Post: #26

(07-22-2013 09:23 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  Does someone have any "mt/bjj/mma helped me in X sketchy situation" stories?

I've been held up by muggers with knives twice while (stupidly) walking around by myself, drunk, late at night in New York and Rio de Janeiro. Both times I took a couple of steps backwards slowly, then turned around and sprinted for my life. None of the three muggers even attempted to give chase, obviously decided they could find an easier target that didnt involve running a marathon to catch.

I really cant see how I could have had a better outcome from either situation, I'd imagine pulling a knife would have ended rather worse for me though.

Post: #27

I am sure this tourist here wish he had a gun that day.

In general if you are just on holiday, no, i wouldnt advise you to carry anything. I am known for going to lots of hood places when I am travelling and I never carry anything and never got in trouble. Even if you were to be robbed, whats the worse that could happen? Dont carry credit cards or your passport around and you shouldn't have much to worry.

If you were living there, it would be another story. You probably want to have a gun at your place just in case some mad shit happens.

Post: #28

You could always roll pimp style and carry a straight razor. Easily checks through airports if you have the shaving kit to go along with it.

Plus, it is easy to hide.

Post: #29

(07-22-2013 09:23 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  Interesting things going on in this thread.

I'll agree with most of you, don't carry a knife, but rather practice on running and carry OC spray. Shanking someone is not worth the time.

Sometimes you just get used to carrying something with you, thanks ccw for giving me a blue pill and thanks to you guys for giving me the red pill.

Does someone have any "mt/bjj/mma helped me in X sketchy situation" stories?

I suggest you check the thread about the UFC fighter who got royally beaten up in Brazil for saying something to a random chick.

You really think pepper spray is going to help you??

Your dealing with the unknown, pulling a weapon means you want to fight which will only aggravate the criminal.

If you worried about this sort of thing, then stick to an all-inclusive resort or travel with a solid buddy. The best option is to play safe and retreat if you smell a problem.

A friend of mine got blindsided once by some punks, they threw a brick at him and he lost 3 teeth. He didn't see it coming and "luckily" he only lost 3 teeth. A weapon or MMA skills would have done nothing for him in that situation.

Post: #30

(07-23-2013 11:47 AM)rudebwoy Wrote:  I suggest you check the thread about the UFC fighter who got royally beaten up in Brazil for saying something to a random chick.

You really think pepper spray is going to help you??

Your dealing with the unknown, pulling a weapon means you want to fight which will only aggravate the criminal.

If you worried about this sort of thing, then stick to an all-inclusive resort or travel with a solid buddy. The best option is to play safe and retreat if you smell a problem.

A friend of mine got blindsided once by some punks, they threw a brick at him and he lost 3 teeth. He didn't see it coming and "luckily" he only lost 3 teeth. A weapon or MMA skills would have done nothing for him in that situation.

The guy got beaten by 6-8 guys for hitting a girl. You're veering off topic, I'm talking about 1-1 or 1-3 at the most, not 1-against a whole gang or a random attack.

Sometimes the situation escalates pretty quick. All inclusives are a bubble.

Personal story: Amsterdam near the Red Light District, 3-4:30am 3 years ago, as I was walking from a bar to my hostel drunk and high but fully conscious. Two guys were coming in my direction on a lonely street. They start talking in Dutch loudly, I said "no Dutch, do you speak English?". They stood in front of me blocking my way and said "why are you here? what are you doing?" in a loud voice. I ignored them and walked the other way.

Then one of the guys grabs the hand pocket area of my jacket, I had 6K cash, credit cards, and my passport in the "inside pocket" so he didn't feel anything. He just violated my "personal space" rule, and I was drunk/high. As soon as he did that I stepped back, punched that guy...the other guy had a "wtf" look so I pushed him as he was off guard and I started running. Ran about 100 meters and looked back, the other guys ran in the other direction.

Looking back, a knife wouldn't help me, but spray would.

Sometimes stuff just happens.

Post: #31

(07-23-2013 01:59 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-23-2013 11:47 AM)rudebwoy Wrote:  I suggest you check the thread about the UFC fighter who got royally beaten up in Brazil for saying something to a random chick.

You really think pepper spray is going to help you??

