RMA Newbies Guide to Self Defense Version 0.1 Kirk Lawson ------------------------------ Subject: 1 - Table of Contents 1 - Table of Contents 2 - Introduction 3 - Out And About 4 - In The Car 5 - At Home 6 - Women's Self Defense 7 - Martial Arts 8 - Guns And Other Weapons 9 - Disclaimer and Copyright Notice ------------------------------ Subject: 2 - Introduction ------------------------------ Subject: 3 - Out And About [while out with friends] [walking on the street] [in a bar or establishment] ------------------------------ Subject: 4 - In The Car [dangers in the car] [carjackings] [can you *really* "just drive off"?] ------------------------------ Subject: 5 - At Home [securing the home] [windows] [doors] [shrubs] [lighting] [burglar alarms] [safe rooms] [exit plan] ------------------------------ Subject: 6 - Women's Self Defense OK ladies. Here's the strait scoop. This section is specifically addressing your concerns about *WOMEN'S* self defense. Rape One of the biggest reasons many women want to learn Self Defense is to prevent or be able to disengage a rape attempt. [some stuff about prevention and situational awareness date rape drugs, etc.] Getting Physical Outside of situational and preventative measures, what to do when actually being physically attacked is important. [some general advice] On the topic of learning a Martial Art or going to Self Defense classes that teach physical resistance, you should be aware that some of what is being taught is just absolute garbage. Worthless. Hucksters. You should also be aware that many of the more effective techniques and many of the best respected martial arts are going to put you in what you might consider "intimate" contact with your training partners. There are various names for the positions and techniques such as "the Guard" or "North South" but they're going to look VERY sexual to you. Partners wrestling around in each other's legs or faces near crotches or hands on thighs. You may be put off or feel uncomfortable by the idea of being placed in such "intimate" contact on such a regular basis, particularly when you're desiring to *PREVENT* these activities. Well, I don't know how to put it politely so I won't. Get over yourself. If you wanted to be able to prevent a basketball player from scoring a lay-up while you're defending the basket, you wouldn't read a book about it. You wouldn't get one of your girlfriends to hang a nerf basket on a door and "defend" against her. You wouldn't "visualize" it happening. You would get a training partner and let him try to make lay-ups while you tried to stop him while a coach was giving you advice and adjusting your technique. To be blunt, why would you expect it to be different if a guy is trying to force his hips between your legs, grab your crotch, or knock you down and climb on top of you? Which do you think would make you more uncomfortable, working in a safe environment with other people who want you to be able to learn to stop these things and are trying to help you do so, or actually getting raped? 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 ------------------------------ Subject: 7 - Martial Arts ------------------------------ Subject: 8 - Guns And Other Weapons [is it appropriate for you?] [training] [get the right tool for the job] [keeping them safe from "the wrong hands"] [is it legal to own in the home?] [is it legal to carry outside the home?] [legal and moral ramifications] [force continuum] ------------------------------ Subject: 9 - Disclaimer and Copyright Notice Some answers given may reflect personal biases of the author and contributors. The answers contained herein pertain to discussions on the rec.martial-arts group, and are by no means exhaustive. The RMA Newbies Guide to Self Defense was created from publicly available sources and the opinions of experts in Self Defense and Law Enforcement as well as information from the creator of this document, Kirk Lawson (additional contributors listed at end). It is the intention that this document be a companion document to the current rec.martial-arts FAQ. The author, Kirk Lawson, grants rights to update, maintain, modify, and distribute this document provided that you abide by the "no profit" restrictions detailed hereafter. You are specifically granted the right to distribute this document in any storage or display format including, but not limited to, HTML, RTF, .DOC, PDF, or direct telepathic transfer. You are granted the right to copy, store, modify, and distribute this document provided that a) This Disclaimer, Copyright, and any version history or creator/contributor attributions are included. b) That you charge no monies for the distribution of this document, excepting a nominal charge for the cost of media upon which it may be distributed. If you wish to include this document in any for-profit publication or to include it in any pay-per or price metered medium or delivery, you may only do so with the express permission of the original document author, Kirk Lawson. Basically, if you want to modify or distribute this document for free, fine, go ahead and do it, but if you want to make money off of it, I want my cut. Kirk Lawson: lklawson@heapy.com or lawson@dayton.net Additional Contributors: