Re: Self Defense for strippers
Caution on the Pepper spray...
First off, it is VERY effective (it hurts HORRIBLEY!) but remember it is very likly you'll get some on your self, which can be more of a hinderance, especially if you've never experienced it before... So becareful spraying it to someone really close to you or upwind from you!!!
Just a word of caution!
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Has anybody heard of Krav Maga? I did it for a couple of months and it is very interesting. Once a week they had a 'women only' class which was basically 1001 different ways and positions of kicking a guy in the balls whether he's strangling you, ont top of you, doesn't matter what. What I like about this form of fighting is that there are no 'rules' as in MANY other fighting sports. It basically just teaches you to defend yourself to get the hell out of there, not to go kicking ass all over the block. Has anybody tried this and found it effective?
I'm sorry to say that I didn't carry on with the course because the women's class was way too easy and the mixed class was too advanced for me (also I get bored very easily!)
Re: Self Defense for strippers
I have at least 3 people who know where I am at all times when I work. They all have my car make/model/plate # memorized or written down. I keep my untrusting New York attitude even down here in Florida, so I'm always keeping my eye out, looking around when I get into/out of my car, etc...
And I'm a brawler. Some stranger so much as lays a finger on me and I'm swinging on him. I'm one of those wacky, violent women. My dad says it's my nationalities. Angry genes!
Re: Self Defense for strippers
I would have to agree with SupportiveBF on brazilian jiu jitsu as one of the most effective martial arts for women. It deals with mostly ground work, which is most likely the place a woman would end up if she were attacked and is pretty common sense and easy to learn if you practice. However after taking it for a while I don't know if it would be right for a dancer to learn unless she has a low tolerance to bruising. When I first started, when my body wasn't used to rough contact all over, I looked like I was abused and had giant bruises EVERYWHERE. You don't want that so I would consider that before training it... thats the female and vain point of view. A really useful martial art, Krav Maga, was mentioned too. It is an Isreali fighting system that deals just with survival and is one of the most cutthroat and applicable because it really considers gun defense. Just stuff to look into.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Your best defense is your communication skills. Just look at Ashley Smith in Atlanta. She talked her way through being held hostage by that guy. Communication in this industry is poor at best. I think we all could learn alot from ashley.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Quote:
Originally Posted by amylynnej
Your best defense is your communication skills. Just look at Ashley Smith in Atlanta. She talked her way through being held hostage by that guy. Communication in this industry is poor at best. I think we all could learn alot from ashley.
are you fucking kidding me?
I highly doubt that my skills as an effective communicator are going to fight off an attack from a man twice my size. get real. (and then get a gun)
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Quote:
Originally Posted by tampadancer
are you fucking kidding me?
I highly doubt that my skills as an effective communicator are going to fight off an attack from a man twice my size. get real. (and then get a gun)
If you effectively communicate that you are gonna whoop his ass before you do it, and he doesn't listen, then that's his problem.
I've got a first degree black belt in TaeKwonDo. If someone messes with me, I'll kick him into next year. >:(
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Anybody seen the movie Miss Congeniality? The part where she does her self-defense talent thing at the end could be really helpful. (If you know what I'm talking about).
Re: Self Defense for strippers
I don't have a "legal" gun bc i have an assault on my record.. but i got a 6,000 volt taser off ebay .. i keep it out at all times so it's not "concealed". In nc you can have it outside your home as long as its in plain veiw. Djoser, can you tell me how to make those gloves? Or did you buy them? My bf was a close combat instructor in the Marines, and those moves are nice.. but useless if you bitch up and freeze like most of us would if attacked. I say guns, tazers whatever...but be cautiones, pepper spray doesn't work on people high on certain drugs.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pelirroja
Has anybody heard of Krav Maga? I did it for a couple of months and it is very interesting. Once a week they had a 'women only' class which was basically 1001 different ways and positions of kicking a guy in the balls whether he's strangling you, ont top of you, doesn't matter what. What I like about this form of fighting is that there are no 'rules' as in MANY other fighting sports. It basically just teaches you to defend yourself to get the hell out of there, not to go kicking ass all over the block. Has anybody tried this and found it effective?
I'm sorry to say that I didn't carry on with the course because the women's class was way too easy and the mixed class was too advanced for me (also I get bored very easily!)
I would love love love to learn Krav Maga. I don't know of anyplace that teaches it around here, but after I move I'll definitely look into it.
IMHO part of the effectiveness of martial arts training is simply the confidence that you carry yourself with. Just knowing that you have certain self-defense skills, you might not even notice it yourself, but your body language and demeanor is far different from a "possible victim" stance. You just give off a different (stronger and more self-assured) vibe, and while of course anything can still happen, people are less likely to choose you as a target.
