(I prefer a Glock 19 to some of the tips but its a personal choice.)
Yeah, someone on FR once posted that an old person isn’t going to fight you, they’re going to shoot you. It’s just so much easier.
I’m not woke yet to the replacement of the perfectly good word “aware” by the hipster/rapper slang `woke’.
I would love to find a certain kind of Sensei (Karate Teacher). A Sensei who was willing and knowledgable enough to work with arthritic older people who still have a lot of upper body strength.
I can’t run warm up laps around the Dojo now with the rest of the class, as I used to do. I don’t want to slow down those who can do it.
When I find someone who I can afford, I shall return to the Dojo! I miss the sparring most of all.
The only self defense issue I face, as a senior citizen, is remembering to take out my hearing aids before pulling my 1911.
Trying to fight is just gonna get you killed if you're old, slow, and haven't trained continuously for years.
Martial arts training is a serious lifestyle, not something you pick up in a self-defense seminar.
Yes, except where seniors are unable or (sadly) opposed.
As one who is in his bonus years (If someone were to call me "old", I'll challenge that person to a five-mile foot race followed by a game of concentration), I'm able (if needed) to defend myself, and responsible gun ownership is a part of my preparation.
I teach self defense to many senior citizens ... including my 84 year old mother and a retired federal judge. I am ranked as a 5th Dan (5th degree black belt)master in Kyusho Jitsu which is pressure points. That system can be lethal or debilitating to the attacker with minimum effort and requires just a few months training to begin use it affectively. The system does not require any fancy kicking nor any fancy punching and no rolling around on the ground. Perfect for seniors ... (I’m 66 years old) I have been teaching it for 30+ years .... and yes I have had to use it in real situations ... as recently as last summer. Anyone interested can google Kyusho Jitsu
Small easily excitable dogs with the hearing acuity of a fruit bat make excellent companions for seniors, and provide enough warning time to access a firearm.
I am too old to fight a young hoodlum and for the last few years I have taken some precautions.
If a person knocks on the front door, I can see who it is but have a Walther PP in .380 in my hand until I do. I have better self defense handguns but the Walther has a fairly stiff, long double action so I will not accidentally pull the trigger.
If they are at the back door, I will answer it but as I pull the door back, I step back with the pistol in my right hand.
I have had a few embarrassing moments but rather that than take a chance. If it is after around 10, I just don’t answer the back door.
I keep a Cold Steel black thorn walking stick when I walk. It is a bit too heavy for a walking stick but still the best choice.
AND DON’T LEAVE OUT THIS, ... https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hatpin-peril-terrorized-men-who-couldnt-handle-20th-century-woman-180951219/ “The Hatpin Peril”
Canes are freaking dangerous in the hands of someone knowing what to do with it.
fading eyesight, arthritis, balance issues, and general lack of strength
that is me to a tee....but tonight I will walk miles with my tree dogs...carry a 20 gauge single shot and a 709 in pocket...and very gamey ladner blackmouth curs. We do lay down in the woods sometimes at night and sleep for a bit. that’s what old folks do...hehehe
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man, if he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”
John Steinbeck
I live alone since my wife died many years ago.
I am probably a bit of a nut on self defense. I am now propped up in bed as I write this next to my computer.
Within easy reach are two Browning Hi-Powers fully loaded. One with 16 rouonds (Mec-Gar mags) of Remington Golden Sabres. The other with 16 rounds of old Winchester Silvertips. Two spare mags, one a Browning make and one 30 round Argentine. both loaded with fmjs.
Within two steps are an off brand sword but it has an extremely strong blade as I have really tested it. An Ontario machete. A Winchester Defender loaded with 7 rounds of 00 buck, (it probably would not matter what load but the buck is certainly good).
Within two and a half steps are a Cold Steel spear, a Fiskars axe, a Fiskars, hatchet. Also an old all steel carpenters hatchet which would be an awful thing to be hit with.
Also within easy reach is an old Remington model 552 Speedmaster .22LR. It would be one of the last guns I would reach for but actually about as good as anything. It has never failed me.
In the next room are a whole lot more weapons.
Wife will stick to her 9MM - ran exhaustive drills to make her aware of her chances against any male, and of the fake security of a 20 foot “buffer” if the gun ain’t out and ready to sing.