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Street Fighting Weapons: Legal Self-Defense Weapons and How to Use Them

by

Darrin Cook

A Big Stick Combat Publication

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Text copyright © 2012 Darrin J. Cook

All Rights Reserved

DISCLAIMER

The author does not assume responsibility for the practice or application of any of the

techniques in this book. Many of these techniques can result in severe injury or death. They

should be practiced with extreme care and used only as a last resort

Discussions of legality in general terms should not be construed as legal advice. You

need to carefully study the laws in your local jurisdiction.

Dedication

I am dedicating this book to my Uncle Jimmy, who almost always carried a weapon on

him, usually a knife.

But nobody's perfect. One night he was out to dinner with his wife when she was of-

fended by the waiter.

“Jimmy,” his wife snapped, “hit him.”

My uncle leaned over and murmured confidentially out of the side of his mouth. “I

can't; I'm not carrying.” He was of course referring to the fact that he didn't have his knife on

him.

His wife replied, “You don't have to carry anything, just hit him.”

What's the first thing you do when you get to prison?

As one former inmate told me, “You clique up,” meaning you immediately join a group because you

can't survive on your own –no one can.

I considered naming this book Jailhouse Combat because the second thing you do in prison, and the

overriding priority of every waking moment, is to get your hands on a weapon. Making, getting, hiding, and

learning to use weapons is the constant thought of every prisoner because it's essential to survival. Prisons

are filled with big, buff, and extraordinarily tough guys who will kill in an instant without remorse, but a

weapon –if only a sliver of glass or metal-- can turn the tables on even the biggest and baddest convict.

Although I put a set of brass knuckles on the cover of this book because everyone recognizes brass

knuckles as a street weapon, carrying them can land you in prison. This is the essential problem and the

main emphasis of this book: How can you get a weapon to defend yourself without violating the law?

Unfortunately, too many martial artists pride themselves on the fact that they don't use weapons,

while others practice with illegal weapons like swords, tonfa, spears, and sai. They address the problem of

the difficulty of legally carrying a weapon by pretending not to need a weapon. Some black belts view “not

needing” a weapon as a strength of their system, because you always have your empty hands, right? Reality

is that you're kidding yourself if you think you don't need a weapon. The typical punk looking to prey on you

is taller, heavier, stronger, and faster than you. And if even if he doesn't have a physical edge on you, he

usually has the element of surprise, not to mention he's armed. That also doesn't factor in his gangbanger

buddies.

Can an unarmed man defeat a larger, stronger thug? Yes, it's possible. Can an unarmed man defeat a

hoodlum with a weapon? Yes, it's possible, but very hard. Can an unarmed man defeat several gang mem-

bers, who are bigger, and armed? Look, if you want to gamble on long odds go to Vegas, where all you stand

to lose is your shirt. Don't gamble against impossible odds on the street, where you might get crippled or

killed, not to mention what might happen to your wife or daughter. Don't discount this possibility; a Con-

necticut man survived a home invasion, but his wife and daughters were raped and burned when the two

sub-humans set the house on fire. A weapon in his hands, his wife's or daughters' hands, might have made

the difference between survival and unimaginable horror

The Need for Undercover Street Fighting Weapons

As critical as a weapon is to survival, many backwards jurisdictions don't allow law-abiding citizens to own or

Introduction

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to carry weapons. And I'm not going to b.s. you –if you can legally get a gun and are prepared to learn how

to use it, by all means do so. It's just that it's often not that easy. If we assume you are carrying a concealed

gun, you still are going to have to draw it, most likely under attack. A weapon in your hand can give you the

space you need to draw your gun. Even though I live in a state in which I can legally and easily get a permit

to carry a concealed weapon, I work at a public school, where I am forbidden to carry a weapon. Many, if

not most of us (who aren't cops), spend a large part of our lives at workplaces where weapons are at the

least frowned upon if they aren't outright banned.

And don't be fooled, many of the guys who write in the gun magazines or brag on You Tube about

how they always carry two Glocks and a Rambo-version Bowie knife, may in reality carry a .25 automatic --if

that.

One guy on You Tube was reluctant to discuss the specifics of his job, but my guess is that he is a

probation officer. There are times when he can legally carry a gun, pepper spray, and a knife, but on one

particular instance he was alone, early in the morning, in the bad part of town, and unarmed because of the

regulations of his job. Two punks started to pull him out of his car and began beating him up. Just as anyone

else would be, he was terrified. Somehow he managed to gun the car and get out of there, but he learned a

valuable lesson about the dangerous foolhardiness of being unarmed.

