[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by LancYorkYankee

Back in my post (#24) I asked the following:

I'm curious, are there any/alot of self defense courses taught over there. Having a couple of Bruce Lee's kicking the crap out of these thugs might make em think twice!

I don't believe I received an answer but I remain curious on this.

Brian

I think there's a difference between self defence classes and martial arts courses. Yes there are martial arts courses and like others have said you are taught in them not to use the techniques you learn as a means of street fighting. I know a few people who attend such groups and have attained different levels of grading including black belt but they would only ever use martial arts as a last resort.

There is the other problem too if you retaliate you are also likey to end up being done for assault.

We are always told that the best form of defence is avoidance. Even those handbag sprays can get you into trouble.

Originally Posted by blazey

As a victim of an attack myself I have to say that self defence might seem worthwhile but its not always useless, I got grabbed from behind and pinned down and there is nothing I could've done, as although I knew they had been following me and shouting stuff at me, I really didn't expect it to happen on a main road. I think most people tend to think the best before getting ready to have to defend themselves against an attack.

I knew the main girls name and address and everything but I was advised not to take it any further as it was likely it wouldn't be taken far enough and may have led to more trouble so I didnt bother. I see the girls on their own sometimes as I easily recognised a few of them and it is so tempting to say something to them and make them feel as small as they made me feel but I think they feel worse with the silence I give them, like I couldn't care.

A similar thing happened to my daughter. The police advised her not to pursue it because they said it would probably only end up worse off for us. Not only would she probably get attacked by the same person again, or by friends of that person but we could well end up with the windows being smashed and graffiti daubed on our house.

It is awful that people should be allowed to get away with things like this though for fear of retaliation.