Your dealing with the unknown, pulling a weapon means you want to fight which will only aggravate the criminal.

If you worried about this sort of thing, then stick to an all-inclusive resort or travel with a solid buddy. The best option is to play safe and retreat if you smell a problem.

A friend of mine got blindsided once by some punks, they threw a brick at him and he lost 3 teeth. He didn't see it coming and "luckily" he only lost 3 teeth. A weapon or MMA skills would have done nothing for him in that situation.

The guy got beaten by 6-8 guys for hitting a girl. You're veering off topic, I'm talking about 1-1 or 1-3 at the most, not 1-against a whole gang or a random attack.

Sometimes the situation escalates pretty quick. All inclusives are a bubble.

Personal story: Amsterdam near the Red Light District, 3-4:30am 3 years ago, as I was walking from a bar to my hostel drunk and high but fully conscious. Two guys were coming in my direction on a lonely street. They start talking in Dutch loudly, I said "no Dutch, do you speak English?". They stood in front of me blocking my way and said "why are you here? what are you doing?" in a loud voice. I ignored them and walked the other way.

Then one of the guys grabs the hand pocket area of my jacket, I had 6K cash, credit cards, and my passport in the "inside pocket" so he didn't feel anything. He just violated my "personal space" rule, and I was drunk/high. As soon as he did that I stepped back, punched that guy...the other guy had a "wtf" look so I pushed him as he was off guard and I started running. Ran about 100 meters and looked back, the other guys ran in the other direction.

Looking back, a knife wouldn't help me, but spray would.

Sometimes stuff just happens.

If you are rolling with 6k cash you dont even need a semi heat, you need a gun, period. Why would you roll with so much cash around? Thats putting youserlf in unnecessary risk.

Post: #32

(07-23-2013 02:02 PM)pitt Wrote:  If you are rolling with 6k cash you dont even need a semi heat, you need a gun, period. Why would you roll with so much cash around? Thats putting youserlf in unnecessary risk.

I never bothered to get a bank account until 2 weeks before my trip, and the debit card took 3 weeks. Dumb 18-year old mistake, I know. The Dutch government would not be amused if I carried a gun around.

After my debit card arrived, I decided to only carry $50 cash in case I lose my debit card.

Edit: Don't get an account with a regional bank, go with a big national one...they offer temporary debit cards. If you're a student, banks waive their "monthly checking account" fees for 4-6 years.

Post: #33

For areas where it at least sometimes rains (and just giving up token $$ isn't enough or running is not an option): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO8G5zsQohg
Basic cane training is fast to pickup and even offered at some senior centers in the States.

Post: #34

(07-23-2013 01:59 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-23-2013 11:47 AM)rudebwoy Wrote:  I suggest you check the thread about the UFC fighter who got royally beaten up in Brazil for saying something to a random chick.

You really think pepper spray is going to help you??

Your dealing with the unknown, pulling a weapon means you want to fight which will only aggravate the criminal.

If you worried about this sort of thing, then stick to an all-inclusive resort or travel with a solid buddy. The best option is to play safe and retreat if you smell a problem.

A friend of mine got blindsided once by some punks, they threw a brick at him and he lost 3 teeth. He didn't see it coming and "luckily" he only lost 3 teeth. A weapon or MMA skills would have done nothing for him in that situation.

The guy got beaten by 6-8 guys for hitting a girl. You're veering off topic, I'm talking about 1-1 or 1-3 at the most, not 1-against a whole gang or a random attack.

Sometimes the situation escalates pretty quick. All inclusives are a bubble.

Personal story: Amsterdam near the Red Light District, 3-4:30am 3 years ago, as I was walking from a bar to my hostel drunk and high but fully conscious. Two guys were coming in my direction on a lonely street. They start talking in Dutch loudly, I said "no Dutch, do you speak English?". They stood in front of me blocking my way and said "why are you here? what are you doing?" in a loud voice. I ignored them and walked the other way.

Then one of the guys grabs the hand pocket area of my jacket, I had 6K cash, credit cards, and my passport in the "inside pocket" so he didn't feel anything. He just violated my "personal space" rule, and I was drunk/high. As soon as he did that I stepped back, punched that guy...the other guy had a "wtf" look so I pushed him as he was off guard and I started running. Ran about 100 meters and looked back, the other guys ran in the other direction.

