Smiley Dave, this thread began very rickety, but has improved a lot.
It should have been posted in Prac/Tac.
Larry S. had a great link to an article on mindset by Steve Tarani. Read it. Several times. Even if you forgo knives, it is survival material.
Keep in mind although you have asked for info to help you out just in the next several months, the possibility of violence will never go away. Begin learning now and keep it up.
Here is my take on what should be your priorities:
Awareness: of oneself, potential threats, and your environment
-read all you can about self-defense and violence
-read the news about attacks and think about what you could have done differently (also go over what happened to your friends)
-look up and learn Jeff Cooper's "Color Code" and how to become more aware of your surroundings (if you can see it coming soon enough, your options grow)
-always see others before they spot you (make it a game with your friends)
Mindset: you must want to avoid conflict if possible, and if not, then defuse the situation if possible. If not, then prepare to deal with physical violence. If you fight, you must be prepared mentally to cause physical damage to your attacker.
Training and tactics: awareness (yes, keep training this!), "tactical correctness", de-escalation skills, less-than-lethal (or control) skills, fighting skills
-keep training awareness and mindset (this can't be emphasized too much)
-"tactical correctness" means move so you will be less likely to be surprised by an attacker(s). Walk against traffic, swing wide around corners, keep your back to a wall, etc.
-try to stay calm and appear nonviolent when provoked; this may discourage assault, or at least appear to bystanders that you did not encourage a fight, which can help you legally after the fact
-control skills are for situations in which you think you can handle someone without hurting them, and the chances of them hurting you are very low (wristlocks, armbars, pressure points, etc.). This is mainly reserved for friends, family members, or when you are helping someone else subdue a "problem person."
-fighting skills should emphasize damaging your attacker quickly and getting away
Weapons and other tools: flashlights, cell phones, less-than-lethal weapons, deadly weapons
-a flashlight is probably the best tool for an untrained person. It provides light for searching dark areas and can be put to use as an improvised impact weapon. Avoid the larger "club-like" lights until you have training.
-cell phones take time to use, cost more, but have their utility in emergency commo or just calling for a ride (prevention). Always know where you are so you can tell the dispatcher, as 9-1-1 won't know your location.
-stun guns are practically useless. Avoid them. (Yes, I've been shocked many times.)
-O.C. sprays do not always work as advertised. They still require training, preferably with you getting sprayed so you know you can still work throught the effects and fight or escape. (I've been sprayed many times.) Against someone who really wants to hurt you, O.C. MAY serve as a good distraction, if you use it well and have a good quality spray (Punch II, Fox, Bodyguard). In general, stay away from the little keychain units and carry at least a 2 oz. fogger unit.
-Take some full contact martial arts if possible. Judo, wrestling, boxing, JKD would be good. A good self-defense class which emphasizes striking skills and has a padded attacker exercise would be best, provided it is done right. Why "full contact?" Because you learn to get knocked around and go at it hard. ALMOST like in a real fight.
Train the way you wish to react under stress! As for knives as weapons, they can be very good, but you should do some homework first. Hock Hochheim, Michael Janich, Stever Tarani, James Keating, Kelly Worden are all acknowledged knife folks. Read them, but be aware they won't all agree. Study and come to your own conclusions--which will change every so often as you learn more and more.
One thing--when you pull out a knife, it will be judged as "lethal force." If you were not justified in using lethal force, you will get in BIG trouble. Also, there are very few "less lethal" cuts you could make under the stress of a violent assault. Don't count on "only" cutting someone's leg or arm--they could still die or be seriously hurt. Knife = lethal force. Simple as that, at least for your purposes. Even using a closed folder as an impact weapon will probably be judged as having accessed a lethal weapon.
In the meantime, a 2-C cell Maglight makes a very good low-key impact weapon which doesn't cost a lot and is less likely to get you in trouble. A Mini-Mag is smaller, if you prefer. Niether is "clublike" and less likely to be taken away from you. Also check out James Keating's "Stinger" and Kelly Worden's "Impact Kerambit." Check local laws before carrying them.
Some reading to start you out:
-Strong on Defense, by Sanford Strong
-The Truth About Self-Protection, by Massad Ayoob
-In the Gravest Extreme, by Ayoob
-The Gift of Fear, by Gavin de Becker
-Principles of Personal Defense, by Jeff Cooper
Also feel free to visit
www.selfdefenseforums.com Lurk a lot before you post there, as they can be, ummm, "picky."
Don Rearic's site is very good:
www.drearic.com (pocket stick and improvised weapons techs are great here)
And Marc "Animal" MacYoung has probably the most comprehensive S-D site on the web.
www.nononsenseselfdefense.com Read it all.
Now go do your homework! Any other questions, feel free to email me as well. (No, I don't have all the answers.)
Karl
