Self Defense

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

It is a known fact that most people when facing death do freeze up. Most people just aren't taught how to react in extreme situations. That is why a woman can be beat half to death by a ten year old boy with her own broom in her own kitchen. True story. Which is why I started taking classes in sword work and other forms of self defense.

Edited October 8, 2013 by Carol the Dabbler
Split off from another thread.

[Selena]

Sword work? That sounds quite interesting. What exactly is it about?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

My first sword master worked with me in the English broadsword and katana. The last five years I have worked with cutlass, rapier and fighting two handed using daggers.

 

Footwork, both defensive and offensive moves. Keeping my focus on my opponent and what he/she is doing. To use my short height to my advantage. Getting under a taller opponent's guard. Not being afraid to get in close and personal.

[Julia Mae]

My first sword master worked with me in the English broadsword and katana. The last five years I have worked with cutlass, rapier and fighting two handed using daggers.

 

Footwork, both defensive and offensive moves. Keeping my focus on my opponent and what he/she is doing. To use my short height to my advantage. Getting under a taller opponent's guard. Not being afraid to get in close and personal.

 

I didn't have anything to add, I just thought it was nice to finally have a place to use this:

 

(Hey!  A saber's a saber, yanno?  Unless it's a sabre, but still...)

[Selena]

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My first sword master worked with me in the English broadsword and katana. The last five years I have worked with cutlass, rapier and fighting two handed using daggers.

 

Footwork, both defensive and offensive moves. Keeping my focus on my opponent and what he/she is doing. To use my short height to my advantage. Getting under a taller opponent's guard. Not being afraid to get in close and personal.

That definitely sounds quite interesting!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

It is, very much so. I miss it when I'm not able to make a class or practice.

[Selena]

What kind of sword do you prefer, then?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I like the rapier, but because of my height, they tend to be too long. Which isn't a bad thing as it gives me more reach on my opponent. But I have found that I am very good with daggers that have a twelve inch blade on them. The fact that I can handle two at a time gives me a real leg up.

[Selena]

Sounds like you have spent a lot of time practicing.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I have most weekends during the summer months. This year I had to take it off because of family commitments. Hopefully by next season I can get back into it full time again.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I have found that I am very good with daggers that have a twelve inch blade on them. The fact that I can handle two at a time gives me a real leg up.

 

You stated in your initial post that you took up sword work as self defense, but I assume you don't routinely carry two twelve-inch daggers in your purse.      Not exactly meaning to be a smart-ass here, just curious.

 

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

(pretend that this following message is in capitals but I won't break the forum rules unless this IS breaking them...?) wow that is so awesome I want to be able to sword fight in real life instead of just writing words down in chats but my mum won't let me, although I suppose that is kinda sensible but still I want to so much because of lots of reasons but actually mainly because then I can show off to my friends etc. and I will stop before this sentence gets too long and everyone dies if oxygen starvation. Sorry, that was me being hyper again.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

  I only carry my weapons when I am either at a practice or at an event. Other then that they are at home stored away.

[Carol the Dabbler]

So if you were ever attacked in real life, the lessons would help by building an attitude and a way of moving, since you wouldn't be likely to have your daggers with you?

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Hopefully it would work that way. Choriographed fighting is different then a real life street attack but hopefully survival instinct would kick in and I would remember something and not just freeze up.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Right -- just don't expect the mugger to mind his manners!

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Heck no. That would be the last thing I would expect. I probably should try to find a instructor in street brawling, no joke.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Something like judo (or bartitsu) might be of more practical use than sword-fighting.  You've always got yourself with you.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Exactly. Anything under the sun is a weapon if you know how to use it. Bartitsu would be great. Maybe they would have a DVD tutorial. Will have to look it up on Amazon.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Try Google, too, for local bartitsu clubs, schools, etc.  Probably just as well that Conan Doyle misspelt the word -- makes it easier to look up real-world vs. Holmesian references.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I've looked on Amazon and ordered a DVD. Seems almost every book and DVD gives Doyle credit for reviving interest in the art misspelling or no.

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

When we (my classmates and me) play-fight at school we just basically punch each other, sometimes kick each other, if it's out of school sometimes we do the roll-on-the-ground thing, but that's as far as it gets...

 

My question is why would someone attack a lovely person like you? Ok I actually do kinda understand why.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think you're right, it's not likely that Fox's friends would attack her (except someplace like sword-fighting class, where it's more like playing).  But there are bad people who will attack complete strangers so they can steal their money.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Yup, and if you know some kind of self defense, as least you have some hope of getting away or fighting them off.