Posted on 05/24/2013 5:28:39 AM PDT by jmcenanly
PISCATAWAY, N.J.—When the guy swung at Mark Donnelly, his only means of defense was a black umbrella—and a foppish one at that. But, ducking under a roundhouse punch, he jabbed the pointy end of the umbrella into the attacker's gut, stopping him cold.
Mr. Donnelly, who is 43 years old and several inches short of 6 feet tall, then straightened his waistcoat, and the two men shook hands.
The skirmish was a rare demonstration of Bartitsu, an obscure Victorian system of gentlemanly self-defense practiced by Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective.
Mr. Donnelly's assailant was 42-year-old Robert Earhart, a professional stuntman in protective gear.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Just exactly what the anti-gunners would like to see us reduced to using.
GREAT entertainment ... and eye candy ... mmmm .
A simple rule of thumb to find out if the hand to hand style you are practicing (or want to practice) is practical is to ask the instructor/shifu/sensei to demonstrate a defense against a blade. If you see any fancy wrist lock, or kicking the knife out of the hand, or slick looking transfers just thank the person for his time and walk away.
It’s a good thing to know if you travel on airlines a lot.
Or, if using a blade or sword, they turn their back to you at any time. It’s good for hollywood, but stupid for life.
Don’t bring an umbrella to a gunfight!
it would be handy in a fist fight though...
Don’t forget the right tool.
First saw these in the initial offering from Tom Clancy in the “Net Force” series.
Have one, great tool!
KYPD
I am a woman and a senior, and I have been thinking of self-defense lately. What, in your opinion, is the best course for finding such instruction? (I live in a semi-rural community on the Eastern Shore of MD.)
I spent a couple of years working with a curve handled cane, and felt very secure using that against a knife and in hand to hand, to the point that I used to dress down to artificially age me, and walk the alleys late at night, trying to take the training to a fresher level.
Just make sure you walk down the alleys that are knives only and not guns...
As a woman and senior, you don’t anticipate ever wanting to hurt anyone, or fight anyone, or to embark on a series of “belts” over years of study, you just want to survive a sudden, unexpected attack that comes out of nowhere.
In general, only listen to someone who wants to teach you a few simple, and destructive moves, not who wants to teach you a ‘philosophy’ or a bunch of Karate dancing moves that might be helpful for keeping a 20 year old in shape and busy during class time.
It would be nice to learn to hit and kick to give you a chance to reach your weapon, if that can’t be a gun, then a razor sharp killing dagger delivered unseen into several fatal spots of your assailant will work.
The trick is to not want to engage with, or fight, or display a weapon or pose to the bad man, but to try to avoid his engaging you, until suddenly, you surprise him with a fatal knife blow or slash, preferably continuing that delivery with several rapid follow-ups and then fleeing.
What to look for?
1. An instructor and school who makes you feel at ease and teaches something that makes 'sense.' If it feels wrong just walk. An instructor should be able to apply what he is teaching to you. A person in great physique and with natural athletic ability can make even ridiculous moves WORK, however those same moves will not work for someone who is smaller/weaker/slower. It is very important to ensure that what the instructor is demonstrating can work if it is done by you. If it requires Bruce Lee's speed, a gymnast's flexibility and the strength of a charging rhino to effectively do them, then that is a sign for you to excuse yourself and look elsewhere.
2. If the instructor will not let you watch for free, and will not give you one free lesson, walk. There is nothing so 'secret' that you wouldn't be allowed to watch.
3. Simple moves work. Complicated will most likely fail you. By this I mean look to see if the techniques are simple and using gross motor skills rather than fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are simple large movements that are 'ugly' and non-complicated. Like an eye jab for example. Fine motor skills are complicated cool-moves. This is not to say fine motor skills will not work, but in a real fight/attack your body will be awash with adrenalin. Your muscles may be shaking, your peripheral vision is down to zero, you are not thinking cognitively ...and if your style is intricate and complicated you will freeze! You need something very simple, that you can do over and over again, until it is part of your muscle memory. Many complicated techniques is bad. Few simple techniques is good. You need something that will work when you find someone in your bedroom and your gun is in the drawer ...and the person is closer to you than your drawer is. A complex high kick will fail you (unless ofcourse you are Bruce Lee).
4. Go for one on one lessons. That's what I have always done. Different people learn at different speeds, and need different attributes. Considering you are a woman and a senior you don't need to be in a class with 19 year olds full of cranked up testosterone thinking they are Chuck Norris, and the type of skills that can work for them will not work for you.
5. Most importantly, the instructor needs to teach you situational awareness. Proper mental training and situational awareness is more important than any strike you can learn. A lot of people walk through life with blinders, and most predators (be they a Lion in Kenya or a thug in the hood) will always opt for what they consider an easy target. Confidence, coupled with the right mental attributes and with situational awareness. Spotting the 'interesting looking dude' standing aimlessly near your vehicle in an underground parking at 6am is worth more than being able to hit him hard.
Those are the things I would look for rather than a specific type of course. Someone teaching you that in your backyard is worth more than a 'Navy SEAL course' that focuses on teaching dynamic impact moves that no one who is not a special operator can manage.
It seems we are saying the same thing. What you said is quite correct.
The best thing you can do is always maintain situational awareness. Be aware of what is going on around you. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
Looks like the Secret Service needs to take away the WH Marines’ umbrellas.
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