One caveat re. WarriorTalk - it is run by Christian Conservatives. That means that debates over drugs, homosexuality etc. can become a little, errr, heated Though there is a strong Libertarian presence there too.

> I am sure you have practiced with it to mimic a "real life"
> situation and I am wondering how that went.

Very well, actually. The knife comes with a DVD that covers basic combatives with it (carrying, grip, drawstroke, simple cuts, integration of blade & open-hand strikes).

We sat down, watched it, practiced with the aluminium trainer that came with it, and then went outside for some free sparring.

That went very well; we discovered that the design of the knife makes it next to impossible to drop it under duress, and the means of carry (a kydex sheath clipped to the bottom of a bra) meant it could be quickly accessed in a wide range of scenarios, even after being grabbed from behind.

The only injury suffered was mine; I received an over-enthusiastic strike to the throat which left me talking strangely for a few days.

> I haven't really mentioned this except to a couple people, but two
> times I have been in situations like this and both times was on a
> work trip (obviously not packing weapons after a plane/airport
> visit) and had the same paralyzing helpless reaction. Actually, when
> the guy held a gun to my head in SA, I did first think "Are you
> fucking kidding me??" and thought about my chances if I just punched
> him in the mouth, then I looked to see if it was a real gun (it
> was), then weighing the odds that he would actually shoot me for my
> purse. But still, in the end I just let my purse go and watched the
> guy run off with it.

That boils my blood - did they ever catch the scum involved? >:-(

By the sounds of it though by the second time you weren't paralyzed, you decided it was in your best interests to hand over your purse, & you did so. From what I've heard of how South Africa is devolving, you made the right choice.

> I travel 3 out of 4 weekends on a plane. How do I defend myself once
> I get where I am going, besides just being savvy. Being savvy hasn't

> worked for me so far.

Hmmmm ... that's a difficult one. I'm not an expert in the field, but a keen student, so take my advice with a large pinch of salt.

Avoidance is your friend. If at all possible, identify areas and scenarios where you might be at risk, and avoid them. E.g. If you're in an unsafe location & can have a reputable driver pick you up from the airport & take you straight to your destination, do it.

If you can't avoid risk, then try to be aware of it. Familiarise yourself with Col. Coopers colour code. Think like a criminal - when you're walking down the street, take stock of your situation and think "if I were a criminal seeking to do Ashley harm in this place and at this time, how would I do it?"

Play the same game with passers-by; watch how people move, whether they're paying attention to their surroundings, and how they interact with others (if your city is anything like mine, you'll see most people wandering around in condition white). See how people go about their daily business, and watch how & when they leave themselves vulnerable to attack.

One day, you'll realise that you could just walk up to most people and slap them in the face before they know what's going on ... and you'll come to recognise those people who you just know you couldn't do that to. Criminals recognise those people too. One study involved showing jailed criminals candid photos of people on the street, and asking the criminals to pick a victim from the supplied photos. 95% of them picked the same people, based solely on their body language. It wasn't beligerence that put them off, but confidence & awareness.

Then, if all the above fails, there's physical self-defense. Buy and carry the most effective weapons you can, given lifestyle and legal constraints. Train in their use - with people who train for real-life scenarios, not just square-range shooting or scripted drills with wooden knives.

Learn & practice some simple unarmed combatives - chin jabs, flat kicks, edge-of-hand strikes, eye gouges, etc. These techniques were taught to Commandos during WWII in a matter of a few weeks, and used to devastating effect. If possible, find a reputable school that teaches them, and / or some training partners to work with. Read Get Tough by W. E. Fairbairn, one of the men responsible for developing the aformentioned unarmed combatives system for the British Commandos.

Learn & practice the integration of your weapons with your combatives. Practice accessing your weapon in the middle of a fight, or after being grabbed, etc. etc. This was the area I spent the most time with Ande & her Hideaway Knife trainer - so she could get used to accessing the knife even under fairly severe duress (e.g. me dragging her to the ground & sitting on her). If you carry a pistol, buy an airsoft replica for this type of practice.

Don't believe for a second that you can't carry weapons just because you're flying A few suggestions:

• A stout cane, or an umbrella; you can actually buy canes and umbrellas specifically manufactured as weapons. Oh, and take that testimonial from "Crafty Dog" seriously - that gentleman knows of what he speaks
• A pool or snooker ball, plus a knotted woolen sock, equates to a nasty improvised sap that can be carried pretty much anywhere (unassembled) without arousing suspicion.
• Just about anything can be used to weight a fist (or at the ver least to reinforce a fist) - rolls of coins are commonly used for this purpose.
• Buy and carry something like the travel wrench - "but officer, it's just my handy travelling tool!"
• Buy and carry a kubotan (there are two excellent articles on these here and here on The Martialist). Note that the TSA forbids flying with kubotans, but they're fine in many countries (including New Zealand), and there are many items that are permitted that could easily be pressed into service as a kubotan. A sturdy metal lipstick would be a good start.

The main thing is - seek out quality training, practice, and study. There are excellent online resources for the latter; I recommend The Martialist and Pax Baculum (both run by Objectivist and SOLOist Phil Elmore), and WarriorTalk (run by Gabe Suarez, founder of Suarez International).

Anyway, take care of yourself - it'd be a crying shame if we were to lose you - especially after you've gone to the trouble of posting such a wonderful user photo

"...I am good with my fists and usually have a browning 9mm or desert eagle 40 nearby..."

Goddamn that Ashley, she's so hot right now!

It's pretty cool... I am sure you have practiced with it to mimic a "real life" situation and I am wondering how that went.

I feel like a pretty tough chick, having lived "on the edge" for most of my life so far... I am good with my fists and usually have a browning 9mm or desert eagle 40 nearby, but a few months ago I was held up at gunpoint on a work trip to san antonio, and I was a pathetic victim. I haven't really mentioned this except to a couple people, but two times I have been in situations like this and both times was on a work trip (obviously not packing weapons after a plane/airport visit) and had the same paralyzing helpless reaction. Actually, when the guy held a gun to my head in SA, I did first think "Are you fucking kidding me??" and thought about my chances if I just punched him in the mouth, then I looked to see if it was a real gun (it was), then weighing the odds that he would actually shoot me for my purse. But still, in the end I just let my purse go and watched the guy run off with it.

So my other question (besides 'does that knife seem effective') is:
I travel 3 out of 4 weekends on a plane. How do I defend myself once I get where I am going, besides just being savvy. Being savvy hasn't worked for me so far.

Here's a photo of my wife's HAK, along with the bra-clip sheath. I should mention that this thing is almost unbelievably sharp; it has the best blade of any knife I've ever owned.

Yeah, add a cup to your protective gear.

It's not that I have anything against kinky carryings-on with toys & uniforms. But I *am* concerned about your notorious disaster-proneness, & don't wish to lose a webmaster.