Self-Defense for Radicals: A to Z Guide for Subversive Struggle (PM Pamphlet)

Z., Mickey

ISBN 10: 1604862041 ISBN 13: 9781604862041

Verlag: PM Press, 2010

Inhaltsangabe

Radicals, feminists, environmentalists. Activists for animal rights, human rights, civil rights. There are plenty of rebels and dissidents putting their asses on the line. Conversely, there's never been a shortage of reactionaries seeking to repress such vision and passion.

Learning how to fight and/or defend yourself is not the same as promoting belligerent, anti-social behavior. While talk of non-violence is understandable and the struggle for peace has never been more essential, let's face it: The odds are that sooner or later you're going to end up in a confrontation that may escalate into physical violence. So, why not be prepared?

Self-Defense for Radicals will get you off and running in the right direction. From eye gouges to groin punches—you'll find a powerful collection of tactics with which we can fight back. Interspersed with words of wisdom and guidance from Emma Goldman, Bruce Lee, Angela Davis, and even Patrick Swayze, this pocket-sized pamphlet will inspire readers to not only speak truth to power but also deliver a sharp elbow to power's jutting jaw.

Presented in the street-smart style we've come to expect from Mickey Z., Self-Defense for Radicals dares you to re-examine what we perceive as acceptable behavior—both by the oppressors and the revolutionaries.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Mickey Z’s voice is the roundhouse kick of activist literature...profoundly mistrustful of government in all its dreadful guises, while courageously supporting all of us who stand against it. Determined to live the words, rather than simply to speak them, Mickey Z. doesn’t get more readers, he just makes more friends. His blog is like a front stoop where we all gather to talk over the news, what’s happening with each other, and generally enjoy each other’s company. The gentle concern for his fellow humans and the behind-the-scenes acts of kindness are surpassed only by the cuteness of his dimples.

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Self Defense for Radicals

A to Z Guide For Subversive Struggle

By Mickey Z.

PM Press

Copyright © 2010 Mickey Z
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-60486-204-1

CHAPTER 1

LET'S IMAGINE ...

Let's imagine you step outside to get some air and see one of your friends lying on the ground. Standing above her is a large, menacing man with bad intentions and clearly, he has incapacitated your friend with a surprise blow. Her eyes meet yours and indicate she needs help.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

You could pray. You could meditate. You could chalk it up to bad karma. You could ask your friend to recognize that the attacker is a human and tell him that she loves him. You could blame patriarchy, the Republicans, or gangsta rap. You could ask yourself: What would Jesus do? What would the Dalai Lama do? What would Oprah do? You could try to remember that excellent saying about non-violence you got from your Pilates teacher.

OR:

You could stomp your foot to draw his attention downward and promptly whip out a finger jab to his eyes. When he brings his hands up (too late) to protect himself, he leaves his midsection exposed. You kick him in the balls — doubling him over — then grab him by the hair and bring his face down into a powerful knee blow. Then you grab your friend and get the fuck out of there as fast as you can.

It's either that or chanting. The choice is yours.

Learning how to fight and/or defend yourself is not the same as promoting belligerent, anti-social behavior. We live in an exceedingly violent society. Our films, books, TV shows, and video games glorify mayhem and carnage. Our leaders (sic) solve most of their problems through aggression ... or the threat thereof. While talk of non-violence is understandable and the struggle for peace has never been more essential, let's face it: the odds are, that sooner or later you're going to end up in a confrontation that may escalate into physical violence. So, why not be prepared?

AWARENESS

Don't worry ... I'm not talking about that kind of awareness (see below). Instead, our opening letter refers to how we navigate the terrains we encounter. If someone is planning to attack you, odds are that the plan hinges on taking you by surprise. Thus, if the first line of self-defense is prevention, your safety just may depend on how aware you appear to be. Not paranoid, not afraid ... but rather, a levelheaded state of alertness.

SUGGESTIONS:

• When walking or jogging alone, don't wear an iPod

• Vary your normal routes and routines

• When asked for directions by a driver, maintain a safe distance from the car

• Don't allow your gas tank to get too low. Running out of gas in an unfamiliar area is an unsafe situation.