I first seriously began thinking about undercover weapons when I was a teacher at a very tough

school in Fresno, California. I spoke to a couple of very big students about some kind of infraction, and they

tried to intimidate me. Keep in mind that this was a school that had a car shot up in the back parking lot,

that had students on TV being chased by police helicopters or shot in drive-bys, and where one teacher had

a nervous breakdown in the middle of class and crawled under her desk. I decided I wouldn't be intimidat-

ed, but carrying a gun, a pair of nunchaku, or the latest fighting knife were not options. So I went out and

bought myself a pair of stainless steel scissors and began carrying them around. When shopping for the

scissors, I specifically chose a pair that I thought would do a good job of stabbing someone if I needed to.

Although I had a serious weapon, the scissors were an “undercover weapon,” a weapon that I could carry

legally and openly. There is nothing out of place about a teacher carrying a pair of scissors.

I didn't have any problems after I started carrying the steel scissors, but more importantly, I wasn't

afraid. I wasn't intimidated and I walked the halls with confidence. This is what undercover weapons can do

for you.

What Is an Undercover Weapon?

As a general rule, a legal weapon is a tool, an object with some purpose beside being a weapon. An

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illegal weapon is often one that can only be used as a weapon, and has no other purpose. For example, if

you have a PR-24, also known as a tonfa or a side-handle baton, you may be looking at a felony for carrying

it. But if you carry a baseball bat or a crow bar, you may have a perfectly legal “tool,” even though these

items can be used as weapons. Carry a pair of nunchaku, and you're looking at a felony, but carry a padlock

and a chain to lock up your bike, and it's generally legal. Even though the chain and padlock may function

just like a pair of nunchaku, they will be legal in most localities. (Of course, check your local laws.)

A second criterion that makes weapons legal is context. If I walk around a legal office or a hospital

with a hammer, I may have to explain myself to the cops while wearing a pair of handcuffs. But if I'm a dry-

waller or a cabinet maker, the hammer is fine. I may be able to carry a variety of scissors or scalpels in a

hospital environment without any problem. Although these can function as weapons, they are sensible and

therefore invisible in the context of a hospital. In the Philippines I have seen guys who openly carry icepicks.

While this is typically illegal, these guys can get away with it. How? In their jobs they sell block ice. They pe-

dal bikes with large blocks of ice that they chop up to serve to the local bars, and they need icepicks in or-

der to do their jobs. For the guy who sells ice for a living, an icepick is a necessary tool, not a weapon.

As you read through this book, look for undercover weapons that make sense in your particular en-

vironment. For example, if you're an avid bicyclist you could arm yourself with a pump, a chain and lock,

and a tire pressure gauge. You would be armed to the teeth, but none of these potential weapons would be

out of place or illegal.

In this book I have avoided obvious weapons like knives, guns, and munchaku, which the state or

your workplace may ban or control. Instead, I have looked for weapons that fly under the radar, because

they function as everyday tools. In general I have tried to stick with low-key weapons that you can buy at

any Wal-Mart, even though I have included other items that you can find online.

Lastly, you need to understand that even though it may be legal for you to carry a baseball bat to

the local park, if you use that bat to attack someone, you will be charged with assault with a deadly weap-

on. When you use a weapon to defend yourself, you have a strong legal defense, but when you use any-

thing to assault someone, you're looking at criminal charges. For instance, a coffee mug is perfectly legal,

but the woman who used a coffee mug to crack the skull of her sleeping husband was charged with assault

with a deadly weapon.

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Chapter One: Fistloads

What is a fistload?

A fistload is probably the most common of improvised weapons, and the one you're likely to have

seen in other books or other websites. A fistload generally has three properties:

—It is held in the fist and adds weight to a punch

—It is circular and helps to keep the fist from collapsing during a punch

—It has a hardened area for striking with the bottom of the fist.

Examples of Fistloads

A Roll of Coins

If you get a paper roll of coins like the banks use, you can use

that roll as a fistload. Although it doesn't protrude from the bottom of

your fist, the coins add weight and power to your punches and keep

your fingers in a rigid fist. Experiment with various coins to find the roll

that feels right in your hands. This undercover weapon especially

makes sense at a car wash, laundromat, or arcade, which are all places

where you need coins.

A spark plug or a battery also functions similarly.

Mini Flashlight

A mini flashlight is my favorite of the fistload weapons. It

comes in handy at night when you are likely to be attacked, and if

you're using the flashlight, it's already in your hands if you get jumped.

Avoid any flashlight that you need to twist one end in order to turn it

on or off. Instead, get a flashlight with a button that you can operate

one-handed.

My current flashlight is a TechLite. It's very solid, is a powerful

200 lumens, and has a scalloped end which makes for a very brutal

contact surface if I have to hit someone. Wal-Mart sells an inexpensive

Black and Decker flashlight. While it's not very bright, it is tough and

extends quite a bit from either side of the fist.

