Image in Self Defence

[Anomandaris]

I have twice had the displeasure of being involved in a situation where I have had to defend myself.

the first was against a mugger who rushed me and pushed me around before stealing my phone(hence forth I studied a martial art)

the second time was a few weeks ago, one of my friends had got into an organised fight(or as organised as you get nowadays...more like meet me in the park at X o'clock and we'll finish it) and it eventually turned from a mono a mono fight into a general brawl(you dont say no when a friend asks for help, especially when you know he might be all alone against upwards of 5 or 6 assailants), needless to say it was ugly but I avoided being harmed as did my friends(I could say we won in that we were the ones who didn't leave but you know how stores change over time and I'm sure they felt they had won)

but anyway.

I feel that in many of these kinds of situations your image can play a big part in self defence, if you look weak and helpless then you attract a different kind of situation than if you look dead 'ard and ready to fight, furthermore the correct image can help you avoid a self defence situation all together. For example wearing clothes that single ou out as part of a cultural sub group(such as goths, skaters, chavs etc) can either attract or deter undue attention.

essentially I want to know what anyone has to say on the subject of image in a self defence situation, do you think attitude and clothes as well as demeanor and surroundings can affect a situation and what do you suggest as good clothes to wear, attitudes to have and all that kind of stuff.

[J-Wo]

I think looking pissed off helps. I'm tall, but pretty weak looking but as others have pointed out to me I "always look like I'm in a bad mood", and I always hold my head up high. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never been attacked or threatened.
If you saunter around like you're skipping on a cloud, with a big grin on your face, I imagine you're going to look like prime meat for bullies

Incidentally, I've noticed that the majority of posts regarding being attacked by strangers are posted by people in England. People say that the US is violent but I would say that England is far worse (statistics which put violent crime in England at double that of the US would also back this up)

[JayKayD]

Incidentally, I've noticed that the majority of posts regarding being attacked by strangers are posted by people in England. People say that the US is violent but I would say that England is far worse (statistics which put violent crime in England at double that of the US would also back this up)

No one in England is going to argue with that.

[StoneDog]

The question of image in self defense is a good one. I've heard plenty of "experts" say that simply appearing and alert and aware of your surroundings (head up, shoulders back, strong gate) is a strong deterent a number of muggers and typical thugs. Other things like not flashing expensive phones, cash and "bling" in public is another great way to avoid potentially nasty situations.

The second situation (pre-arranged fight) isn't really self defense though, is it? Would you're appearing tough have prevented your friend's mano-e-mano fight from degrading into an all out brawl?

Jon

PS - What the 'ell is a Chav?

[JayKayD]

Think white trash/wigger/dole scum.

[J-Wo]

PS - What the 'ell is a Chav?

http://www.chavscum.co.uk

This is what they tend to look like:
http://www.mitherme.co.uk/images/chavscum.jpg

I've not seen anything similar in America, imagine young violent rednecks, but with shaved heads, casual sports gear, gold chains, can of lager, etc. Usually hang round street corners in groups of 10-1000,trying to fight people who are on their own and defenceless

[Saz]

PS - What the 'ell is a Chav?

The scourge of British society thats what... :woo:

[CosmicFish]

Image does make a difference, yeah. However, I'm not so sure that looking "well 'ard" is the best way to go. There are those that will have a pop at someone tough-looking just to see if they are tougher.

Also, IMO, you'd have been a better friend if you'd talked your friend out of even going to the park in the first place. (Unless you already tried that and he was adamant, of course.)

[StoneDog]

I used to work with a guy from Barnsley that kinda looked (and acted) like that. 'Never should've let him into the country. :)

[-Sky-]

" Image does make a difference, yeah. However, I'm not so sure that looking "well 'ard" is the best way to go. There are those that will have a pop at someone tough-looking just to see if they are tougher. "


^ yup.

but

as somebody who knows a lot of people that start fights for reasons meaningless, i can say that from experience the only real point in battering somebody for nothing is within an image itself. for example, if i thought this way and wanted to prove to my mates that i am 'well ard' all i would have to do is go out and beat the poopy out of somebody.

simple as really.

as to answer the thread i dont really display any obvious expression during a fight, infact i rarely even focus on maintaining eye contact with the target, usually only to assume an emotion from him, his distance, his stance. other than that tho, ive always had this habit (good or bad) to follow some basic instructions i read in a bruce lee article, which was to space out, spread your weight around your body to develop a 'floating' feeling.

easier said that done, but in the long run i think image doesn't really say much for itself to some people.

