Accosted by a drunk :(

[Trek420]

What Bikerz sed. There are similar classes all around. A good source of info is your local police department for reccomendations in your area.

Feel free to PM me also if looking into how to choose one or tell if a school is good.

Martial arts themselves are not about self defense. As well as fitness, body/mind awareness, there's a spiritual aspect and those "ah HAH" moments "oh THAT'S how that works, about time I figured it out".

It's a lifetime thang, no short term about it.

I don't want to be the biggest baddest mofo, at 5'1" that's a good thing. And I never ever want to "use it"...again.

In a good school it will take years of basics to get to anything that could be "used".

So find a good short term 1-2 day class if you want something right away.

Meanwhile I feel that anything and everything we do to make us strong, aware, confident and comfortable in our body whether it's your first Ironman or first time clipless may make you less likely to be "picked" by bad guys. (I say bad guys but it's not always guys).

On the other hand, some days it just doesn't pay to get outa bed

But it's not the fight that happens, it's the ones that don't, or do but don't go so far etc. As you become stronger everyday there may be someone who decides "naaah, not that one, not today I won't mess with her".

That's the best self defense there is, the fight that never happens.

So trust your instincts, listen to your gutt and ride on TE gals. My rule of thumb is if situation feels iffy..it is. Better to risk embarasement by leaving than worse.