By now we've all seen the horrible video of the two-legged feral beasts attacking the transgendered person at a Baltimore McDonalds.
I'll spare you the moralizing and get to my point. The violence will only get worse, and you must be prepared to protect yourself.
I have been in some of the most dangerous places in the world, and I'm not just talking Baghdad or Kabul (where I was in the safety of fellow armed Americans), or outside the wire in some small village in Southern Iraq. Juarez, Bogota, South Quito, and other scary places... I've been there, including some rough areas here in the US where as soon as I was in, I knew it was a mistake.
Get a Gun
The most obvious comments concerning incidents like this involve concealed carry. Owning and carrying a gun is always a good idea, but you must understand the legal ramifications. Had that poor woman shot those two cavewomen, she would be the one up on charges; that's how it goes in liberal states like Maryland. Cops nowhere in sight, cowardly girly-boys stand and film your murder while a hooting crowd gathers to watch, but you can't use lethal force to stop the attack.
A related note: Don't carry any weapon you are not prepared to use. Be it pepper spray or a gun, if you can't use it, you're just providing a convenience to your perpetrator.
Get an ASP
If you don't like the prospect of shooting an attacker, carry an ASP. An Asp is a collapsible tactical baton. I have one that can be carried in the front pocket of my jeans without being noticed. You deploy it, it extends into a metal rod, and you bring it crashing down on your attacker. As with all weapons, get training.
Learn Krav Maga
Krav Maga is an Israeli fighting system that really works. I have used it to great effect. It's principles are simple and repeatable, meaning you can employ them even when you are under extreme stress.
Watch these ugly ghetto-hags in action again, and you see they really have no technique other than raw brute force. Had the victim possessed even rudimentary fighting skills, she could have at least slowed down the attack enough to get out of there or fend them off until help arrived.
The simplest technique is fists up and pressed against the side of your skull, elbows out with your forearms blocking the blows. From this position, you can fire off quick straight punches as you maneuver yourself so you are not between your attackers. Giving up your back, as anyone who watches MMA knows, is condemning yourself to a death sentence.
The lesson from that video is to fight back with all you've got. Curling up in a ball, while it protects vital organs, can be lethal. As videos like this show, "surrendering" doesn't stop the attacks; it just encourages the attackers to kick and stomp you until you're dead. In a situation like that, your only option is to fight like hell, using anything and everything. When your life is at stake, nothing is out of bounds and there are no rules.
Don't Go There
The real lesson here is to do your homework. Don't hang out in bad neighborhoods, avoid potentially dangerous areas and situations at all costs. Trust your instincts; If something doesn't "feel right," get the hell out of there. If you don't know the area, stay out. Do not frequent clubs, bars or other establishments known for violent incidents.
Man is the most dangerous animal. People who have nothing, don't have anything to lose, and a person with nothing to lose is the most dangerous of all. You don't belong there.
You may be a good fighter with good technique, but a person with a small hidden palm knife will slash you open before you even realize it. There are street fighters out there who are impervious to pain, they've battered literally hundreds of victims, and they have grooved their technique. You don't stand a chance.
The absolute best book out there (I have read it and used what I learned), is Gavin de Becker's "The Gift of Fear." It is not a self-defense book per se, but a book that teaches you how to predict danger, how to spot it early, and how to avoid it.
It's a jungle out there. Learn to protect yourself and your loved ones.