• Avoid poorly lit areas

• See section entitled "Weapons" for possible weapons

• If a car circles or passes you twice, let the driver know that you've noticed. Make eye contact and perhaps pull out your phone. The same goes for anyone who makes you nervous — driving or walking.

On another note: Everywhere I hear about the need to raise that other kind of "awareness." So much so, that awareness and consciousness appear to have become ends in and of themselves. If only we were conscious of "what's going in Darfur" or aware of how "prevalent cancer has become" or whatever else we need to recognize, it seems most folks would be mighty satisfied.

My question: When exactly does all this goddamned awareness translate into productive action and tangible change?

We're aware of global warming and its causes, factory farms, war crimes, environmental degradation, political corruption, fixed elections, the health care crisis ... blah, blah, blah. We know about it. We talk about it. We write about it. We complain about it. We hold meetings, talks, seminars, and classes about it. We march about it. We make signs about it. Nothing changes.

LESSON#1: Awareness is overrated

LESSON#1: The current patterns of dissent in America are long overdue for re-evaluation and overhaul. The powers-that-be have long ago figured out how to either marginalize or co-opt dissent. Until our tactics evolve, we remain accomplices to the perpetual global crime we call civilization.

BITE

You don't have to be Mike Tyson or Bela Lugosi to appreciate the might of the molars. A well-timed and well-placed bite can take a chunk out of any attacker's confidence. Anyone who chooses to assault you is fair game for a flesh breaking bite ... so open wide and dish out the pain.

If this sounds too harsh, consider the obvious: the life you save may be your own. (Image 2.1)

CHEAT

The ideal scenario, of course, would be to stop a fight before it occurs. This could happen if you developed (or faked) a rep and thus intimidated your opponent(s); if you talked your way out of the situation; or if you simply ran like hell. But, if none of these reasonable options work, it makes a whole lot of sense to land the first shot.

Back in my juvenile delinquent days, there was a guy we called Ratt who earned hero status as a fighter thanks to one straightforward tactic — landing the first shot. At the first whiff of trouble, Ratt would snap out a hard right hand and I never saw anyone recover sufficiently to win the fight. This is not to say you start tossing haymakers every which way but loose, but there's a glorious logic to taking the offensive when all other options are denied. Plus, you send a powerful message to your opponent(s) when you demonstrate that you're willing to take things to the next level.

Some may derogatively call this method a "sucker punch" or "fighting dirty" but when you're in a scrap, there are no rules. The best street fighters I've known have under-stood this reality. I'm thinking specifically about a guy named Steve, a massive football player with freakish strength who taught me some great pugilistic tricks. I remember watching him play handball with some guys from another neighbor-hood. An argument ensued and one of the strangers foolishly called Steve out. His next move was even more imprudent. The guy, who had a good physique and wanted to show it off, started to remove his shirt. Steve waited until the shirt was covering the guy's face before launching a sledgehammer right hand. The fight was over in a matter of seconds.

Ironically, I used an analogous ploy on Steve's younger brother, Paulie. Everyone thought he could take me so we ended up having a somewhat "play" fight in the school-yard. I was holding my sneakers at the time (gym class was looming). As Paulie neared me with mayhem in his eyes, I tossed the sneakers at his face. When he ducked and covered his face, I pounced on him and got him in a headlock. The nuns broke it up but Paulie never bugged me again after that.

Another option (in case your running shoes aren't handy) is to keep plenty of change in your pocket. This way, if cornered into a fight you did not seek, you can reach into your pocket, grab the coins, and give 'em a hard toss at your enemy's groin. Like clockwork, he'll lower his guard to protect his sensitive parts, leaving his cocky mug wide open for a devastating opening salvo.

Of course, there are plenty of "dirty" tactics to employ when landing that all-important first shot, e.g. foot stomp, finger jab to the eyes, and the old reliable groin kick (as Bruce Lee sez: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: PM Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1604862041
• ISBN 13: 9781604862041
• Einband: Broschüre
• Zeichner: Cole Richard
• Anzahl der Seiten: 32
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: eucomply OÜ; hello@eucompliancepartner.com; ; Pärnu mnt 139b-14; Tallinn; 11317; Estland