If you’ve ever been out at night or visited a shady part of town, you probably didn’t feel welcome in the jungle, no matter how much Guns N’ Roses you listened to.

Wanting to help you feel more at home in any environment, we’ve got some tips that will help you up your street smarts and stay safe out there!

More info: Reddit

#1

Know when to leave. Is friend getting too drunk? Leave. Is the room getting too crowded? Leave. Are you feeling too intoxicated? Leave. Someone bothering you too much? Leave. Anything that doesn’t feel right, just leave.

Image credits: lithiun

#2

If you get arrested, shut the f**k up.

Image credits: aFreeScotland

#3

Never consent to a police search of your vehicle or your home.

If they have to get a warrant, they are *much* more limited in where they can search and what they can take as evidence. Giving them consent to go on a fishing expedition can *only* hurt you. Don’t do it.

Image credits: CA1900

To get some self-defense advice from someone who is an actual expert rather than a faceless netizen, Bored Panda got in touch with Evan Dzierzynski, owner and lead coach of NOVA Self Defense. He’s been training in various martial arts and self-defense programs for over 15 years now and has been teaching seminars and workshops to corporate groups and workplace violence prevention. More about him and his work on the NOVA Self Defense website.

#4

not so much street, but general advice an uncle gave me when I was a teen starting to party

– if you’re already in bed and someone invites you out, decline and stay in bed-

is eery how many fights, crashes, and drama I avoided, because I stayed in bed.

Image credits: novastpope

#5

No matter how well you think you fight, you NEVER know if the other guy has a knife.

Being stabbed is indescribable. The pain lasts for weeks and you can still feel it in the cold months later.

Walking away, or running away is always your best form of self defence. Some may call you a coward. I’d rather be a coward and smart than dead and stupid.

Image credits: Sigmaine

#6

Also, there’s no such thing as a fair fight. Go for the nuts.

Image credits: ThinButton7705

With “run away” being the most popular piece of self defense advice, we asked Evan about it. “Running away is sensible advice if it fits the situation and your ability,” he starts, saying that running isn’t an option if you’ve got a child or someone you care about that cannot run with you. You must also consider your own injuries and whether you’re in good enough shape to run away. Additionally, if the aggressor is too close, you may have to defend yourself and then attempt your escape, Evan adds.

#7

If you are in another country & the locals are running, you run too.

example:

Indonesia & the tsunami.

Image credits: boxoffingernails

#8

Keep your car locked always. And Lock your car as soon as you get inside.

Image credits: Anns_

#9

Never, I repeat never talk to the cops about anything! If questioned, act stupid. If interrogated, lawyer up.

Image credits: DifficultySome9884

Whenever you run, you’re attempting to escape from the immediate threat to relative safety – a more populated area, a place where you can call the police, a barrier, such as a locked door, cover, a weapon, even, or you may be simply trying to put as much distance between you and the aggressor as possible.

Another tricky thing is that if you’ve got a lot of martial arts or self-defense experience, it may be difficult for you to disengage from someone who is attempting to attack you, especially if you’re under extreme duress.

#10

If a random guy says “Hey man you want to see something?” You don’t.
You don’t want to see something.

Image credits: MunchieMofo

#11

If you think you’re being followed, never go straight home. Have heard of being told to make 4 consecutive same-direction turns (if driving). If they’re still behind you they’re following you.

Image credits: LaL1T0

#12

Look like you know where you’re going.

Image credits: AdmiralBofa

Evan has also got some advice for de-escalating situations verbally. For a start, you should maintain your personal boundaries, as someone being verbally aggressive 6-10 feet (2-3 meters) away from you is completely different from someone getting in your face. 

“Your hands should be up, open, and engaged as a barrier between you and the aggressor showing palms, what is referred to as a ‘fence position’ as you are using your social skills to de-escalate and remove yourself. Your goal is to safely remove yourself.”

To this end, you should avoid insulting the attacker, disrespecting them, or escalating the situation in any way, all while considering your body language. If you allow your ego to run wild, you’re likely to make a mistake, Evan continues.

#13

Get a new TV or a computer in a big box? Don’t let anyone else know you did. Cut down the box or throw it out on trash day before they pickup. Don’t let the neighborhood know the kind of life you’re living.