Kubotan

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A kubotan is essentially just a short stick, often made of plastic,

and commonly with a keychain attachment. Some martial artists teach

whipping the keys into the attacker's face like a flail, but I don't recom-

mend it. You are better off using solid strikes designed to drop an

attacker. If you choose to go with a kubotan, I prefer the Böker Plus

Koppo Stick, which is made of steel and has a lanyard to aid in retention.

The folks at Böker say it can be used as a “massager,” which is your legal

cover.

Docking Cleat

Wal-Mart sells a docking cleat, which is used to moor boats. The

docking cleats range from 4 ½ to 6 inches in length. Held in the fist,

prongs protrude from both the top and the bottom of the fist. The

cleat's shape makes it also function like a pair of brass knuckles, helping

the fist stay rigid on impact. There are metal and nylon versions availa-

ble. The nylon variety is lighter and would not be picked up by a metal

detector. This undercover weapon especially makes sense at the ocean,

the lake, the pier, the dock, and for the boat owner or fisherman.

Salt Shaker

Held in the fist, the longer salt shaker can be used with hammer-

fist strikes, or strikes with the bottom of the fist. The salt shaker can also

hold chili powder, which I discuss later as “Chicano pepper spray.”

Whether in the restaurant or on the street, the contents can be thrown

in an attacker's face and the bottom used for follow-up strikes.

Field Leveler

Alpha Innovations (http://

www.alphainnovationsselfdefense.com/) sells a small black aluminum

level about 6 inches long, with finger grooves to aid your grip, and

pointed ends. This is a very low profile weapon.

Cold Steel Sharkie

The Cold Steel Sharkie is a durably constructed marker pen de-

signed to be used as a fistload. It is available on Amazon.com. I don't

care for the aggressive-looking shark design on it, which makes it ques-

tionable for school or the office and which may look bad in court or to a

police officer. I would paint over the shark design if I were to carry this.

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School and Office Fistloads

The Expo Click Marker is a dry erase marker for use on a white

board. It is longer than most white board markers, with broad ends that

make it suitable as a fistload. Cosmonaut's wide grip stylus is for use on

an interactive board. It has a nice cylindrical shape and a point, alt-

hough the point isn't sharp. Either of these undercover weapons would

be inconspicuous at school or the office. The Ticonderoga Emphasis

highlighter, which can be ordered from Wal-Mart, is a solid highlighter

with a chisel tip.

Fistload Techniques

The Hammerfist

Start in the boxing guard, with your chin down and your fists

clenched and held at your temples. The boxing guard helps to protect

your head. Standing close to a heavy punching bag, twist your hips and

slam the bottom of your dominant hand into the bag. What is surprising

is that with very little travel of your hand, moving from your temple to

the opponent's temple, you can generate a lot of power. You can either

do this technique barehanded or with a fistload weapon, hitting with

the portion that extends below your fist.

You can also practice by having a partner hold a focus mitt, or

focus pad, which you can buy at Wal-Mart.

To apply this technique in combat you move inside the oppo-

nent's punches with your guard up, and repeatedly strike with close

range hammerfists using your fistload weapon. Targets are the temple

and the bridge of the nose. You can also use this technique if your op-

ponent moves in on you, perhaps trying to tie you up or wrestle you.

To see a video of the Fistload technique, click here.

Cellphone Hammerfist

The cellphone is another fistload weapon. The old style Nokia

phones, which are more cylindrical, are better than the new flat

phones. If you are talking on your phone or pretending to talk on your

phone, grip the cellphone in your fist with a portion sticking out from

the bottom of the hand. You are in a position similar to the boxing

guard, with your clenched hand up at your ear or temple. Move your

other hand up to your other ear, as though you are plugging one ear in

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order to hear better. You are now in a boxing guard with both hands up

at the sides of your head.

Lead with the left, pushing into the opponent's face or chin with

the palm. Follow up with a hammerfist strike with the phone to the op-

ponent's face or temple.

To see the Cellphone technique, click here.

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What is an icepick weapon?

An icepick weapon is a category of weapons that resemble an icepick. These weapons have pointed

ends and are held with the pointed end extending from the bottom of the fist. The icepick grip may seem

awkward, but it lends itself to very powerful thrusts. While many martial artists train with knives, most

thrusting undercover weapons are what I call “puncture weapons,” meaning that they can stab with the

point, but they don't have a cutting edge.

Examples of Icepick Weapons

Chapter2: Icepick Weapons

Pen

A pen is a weapon that is very easy to carry with you at all

times. The effectiveness of the pen as a weapon can be seen by the

fact that jails confiscate all pens and pencils, and classes in jails care-

fully count pencils. One prison guard was in a high security area when

he was grabbed by an inmate from behind. The guard found himself

without backup, surrounded by inmates. Even though he wasn't sup-

posed to have it, he was able to draw a pen and stab the inmate hold-

ing him, which saved his butt.

