It is not that I am in “Urgent Need” I am 34 years old and only recently has this even crossed my mind. I am a security guard that is transitioning into day trading. I used to be a graphic designer for a newspaper, but I quit before I was laid off.
I was a security guard when I was going to college for graphic design also. I had many experiences there. I also did my standard 4 years in the military, two of that 4 with an infantry platoon.
In reflection, none of the uniforms and gear that I wore, or now wear, in security or the military was or is actually designed from a personal protective standpoint. They are all just basic shirts and pants or shorts. But since I have started taking kung fu classes I began to wonder, “Where are all the cloths from the past that were designed to actually protect people?”
Most people simply look at a suit of armor and say, “Well, I don’t want to wear that get up.” But is a suit of armor all that our ancestors wore for protection from thieves or vandals? I don’t think so. They also wore leather armor and cotton padding in many places when they weren’t wearing armor. Chain mail and scale mail also comes to mind that archers used to wear.
I also ride a motorcycle and the clothing that I own for that endeavor also got my attention. Kevlar jeans for abrasion resistance and extra thick gloves and boots got me thinking, “Why don’t more people wear these things?”
A painter will wear a tyvack suit on to protect from the paint
A motorcycle rider will wear Kevlar reinforced pants to protect from the pavement
A factory worker will wear leather gloves and a hard hat to protect from falling objects and rough metals and wood
Then why is it that those of us who train to protect ourselves from violent encounters wear nothing different from a cotton tee shirt and standard blue jeans?
Isn’t there a better way? Of course there is. I think that the Chinese Kung Fu suit is a good starting point. The fabric needs to be a little heavier and perhaps made from a Kevlar weave, but I think the design is a pretty good start.
It has a stand up color for neck protection
It is oversized some for movement and for deception
It is patterned is ways that can be an effective form of subtle camouflage if needed
It has long sleeves and long pants for added protection to the extremities
If I added some clever and heavy embroidery to some vital areas I think that it would be much more cut or stab resistant as well. I also want to add some light thin foam sheets to the knee areas. Not enough to reduce a strike too much but just enough to not crack your knee cap in a fall.
These are the kinds of things that I am looking for. I want to design and build (or have made) standard everyday wear that protects me more in hand to hand combat and that will enable me to escape and hide better if need be from a gang. Obviously darker clothing or clothing that can be converted to dark fast like a reversible jacket with black pants.
Most people never think of these things, but I do.
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In God We Trust
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