Miscellaneous Forum

I just read an article about a 12 year old girl who was attacked in an elevator at an Orlando hotel. She's ok, but the story is, obviously, troubling. This was a fairly nice hotel with not the greatest security but one that requires a room key to enter the lobby. The man followed her in when she opened the door and went into the elevator with her.

I travel alone quite a bit and have an ongoing debate with my boyfriend about whether it is safe. Most of us know that nothing is every completely safe and that everything in life involves a level of risk, but I consider myself to be pretty safe when traveling alone and staying at hotels. I deliberately select places with interior corridors and security features, even if it costs me more. My mindset has always been that I can't prevent everything, nor can I worry about every situation, but I do everything possible to maximize safety. The article scared me because it was a situation I could see myself in and I'm wondering if I am as careful as I'd like to believe. I keep my eyes open and am aware of everyone around me, especially when entering or exiting a hotel room but give little thought to people in the elevator, unless they get off on the same floor I do. So, am I being paranoid over one very unfortunate situation or should I look at my travel habits more closely?

Any single female travelers-ok, men too as I don't want to discriminate :)- want to weigh in on this? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

the sort of man who would attack a little girl in a hotel elevator would attack anywhere, home or away, sadly she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the sad sick truth is that a man who would attack a 12 year old would probably not attack a full grown woman

you cannot live your life governed by fear, you must do the best you can to protect yourself, but if someone is determined to attack you ten security, cameras and lighting would not stop them, have you considered learning a martial art ?

It's a sad truth or our world today, that we have to be so careful and fearful all the time. But even men traveling alone are at risk. The bads guys are everywhere, other than keeping your wits about you at all time, there is not much we can do. Marshall arts sound like a good idea. (so does mace)

Thanks to all for the good advice, especially regarding martial arts and self-defense. As for not living in fear, I think its great advice for those who are able to do it. My perspective is a little bit different. Over a year ago, I was assaulted while walking in downtown on a crowded street in broad daylight. I was walking on my cell phone at the time, not thinking about my surroundings. The rest of the details are more than I care to share. But, my point is, regardless of what I could have done, should have done or thought I would do, the ability to not live in fear just doesn't exist. Those who have traveled and lived without incident should consider themselves very lucky, but understand that you're perspective changes pretty drastically when the hypothetical becomes real and the statistics of which gender is more subject to violence becomes irrelevant. Its a bit of a different picture when you can't not live in fear.

Sorry to hear you both have had a bad turn. Knock wood, I have not as of yet. But it can happen anywhere anytime. I understand you point about the mace, I don't carry it myself. There is no easy answer to this one. If fact it's just a shame we even have to deal with. The need to harm others is something I just don't get. Best to you both.

I have lived in the ghetto of Amsterdam and was never attacked/robbed or assaulted.
However, living in a neighbourhood like that makes you very aware of your surroundings.

Then in a fairly "safe" part of Amsterdam, I got attacked by two guys, I screamed like I have never screamed before. Although I got hurt and they took away my bag, I think the volume of my voice scared them away (I myself was amazed by it).

I have walked the streets of downtown NYC, Hollywood, Chicago, Bali, Toronto and what not by myself. When I am alone I am very very much aware of my surroundings. If I spot people/situation that I do not trust, I choose a different route.

I have become very in tune with my instincts and untill now, have always listened to it.
So to answer your question: I do travel alone but I am always careful and wary of my surroundings.

I do intend to take martial arts/self defence lessons so that I at least can kick some ass and do some damage out of self defence. Cuz you never know, man... ya never know...

Oh one more thing: the night I got attacked by those two guys, right before they attacked me, my instinct and common sense were telling me that something bad was up.

But I waved it away, and said to myself: don't be so paranoid, those guys are just walking in the same direction as me...

I wonder what precentage of women have had this happen. It's just unnerving.

I was unsure of whether or not to share this, but if it help, here goes.

Many years ago, a female relative was attacked in broad daylight, on a main street, in the very ritzy, mostly safe town where we all lived. She was a teenager, walking to school. Thankfully, she was able to get away.

Even today, it's enough to make me shudder.

If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

Hope this helps.

Yeah self defence is a good idea but i'd also say this if attacked then fight dirty, and i mean dirty, eye gouging, biting(even if it repulse's you) , elbows in the nose, headbutting etc. self defence is rarely romantic like Bruce Lee films and the most effective street fighting is downright dirty.

An attack alarm is also a good idea (noisier the better) Most blokes would run a mile if they attacked you and a wailing 120Db siren went off.

What type of store sell attach alarms.?

http://www.securitydirect.co.uk/personalalarms.htm

To be honest i did Tae-Kwondo for 4 years and in a street fight i'd say most of martial arts is bulls*** but i would say 20 percent is useful and if anything at least gives you the confidence to hit back. i cannot empasize how important it is to know a bit.

If i had kids i'd be enrolling them straight away!!

By the way Tae-Kwondo learns you how to breaks boards so at the very least you learn how to hit hard!

Thanks I'll look on ebay, good idea, I never even know they had such a thing.

The vast majority of people who do martial arts would crumble when it came to a street fight. Roundhouse kicks, axe kicks, all teh flashy stuff rarely works in real life.

Best bet go to a gym with a seperate room with bags in do some bag work get a buddy who you trust and put some gloves and a headguard on and do some sparring. 'nowt like a moving target to practice on and then take a self defence course.

Have you ever heard of Geoff Thompson?? he is the guy when it comes to self defence although i am not sure if he teaches it anymore but it is very raw realistic and is proven. Has wrote loads of books which incorporate 'The fence' and the pre-emptive strike.

