Dybbuk

Hello Heroes Network, I'm Dybbuk. I'm a RLSH from England who patrols in the Essex and Greater London areas. I have helped people who have been attacked or threatened by thugs both armed and unarmed. (I can disarm using a pair of Sai which I carry) though in most cases the criminals are not prepared to make things go that far. I became a superhero due to a tragedy in my life which I don't often discuss, but it did tell me that the world needed a hero. At the time, I was unaware just how many of us there were and it's good to know there are so many of us. My gear is something I built up over time, after months of martial arts training, Sai training and even stealth training, which, to be honest, is not something I need to use much at all. But if I do, I can.

Before becoming a superhero I was a researcher on things that people called insane, but I learnt a lot and I still do that research outside of my superhero work. It also helps my superhero activity in many ways.

I believe that every hero is important to this world and I am proud to be a part of the community that makes this world a better place. I'm pleased to be here, and will be as frequent as possible.

~~~Dybbuk~~~

Dybbuk,

Welcome to the Heroes Network! One of us!

Sorry to hear about the tragedies you've endured. I do hope that we can be of use to you here, and look forward to hearing more from you.

Also how'd you get your name?

Thanks for the kind words and welcome.

My name comes from the Jewish folklore of the spirit "Dybbuk". It is a spirit of the deceased that is unable to rest due to being in a state of incomplete, it feels like it must do something more in life before it can retire, so to speak, and therefore attaches itself to a human living person to do what it must to feel content before it can move on.

The spirit can be either malevolent or benevolent. But for me, it's benevolent. I felt the name represented myself - I felt I died inside around the time I chose to be a RLSH and wanted to make the world a better place before I could feel better. That represented Dybbuk to me, and I felt that when I'm in my superhero suit I am that Dybbuk, fighting to make the world a better place before I can retire, and be content. I adopted that folklore as my alias after going through many other name ideas. It seemed most appropriate.

Hoping I can make the world a better place with other RLSH's.

Interesting. Although I don't ever think that there's a way any of us can ever fully retire while still alive, since I view this as more of a way of life than a job. While we must always follow the path in life we feel we need to go, it just seems like, for those who choose to do this, the methods and the mission can change, but that inner drive calling us to do this, will never fully go away, and will always exist within us, in one way or another. I wrote a blog post about this some time within the past few months:

http://tothian.blogspot.com/2012/05/there-is-no-such-thing-as-hero-quitting.html

That is true. I have thought about that myself. I believe that even if I DID manage to reach that point where I feel the world is safe, I don't think I could ever just stop doing what I do. Even if I was to abandon my gear and my alias, if I saw someone being hurt, I would have to do what I know is right and help them.

So though it may not be a perfect comparison to the real Dybbuk, it works in basic theory. I will probably be doing this until I am dead, though. I do realise that.

Yep, I know what you mean.

Also that's really cool that you got Sai's. I remembered when I bought my pair of them years ago. I had thought that they didn't have any in black, just silver, so I was like, eh, oh well. At least I'll have a pair of Sai's, which is still cool. I opened up the box later and they WERE BLACK! I was so pleasantly surprised by that.

Heh, that's cool. I have several pairs of Sai. Long bladed stainless steel, which are really heavy ones, the ones I use at the moment which are steel but light with small blades (these I am best with) and a pair of black iron sai which are somewhere inbetween in both weight and size. I also have rubber training Sai.

The ones I have aren't bladed, but are more of heavier batons. Not too heavy, as they can most likely be swung fast, but have that right amount of heaviness to where they can do serious damage and are extremely durable.

I often take out my non bladed ones, they have a flat tip and smaller blades (the ones clipped into my belt in my picture). They just seem the easiest to use to me, and I find it much easier to disarm someone of a knife with them. I can flip them to hook the arm and pull the blade away or I can flip them backwards to block attacks. I can do that with my others, but not nearly as effectively.

Interesting.

I had gotten a video on how to use them, but a lot of what it showed was just kata stuff, and two-person-kata's which included the other person having a bo staff. So it was just basic blocks and strikes.

A lot of that kind of stuff I knew from years of Stickfighting, the first fighting art I'd practiced from a very early age. From the Marines, and from taking Escrima Stick Classes at a Martial Arts School. So to use them like a baton, I do know the basic blocks and strikes and parries. As far as the disarming part of it, it would seem too up close to use as a defense from a blade. Have you found a way for it to be effective or do you also have protective gloves too?

