Self Defense Tip #35
A walk through the city

by Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Stretching Scientifically, Secrets of Stretching, and Science of Sports Training.

To read the previous installment click here.

Once I strolled through the Old City in Warsaw with a female relative. In a narrow street ahead of us, on the sidewalk, a man was reclining. He seemed to be getting some metallic object out from his clothes. I thought that perhaps it is a harmonica and that he was getting ready to play it for spare change of the passers-by.

Just in case I gave him wide berth. Not so my companion. (One of those who considers practice of self-defense with or without weapons below their dignity.) She stepped right within one foot of him, as if he was not there. (It takes having no concern for dignity of others--such as this derelict or beggar, obliviousness to danger, and disregard for safety of others--such as me.)

He let loose with obscenities while waving his hand with that metallic object. She got startled, and I shouted at him to be off. Either my firm command set him aback or his being under influence of something undercut his legs. With one hand I grabbed my companion, the other hand on the knife ready to draw (I did not have my Unbreakable Umbrella because it was not made yet). He kept on screaming but did not got up, so we walked away. But what if he pursued? What if that thing in his hand was a straight razor? Would I have the freedom of movement to set him up or at least to loose him? With that woman in tow, flustered and oblivious enough to start the whole thing?

Conclusion 1: If you can't avoid such unmindful people you must anticipate trouble and don't give them any freedom of movement lest they put you in an ugly “argument.”

Conclusion 2: Carry the Unbreakable Umbrella rain or shine. It is lighter than a solid wood baseball bat and much stronger than a steel pipe. It can give you a safe distance from a blade. Click here to see videos of defenses, disarms, and immobilizations done with this umbrella.

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