[at-l] Self defense on the trail.

[lparker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (L. Parker)]

"Steve Adams" <stephensadams@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:mailman.1042309038.64439.at-l@mailman.backcountry.net...
> Let's say you're hiking.  Someone approaches you and advises he is going
to
> assault you.  You can either comply or resist.  If you wish to comply, you
> have read far enough.

[clip]

> Someone recommended Aikido.  It's a terrific martial art.  It is
wonderfully
> subtle, elegant in its seeming simplicity.  Hopefully, you began studying
> this years ago and have practiced diligently ever since.  Martial arts
> training is very specific - - there are certain prescribed moves; all
other
> moves are, by their absence, wrong.  Students extemporaneously perform a
> semi-choreographed dance of sorts, wherein they engage fellow students in
> staging some combat move(s).  There is a tacit understanding among all the
> "combatants" that they will obey "the rules" of that particular martial
art.
>   [I would exempt someone well trained in Aikido from the foregoing
> criticism of martial arts.]

Most schools of martial arts teach both the traditional forms and self
defense these days. The forms are/were nothing more than a means of making
the body memorize technique until it becomes automatic. That is a key word,
automatic. The body will react to the proper stimulus without the brain
consciously thinking about it.

If your interest is purely self defense, with no thought of sport or
competition, I would suggest studying Krav Maga. It is not a competitive or
sport martial art. Offense and defense, nothing else, and particularly
lethal.

> We ignorant unwashed similarly learn not to do certain things (e.g., hit
> below the belt, hit him when he's down, or kick someone) because it's
> unfair, unsporting, perhaps even immoral.  Well, pitch that thinking out,
> right now.  Your assailant isn't doing this to you because he thinks
you'll
> enjoy it.

First rule in a street (or trail) fight: THERE ARE NO RULES.

> You don't know the intention(s) of your assailant.  You have no real way
of
> knowing whether your assailant intends to rob you, humiliate you, harm
you,
> or kill you.  His intentions are free to change.  If he is really enjoying
> himself, he may escalate his intentions.  If he's having a miserable time,
> he may abort his assault.

So you MUST automatically assume the worst and respond accordingly.

> Some recommend pepper spray.  Pepper spray is similar, at least in one
> aspect, to fire extinguishers; it takes a lot more of it to do the job
than
> you would at first believe.  People don't like to lug around a canister of
> pepper spray of sufficient volume to be effective.

The effects of pepper spray are temporary, they will wear off and then you
will have an angry assailant pursuing you down the trail. Not a smart move
in my opinion. Better think of something more lethal, broken kneecaps come
to mind...can't chase you with a broken kneecap.

[clip]

> Hikers ignore or forget the obvious.  Many lightweight backpackers proudly
> announce to the world, they only carry the Classic Model Swiss Army Knife.
> [It was designed as a personal care product, to clean and smooth
> fingernails, cut strands of unraveling thread and string, and open mail.]
> If you become separated from your equipment and must spend the night
> outdoors, a sturdy sharp knife will become an important tool, if you know
> how to use it.  And, you can learn to use it by reading books.  You can
> perfect your techniques near your house.  A small knife can be carried in
a
> sheath on a belt worn around your waist.  It can be lighter in weight than
> either pepper spray or a folding knife.  It is readily available to you.
> It's mere presence will dissuade some people.

Fighting with a knife requires as much training as any martial art. Unless
you know how, you are better of with the below mentioned rock. The presence
of a weapon may deter an attacker, but I don't recommend counting upon it.
In training people to use handguns in self defense one of the first things I
tell them is that a gun is not a magic wand, you cannot wave it at them and
expect them to do what you tell them. The same thing is true of knives.

> Some general rules regarding assaults:

[clip]

All good advice. I would change only the last paragraph to read: "Stop as
soon as your assailant can no longer come after you". This is not a semantic
difference. As was already stated, the assailant can change his/her mind.
Breaking off your "defense" when the assailant appears to have had enough
only makes you vulnerable to counterattack. Do not stop until the attacker
CANNOT get back up. Remember, it is a long ways down the trail for help, the
attacker will know which way you went and that there will be hell to pay if
you get there.

Lee I Joe