Tag: self-defense for civilians

How Not to Die During a Riot in Minnesota

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Defense Skills, home defense, Minnesota, Minnesota Preppers, self defense, Survival DefenseLeave a comment

Let’s get this straight: when chaos hits your backyard—whether it’s a protest gone rogue or full-scale urban collapse—you don’t get second chances. Riots are loud, chaotic, fast, and unforgiving. I’ve walked through enough civil unrest zones, from Minneapolis to Atlanta, to know that what saves you isn’t luck or brute strength. It’s preparation, awareness, and controlled aggression.

In this guide, I’ll break down the real skills that’ll keep you alive during a riot in Minnesota—or anywhere else it kicks off. And we’re not talking theoretical fluff here. I’m giving you 8 street-proven self-defense skills and 3 DIY methods to rig up survival weapons if you’re caught empty-handed. You’ll walk away with the mindset of a hardened prepper, not a scared civilian.

🛡️ 8 Self-Defense Skills to Survive a Riot

  1. Situational Awareness (The Most Important Skill)
    Before you even throw a punch or grab a weapon, train your eyes and brain. In a riot, you need 360-degree awareness—who’s moving, who’s armed, where the exits are, where the bottlenecks are. Practice “war-gaming” situations in your head when walking down a street. Anticipate trouble before it explodes.
  2. Verbal De-Escalation
    Not every threat needs to be neutralized with force. Sometimes, the best win is walking away. Learn how to use your tone, body language, and words to defuse aggression. A low voice, non-threatening posture, and firm tone can buy you the seconds you need to slip away.
  3. Palm Heel Strike
    Forget Hollywood punches. The palm heel strike is fast, powerful, and won’t break your knuckles. Aim for the nose, chin, or solar plexus. It’ll stun your attacker and give you the opening to escape.
  4. Elbow Strikes in Close Quarters
    If you’re shoulder-to-shoulder in a dense crowd, fists won’t work. Use elbows—downward, across, or upward strikes. These are short-range power tools for busting jaws and breaking free.
  5. Knee Strikes to Thigh or Groin
    When there’s no space, your knees become battering rams. Slam them into the thigh to deaden the attacker’s leg or go for the groin to drop them instantly.
  6. Escaping Holds
    Whether it’s a bear hug from behind or someone grabbing your arm, learn how to break out. Drop your weight, twist your body, and use leverage. If you train in anything, make it Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which both excel in real-world escapes.
  7. Improvised Weapon Use
    Bottles, pens, belts, keys—learn to use what’s around you. A pen jammed into a neck artery or a belt swung like a flail can buy you time or space. Train with random objects at home. Make it muscle memory.
  8. Team Movement and Buddy Cover
    If you’re with friends or family, never separate. Move like a team. One person watches the rear, another scans forward, the rest guard the flanks. Practice this in your house or yard. During a riot, unity is survival.

🧰 3 DIY Survival Weapon Skills (Urban Guerrilla Edition)

You might find yourself unarmed. You still need to defend. Here’s how to rig up protection on the fly:

1. PVC Pipe Baton

  • Materials: 1.5″ thick PVC pipe, duct tape, sand or nails.
  • Fill the pipe with sand or metal bits, then seal both ends with duct tape. This adds weight and turns it into a club that hits hard.
  • Grip the handle area with paracord or tape for extra traction.
  • Use: Cripples limbs, breaks glass, and fends off attackers in close combat.

2. Tactical Slingshot

  • Materials: Y-shaped branch, rubber tubing (bike inner tube), leather pouch.
  • Carve the branch into a slingshot frame. Tie rubber tubing to the forks, attach leather in the middle. Use stones, ball bearings, or hex nuts as ammo.
  • Use: Long-range defense, distractions, disabling threats from a distance.

3. Canister Mace (Chemical Defense)

  • Materials: Small spray bottle, vinegar, black pepper, hot sauce.
  • Mix ingredients, shake well, and fill a spray bottle.
  • Aim for the eyes and face. It’s non-lethal but incredibly disorienting.
  • Use: Crowd deterrent, escape tool, surprise countermeasure.

🧠 Mental Game: The Unseen Weapon

Weapons and fighting mean nothing without the mindset. You’ve got to decide—before the riot breaks out—that you’re not going to freeze. Train your instincts, rehearse your escape plan, and practice drills in your garage or backyard. The goal isn’t to fight for fun; it’s to neutralize and escape.

📍Minnesota Specific Riot Survival Tips

  1. Know Your City Grid
    Minneapolis and St. Paul have river divides, skyway systems, and alley loops. Use them to vanish fast. Train yourself to know at least three escape routes from any location you frequent.
  2. Avoid Major Intersections
    Riots love to choke traffic and trap civilians in intersections. Use side streets, parks, and bike trails to move unseen.
  3. Cache Supplies
    In riot zones, access to gas, food, and clean water gets cut quick. Store mini survival kits in your car, garage, and backpack. Include: multitool, flashlight, pepper spray, emergency phone charger, protein bars.

🏕️ Final Thoughts from a Seasoned Survivalist

Look—I’m not writing this to scare you. I’m writing this because I’ve seen good people get chewed up in bad situations because they thought it would never happen in their town. Riots move fast and break things, and if you’re not thinking three steps ahead, you’ll be the one on the pavement while others walk away.

Train your body. Train your mind. Learn to use what’s around you. Build your team. Run drills. Think like a predator but act with discipline.

Minnesota isn’t exempt from unrest. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that even the most peaceful cities can become war zones overnight.

So here’s the mission: Get ready now. Because when the streets go hot, you won’t have time to read a guide.