Looking back, a knife wouldn't help me, but spray would.

Sometimes stuff just happens.

I think you are looking for a fight, so don't get pissed off when you get a fight and get beaten up.

Walking in any country drunk with $6k in your pocket is asking for problems, your lucky that was Holland and yes I have been to the country a few times.

1-1 can escalate quickly to 1-4, you don't know until it is too late.

Post: #35

How good are you at knife fighting? And will you be ready to take his friend who's probably watching across the way? I hope you are also very skilled at the language so you can explain your self defense case. I don't think it's a good idea. I would walk home with a couple rocks after I got mugged in Medellin. I'd keep one in my hand and one in my pocket. They weren't too big and they were inconspicuous. If someone came at me with a knife I would have just thrown a rock at their head and ran.

Post: #36

When I was doing my law enforcement training I heard quite a few anecdotal stories about people spraying themselves in the face because they whip out their pepper spray, hold it directly in front of them and press the button ready to hose away without first checking to see which direction the spray would come out of. We had to practice drawing and spraying each other with deactivated pepper spray (still stung a teeny bit) for til we were all soaking wet. More than once, we'd draw and spray ourselves. It was embarrassing but a good lesson nonetheless. Usually while using pepper spray it ends up getting you, too. It's an air dispersal weapon, you're going to walk away with tears streaming down your face half the time just from being in close proximity.

That being said, stay away from the stuff with CS gas in it. If someone has a respiratory problem, it's potentially lethal. Stick to solid pepper spray but be warned, some people can just shrug it off, especially if they're under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or if they're in an altered mental state (which can include being extremely pissed off because you just tried to mace them). Even pepper spray can give someone with asthma serious trouble, so make sure the person you're attacking has their inhaler on hand before you deliver a can of whoop ass.

Also remember for a gun - a trained professional can draw and fire their weapon in the time it takes an attacker to move 21ft. This is where the debate comes in about people carrying weapons with no safety, that split second may or may not make all the difference supposedly. But the question is, has anyone on here ever been mugged by someone 21ft away from them? Personally my life is worth more than 6k, I wouldn't risk it.

Most places outside the US are going to have serious issues with you carrying a weapon around on your person, much less bringing it into their country. That goes for firearms, certain knives, and pepper spray, nunchucks, freeze rays, tasers, batons, katanas, ICBMs, whatever. Courts around the world aren't too lenient on tourists who look like they came ready to fight a war.

Generally speaking, unless someone is intending to kill you or do you irreversible harm, just give them what they want. Money is replaceable, your life isn't. Would you rather have to call your credit card companies in the morning, or spend a lifetime in a foreign prison?

Post: #37

(07-23-2013 01:59 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  Personal story: Amsterdam near the Red Light District, 3-4:30am 3 years ago, as I was walking from a bar to my hostel drunk and high but fully conscious. Two guys were coming in my direction on a lonely street. They start talking in Dutch loudly, I said "no Dutch, do you speak English?". They stood in front of me blocking my way and said "why are you here? what are you doing?" in a loud voice. I ignored them and walked the other way.

Then one of the guys grabs the hand pocket area of my jacket, I had 6K cash, credit cards, and my passport in the "inside pocket" so he didn't feel anything. He just violated my "personal space" rule, and I was drunk/high. As soon as he did that I stepped back, punched that guy...the other guy had a "wtf" look so I pushed him as he was off guard and I started running. Ran about 100 meters and looked back, the other guys ran in the other direction.

Looking back, a knife wouldn't help me, but spray would.

Sometimes stuff just happens.

This is exactly what I mean you solve these problems before they happen, by not getting yourself in them in the first place.

Quite hoenstly I can't imagine a more perfect setup to be robbed. In the same sense I have little sympathy for a women who gets unconsciously drunk, then gets paraded around fingered, people need to accept their are consequences for bad decisions, even if they aren't your fault. Walking alone late at night, drunk and high, sketchy area of down, down a lonely street, having a ton of cash on you and something to lose (aside from your life) and then getting aggressive with strangers because they violated a 'rule' of yours about personal space? Any one of those 6 points I would generally try and avoid doing, yet you managed to tie all into one. The only way you could have made it better was if you carried your cash in your hand in a clear ziplock bag broadcasting it to everyone you had it. I'm trying to mean this in a helpful way, but your problem isn't whether you need a weapon or not.

