I am that huckleberry, and I have been jumped by 5 Amish on the street, and I did pretty damn good to keep myself alive and get the f out of there.
I was very amused that the one guy I did manage to muss up started to spread a story that the old white guy was the one who jumped all of them.
Canes are very good, but most canes are too light. Find a piece of wood that suits and Dremel your own. Interesting in a defensive sense, watch how the democracy protestors in China use umbrellas. Also, I know from experience a tough briefcase full of heavy items is devastating if you have the delts and tris to swing it, a real bonebreaker, as well as a shield.
Attitude is everything. I once had to get a POed tomcat out of a dark attic by grabbing it with my bare hands, I'd say the commitment adrenaline and focus is similar. But nothing they do will hurt, live to see tomorrow, THEN you'll hurt.
From one survivor to another, well done. Telling that the feral in your story has to rely on a false sense of victimhood and social manipulation.
Interesting video about the umbrellas in HK. It’s certainly an excellent deterrent against pepper spray, but I would think that in dealing with your typical melee goon, an umbrella would be useful only with blocking an initial attack. As an offensive weapon, it would be difficult to get much leverage with your arm, and using it as a means to push the attacker back only works if you are being assaulted by a single goon.
Briefcases are wonderful, though you need some good upper arm strength to swing it around you in order to cover all 360 degrees of your body. Length in general is very helpful towards winning a fight; for people with weaker upper-body strength, make sure that your weapon is sharp. (This is also why I have to laugh at any self-defense advice which involves using keys as a line of defense; sharp weapons are good, but you can’t get much leverage with your arm and your jab is easily telegraphed. At least an umbrella gives you a little breathing room and doesn’t leave you open to retaliation.)
Have to agree on adrenaline being integral to winning a fight. People need to be on edge if they ever place themselves in a vulnerable position, for safety’s sake.