Replies like this makes it worth the typing, let me tell ya!

Ya'll be safe out there, ya hear?

Something that might be worth adding is to take a Tae Kwon Do class. Most of the one's I've been to focus a lot on self defense for the first few belt levels. Getting out of various holds and doing enough damage to have the time to run or grab something(pistol,mace) is something that everybody should know. The training tends to stick with you and is easy to remember. I recently had a group workout with my recruiter where we did some grappling. I was able to use things I had learned about in Judo and Tae Kwon Do classes even though I haven't taken any for over 4 years.

As a side note I live in Arizona where you can carry a firearm almost everywhere except schools for good reason. Illegals can be dangerous especially the Mexican men. They love all the pretty half naked blondes running around.

 Quote: cathy goessman

Something that might be worth adding is to take a Tae Kwon Do class. Most of the one's I've been to focus a lot on self defense for the first few belt levels. Getting out of various holds and doing enough damage to have the time to run or grab something(pistol,mace) is something that everybody should know. The training tends to stick with you and is easy to remember. I recently had a group workout with my recruiter where we did some grappling. I was able to use things I had learned about in Judo and Tae Kwon Do classes even though I haven't taken any for over 4 years.

As a side note I live in Arizona where you can carry a firearm almost everywhere except schools for good reason. Illegals can be dangerous especially the Mexican men. They love all the pretty half naked blondes running around.

This is maybe a bit off topic but hear me out. Okay, don't get me wrong. I think TKD, Karate, and all that are great. I've been involved in that world for many years. But I have learned a few things. For self defense and only self defense mind you, most of those places are impractical and many times completly rediculous. They tend to give people a false sense of security. For self defense find a seminar that lasts maybe a day or two days from qualified insturctors. Who only teach self defense stuff. Find one that uses a "redman" decoy or something similar. Real self defense classes include teaching eye gauging, groin kicks, stops and scratching. Not silly hit him 500 times in 5 seconds then finish him off with a high flying side kick. As has been said before, don't rely 100% on a ppd dog either. Just use your noodle.

when i was living at home-and my dad was in Aikido-he would come home, grab my wrist, and tell me to get loose. Of course, he showed me how at first...

he did this all the time-it got real old, and after a while, i wouldnt even try.

Now-if someone were to do this-i cant remember a darned thing. Not to mention-i am not a strong person-if they grab my wrist-it doesnt matter which way i twist my hand-what angle it is-i am not getting loose.

they are good classes to take for your health and well being, but your best bet is an actual personal defense class. Most colleges have them for female students.

Most people lose it nd panic when someone grabs them. Martial arts, etc are great when you are thinking about it-but too complicated when you are paniced. Self defence classes show you thinks that are pretty instinctual-so you are more likely to remember it and do it when you need to.

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Martial arts, etc are great when you are thinking about it-but too complicated when you are paniced.

Mostly true. Don't get me started.

There's a short list which are actually effective, and it's more about how they train rather than what they train.

If you had to put money on a fight between a 130 pound high school wrestler and someone who's done 20 years of any one of the 99% of "martial arts" out there....pick the high school kid. He's the one who gets down and dirty with brute, athletic endeavors (and this is most important) trained in realistic and full speed fashion. There's simply no substitute. Techniques involving proprietary timing and fine motor skills is darwined out of the repetoire when things are trained the way they should be.

Such grappling experience has served me well. Very well.

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Self defence classes show you thinks that are pretty instinctual-so you are more likely to remember it and do it when you need to.

IME, the only thing most designated "self defence" classes teach is when you should fight. I've seen the crap peddled to women and it's summarily sad.

If we're talking worst case scenarios get good with a weapon.

If one is not willing to take knocks in some pretty intimate h2h training, you're kind of kidding yourself in that regard.

I practised Karate for over 10 years with one trainer six days a week, did okay in competitions throughout England until he died' then i got injured and it was all over, its a good thing to know but disapline is everything, when you get to a standard where one short hold or such can stop someone or in fact kill them thats where disapline comes in and it is something you will never accheive in two minutes.
I taught a few afterwards among them three girls, but only one had the true vocation for it
But this was 40 years ago and a lot has happened since those days
all i can say about it is that i think it made me a better person than i might have been without it and it learned me not to take advantage of others but quite the opposite

 Quote: steven lepic

If you had to put money on a fight between a 130 pound high school wrestler and someone who's done 20 years of any one of the 99% of "martial arts" out there....pick the high school kid. He's the one who gets down and dirty with brute, athletic endeavors (and this is most important) trained in realistic and full speed fashion. There's simply no substitute. Techniques involving proprietary timing and fine motor skills is darwined out of the repetoire when things are trained the way they should be.

This is exactly why I liked Judo so much. It's all the nasty stuff you're not allowed to do in wrestling. Throws, chokes, arm bars etc. It also teaches you how to fall properly and how to fight effectively from your back. The only downside is a big guy like me gets KILLED in practice because most could throuw me but not pull up for a practice throw instead of following through for a tournament throw.

Ok, yet *another recommendation from me ( let me know if ya'll are getting tired of them )

First off, I have study various martial arts for many years and been in more than my share of unarmed combat in real life.
The very best "method" that I've come across, if you can even call it that, is a system designed by a bunch of former bar room bouncers:
http://www.rmcat.com/

These guy have books, DVD's and even a first rate camp that teaches practical unarmed self defense.
They're basically the hard core ppd trainers of the hand-to-hand combat crowd, and I *highly* recommend their materials!!

Great link!
I was taught by my sensei that is why learning/practicin Kata correctly is so important. It becomes reflexive. We also practiced jiu jitsu to address what happened if one ended up on the ground, and periodic 'real life scenarios' so that one could apply the training.

BTW, I never tire of firearms and self-defense