Goths and Self-Defense

RedAngel wrote:

Been chatting via Facebook recently with the organizer of The Sophie Lancaster Self Defence Class. The classes are currently available in the UK, but he's also interested in creating an international network of self-defense classes to help empower anyone who's been threatened for being outside the mainstream.

If anyone here knows of an instructor outside the UK who'd like to get involved in teaching these classes, please let him know via the site's contact info or via Facebook. Thanks!

He's one of life's good guys. Loads of kudos to him because I believe that he has suffered personally from attacks by ignorant people

I know that before I was pretty adamant about being unarmed, but in light of some recent issues with stalking and nearly being mugged several times, I've given in and had a relative buy me a vial of mace. I haven't needed to use it yet, but feel like it's a good thing to have. For me I feel like it's the perfect weapon; it's not (generally) lethal, I don't have to get very close to a potential assailant to use it, and after a quick spray I can just run like hell and everything should be okay.

It sucks though, because it feels like my neighborhood has been getting so much worse lately. There was apparently a fatal shooting down the street from me a few weeks ago, and I've started to hear gunshots maybe one to three times a month and witness drug deals on the streets a few times a week. I've lived in this area for almost three years now, and don't like the way things are going... I can't wait until my lease is up, so I can hopefully move to a safer area. Back when I moved here it was so safe that I could carry my laptop with me at night and never have to worry. Now even walking down the street after dark scares me...

That's awful and I hate the idea of you feeling unsafe.

I hope your lease is up very soon and you can live somewhere where you can go out and have peace of mind and feel safe

I'm lucky in that I live in a little Welsh seaside town and the most exciting thing that happens is the annual Victorian Extravaganza!