Hero999 said:
Oh I've just thought of another reason why capital punishment is bad: some criminals would rather die than life in prison; being killed is the easy way out for some!
That's an interesting perspective. I'm thinking about taking some self defence lessons and I would like to think that they would teach me some self restraint and to only get violent as a last resort!
A friend of mine gave me some good advice: often the best self defence technique is to run. You might be branded a wimp but it's often the best course of action!
Very good advice - it's our first suggestion as well - even better though, don't be there in the first place
But assuming running isn't an option?- take them out hard, take them out fast, and as messily as possible! - assuming it's multiple attackers, go for the gobby one first, he's likely the leader. If you can take him out with loud cracking noises of bones breaking, and blow spraying everywhere - it discourages the rest!
I don't know whether I would agree because as soon as my back's turned I'm very vulnerable. To be honest I imagine that my biggest problem would be guts as I'm not the biggest or strongest of people, there agian I know that really doesn't make much difference, it's technique that makes the difference but confidence is still a large factor.
What you're learning in martial arts, as much as technique, is reactions - you learn so many techniques, and practice them over and over again, that they become totally automatic. The large number of techniques you learn means that your reactions 'should' be able to do 'something' in pretty well any given situation. The training builds confidence as well, it's surprising how it develops along with ability!.
For example, we practice being pinned against a wall, sat in a chair and attacked from behind, sat in a chair and attacked across the table - all sorts of different things.
When I took my Ju Jitsu 1st Dan (which is the physically hardest of all martial art belts) there are various things you have to do in multiple ways against the same attack. I was part way through one of these multiple techniques and my mind went blank!, I couldn't remember which ones I had already done, and repetition isn't good, and hesitation is SERIOUSLY bad. So I followed Luke Skywalkers 'voice in his head' and 'used the force!', I just let my body take over and do something with no conscious thought - worked spot on!, my training partner wasn't too happy about it though!
THAT'S what you're trying to learn with martial arts, to teach your body to react without any conscious thought - that's why all the repetition in training.