Soj

[Rapid]

I would definatly say image had a huge effect on whether a fight occurs or not, to put it simply im a lanky, skinny white boy, the amount of times i have been threatened and attacked because people assume im a "pussy" is ridiculous, when i am confronted i am always against someone who is supremly confident in the fact that they can beat me up with ease due to my weak apperance, verbal intimidation often does nothing as my physique tells them im nothing to worry about, when i started secondry school i was bulied to some extent and was "started on" often, at first i just let it happen but then it kept happeneing so i decided to stick up for myself, soon after then i was confronted by some guy who was significanty bigger than me and was out to prove a point, because i refused to back down he punched me so i wacked him in the stomach winding him and then beat him to the floor, it took several similar occurances of me winning fights before people realised i wasnt a pussy and not to start on me, that stopped the fights at school but i was still often confronted by those who did not know me outside school, to cut a long story short there is no way id get started on if i was stockier, people look at your appearance compare it to their own and if there bigger and there looking for a fight then you can guarentee therell start on you, image and appearance gives the attacker the confidence and assurance that they will win and therefore they will attack you, by the way im english and id definatly say englands worse than america for random beatings and acts of physical violence

[Davey Bones]

Just a few notes from perosnal observation as well as instruction:

1. If you look confident, calm, collected, and you seem to be walking with a purpose, you'll be left alone.

2. Walking in groups.. always a good idea. Especially in malls, parking garages, or from bars.

3. Depending on your class of chav or wigger or redneck, I find that lots of tattoos accompanied by a leather jacket, jeans, and workboots tends to get you left alone, no matter how small, pasty or white you are. It's either "uh oh, badass" or "hey, one of us!" and therefore you get left alone as a professional courtesy ;)

[drunkenmonkey]

http://www.chavscum.co.uk

This is what they tend to look like:
http://www.mitherme.co.uk/images/chavscum.jpg

I've not seen anything similar in America, imagine young violent rednecks, but with shaved heads, casual sports gear, gold chains, can of lager, etc. Usually hang round street corners in groups of 10-1000,trying to fight people who are on their own and defenceless


We have alot of these guys here in USA we call them preps usually frat boys who don't fight alone and only fight when drunk. Most of thier fight start with a guy who is with a girl. I used to bounce in clubs in Ybor city and saw this alot. Mainly as several people have pointed out thugs prey on people who already look timid or weak. If you look alert and make eye contact with people it tends to deter all but the super psychos from messing withyou. As far as clothing if your a womean and you dress like a hooker or in very revealing clothing don't be suprised to attrack less than disireable attention and if you're a guy don't go out in a dress or mjiniskirt and you should be ok. Mostly people who are looking at how you are dressed are guessing how much your wallet is worth as to weather to assault you or not. So if you stay sharp and don't dress like a loon you should usually be ok it's worked for me all these years. Oh and if someone says meet me here at x o'clock fort a fight odds are we are all smart enought o know this is a setup and in most countries if the law shows and finds out Everyone is goin to the klink

[slowmo]

i don't think about my image during confrontations but i know it matters because i get really focused and i make extreme eye contact and walk slowly toward them and they always gulp and start moving backward. This always seems to get them to end it even though they started it.

confidence is the only "image" you need to project (though i do have a hint of pscyhotic anger in an "i'm calm because i know i can take you" look in my eyes... even if i'm scared poopless.) :Angel:

Psychology is one of the highest martial arts

[Jesh]

http://www.chavscum.co.uk

This is what they tend to look like:
http://www.mitherme.co.uk/images/chavscum.jpg

I've not seen anything similar in America, imagine young violent rednecks, but with shaved heads, casual sports gear, gold chains, can of lager, etc. Usually hang round street corners in groups of 10-1000,trying to fight people who are on their own and defenceless

The guys in this picture look like what we call "gabbers" in The Netherlands. They're mostly hardcore-house-listening, disco-biscuit-eating, powdersnorting guys and girls. Recently they've been heavily in the news because of their supposed right-wing ideologies and attacks on foreigners (which have not all been proven by the way).

Here's a pic of them in their natural habitat: