Hi,

I agree with missliz. I also have a background in martial arts, been training since '75.
You don't need to train that long, it could take too much time away
from bike riding 8-)

Trust your intuition. If a situation feels dangerous it probably is.
Don't feel ashamed to act rediculous. If they are in a car you can turn 180 degrees pop
on the sidewalk and go the other way.

You need all your senses, never wear headphones.

If grabbed, or confronted physicaly use anything at hand as a weapon including any
body part. Be creative! My 20 + years of Aikido would boil down to 3 things:

* Keep moving-eg; if they grab an arm remember you still have 99.999% of your body available.
Don't panic. They have your arm? ok. whatever. let 'em have your arm ... and your knee and make
it count!
* make as much noise as possible
* repeat steps 1 & 2 indeffinately or until the perpetrator is no longer able to harm you. You can take that deffinition any way you please.

Life is inherently dangerous. I won't give up on the things I love because of that. Let the "bad guys" watch out for me
I will not give up riding my bike which is my right to do. If I do than they win.