#14

Don’t get in the van I don’t care how many 10mm sockets they say are in the van ITS A LIE

Image credits: Asylum_Creeper

#15

If someone is annoying in public, don’t confront them or ask anything of them. You might get popped and you have no idea who they are or what their issues are.

Don’t make eye contact with people on the street.

Don’t get involved in other peoples beef when you get asked to take sides or a friend is complaining about others. Just listen and say “good luck with that, that’s a bummer.”

Don’t do drugs. Fetty is in everything and a bump in a bar bathroom can drop you.

**EDIT** People are pointing out harm reduction and drug testing kits. That’s great. However, my advice stands – as a recovering alcoholic/addict (6 years clean and sober), I wish I’d never started in the first place. I have friends that normalize carrying around narcan to parties and s**t. You can see the insanity right? They want to keep partying so badly they carry around a f*****g narcan kit in case they hit a hot bag. Just f*****g stop.

#16

99% of fights start because someone *said* something offensive to the wrong people. Be careful to not just run your mouth around people you don’t know. Real life doesn’t always play out like social media.

Image credits: Original-Pineapple18

If you feel unsafe, in the short term, you should seek self-defense programs or seminars that address the problem very broadly. Optimally, these topics should be covered, according to Evan: “awareness, verbal de-escalation, managing encroachment into your space, protecting yourself proactively and reactively, blending striking, grappling, and dealing with weapons and doing scenario work with role-players to pressure-test your skills with resistance.”

It may be difficult to find something that would train all of these competencies in one place, though.

For the long term – seek out a martial art that you enjoy, jiu-jitsu, striking, whatever you like. “If you want to get better, you’ll be more likely to show up when you enjoy it and like the people you train with,” Evan finishes. 

Once again, if you’re interested in Evan’s work or would like to find out more about self-defense, visit his website.

#17

If you know you’ll be walking through a sketchy area, look sketchy.

Back when I used to do a lot of night photography in an area with frequent muggings and robberies, this kept me out of bad situations. If people cross the street instead of passing by you, you’re doing it right.

Edit to add that these replies are hilarious. This worked for my countless night excursions in a high crime area. The one time someone tried to rob me was when I happened to be out in my regular clothes on my way to meet friends.
“what looks sketchy” depends on where you are. For my situation, it was a plain dark hoodie with the hood always up (hood up shows you’d rather not be recognized and that you’re comfortable where you are), slightly tattered pants/shoes (I had these from skateboarding) and walking like you know exactly where you are and where you’re going. My camera was compact enough to hold in my hoodie pocket.

Image credits: thats_no_wallaby

#18

If someone arguing with you is standing close to you and they look away from you, you are about to get sucker punched.

Image credits: inkseep1

#19

If there are kids playing in the street when you walk into a shop, but the street is empty when you walk outside 5 minutes later, go back inside.

Image credits: Beautiful-Page3135

#20

never do more than 1 illegal thing at a time.

Image credits: aceshighsays

#21

If someone ask you for a lighter, “sorry, don’t smoke.”

Image credits: wilcocola

#22

everybody snitches when facing 25 to life. don’t do the crime unless you willing to do the time.

Image credits: undecided1302

#23

Even if you are a tourist, don’t look and act like a tourist.

Image credits: davesnotonreddit

#24

Don’t flash your money especially in bars

Image credits: theplacewiththeface

#25

Stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.

Image credits: Waste_Band175

#26

Mind your business and watch your back.

Image credits: CricketNichole

#27

If you find yourself in a street fight the point isn’t to win, but to escape.

It only takes one nasty fall on concrete to f**k up your entire life.

Do whatever it takes to get out

Image credits: TwistedMemer

#28

When someone hits you up for something/tries to engage you in a scammy way in a public place, the best thing to do is not respond at all. Pretend they don’t exist. It’s cold but it’s your best option and all they really deserve. Even just saying “sorry no” can sometimes provoke a response or follow up with the more aggressive ones. And ffs I promise you they don’t have a job interview/sick relative in the hospital/etc that they need to get to. It really blows my mind how many intelligent urban dwelling people I know still say “Well what if they really did the help?”

Image credits: Anal-Churros

#29

Never look down at your phone for walking directions – do not have an obvious look, pause, look at street sights, look again. Check it in your watch or stop at a store to “check your phone”. Makes you stand out otherwise.

( basically a longer version of look like you know where you’re going)

#30

Look with your eyes, not your head

Image credits: faceeatingleopard

Source: boredpanda.com