Self defense

[ATX-Hiker]

I've been thinking about signing up for some form of self defense class before my 2009 thru.

Question. What do you think would be the best fighting discipline i.e. karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, krav maga. Against animals or unruly hikers.

I was thinking tae kwon do, since it involves a lot of kicks and you could keep your distance from bears, you would also be able to punt mice and other small varmints.

[superman]

Lmao

[JAK]

You could bring a single wooden hiking staff, and learn to use it.
The chinese wushu atheletes seem to be very good with a pointed stick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbBFt...eature=related

[ATX-Hiker]

I've ruled out Krav Maga. I read and understand it involves a lot of close quarters techniques. I'd like to keep at least an arms distance from bears.

[JAK]

There are other forms of wushu, but I would start with the staff. A staff would not hurt so much as a spear when it is removed from your butt after your first bear encounter, or local yokels.

[ATX-Hiker]

I've already invested in Kevlar underwear to prevent the entrance of any foreign objects into my rectum.

[JAK]

Seriously though, I think carrying a sigle hiking staff is a very natural thing to do. They only need to weigh a pound or two, and if your hiking with a small child and happen to surprise a bear, which is pretty rare, or encounter some unfriendly dogs, which migh be more common, I think just having a long stick in your hand without any training at all would be enough to improve your posture considerably, which is half the battle.

Plus it would be something to practice with on a long trip, and give your arms some exercise.

[_terrapin_]

LOL, unless you're utterly gifted, it takes many months, more like years before any of this sort of training might pay off in a real fight. It's also just plain silly. Your best defense is what's between your ears. Even buttercups like Bill Bryson and me can hike the AT. Reeelaaaax and take a deep breath.

[Homer&Marje]

I've ruled out Krav Maga. I read and understand it involves a lot of close quarters techniques. I'd like to keep at least an arms distance from bears.

I wouldn't rule it out. It's very useful in many ways, close quarters training involves always aiming for vital areas, quickly and repeatedly to do as much damage in the least amount of time. If a bear charges you, you're not going to kick it but you might have a chance of poking one of it's eyes out with a few well place fingers. A pointed knuckle blow to the jugular will help, but I just don't see the scenario really coming up too much

I carry a large, strong hiking stick. Would work well as a 5' bat.

[JAK]

If you wanted to be a more anglo-saxon approach...
http://www.quarterstaff.org/gallery.html

or...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCyIAsSid8

[ChinMusic]

ATX - Just travel with someone you can out-run.

[ATX-Hiker]

I'm not really worried about attacks. It would be interesting to see if a UFC fighter could actually complete a thru hike. They're supposed to be BMF's after all.

[WalkingStick75]

Basic self defense is good to know but a street fighter can take out any martial arts better to use common sense, if something does not feel right its probably not. I have left only a few camps because I didn't like who I was going to spend the night with. I just told them I wanted to push on, hiked a mile or two and made a cold camp off the trail.

[JAK]

LOL, unless you're utterly gifted, it takes many months, more like years before any of this sort of training might pay off in a real fight. It's also just plain silly. Your best defense is what's between your ears. Even buttercups like Bill Bryson and me can hike the AT. Reeelaaaax and take a deep breath.

I think that's the advantage of a big stick.
For something like a vicious dog it doesn't take any training. Its pretty natural. I wouldn't want to fight a bear with one, but bears don't want to fight me either, and a big stick might be enough to remind them of that and even though they don't have very good eyesight, they know what a stick it.

Just saying it might be another reason to carry a hiking staff if you wanted to. It seems quite natural to me. A gun requires training. A can of pepper spray I probably won't have on hand if I ever needed it. A stick I can just pick up and go with it, and I might actually get into the habit of carrying.

[ed bell]

LOL, unless you're utterly gifted, it takes many months, more like years before any of this sort of training might pay off in a real fight. It's also just plain silly. Your best defense is what's between your ears. Even buttercups like Bill Bryson and me can hike the AT. Reeelaaaax and take a deep breath.

I agree with this, save the silly part. I recently started taking a self-defense/martial arts class and I think it takes quite a bit of time to learn enough to effectively utilize and feel confident with your particular discipline. One aspect the class I take emphasizes is spacial awareness and being attentive to situations that may present a problem. In other words, learning to recognize and avoid confrontations altogether. Now I will agree that planning to use martial arts on animals is a bit silly. I'm just trying to picture someone attempting to use Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu on a black bear.

[JAK]

"they know what a stick it"
That might have been a Freudian slip.
I meant to say they know what a stick is, not where to stick it.

[JAK]

A stick would be my choice against a dog. Running wouldn't be much of an option with a bear if I was with my daughter. I think a long stick again would be the clearest choice, being useful and natural to carry anyway, and not requiring any training. I have to slow down a bit anyway when I hike with my daughter and she likes carrying a stick or two, and so I don't mind carrying one either. So far we just make them as we go, but I got some hardwood and made a couple already, which went to a couple of Margaret's friends. We haven't made our own yet.

I'm just saying if it's only 1 in a 100,000 you will need it, it may as well be fun to carry.

[_terrapin_]

One aspect the class I take emphasizes is spacial awareness and being attentive to situations that may present a problem. In other words, learning to recognize and avoid confrontations altogether.

Bingo. . . .

[JAK]

The saplings I used were maple. I don't think its a hard maple but I don't think it matters.
I am going to try making a couple out of mountain ash for Christmas, as we have a few of those around and I think Rowan might make a very traditional wood for that sort of thing, with magical powers and all that. It is easiest to peel the bark of right away, especially with the Maple, but it can be just as much fun to leave the bark on or scrape it off with our knife or make some designs in it.

I like it my own height, or taller. A bit shorter is lighter but not so well balanced.
If I wanted on really light I think I would use spruce or cedar and cap the bottom.
I'm not sure how strong it should be though, so I think any good wood is a good compromise.

[JAK]

Bingo. . . .

Someone once said carrying a big stick is a good way to avoid confrontations.