Recommendations for personal defense

[tstand]

Hello, discovered the Best Defense show and am enjoying it.

I've become interested in personal or self defense and wondered a few things. Sorry these are from a newbie:

1. Is there self-defense training in Dayton, OH that is recommended? I'm considering a martial art such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or Judo. But then I read about Close Quarters Combat or Krav Maga and wonder if one of these is a better route. I am not aware of any CQC or similar training availabe in this area to civilians. A local Wing Chun school claims to teach Krav Maga but I don't know how legitimate it is. Or is there another discipline I should consider?

2. Are there books or videos that are good for training how to avoid bad situations before you get yourself into one, and how to escape harm if you get into a bad place (such as, verbal tactics).

Thanks!

[tstand]

It may help to mention that I am unwilling to carry a firearm.

Thanks again

[scott.ballard]

The Sig Sauer Academy has an excellent Krav Maga instructor and program.

I know he travels and may come to your area.  Otherwise you may need to travel to Epping, NH or one of the other remote locations.

Sorry, I do not know of any in your area, but someone on the forum will for sure.

Regarding the discipline, I studied Judo and Aikido growing up.  Those turned out to be incomparable to the H2H training I received while in the Navy.  That was superseded by the KM training I took up later.  Each one built off the other and I feel I benefitted from them all.

I would suggest you start with KM and grow from there.

Good Luck,

[twyacht]

Welcome to DRTV.

Does your unwillingness to carry a firearm extend to carrying a knife, or other instrument for self defense? Is it location, or something else?

There are several options besides a firearm. PD training is a great outlet. I'm sure some will offer valid points.

[tstand]

The Sig Sauer Academy has an excellent Krav Maga instructor and program.

I know he travels and may come to your area.  Otherwise you may need to travel to Epping, NH or one of the other remote locations.

Sorry, I do not know of any in your area, but someone on the forum will for sure.

Regarding the discipline, I studied Judo and Aikido growing up.  Those turned out to be incomparable to the H2H training I received while in the Navy.  That was superseded by the KM training I took up later.  Each one built off the other and I feel I benefitted from them all.

I would suggest you start with KM and grow from there.

Good Luck,

I visited the sig sauer website and see the classes you mentioned. They are held in NH but maybe I'll write and see if they ever come to Ohio.

[Sponsor]

[tstand]

Welcome to DRTV.

Does your unwillingness to carry a firearm extend to carrying a knife, or other instrument for self defense? Is it location, or something else?

There are several options besides a firearm. PD training is a great outlet. I'm sure some will offer valid points.

I would be uncomfortable carrying a gun or knife, but might be willing to carry something else, as long as it is legal. You say "PD training is a great outlet." Is that a forum on this website? I am unsure what you meant.

[bulldog75]

You can try tazers and pepper spray also. The trend I have seen as of late is multiple attackers. So it is best not to get hung up on getting into ground fights. One has you down and the other one is going to use your head as a soccer ball. Situational awareness is one of your best defense. Tazer will replace your tazer if you have a police report where it was used and you fled the area.

[Rob Pincus]

Tstand,

Glad to hear that you enjoy TBD and that you are interested in training.

I would encourage you to look towards a more efficient and less "traditional" unarmed program. Personal Defense Readiness is a great program, based on intuitive concepts and taught in a variety of short seminar versions. I'm sure you can find an instructor in your region.

As others have mentioned, there are plenty of tools that you can carry other than firearms or knives that can increase your ability to defend yourself, but awareness & avoidance are going to serve you much better than any tool.

-RJP

[fightingquaker13]

I think Rob, unsurprisingly has it right, as he does do this for a living. I guess I would ask you to think (not necessarily out loud on the board, but just think) about why you are reluctant to carry a weapon. Is it for reasons of conscience, temperment, legality, pragmatism etc.? Any of the above are valid, and if you aren't comfortable carrying, by all means don't. BUT, as someone who has spent a fair amount of time among Quakers and understands the moral concerns about lethal force (though I don't share them), I would say that you should ask yourself this. How far are you willing to go with the Krav Maga to defend your life? Is it any less lethal than a gun, and if not, maybe (while staying within speaking distance of your moral comfort zone) might not a gun be more effecient and safer for  you? If its not I respect that, and would yield to an unarmed style and good situational awareness. Either way, welcome aboard.
FQ13

[seeker_two]

A lot of good advice here......

I'd also recommend looking into a martial arts style that utilizes canes or other stick fighting (like some of the Filippino MA's). A cane or walking stick appears pretty innocuous but gives you a lot of room in the force continum.

FQ definitely has a point.....just how far are you willing to go in a SD situation?