Hacker News Reader

Comment by simonebrunozzi | Hacker News Reader

I've been curious about the Delta Force for a while, and I am wondering if there's some sort of training available for civilians that could give you at least a glimpse of the preparation they go through. I'm sure there are many, but I've never heard anything particularly good about one in particular.

Any suggestions based on personal experience?

To be clear: main reason I'm interested in this is simply because it's the kind of preparation that could help you in case you find yourself in a very rare, but potentially lethal, situation (e.g. someone attacking you with a knife in a dead alley, or stuff like this - not the best example but you get the idea).

View on HN

> (e.g. someone attacking you with a knife in a dead alley, or stuff like this - not the best example but you get the idea).

Run away. Seriously, it’s the best most reliable defence against a knife.

They don’t show this in the movies but a successful defense against a knife attack still leaves you very cut up. Just not dead, maybe.

I’ve been doing a martial art for 10 years and the main thing I learned is never to be a badass IRL. Doesn’t matter how good you are or how much better than the other person, you will get hit and it’s not worth it. Especially when there’s no rules – one good punch to the back of your neck/head and you’re a vegetable.

> Run away.

"dead alley" means that you're not able to run away, and you are forced to face your opponent.

I am curious about Krav Maga [0], and heard it's very effective against this type of threats. Anyone wants to chime in?

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga

The beginner krav maga classes I’ve been to were a joke. Lots of false confidence, little useful stuff against an assailant who wants to do you harm. It probably gets better in more advanced classes.

Haven’t been in a dead alley situation luckily, but I would probably try to distract the person (like by throwing my wallet) and run away past them. Based on my experience in the boxing ring, untrained fighters get very confused when you rush them … but it’s a high risk strategy if they have a knife.

Perhaps the most real-world useful thing I learned in boxing is how to take a punch without flinching. Hope I never get to use it irl :)

Unless the situation you want to prepare is in/exfiltration of 30+miles of unfriendly territory, stuff like judo/jujitsu/... will be more immediately useful in real life situations. Less badass though, granted.

Check out GORUCK events. They're led by former special forces cadre.

https://www.goruckevents.com/

From what I've read, although they do hand to hand combat it's not very highly prioritised compared to being good with a gun and shooting people.

krav maga is the path here.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com