How to Survive a Riot

I’m Greg with Bone Tactical, and I’ve lived through real civil unrest... rioting, looting, roadways blocked with burning barricades, and prison yard chaos. What I’m about to share is a simple, repeatable system that keeps you alive, keeps you out of jail, and keeps you anchored to your values. The goal is not to “win.” The goal is to go home.

First principle: don’t be there. If you see crowds forming, leave before they become a crowd. Momentum is everything. Ten quiet steps now beat a thousand panicked steps later. If you’re choosing to be near an event, position yourself by the edges, not in the center. Know at least two exits before you ever need them.

Second principle: the Real Gray Man Theory. Don't blend. Don’t virtue-signal, don’t counter-signal... pick your role wisely and play it well. Your role should be that of an inoffensive member of the crowd without appearing weak. Without taking on anyone’s cause or uniform, try to be the individual that does not invoke outrage. Nor should one appear as an easy target for crimes of opportunity. Consider the rules of predator vs. prey... You'll want to appear tough enough that it's not worth anyone's while to attack you. It's also important to limit any factors at play that may make you appear to be a higher value target. No expensive jewelry. Attractive women, small stature, or weak looking individuals for example should look to cover up as quickly as possible with hats, hoodies, baggy clothing and the like. Work towards the exit, face and shoulders relaxed, no eye contact. Move quickly but don't run until absolutely necessary. No hero poses, no nervous fidgeting. Only brandish or use a weapon as a last option, and use it to create an opening for escape.

Third principle: cover, concealment, and barriers. Concealment hides you; cover stops things. A car door is concealment; the engine block, axle, and wheel from the right angle is cover. Metal light poles, concrete barricades, tree lines, and fences… these can be your friends. Smoke, fireworks, bear spray, tear gas, and flares can create blind zones. Avoid the front of vehicles and narrow bridges where you can get trapped. Don’t stand between opposing groups or between a crowd and a line of authority.

Fourth principle: protect your people. If you’re with family, you’re the shepherd. Assign roles before you move: you lead, the strongest adult brings up the rear, kids in the middle, hand-to-shoulder chain, not hand-to-hand so grips don’t break. Use short commands: “With me.” “Left.” “Stop.” “Go.” Do not argue with the crowd; your energy belongs to movement, not debate.

Fifth principle: if you’re grabbed or encircled, break the ring, don’t wrestle the crowd. Pick the thinnest seam, burst through it decisively, and don’t stop until you’re clear by half a block. If you are physically detained, being assaulted, and capable of using a weapon, this is the time to do so. Bone Breaker keychains have recently been reported to be saving lives in these situations. NPE Ghost Knives are also silent, highly successful force multipliers that can quickly create an opening for escape. The biggest advantage to these tools is that you always have them on you, so you’ll have it when you need it. Strike hard and fast to a vital area in order to break contact and get out of the situation. If you must use violence to escape, do it quickly and precisely: strike attackers with disabling blows. Foot sweeps and hip tosses to disrupt balance. Go for the eyes to obstruct vision. Interrupt blood supply at major arteries. A collapsed trachea will obstruct breathing. As soon as the path is clear… go. Your objective is space, not domination. The fight is the distraction; freedom is the objective.

Sixth principle: tools and prep. Surviving life’s most difficult circumstances is much easier with the daily preparedness mindset. Things you do every day prepare you for success much more than something you can do once you’ve already found yourself in a riot. Shoes you can really run in. An EDC backpack with the essentials like those contained in the Ultimate Survival Bugout System. Water and a simple face covering for smoke or dust. A charged phone in airplane mode with maps downloaded; power back on only when needed. Cash, a small ID copy, and a written emergency contact. None of this makes you look tactical; it makes you look prepared. Avoid carrying anything that can be interpreted the wrong way like lock pick kits or excessive firepower. Anything you bring can be used against you legally and physically. Your best tools are awareness, posture, positioning, and decisive movement.

Seventh principle: Training. You’ll need to be in decent physical shape and know how to stay calm in stressful situations to survive a riot. These are skills developed daily through and active lifestyle and utilization of healthy stress management techniques.

Eighth principle: after-care. When you’re clear, keep moving until you’re out of sight lines and sound. Check your people. Treat scrapes. Hydrate. If anything serious happened, call counsel before commentary. Document facts, times, and locations while they’re fresh. Don’t post pictures, videos, or hot takes that turn you into a character in someone else’s narrative.

Here’s the mindset that ties it all together. We don’t join the chaos; we pass through it. We don’t invite violence; we out-maneuver it. If unavoidable force is required to break contact, it’s fast, targeted, and extreme… but used strictly to create an exit. No revenge. No ego. Strength under control. Preparedness starts today. Keeping a few simple tools and an EDC backpack with you always can make all the difference when SHTF. Remember: get to the fringes, break contact early, movement over argument, humility over ego. Keep your head, keep your people, keep your integrity. Get home, thank the Good Lord, and live to fight the right battles the right way, on the right day. That’s how to survive a riot. Stay sharp, stay humble, and I’ll see you in the next one. Bone out.