(It's kind of similar to guys who want to lick your boobs in the club. Whenever I go to work with Bitter Apple on my tits, guys don't even TRY to lick me. It's like they subconsciously pick up on my "bring it on! I can't wait to see your reaction when you start gagging on it" mindset, and they don't even try anything funny.)
Re: Self Defense for strippers
^^
I agree that confidence and demeanor plays a big role in how people will view you and confront you. I'd have to say walking with my head up probably my primary mode of self-defense and it works. Sometimes things happen though and we become victims of circumstance.
I'm a very petite (4'10") woman who's encountered assault on a few different occasions. Mostly from men who are at least twice my size and had me in very aggressive holds. I think if I hadn't forced myslf at the time to relax and de-escalate from my attacker, I could have easily walked away with a broken arm or worse. The one thing I always have to remind myself in these situations is not to panic or tense up.
My husband is a sailor in the Navy (SW) and has shown me very good restraint moves coming out of Close Quarters Combat training. Everything is practical and simple. Its also been easy for me to learn moves where I'm using my attacker's wieght to my advantage. Its been that men don't hesitate to move thier entire bodies into me trying to physically over-power me. These excercises help me predict a man's size and use it against him.
If you have a friend or relative in the military, I recomend asking them for self-defense tips (especially Marines or other special forces people). Many of these people have been trained the right way and drilled repeatedly on practical defense and restraint techniques. Some have personal experience using it. I think martial arts are nice and pretty but as self-defense goes, its not practical for me. Simply practicing shouting and fending off "attacks" with a friend or loved-one is much less expensive, too.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vivianbear
I'm a very petite (4'10") woman who's encountered assault on a few different occasions. Mostly from men who are at least twice my size and had me in very aggressive holds. I think if I hadn't forced myslf at the time to relax and de-escalate from my attacker, I could have easily walked away with a broken arm or worse. The one thing I always have to remind myself in these situations is not to panic or tense up.
Did this happen in your club or its parking lot?
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Once happened on a street while walking from a bus stop. I don't drive and have sometimes taken public transit to and from shifts at work in Oregon and California. A man came from out of a house, crossed the street and grabbed me by the arm and began to shake me. He was huge and obviously under some sort of influence being just furious. It was a residential street and people were out on thier porches although nobody came to my defense. Many just watched. I knew that if I were to pull away from him or kick at him, he could have easily dislocated my arm. I've been grabbed and cornered inside various clubs that I've worked at as well. Men have tried to back be up into walls inside of bars, ect.
I'm sure everyone has thier own horror stories. The point is, over the years, I've seen a pattern of how men try to approach me and try to intimidate me. They move in very close and very fast. No matter how aware I am with my surroundings, there's always the possiblity that I may not see it coming. Each time it happens, I have a different way of adapting to the situation and predicting where its going to lead. I make better dicisions every time. The techniques my husband has shown me have helped so much in this process. I can now get grabbed from the front, side, or behind and feel confident that the startled feeling will not hinder me from responding. I know how to move into the attacker, access a pressure point or reach around his neck and pull to use all of his own body weight against him.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
^^Sounds like you had good training! I'd like to learn how to poke the pressure points. I'm 4'10" as well, and my brother (who's in LE and a tool, but very protective) taught me how to twist wrists and to drop like a dead weight if someone grabs you (easier if you have sensible shoes on). I try to use my lack of height to my advantage. Knees and all that.
Re: Self Defense for strippers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
greggy
hey, is there a common place that I can get pepper spray? is it sold at like, duane reade or something (i doubt that)?
One of the big chain drugstores used to carry it. Try CVS
Re: Self Defense for strippers
I've been having problems with guys not at work following me off the bus and creepy things like that so I've been thinking in investing in a pepper spray keychain. The only problem being that it's almost never wise to carry a weapon when you're a pansy weakling like me since an attacker could easily grab whatever I have and use it against me instead. My mom taught me that one and I generally trust it since she was wandering around Compton when she was my age...srsly.
During the apparent newly-created holiday that was "Customers Grope Amaranth Day" last sunday at work, I was pissing and moaning about this to Steve and he demonstrated upon me a few handy little karate moves (if there was one person I would not imagine capable of serious karate, it's Steve, but oh well) that I will say were quite effective in their point. One little twisty arm move had me in the fetal position in easily under a second.
When it comes to overly friendly customers, usually I've found that treating them like a misbehaiving dog works very well. I come across as a submissive pansy emo in my persona so when I flip, sternly point a finger in their face and shout "NO! You do not grab my motherfucking tits!" in a manner one would scold a dog chewing on the sofa, it tends to be VERY effective. It's a great suprise tactic.