Walking the fine line

[parkerlineage]

ets see.. if a drunk guy grabbed my arm i would...

A. skip off with him to a tea party

B.fight him off

or C. nothing..

I should've gone with A.

You are in Washington D.C now man. It is a whole different ballgame there. Yes, be conscience and alert about your surroundings, but if you chamber a kick everytime someone gets near, looks scary, or grabs you in Washington D.C. you are going to have to learn how to walk, hopping on one leg. If you can avoid a violent situation without fighting, do so. I don't care how fantastic any of us feel our Martial Arts skills are, you cannot out run, dodge quickly away, or out fight a bullet.

I will certainly try to think a little more before it happens next time. I was fairly confident that the guy was alone, but I don't even want to think about what would happen if I fought back against a gangbanger.

I suppose what im trying to say is if a guy is that drunk all you would have to do is give him a little push and he will be on his bottom. I don't think there would be any need to go into full on martial arts for someone who doesn't know what day of the week it is.

Seeing as my experience with drinking or people who have been drinking is...let's see...nothing...I didn't know this, or at least it never entered my mind. So I will remember that next time. On the other hand, I frequently don't know what day of the week it is...

It’s a show off and unnecessary to chamber your leg and torque your hip and ready to fire in half a second

Time frame exaggeration aside, how else would you like me to kick? Let him know that I was going to do it, and then do it blind with no principle behind it?

[P.A.L]

http://www.killsometime.com/Video/video.asp?ID=582

[Bluetulipx]

Parkerlineage, I can certainly understand where you are coming from with this incident, but I lived in Washington, DC and suburbs for about 12 years and I can say without a doubt, that the most important issue here is to be street smart and always tuned in to your surroundings.

In DC on the news, it normally starts with multiple killings, then single killings then maybe onto carjackings. It got to the point that I refused to watch the news anymore because it was so depressing. Day time is fine (for the most part if you stay in the popular places), but when it gets dark, things definitely change in the city.

It does sound unusual though that a drunk person would come up and grab your arm, normally they used to wander over and then for the most part wander off.

However, there are a lot of people with guns and they are not afraid to use them at all. If you use your martial arts skills the person may well pull out a gun and shoot you.

Also, a guy from my hometown in the UK went to DC, walked down the wrong street and was shot and killed. Two of my friends were attacked. One had his neck slashed but lived and the other was badly beaten up and had to have an operation on his jaw.

I wish you all the best of luck in DC (I will actually be over there for a week on 26th August) and there are some wonderful places to go. Lots of museums and tourist places.

However, I suggest in DC that the best course of action is to walk away whenever possible. I think you were very lucky with the drunk person that it ended so well. Sorry to sound so bleak but bad things do happen in the city.

Edited to add:

I have just read jaymac's post. I agree totally with your comments jaymac.

[parkerlineage]

Makes me glad I live in a little city, then...

Thanks for the warning.

[Jiffy]

As far as I'm concerned, there are ways to remove someone from your personal space without causing injury.

However, if I determine that will not have an effect on them, or the level of threat immediately warrants it, I will do whatever is necesssary to ensure my safety.

[bushido_man96]

http://www.killsometime.com/Video/video.asp?ID=582

That is food for thought, P.A.L. You have to always be ready. Glad this didn't happen to you, parkerlineage.

[parkerlineage]

Yeah, me, too.

[jaymac]

Thanks bluetulipx!