He used to be a nasty piece of work and i saw him on a video once, very very realistic. Did the doors for like 25+ years so knows his stuff

http://www.geoffthompson.com/

not sure if he still does seminars but he definetly used to

I remember someone telling me this a long time ago, not sure how it would work: smash your attacker in the face with te tip of your elbow, especially in the nose. I've heard it can do some real damage. Again, not sure how sound this advice really is-it obviously only works if your facing your attacker.

I may be a scrawny little guy, but I've got sharp elbows!

To be honest you do not need to hit hard to take someone down, its all about accuracy. we used to do press ups on a hard wooden floor using only your first two knuckles as part of our training, boy did it hurt. but after a while it used to tougen them up. My instructer always told me to hit someone right on the point of the chin with those same two knuckles and you really do not need to hit someone hard like that to knock them out.

I learnt so much it was untrue, chokes, blocks etc.

We're takin' out a "can of whup @ss" tonight...no one better mess with this bunch of Tough Cookies!

First, when I was 12, I was taller than my mom and just as well developed physically. Some 12 year old girls look very adult. I think the problem there and in most cases of attacks is not being aware of the situation and listening to your instincts.

I was molested once when I was 11 in the daytime in a farmer's market. Plenty of people around, I just didn't know what he was doing.

I also used to live in a known drug area - would hear shots sometimes and see the drug dealers sitting on the fence in front of the apartment when I got home. I also would have to go to work at 3 or 4 in the morning downtown, or leave from work late at night. Except for that once when I was 11, I've never had any other problem like that.

Anyway. I think the best thing to do is keep yourself aware of where you are and where other people are and let them know that you know they are there. And take care not to go to places that make you concerned.

Go with your instinct-if it's telling you someplace is bad, chances are it's bad. My instinct is a helluva lot smarter than I am.

Take care of yourself, and...live your life :-)

I think you never know when it can happen, and it can happen to anyone, but probably more so to females than males.

I think a female should at least carry some kind of deterrent, at least a siren, if not mace.

Being aware of your surroundings is immportant and using common sense.

If you are walking down a dark alley, don't be chatting to your girlfriend on your cell phone, watch your back.

I've been lucky I've never been attacked or mugged, but I'm a guy, pretty tall (six feet), and I keep aware of whats going on around me and I don't fool around when I'm walking through an unfamilar neighborhood or place, I walk purposefully and with confidence and watch my back if alone.

it doesn't matter who you are though if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. I never wanted to carry a weapon, but I guess if I got attacked for the first time I would change my mind.

one good deterrent is a quick and hard punch to the face, if you have a chance to get it off, a full and quick home run punch. Last time I did that to someone was when I was a teenager, I knocked him down and knocked him out for a few minutes. I thought I killed him. Even though he had pissed me off so bad, I was glad to see him regain conciousness.

anyway good luck, and be safe

the hard punch to the face is a good deterrent, if you can get it off. I remember one other time in my life I did that, this was a few years later. I was at a gig, my band was playing, and this fat guy was messing with my girlfriend. Well I had to play guitar on stage, but after the music was finished this guy was mouthing off to me, and I just clocked him, I hit him so hard I knocked him on his ass and he was passed out for a few minutes. And he was twice as big as me. Everyone crowded around to see if he was ok, he finally woke up and I took off with my girlfriend.

in those situations, I wasn't being attacked or robbed, just altercated. A lot of times if you attacked or robbed, you don't get a chance to throw a punch like that.

I would think that knowing martial arts would be a benefit in a situation if attacted, at least. Or carrying some kind of deterrent, like at least mace or a siren.

Thanks for the suggestions. And the support. :)

ok ladies this is how you knock somedown and knock them out with a punch.

of course if you get attacked from behind, and someone grabs you by the neck you have to use differernt tecniques of course if it a male attacker your best bet is to try to lift up your heel and kick them in the you know whats.

if they are face to face with you, and you have your hands free, if you are right handed, turn your left shoulder to them, dicreeetly, and then they will not see your right arm as you lower it totally and make a fist.

Feel your anger and when you are ready, lean back on your right foot, and then come around with all your might, turning your body towards him, shifting your weight to your left foot, and slamming your fist into his nose.

If you hit someone that hard in the nose, they will not bother you.

I played baseball when I was a youngster, so I know about body shifting and hitting, so it helped me instinctively in the moves to knock those two guys out.

hope it helps ladies. Ladies don't ever be afraid to punch an attacker, use the tecnique I described, but also carry a deterrent.

Trust me those two fore knuckles right on the point of the chin - works every time - and you dont need to hit that hard for it to be effective!!!

carl I haven't had any martial arts training, you have and can instruct these ladies about a lot more self defense tecniques than I can.

I just know how to throw a hard punch and am telling them about that, and how to do that! LOL!

I guess the best bet is to carry a gun, but who wants to do that! I have never owned a gun, I'm afraid if I did, I would be shooting a lot of people that pissed me off! LOL

To be honest Don if you can throw a decent punch your halfway there the main thing is confidence and make sure you dont crumble when attacked!!

Put it one way if you've knocked a guy out i certainly would not want a punch off, buddy, mate ha ha!

Bruce Lee once said 'The Japanese say that Karate is the best Martial art, The Koreans say Tae-Kwondo, The Chinese say Gung fu - well i am sorry to dissapoint them all but a smack in the mouth is a smack in the mouth!!!' very very true!

Carl I have knocked out two guys with a punch, I was a lot younger then.

I'm just telling these ladies that is an option for self defense.

I never, ever, want to hit anybody again like that in my lifetime. What if I would have killed them?

unless of course if I got attacked I would do what I could do to defend myself.

Good words of wisdom by Bruce Lee.