I'm sorry for your tragedy, but know that everything, even the hardest of things, have silver-lining. Your willingness to help others and do it as a symbol shows humility and selflessness, and above all the ability to keep growing; and that's of true virtue. You're a great guy, man!

Tothian wrote:

Interesting.

I had gotten a video on how to use
them, but a lot of what it showed was just kata stuff, and
two-person-kata's which included the other person having a bo staff. So
it was just basic blocks and strikes.

A lot of that kind of stuff
I knew from years of Stickfighting, the first fighting art I'd
practiced from a very early age. From the Marines, and from taking
Escrima Stick Classes at a Martial Arts School. So to use them like a
baton, I do know the basic blocks and strikes and parries. As far as the
disarming part of it, it would seem too up close to use as a defense
from a blade. Have you found a way for it to be effective or do you also
have protective gloves too?

I have gloves that are a silk and leather mix, which offer some protection, but not a lot. However, I find that in most cases using the Yoku to hook the arm of the attacker or their clothing and tug can pull the weapon out of their arm. I have had a knife pulled on me since being a RLSH and have successfully disarmed them by doing this. As long as the grip is firm it can work, though because it's a small knife and not a Katana, it can be difficult to block knife attacks. That's why it's best to hook the arm/sleeve and pull back with the Yoku to make them drop the knife.

Blackout wrote:

I'm sorry for your tragedy, but know that everything,
even the hardest of things, have silver-lining. Your willingness to help
others and do it as a symbol shows humility and selflessness, and above
all the ability to keep growing; and that's of true virtue. You're a
great guy, man!

Thank you Blackout! I appreciate that a lot. If anything, the tragedies I've seen have made me stronger, and make me want to prevent similar things happening to others in the future. The enemy has only strengthened my will power.

Welcome aboard.

Dybbuk,

I'd like to suggest a pair of Kevlar Knuckled Gloves, if you don't already have a pair. They're protective, as well as make your punches more effective.

Welcome aboard.

DarkShadow Rising...

Welcome to the Heroes Network, Dybbuk.

ONE OF US!

cool mask,welcome to the HN.

Tothian wrote:

Dybbuk,

I'd like to suggest a pair of Kevlar Knuckled Gloves, if you don't already have a pair. They're protective, as well as make your punches more effective.

Thanks for the welcomes, everyone. I'll certainly look into getting Kevlar Knuckled Gloves, I've never owned any, and they'd really come in useful on patrols.

Yes. And I'm not sure what the laws in England are, but I know that in the U.S., Kevlar Knuckled Gloves are legal everywhere because they're what motorcyclists wear for protection of their hands.

The way laws are going, I wouldn't be suprised if it was illegal to breath soon. Hey, we're almost there with carbon tax. I found some nice kevlar gloves, I'll probably pick them up next week. Anything that makes protecting the innocent more effective, I'm for it. Thanks again for this tip!

Actually - do not get Kevlar Gloves confused with Kevlar Knuckled Gloves.

Kevlar Gloves are more of a type of cloth gloves.

Kevlar Knuckled Gloves are the ones that I'm referring to. But I'm glad this point is being brought up so that others reading this won't get the two confused.

Ah thanks for the tip. I might have made that mistake. I'll be sure to get the knuckle variation. They will prove very useful. The gloves I use now are not as effective as they could be.

Ah. Also, I've seen 2 kinds of Kevlar Knuckled Gloves. Some of them have like a hard cloth type of knuckle. And some of them have like a hard leather layer on the knuckle.

I'd go with that last kind. The hard cloth type, if they get wet, will ruin easily. The hard leather layer ones will last better when wet, or at least seem to be water resistant.

best bet,is still a cell phone with 911 or the police # on speed dial.

For outnumbered situations, 911 can be good. Or when there are certain cases like drug deals. Reason being, Cops have undercover officers working on them, so last thing any of us would want to do is assault an undercover cop trying to work their way through the ranks to find the main source, gather evidence that can be used in court to make the big time drug busts, or also in the event of a house break in, since a lot of superheroes wear masks, it'd be really awkward explaining to the police that you're not working with stupid [by stupid I mean the criminal] lack of government authority can help us in some ways when communicating with people - like lack of a set jurisdiction - or a standard operating procedure - but not in a situation like that, for example. Unless one has close enough ties to the Police. But for those certain things, wisest to leave it to them. But in cases of where there is a victim's safety or life is being threatened, I believe it's best to be prepared to get in there and protect them first, instead of waiting however long for the Police to arrive. It could be too late.