Expediant weapons

[Tom Yum]

http://break.com/index/super_high_po...ash_light.html

If you want a great SD flashlight this looks like the one...If you don't wanna spend the bucks (or carry a big light) at least get a good small one, you can blind people in well lit areas with ease.

If you learn to use field expedient weapons and improvised weapons you won't be left grasping at BS ideas under stress. It's amazing how often when I run classes teaching these concepts that people pass up magazines, clipboards, hardback books, purses, book bags and such and reach for the smallest and least useful item on the table. Preplanning for situations where you have to be unarmed and may face armed attacker(s) is part of any USEFUL Self defense training.
If you fly, go to banks, Schools, you may accidentally find yourself in this disadvantageous position so preplan...Every Pro preplans for likely threats he may face on the job. Don't be a fly by the seat of your pants Macho Martial artist, be a thinking warrior.

The mindset of Self defense and how threat assessment is handled is really what separates the Sports arts from the SD ones. Study the threats you're likely to encounter and tailor your training and tools to the job you want them to perform.

I've seen credit cards used as a weapon, when a would-be theif held someone at knife point at an ATM. The individual complied, pulled out his ATM card, snap-thrust it into the guys throat and then ran the fastest 400 meter dash to a more populated area where he alerted others.

[gregimotis]

No, you are just another MMA monkey who thinks that his ring techniques can translate into the street.

This is an actual 'conversation'. Don't act like an idiot.

[Hardball]

No, you are just another MMA monkey who thinks that his ring techniques can translate into the street.

So you are assuming that I have never been in a street fight or street combat?

[GracieHunter]

No, you are just another MMA monkey who thinks that his ring techniques can translate into the street.

[Hardball]

I have a slightly different philosophy. You cannot predict combat. Combat happens in seconds. If you try to predict combat then you are setting yourself up for failure. My belief is to train and drill in the basic moves and to meditate and visualize to increase your reaction time. When time comes for a reaction, let your mind go blank and let your training take over.

Boar, you are on the same page as Jim Wagner, who by the way, won Reality Based Instructor of the year for 2006 per Black Belt magazine. I'm not saying that I am closed minded about this approach. What I am saying is that based on my time allocations, availability of knowledge and resources--the above approach is best for me.

Being open minded; If I hear a better suggestion then I will consider it.

[BoarSpear]

Ha Ha Ha, he's not crazy. I deleted my post after I rethought it.

It was a good question, until you thought about it...my point exactly Bro, If you haven't thought about it ahead of time (and done test/drills) you'll be left grasping at straws in the middle of an adrenalin dump.

Scenario based training is a key element in real world SD, it doesn't matter how well you do in a ring with warning of an impending DUEL, prep time and rules, those things don't exist in SD. It's the same as training dueling with knives and assuming you understand knifefighting. They aren't the same thing, NONE of the elements will be the same. SD is about doing the WORK to take your martial skills into the realm of SD skills and you wont do that until you get your mind out of sports mindset and into a survival mode.

[BoarSpear]

Blinded by the light!!!......

Sweet huh? A flashlight that sets paper on fire instantly.

I've got a fenix lt2 that is always with me, freakin thing will blind you in the brightest lit room you can find...You see nothing but blue spots for about 20 seconds after one little strobe

[BoarSpear]

Weapons of opportunity.

IF you're paying attention (the most vital SD skill) You wont be surprised and have to go with the first dumbass Idea that pops into your head. While it's true if you've got you're head up you're butt because you are convinced what an awesome Martial artist you are MORE likely to get yourself into bad predicaments, it's also true that paying attention and preplanning go a LONG way toward surviving them. If you aren't paying attention (or haven't examined the logic chain of your plan of attack) then you can be surprised and reaching for a weapon at the wrong time (or the wrong weapon entirely for the job) will get you killed.

However if you're paying attention and realize there is a threat present you can position yourself and your weapons (assuming you are capable of understanding force on force escalation in an SD situation) in a manner to give yourself an advantage as opposed to doing something that decreases you're chances of surviving the situation.

[Hardball]

Ha Ha Ha, he's not crazy. I deleted my post after I rethought it.

[SamuraiGuy]

Uhh... what the **** is up with that guy up there ^^^^^...

two posts, one by me and boar, and he's quoting hardball.... yes...

[GracieHunter]

Why would I reach for a "Weapon of Opportunity" when I can develop skills with my hands and feet?

Because your attacker(s) will not.

On the street, there is weapons attack, mass attack and surprise attack, ok, this isnt GraciesInAction.

[SamuraiGuy]

Blinded by the light!!!......

[BoarSpear]

..................