If you live in Colorado, or anywhere that has seen rising tensions and civil unrest, you need to understand one thing: hope is not a plan. When a riot breaks out—whether it’s due to political turmoil, racial tensions, or widespread panic—you must already be ten steps ahead. As someone who’s trained in survival and self-defense for over 15 years, I’m going to give you hard-earned advice that could mean the difference between getting home safe or becoming a statistic.
Let’s break it down into what matters: how to stay safe during a riot, defend yourself if needed, and even improvise weapons if you’re caught with nothing but your wits and your environment.
8 Self-Defense Skills Every Prepper Must Master During a Riot
- Situational Awareness
Your first and best defense isn’t a weapon—it’s your mind. Situational awareness means reading a crowd, noticing exits, spotting threats early, and trusting your gut. During a riot, never put in headphones, never stare at your phone. You should always be scanning, assessing, and planning a route out.
- De-escalation and Verbal Judo
You don’t want to fight in a riot unless you absolutely have to. Learn to talk people down, mirror their body language subtly, and maintain non-threatening posture. If you can talk your way out of a fight, you’ve already won. Riot situations are chaotic—don’t add fuel to the fire.
- Escaping Grabs and Holds
Crowds can get physical fast. Learn how to break wrist grabs, choke holds, and bear hugs. Use your hips and leverage, not brute strength. Techniques like the “C clamp” on the wrist or “shrimping” away from a bear hug can give you just enough space to escape and reposition.
- Blunt Force Defense
Learn to wield everyday objects as blunt weapons. A flashlight, walking stick, umbrella, or even a full water bottle can be used defensively. Your goal isn’t to fight like it’s a movie—it’s to strike, stun, and flee. Aim for the nose, throat, or kneecaps.
- Knife Defense and Retention
If you carry a blade for self-defense, you better know how to use it and keep it. Practice drawing and deploying your knife quickly, and more importantly, know how to stop someone from taking it. Use tight body control and guard your dominant side when moving through crowds.
- Improvised Shielding
Trash can lids, backpacks, and even car doors can be used to shield against thrown bottles, rocks, or blunt weapons. Carry your pack in front when things get hairy—it’s extra padding for your vitals and can act as a push-shield through crowds.
- Mob Movement and Escape Routes
Move with the flow of a crowd, never against it. Fighting it will wear you out fast. Your aim is to drift to the edges and duck into an alley, store, or underground passage. Practice spotting side exits and fire doors. Know Colorado’s downtown layouts if you live in places like Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs.
- Striking with Purpose
If escape is not an option and force is necessary, don’t throw wild punches. Aim for disabling strikes. A palm heel to the chin, elbow to the temple, or knee to the thigh can drop someone fast. Remember: defend, disable, disengage, and disappear.
3 DIY Survival Skills to Build Improvised Weapons
In a crisis, your ability to improvise may be your only advantage. Here are three quick DIY weapon-building skills every serious prepper should know:
1. PVC Pipe Baton
Grab a 1″ thick PVC pipe from a hardware store (or scavenge one from an abandoned property). Fill it with sand or small rocks for weight, cap both ends with duct tape or rubber stoppers, and you’ve got a homemade baton. Tape the grip end for better handling. Blunt, durable, and totally legal to carry in most states if you call it a walking stick.
2. Sock Sap (Blackjack)
Find a sturdy sock and fill it with quarters, rocks, or small metal parts. Tie it off and you’ve got a sap—a flexible, concealable striking tool that’s effective at close range. It’s not meant to kill—it’s meant to discourage and disable.
3. Makeshift Spear or Pike
Duct tape a kitchen knife, broken bottle, or even sharpened metal object to a broomstick, curtain rod, or branch. You’ve now got a spear-like weapon that keeps attackers at a distance. This is ideal for home defense during extended unrest when your doors or windows may be compromised.
Mindset: The Prepper’s Edge
You can have all the tools, all the training, and still panic if your mindset isn’t right. Panic is the enemy. Your goal in a riot is not to play hero. Your goal is to get home alive.
Here’s the mental protocol I run through in every emergency:
- Assess – What’s happening? Where is the threat?
- Plan – What’s my nearest safe route or cover?
- Act – Move with intent. Don’t hesitate.
- Adapt – If the plan fails, switch immediately. No freezing.
Practice these scenarios in your mind often. Walk through local areas you visit frequently and note exit points, choke points, and places to hide. Knowing your environment is as critical as any tool on your belt.
Riot Survival Kit: Essentials to Carry in Colorado
Always keep a compact go-bag in your car or backpack. Here’s what should be inside if you live in a volatile area:
- N95 mask (for smoke or pepper spray)
- Goggles (to shield your eyes from debris or chemicals)
- Flashlight (blunt and bright—can double as a baton)
- Multitool
- Water bottle
- Compact first aid kit
- Leather gloves (to grab hot or broken surfaces)
- Map of your local area (GPS may go down)
- Energy bar or compact food
Add a bandana, whistle, and cash—because ATMs and credit cards may not work when cities shut down.
Final Word: Train Now, Thank Yourself Later
Don’t wait until the sirens wail. Learn the skills. Drill them. Practice with friends or in self-defense classes. Colorado is beautiful, but even beauty can turn chaotic in the right storm. Whether you’re in Aurora, Pueblo, or Fort Collins, remember this:
No one is coming to save you. You are your own first responder.
Prepare now, move smart, and you’ll not only survive—you’ll lead.
TheDailyChristian 