through. Put it all into your strikes.

Karate style blocks are a joke. Not real-world. You should be throwing a punch instead of throwing a block. Don't waste motions. Movements should all be used to neutralize the opponent. Besides, it's hard to block a punch and they'll just go wild. Try blocking a flury of wild punches. Better just to have a GUARD position like a boxer (but only once they take action, don't incite it!). I can't stand those foolish Karate moves where you have your fist at your side and wind up to block! Nuts. I'd keep my hands up guarding my face.

At first I just did these techniques. Like a robot. Katas, etc. One said if someone stabs at your stomach you should slide your feet back and slap your hands down on top of their arm to force it down. At first I didn't see how absurd it was. We just reckon the person knows what they're talking about. But, just because I wasn't an expert doesn't mean I was wrong to say that was a terrible tactic. I'm not a mathemetician but I know have to be that 2+2 isn't 5. Most true experts would say it was terrible.

Sadly, I think these dogos are all about marketing. They can't just focus on the core essentials because you'd burn out, get bored, and you'd quit much sooner than if you have to learn 105 strikes.

Focus on the top 5 most common attacks. Most of us can guess what they are! A frontal 2 handed shirt grab and/or shove. A hook to your face. A straight jab to your face. A frontal choke. A choke from behind. Or where they have you in a choke at their side. Or, a flury of wild punches. Or where they tackle you or otherwise bring you down and mount you. Master those long before you move on.

If they get you down on your back (where they are at your waste, mounting you) it seems the first thing to do is wrap your legs around them tightly.

Sure there are others, but the usuall crook will use these. You'll prob won't be attacked by a martial artist, boxer, wrestler, or one of those professional mixed art street fighters so don't prepare for that.

Set up a guard position that is not obvious. For example, one foot forward and the "Jack Benny pose" (right arm bent across chest, palm down with left hand at face with left elbow on back of right hand). Going into a karate stance is probably not a good idea. Last resort if the un-obvious stance fails to prevent an attack.

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Pat Reynolds is a camping and travel expert who has traveled the world.
She and her staff camp around the world in an effort to generate methods
to enhance the travel and camping experience. Get survival tips, safety tips,
checklists and more. Discover ideas and resources relating to income generation and discount travel. Visit: http://ComfortCamping.com

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