How To Stay Safe and Survive During a Riot in Dallas, TX

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Dallas Texas Riots, texas, Texas Survival PrepperLeave a comment

When the world starts to unravel—whether it’s due to political unrest, civil disorder, or social chaos—urban areas like Dallas, Texas, can become pressure cookers just waiting to blow. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright apocalyptic. When the streets erupt into chaos, only one thing will separate the survivors from the victims: preparedness.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to stay alive, stay sharp, and stay ahead during a riot in Dallas. This is the real deal, not some fluff from a weekend warrior. We’re talking tactical movement, situational awareness, improvised weaponry, and streetwise self-defense techniques that’ll keep you in one piece.

Understanding the Terrain: Know Dallas Like a Combat Zone

Dallas is a sprawling urban environment with both advantages and threats. From Deep Ellum to Downtown, every area reacts differently during unrest. Know the high-risk areas (typically near government buildings, large public squares, and protest-prone districts). Use apps like Citizen or PulsePoint to track real-time activity. Avoid freeways if you need to bug out—they jam fast.

Pro Tip: Make mental notes of choke points, side alleys, parking garage exits, and underpasses. These could be your escape route—or your trap—depending on how well you prep.

8 Critical Self-Defense Skills You Must Master

1. Situational Awareness (SA)

Your #1 defense is your brain. Learn to scan crowds, read body language, and notice exit points. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. Make it a habit to observe and orient before acting—this is your first weapon.

2. De-escalation Tactics

Sometimes violence can be avoided by keeping your cool and using calm, confident body language and speech. Don’t posture. Don’t stare. Speak firmly but not aggressively. This can defuse tension faster than fists.

3. Knife Defense and Disarmament

Riots often attract opportunists. If someone pulls a blade, know how to deflect, control, and disarm using forearm blocks and redirection techniques. Practice with a dummy knife until you can move instinctively.

4. Improvised Weapon Use

You won’t always have a baton or blade—sometimes, a flashlight, a belt with a heavy buckle, or even a pen can be lethal in trained hands. Learn how to grip, swing, and use these tools for defense.

5. Escape from Holds

If you’re grabbed in a crowd, breaking a wrist grip using leverage (not strength) is key. Practice techniques like “thumb trap” breaks or the “roll and twist” escape for hair grabs and rear chokes.

6. Ground Defense

Getting knocked down in a riot can be fatal. Learn how to fall without injury, protect your head, and create space with kicks to regain footing fast.

7. Tactical Running (Movement Under Duress)

Running blindly can get you caught or injured. Practice zigzag sprints, staying low, and using cover. The goal is evasion, not just escape.

8. Verbal Command Presence

Sound like someone who knows what they’re doing—even if you’re scared. A loud, commanding voice can freeze aggressors and buy you seconds. Use it wisely.

3 DIY Survival Weapons You Can Build Fast

1. PVC Pipe Baton

Buy a 1-inch diameter PVC pipe, around 2 feet long. Fill it with sand or bolts, seal both ends with duct tape, and wrap the handle in paracord. Lightweight, intimidating, and brutally effective for self-defense or crowd deterrence.

2. Tactical Slingshot

All you need is surgical tubing, a Y-shaped branch, and a leather pouch. Load with marbles, bolts, or ball bearings. Silent, deadly, and legal in many jurisdictions. Keep one in your go-bag.

3. Makeshift Spear

Use a broomstick or curtain rod and duct-tape a sharpened kitchen knife or multi-tool blade to the end. It’s a last-resort weapon but gives you reach when you need to keep distance in tight spaces.

What to Do During a Riot in Dallas, TX

1. Stay Off the Radar

Blend in. Wear neutral clothing—no logos, no political messages, no flashy colors. Keep your head down and move with purpose. A grey hoodie and jeans go a long way.

2. Avoid Main Roads

Riots love open spaces. Stay away from intersections, parks, and public squares. Stick to alleys, secondary streets, and interior corridors of buildings you know well.

3. Use a Bug-Out Plan

Have a safe location to flee to outside the riot zone—a friend’s place in Plano or Richardson is gold. Pre-pack your go-bag: water, first aid, energy bars, burner phone, power bank, flashlight, and a compact weapon.

4. Don’t Be a Hero

You’re not there to play vigilante. Avoid confrontation unless absolutely necessary. Defend your life, not your pride.

5. Watch the Wind

If tear gas or smoke bombs are deployed, move upwind. Use a bandana soaked in vinegar or lemon juice to cover your nose and mouth. Better yet, pack a painter’s respirator if you’re prepping smart.

6. Get Off the Grid

Power can go down, cell towers can jam. Have offline maps downloaded. Use walkie-talkies or ham radios with emergency channels. Communication is survival.

Mental Resilience: Your Most Powerful Weapon

Riots test more than just muscle—they test the mind. You’ll face fear, uncertainty, and moral dilemmas. Keep your mission clear: Survive. Escape. Regroup. Repeat that mantra in your head. Remember, hesitation kills. Preparation doesn’t.

Here’s what most folks forget: adrenaline dumps leave you shaky, tired, and prone to bad decisions. Train your breathing. Inhale for four seconds, hold four, exhale four. This lowers heart rate and sharpens thinking in a crisis.

After the Riot: What Comes Next

The dust might settle, but the risks won’t. Looters may still be around. Cops may still be jumpy. And services might be down for hours or days. Stay alert for 24 hours post-event. Recheck your supplies. Debrief yourself on what went wrong or right. Upgrade your skills accordingly.

Final Word from a Seasoned Prepper

Dallas isn’t the Wild West—but during a riot, it might as well be. I’ve lived through hurricanes, blackouts, and even civil unrest overseas. Nothing changes the game like an urban riot. They’re fast, chaotic, and ruthless.

But if you prep smart, think sharper, and move with purpose, you’ll not only survive—you’ll come out ahead.

Don’t wait for sirens to start prepping. By then, it’s too damn late.