Stuff doesn't *just* happen. People make bad descsions leading up, and then whether it's their fault or not, bad things happen as a direct result.

Post: #38

Sometimes pepper spray is completely ineffective.





They should have stopped spraying him after, I dunno, the 3rd time it didn't work?

Post: #39

Actually carrying a baseball bat in your car should be legal in most of places, specially if you have other sporting gear with it.

I am planning to do that in the future.

Post: #40

(07-24-2013 12:10 AM)Osiris Wrote:  Sometimes pepper spray is completely ineffective.





They should have stopped spraying him after, I dunno, the 3rd time it didn't work?

That was a fun video. Love the opening soundtrack. haha

(07-23-2013 05:16 AM)zatara Wrote:  

(07-22-2013 09:23 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  Does someone have any "mt/bjj/mma helped me in X sketchy situation" stories?

I've been held up by muggers with knives twice while (stupidly) walking around by myself, drunk, late at night in New York and Rio de Janeiro. Both times I took a couple of steps backwards slowly, then turned around and sprinted for my life. None of the three muggers even attempted to give chase, obviously decided they could find an easier target that didnt involve running a marathon to catch.

I really cant see how I could have had a better outcome from either situation, I'd imagine pulling a knife would have ended rather worse for me though.

Well played.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #41

My plan of action I have came up with is to stay calm, look at the robber then really focus like I am looking at something behind him and say "theres a cop right there" and when they turn their head run or kick them in the dick an run, or if need be try an disarm them.


Got the idea when I was watching one a episode of "scare tactics" on the fucking Syfy channel. The skit had some crazy guy in his back yard with a gun an the victim very calmy said theres your wife an pointed in the other direction... the fucking actor looked (he really should have know his wife wasn't there, but when your caught up in the moment...) an the dude ran and jumped over a fence an bolted into the woods.

Post: #42

My 2 cents. Check the laws where you are going. Go with the oc spray but realize it still might be better to comply. I have sprayed dozens of living creatures. Criminals, dogs and worst crazy women. Often the person isn't effected by it. Some people are so nuts it doesn't faze them. I onced sprays this guy and he responded by acting like he liked it. Another problem that happens too often. Person gets sprayed and still comes at you. Now you feel the effects of it.
Having a gun is something that can get you in trouble and more often than not untrained civilians get it taken from them.
Stick with the oc and a loud whistle. But be prepared that the oc will not solve your problem. Spray it while retreating. We never run away. We tactically retreat. Think that if it makes you feel better.
Ofcourse having a throw away wallet don't hurt.

Post: #43

No need for heat, just learn how to do this shit:

Post: #44

When I was traveling I never had much trouble. On the days that I walked around with all my stuff and thus being an ideal victim, I always had a simple ballpoint pen in my shorts. It won't break and it's pointy enough to penetrate. It won't help you in a knife fight but it's enough to keep one or two barehanded guys away from you. Unless they look like total brutes like Fisto

I don't about you but if I have a 6.2 feet crazy looking guy in front of me, who is possibly gonna stab me with a ballpoint, I'd back up and look for some scared looking lard ass to rob.

The best solution by far is to make a run for it though. You never know if the robber is packing or has some buddies nearby. I guess there aren't many robbers that are gonna run after you.

Post: #45

Training for running / sprinting does seem to be the most practical thing in many situations, and I know that if i have not run for a while, then i will get real winded. It is almost as if a person would have to incorporate running training into a weekly routine.. b/c if you do not do it very often, you are not going to be very good at it.. or have enough endurance to pull it off.

On the other hand, in situations in which you are carrying a lot of items on your person or all of your belongings (b/c you are moving from one hotel to the next or something like that), then running may not be so practical. In that kind of moving locations situation (in which i would feel the most vulnerable b/c i was carrying most of my valuables), I would really hate to lose certain items, especially my computer, if I had not recently backed up my files. Even though it is not worth dying over, it may be worth putting up a fight b/c you do not necessarily know what the outcome is gonna be.