New Orleans

[dete]

I was just over there, my girl and I went to the cemetery downtown.
I had a delica with me. we walked by some bad looking neighborhoods.
my eye was on the lookout the entire time, and I'm pretty sure with any of
possible encounters I could have had, I wouldn't have had time to open
if I was waiting to counter. And I practice quick draw, quick open,
at home all the time. Yet in real life it wouldn't have come into play.

the experience made me appreciate the gunting but even then I doubt that the
blade would have been deployed.

this is just my experience and my own analysis at my current skill level.

the folding knife seems to be good for a situation where I have time to
get it out and open it and wait for my attacker who WILL attack.
scenario = someone breaking into your house.

in the street, one mistake and YOUR the attacker.
you don't have time to wait.
I'll be clobbering the guy with the knife closed so fast he is gonna be
disabled in a few seconds or he is all over me and I'm gonna be out in a
few seconds. no time to open. the knife had to already be in your hands
for you to even use it as a palm stick.

ok this is my observation for now.

agree/disagree?
similar/different experiences?
ideas?

[ghostrider]

I think your observations are why the wave is such a popular feature.

BTW:
Stay out of the cometarys in NOLA unless in a group. They are extremely dangerous places with bad reputations for muggings and disappearances. After walking through them I'm sure you can understand why.

[KaliGman]

I have found that, in real time, there are three attitudes to deploying a folder in a practical manner. I plan on doing a writeup and videos on my website on these movements, due to the fact that I have seen so much questioning and discussion in regards to this topic on this forum, and the fact that my Kali students are having trouble deploying trainers from concealment when we are sparring. I am not going to get into it here and now, because it would be a very loooong post.

My experiences, in real world combat/tactical/police/SWAT type situations have shown that zoning, parrying and FOOTWORK are what keep you in the fight in most cases.

I have a couple of videos to film and post on my site before I get to this series, so it will probably be a few weeks, but when I get the information up on the web, I will post a new thread in the forum with a link to the information.

[dete]

I think your observations are why the wave is such a popular feature.

BTW:
Stay out of the cometarys in NOLA unless in a group. They are extremely dangerous places with bad reputations for muggings and disappearances. After walking through them I'm sure you can understand why.

in my situation, I really didn't think the wave would come into play.
I know, I was suprised! too slow!

and your totally right, we were warned before hand, my girl was
really looking forward to it, we went, I knew the risk,
fortunately nothing happened, very very dangerous indeed!

[dete]

since my point is quite radical, I think I need to further explain.

I'm with my girl walking down a bad neighborhood.

With a watchful eye I study the people walking about.
I see all the colorful things you may expect, drunks, homeless,
thugs, hookers & even a pimp.

when I anticipated a bad situation my delica was in the palm of my hand
concealed.
notice I said anticipated,
nothing happened, not sure if anything would.
so waving it open would be bad.

and waiting until attacked... reflex will be too slow.

unless defending an attack = opening of knife
I don't see how this can work, the gunting can do this, but
it can be pretty tricky.

[Chris88]

Ghostrider is right go in a group if you can. The cemetery by the french qouter is right by the projects and that is not the place to go. From what I see you did the right thing so many people do not pay attention of what is going on around them. The reason I know this is because I work for the major utility company in the city for 28 years.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Knife skills are extensions of empty hand skills. You must be outside of the ring of fire to get a blade deployed from a pocket but it can be done even if it's outside of your current skill level.
Michael Janich covers this quite in depth in his seminars and videos, it's just a matter of incorporating the skill sets into your regular training.
Why did you bring your woman to such a dangerous setting? Self protection starts with situational awareness and avoidance. Did you tell her how uncertain you were of your ability to keep her safe? :spyder:

[zenheretic]

Why did you bring your woman to such a dangerous setting? Self protection starts with situational awareness and avoidance. Did you tell her how uncertain you were of your ability to keep her safe? :spyder:

Ouch Michael, go easy on him. He is admitting the experience has changed his outlook. :)

[Michael Cook]

:spyder:
Just wondering if it was thrill seeking or lack of awareness, I've done and survived both to vow never again. Many times, unfortunately :o
:spyder:

[SonnyD]

That's too bad about the area. I lived in the French Quarter for about a year in 1969-1970. I was playing in my band for the whole year, we walked by one of the Cemeteries there almost everyday. I havn't been back since late 1970.....sorry to hear it's turned into such a bad place.
Regards Sonny

[dete]

:spyder:
Just wondering if it was thrill seeking or lack of awareness, I've done and survived both to vow never again. Many times, unfortunately :o
:spyder:

it was neither.

I was informed by a half drunk person that the place was dangerous,
other than that I was clueless of how bad it was.
Other than that, I was fully aware of the risks.
we were on vacation, we are not going to stay locked up in the hotel
room. it's not like she said, let's go to bourbon street on midnight
and drink like crazy. (some other people we knew did that)
I realize that a tourist is more vulnerable but that is not going to stop
me for visiting wonderful places.

I did my best.

[JspyEDC]

I LOVE Nawlins, and when I go, I avoid the really bad areas, and use my Spyderco's to open oysters!

[gac]

I think it is easy to go into bad neighborhoods in any big city. There can be a space of one block between the two. I was in Milwaukee a few weeks ago for an author reading. Driving home from the bookstore I ended up from an upscale area into graffiti and boarded windows.

I visited New Orleans in 1999 for a convention and some lousy places lay between my hotel and the convention center. I was not comfortable walking between the two places but I was stuck doing so. Want, desire, and need will often overcome common sense.

[Fred Sanford]

[joke]

If I were to walk certain parts of that city I would have a fixed blade on me and a UMP .45 drawn and in plain view. :D

[/joke]

[Halfneck]

Do not, I repeat DO NOT, ever drink more than 2 Hurricanes at the Piano Bar ( I forget the name) in the French Quarter.

I had 4 and payed for it dearly.

[drf]

Do not, I repeat DO NOT, ever drink more than 2 Hurricanes at the Piano Bar ( I forget the name) in the French Quarter.

I had 4 and payed for it dearly.

Pat O'Brians is the name of the bar.

As a frequent vistor to New Orleans (I only live 80 miles away) I know first hand that you always have to be on guard in any part of that city. It is a great city don't get me wrong, but it was not safe before the storm and it is down right dangerous now.

[JspyEDC]

The Two Things That Amaze Me After Just Two Pat O's Hurricanes:

1. How tough I am

2. How safe the seedier parts of the Quarter seem.