I had two younger brothers.

My mother gave me some instructions in how to defend myself and later I did get some more training. I have no formal training.

I have been trained in self defense with and without weapons and so has my daughter. I am a single mother and have been for most of my adult life. Not only did I think it was an extremely important set of skills to have for myself but also for my daughter! I had to be able to provide protection for her also! Then when she was old enough to understand when it was and wasn't necessary to that kind of forse I made sure she learned to defend herself also!

and I'm patheticly weak

I'm trained in martial arts, general self defense, I'm also trained with various guns, throwing knives, mace (the spray not the club), and archery.

Sometimes being a total fantasy geek pays off.

There's not an answer that fits my situation. In my 30's I was trained in tai kwon do but that came to an end with a pregnancy and injury. In my 40's and 50's I trained with firearms (handguns and long arms) and became a handgun instructor.

Self defense and weapons, but bahhhh can’t carry them, work disallows them on the premise.

Yes, I've been trained.

I live in the country & there are times I've had to shoot varmits after my livestock. Guns in the house are not loaded but the clips are ready & handy.

I keep hoes beside all the outside doors, to kill snakes. No point in risking a ricochet or wasting a bullet.

I carry a utility knife in my pocket & a buck knife in my boot.

I've got a cheater pipe in my truck because, if I get a flat, I will need the extra leverage to break the lug nuts loose. The loop & hand grip make it safer so I don't bang my knuckles if my grip slips. I also have an emergency roadside kit with flares.

Remember, a gym lock in a sock can feediddly fuck someone up. So will a bar of soap.

Probably not a good idea to answer this post ladies. Next question... How many of you live alone?

Wait does watching "Miss Congeniality" count? I still remember S.I.N.G

Stomach
Instep
Neck
Groin

If I remember correctly.

Not going to vote. Not going to explain.

I think people ought to operate under the impression that many women (and men you probably wouldn't expect) know how to defend themselves, and you shouldn't mess with them in general, because you just don't know which one is going to fuck up your whole world if you do.

First of all, 6 years in the Army. I have taken classes from time to time since then, one class was targeted to moms with small children as I was at the time. When my middle daughter was headed for college we took a self defense class, she is her mother's daughter and her mouth can/did get her in trouble. Also, I read the best book ever, "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin DeBecker, he has such good advice including listening to your gut. Great read.

I carry a keychain baton. No point complicating the system with moving parts that can jam or ammunition that can run out. Just me and a solid metal object.

I can shoot quite well but I have never shot a living being. I don't carry a weapon, so that ability is useless as self defense.