How to teach stranger danger to an adult?

My younger cousin (21F) grew up incredibly sheltered/boundary-less to the point where she trusts literally everyone with her life. I am so scared she's going to end up on the news as missing.

Just this weekend, she told me she pulled over on the highway for a truck of guys that was driving next to her trying to ask her number. I tried to share how horrifying that is, but she seemed to think it was funny and was happy they thought she was pretty. She responds to scam texts and has conversations with them if they tell her they're trying to make friends or something.

I'm so lost at what time do other than sharing after the fact why these situations are so dangerous. Are there self-defense classes that teach adults how to be safe around strangers? (she isn't neurodivergent other than ADHD, just incredibly sheltered)

Submitted February 09, 2026 at 02:04PM by Beezwax_8335 https://ift.tt/hycvb3V

Is muay thai good?

Im doing muay thai for a couple of months and im. Wondering is it any good for self defense

Submitted February 09, 2026 at 10:18AM by Appropriate_East1663 https://ift.tt/2okCERF

My quick no BS checklist for "beginners". Feel free to add on

1 grappling art, 1 striking art, put them together in mma sparring until you can reliably beat untrained opponents bigger and more athletic.

Lift weights and start running umtil you are above average.

If american train with firearms, if uk or the like carry a good flashlight

Learn to not be a cunt when it matters. Dont hang around bars or shady places at shady times. Keep your ego in check.

Dont doubt yourself if something feels bad, leave. Enforce boundaries.

If home is a concern go about reinforcing and getting security features.

For family be present and learn how to spot and avoid predators to teach them.

Submitted February 09, 2026 at 04:53AM by urdadpullsguard https://ift.tt/XmPvakV

SELF DEFENSE IN STR33T QUESTION

Had a question for you guys, I am a complete noob and haven't begun to do ANY form of martial arts, I wanted to do whats best for a real street fight/self defense and I figured I would go here and ask.

I want to train at an MMA gym but the ones near me only have a pure MMA class once a week and the other days are BJJ, there is another gym that specialized in Muay Thai and BJJ and I could go 4x a week, I also considered going to a pure boxing gym aswell but from what iv'e seen online, mma/muay thai + bjj seem to be better for a real street fight vs just knowing boxing, so my question is, if I wanted to be best in a street fight for seld defense what is best, pure boxing or Muay Thai + BJJ, again I'd love to join a pure MMA gym but there are none near me that have multiple classes per week, sorry for the noob question but I'd really like some advice, i'm getting kind of frustrated with all these options, thank you guys. (PLS DONT ANSWER WITH "JUST RUN AWAY" PLEASE)

Submitted February 09, 2026 at 02:38AM by Famous-Procedure-420 https://ift.tt/FHmMcJ2

How do you realistically escape an encounter with someone armed with

Hey guys!hope y'all are doing great,I’m looking for errm practical,real-world advice and experiences on escaping encounters involving someone with a knife or other sharp object. Not asking about fighting or anything like that lol,but what actually helps people get away safely when avoidance fails and things turn tense fast.For those with training or real encounters,what mattered most in those moments?is it distance, barriers, running, verbal de-escalation, situational awareness, or something else?I’m especially interested in what not to do, common mistakes people make under stress, and what you wish you had known beforehand. I understand every situation is different all the time and that prevention is key; I’m just trying to learn realistic ways to survive and disengage.

Submitted February 08, 2026 at 04:57AM by ok-ok-sawa https://ift.tt/oRW9lIa

Does pepper spray really work?

Been thinking about this for a while. Is pepper spray really effective for self defense? I see lots of social media where it helps but they all start off in a very non-violent way. I’m wondering if it’s been effective against hostiles in a very sudden attack.

Submitted February 08, 2026 at 03:20AM by Oneofakindfound https://ift.tt/TLRUzbF

Just tested my personal alarm. What test should I do next?

So yeah I have the model of personal alarm from saber red. And I just went outside it's dark outside. Went outside and I tested it. I walked up half a mile up the street to a busy intersection. And I took it off pull the pin and dropped it on the ground. No one did anything. No one in the parking lot heard it and came over. I mean the cars driving by they weren't I don't know if they could hear it but they didn't stop. There was a lady up the block now I don't know I don't know if she saw me I don't know I mean she heard it but she didn't come to investigate at all. She just kept holding her sign that said she needed money or whatever and she also had a dog with her. Cuz I went up and I apologized I was like oh I'm sorry and my keychain alarm came undone. She could care less.

I walked up a block and a half and tried it again no one. Now granted both times it was for less than 30 seconds. I mean maybe around 10 seconds I don't know it seemed longer just because it's freaking annoying and there is this little bit of thought like oh what if someone comes over and makes a big deal about this.

Anyways I'm going to test this again within the next week maybe even tomorrow does anyone have any ideas? I would love some ideas on where I should go try this next.

Submitted February 07, 2026 at 09:32PM by jaime_lion https://ift.tt/lS8TovM