Sifu

I'll just chime in that awareness, and letting others know you are aware of them, is the key. Don't act like a victim. A couple months of Wing Chun, or anything else, is not going to equip you to handle three guys, for instance.

For a bicyclist, the best thing would be to study with an Akido, Judo, or Traditional Chinese Martial Art teacher who covers self-defense, tumbling, and falling skills in strong doses. Wing Chun teachers do not typically cover much falling and tumbling, but these are arguably the most useful skills. A targeted self-defense course is also a better idea than traditional study - unless you are really interested in developing a strong degree of martial proficiency over a period of many years. "Gung fu" means "hard work", and that's a vast understatement.

ItoDoeblin

+1 to this. I've studied Aikido for years, and although it is viewed mainly as a sport form (not trying to flame) it is incredibly useful - especially to prevent injury to ones self. There is a high degree of emphasis on falling/absorbing impacts efficiently and safely - this alone makes Aikido study a valuable use of time for any person involved in an active sport. If this isn't enough, after sufficient study (perhaps more than in other martial arts due to various factors in it's practical application in combat) Aikido becomes an excellent tool for self-defense.

Kendeathwalker

Ive always found that riding nude seems to deter most people.

e0richt

but how long have you studied? how long did it take you to become competent in basic self defense?

I think that if one wants to become skilled in self defense, one would chose something akin to "military combatives"... krav maga being one of them (has punches, kicks, throws, falling, and realistic defense training.

nyyankee

I use this bad boy:
https://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/...rsupandreg-sup

along with a good knife the combo should deter most

ItoDoeblin

Krav Maga is an excellent form (gym by my house teaches it, and I have a friend who's really into it), and anyone that regularly rides a bike is probably fit enough to get involved with it. I've studed Aikido for about 8 years, and I would say I'm 'self defense competent', but I still have a long way to go but looking back, I was probably situationally aware enough and had the muscle memory to remove/defuse your standard bar haymakers well within a year.

For someone that is decently fit and wants to incapacitate an attacker (with or without a weapon) Krav Maga is probaby a great path to head down - I'm not as familiar with their defensive forms, but I've sparred some and their offensive forms are excellent.

Any martial art is a good martial art. I'm the same way as this as I am on the arguments about mtn vs road vs hybrid or clips vs clipless vs platforms or fixie vs geared. Just find out what you like and go enjoy it.

angelaharms

As long as it includes self defense and fighting, I have to disagree. My experience is that those first few months can be life-changing, in helping you to begin to see yourself as an agent, a non-victim.

I hadn't seen this thread before today, but my first thought on reading the original post was that the answer to your question is that you need to *become*--that is, change yourself into--a martial artist, warrior, defender of self and loved ones. That doesn't mean you go looking for trouble, or go to China (or Israel, etc.) to train. It means you learn to (gradually) change your mindset while you become stronger.

Find a good teacher, and study. That, and avoid groups of people.

(We spent a week once practicing what happens when you walk too close by someone who wants trouble. You'd walk and your partner would pick a fight. It was fun, and enlightening.)

Angela

ItoDoeblin

Werd. And have fun while you do it.

lonegunman88240

Break the law and carry a collapsible metal baton

i would find the heaviest hand pump i could and mount it to the bike for quick access, just extend it for extra reach, hmmmmmmm maybe i ought to do that for to mine now that i thought of it

CCrew

Beats a "bike-by shooting" !!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...prss=rss_metro

mustang1

when you see them coming, turn your bike towards them and gun it straight for them. The only thing they can do is move out of the way and while doing so, they cant get you. Of course, this is better in theory than in practice. I would just carry a heavy chain.

rhm

+1.

I have heard of bicyclists being threatened by pedestrians. That is, I have heard maybe a total of three such anecdotes in the 30 years since I started riding in urban situations. This thread is the first anecdote I've heard of a bicyclist who was actually attacked by pedestrians. So to prepare for such a situation by carrying anything, or learning some defensive art, would be totally out of proportion to the risk.

Learning to ride defensively, however, is crucial. Learn to ride defensively regarding all possible hazards, whether traffic, road conditions, wildlife, weather (I nearly got hit by a deer today!), or people with sticks.

Mr IGH

No fight training can overcome a gang, they don't take turns like in Bruce Lee movies. When I ride at night in Chicago I assume the U2 stealth mode, fast and low visability. I turn off my light and turn my reflective leg bands in, then move fast and stay away from the curb. If there's a big crowd in the street, I turn around and find another route.

ChainlessRev

I would:

-Get out of the situation: Do sprint drills (both on bike and on foot in case they bash up the bike) in case of a surprise attack
-Create awareness: Buy a loud compressed air horn
-Defense: MMA! (Mixed martial arts) - Best overall training that covers ground & stand up situations

corkscrew

I just scratched NZ off my possible places to live list.

Then again I do carry an Illudium Q36 Explosive space modulator, so I bet I'd be left alone.

truman

Here's #2, for you...
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1652189.html

atbman

I prefer the Wu shing school.

Sprint as hard as possible to the top of the nearest hill and go wushing down it.

andrewmc

Jiu Jitsu and / or Judo combined with boxing or muay thai. Search "wing chun vs. bjj" on youtube if you need convincing.

rhm

Great, we're up to two recorded incidents of pedestrian on bicyclist violence! It's pandemic!

According to the linked article, the victim was riding along when three pedestrians approached him from behind. Not to criticize or anything, but I think most of us ride faster than pedestrians.

Infest

Im sorry to say this but martial arts is not going to help you in this situation. I've watched this happen before. In my area it is not uncommon for little ****s to go around mugging mexicans. I imagine it is because they carry straight cash and are afraid to call the police. Anyway, they ride or run up to a immigrant on a bike and punch the guy in the face. The guy falls down and is tangeled in his bike while they run his pockets.
I am not aware of any martial arts system that is going to help you while entangled with your bike and two muggers standing over you.
Your best bet would probaly be (like others have mentioned) bear spray.
My personal favorite, https://www.coldsteel.com/pepper-spray.html
Prevention is allways the best method of protection, keep an eye out and stay safe.

ablang

Attack on bicyclist spurs warning on American River bike trail
https://www.sacbee.com/500/story/2195135.html

Mr IGH

Or a .38 snubnose

cbr2702

There's still a hole to get a stick through. Hard to avoid on pneumatic tires.

cbr2702

If I had to do that to ride somewhere, I wouldn't. If the increased risk of being hit by someone who simply doesn't see me is outweighed by the decreased risk of attack from people who do see me, the risk of being attacked must be far too high even after these preventative measures.