TheDeHymenizer

TheDeHymenizer t1_ixjj8cg wrote

Hi I've been doing martial arts for about a year. I just want to warn you that no self defense class or martial art will really help all that much especially if your attacker has a significant size advantage or even more so if they have a weapon.

The good schools will teach you some things like situational awareness and de-escalation tactics but many schools will just take your money and try to convince you that you are now a jedi. Please keep this in the back of your mind as you move forward.

Now all that being said I F!@#ing love martial arts. They're great and they are a ton of fun and will get you into amazing physical shape. So don't take this as a "don't bother" just understand that the reason you are getting into it it will only take you so far.

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TheDeHymenizer t1_iu43w99 wrote

glad I stopped using the metro and now ride my bike every where. Went from a daily commuter to now maybe once every 3 months.

I can tell you this too. I'm in sales and had WMATA as a prospective client. Despite offering a better service at a significantly lower cost we lost the sale. Its not a well managed organization drop top to bottom.

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TheDeHymenizer t1_isstq7y wrote

This is why I exclusively ride on the side walk. DC is EXTREMELY bike unfriendly. Go on the road, get on the sidewalk, get on the sidewalk go on the road. An 80 year old guy tried to sucker punch me a few weeks back too. But I'd rather get in a fist fight with someone then have that guy behind 2 tons of steel and moving at 40 mph's.

All that being said everyone is an environmentalist until you ask them to take 1 step to their right so you can get by them. Be safe out there and know the law. You have the same right to the sidewalk as any pedestrian you just have to give them the right of way (even if there is a bike lane). While it will annoy them they won't be any better to you behind the wheel of a car and in the road. Your going to piss everyone off no matter what you do the second you sit on that bicycle so you might as well be as safe as you possibly can.

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