You can spend a lot of money for “tactical” pens, but I prefer

the Zebra F701, which is available at Wal-Mart for about five dollars.

The Zebra pen has a solid stainless steel barrel, so it will take a lot of

punishment. One problem with a pen is that it sits low in the breast

pocket, and can be hard to access under stress. I get Max Pen Gel

pencil grips at Wal-Mart, and cut one in half. I then slide this short-

ened grip over the pen all the way up to the top of the clip. The grip

causes the pen to sit higher in the breast pocket, making it easier to

grab and pull out of the pocket.

Scissors

As I mentioned earlier, this was my first undercover weapon.

Look for a pair of scissors that are made from solid stainless steel.

Many scissors are made from metal blades fastened to plastic han-

dles. This type of scissors is likely to fall apart under stress. Look for a

pair of scissors where you can grip them with the point down (icepick

grip) and slip several fingers through the longer oval of the handle.

With several fingers in the grip of scissors held in icepick grip, you can

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use the handle like brass knuckles, hitting with the steel portion of the

grip.

Fork, Butterknife, Garden Spade

These should be obvious.

Drinking Straw

This is an unexpected one. If you put your thumb over the top

of a drinking straw, you can plunge it right through a potato. To use the

straw as a weapon, plug the top with your right thumb tip and swing

the straw from your left shoulder into the attacker's throat, like the old

karate chop to the throat.

Credit Card

This is another unexpected weapon. Hold the card in your hand

so that a quarter inch protrudes from the bottom of your fist. Squeeze

your card so that it takes a curved shape, like this )

Chop the card downward, hitting with the corner, aiming for

the attacker's face. I've seen video of a guy carving up a side of beef

with this method. This is a very nasty, disfiguring attack.

There are other credit card weapons available. Some are knives

that are flat and rectangular like credit cards, but with knife edges and

two finger holes so they can be gripped. Another option, not commer-

cially available, is to get the material used for computer boards, and to

cut a rectangle the size of a credit card, then sand down two sides into

knife edges. Such a knife is invisible to x-rays or metal detectors. Both

of these weapons are more “deep cover” than emergency self-defense

weapons, and may violate concealed weapon laws.

Ice Scraper

You can buy a knife scraper for as little as a dollar at Wal-Mart.

This is light and made of nearly indestructible plastic. This functions

similarly to some gouging weapons that are sold, which are made out

of flat plastic. These weapons don't have an ergonomic grip like the ice

scraper, and they scream “Weapon!” because they have no other func-

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tion. In cold weather the ice scraper is logical and inconspicuous.

Alpha Innovations also sells a combination ice scraper/brass

knuckles. (See preceding page)

A putty knife handles like an ice scraper, and is another under-

cover weapon.

Tire Pressure Gauge

This weapon makes sense for bicyclists, motorcyclists, and mo-

torists.

Chopsticks

Some makers sell “tactical” chopsticks, which are designed to

serve double use as weapons if needed. Avoid collapsible chopsticks

with a screw-together joint in the middle, which is a potential weak

spot. You can just as easily go online to Amazon.com and get stainless

steel chopsticks very cheaply.

Tent Stakes

Wal-Mart sells both metal and non-metal tent stakes. Of

course, the non-metal tent stakes would slip past a metal detector.

While it may be tempting to add a fabric wrap to create a handle and

to sharpen the edges of a metal tent stake, you must keep in mind that

such changes may make the tent stake a “weapon,” and therefore ille-

gal.

Just Mobile AP-818TI AluPen Special Edition Titanium Stylus

This is a long name, but almost any stylus should work just as

well. For the person who carries an electronic device that accepts a

stylus, this is a sensible choice. It may be tempting to sharpen the tip,

but you may violate concealed weapon laws as well as endangering

yourself if you should stick yourself with it or fall on it.

Alpha Innovations (http://

www.alphainnovationsselfdefense.com/) also sells a stylus suitable as

a weapon.

The Cold Steel Delta Dart

This is definitely a weapon, so it must be carried openly ( in locales

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where it is legal). It is ultra-light, cheap, and non-magnetic. For some

reason this isn't usually sold with a sheath, but I highly recommend

buying one. This is cheap enough that you can stash these around

your house, car, or workplace, making certain that they are easily re-

trievable in the event of trouble. Available on Amazon.com.

Icepick Technique

The Wedge

With the icepick weapon in your right hand, step forward with

the right foot. Place the palm of your left hand onto the thumb side of

your right fist. As you step forward, duck your head down between

your upraised arms as you thrust the point of your weapon into the

opponent's throat or face.

You can see a video of this technique at (http://

www.functionalselfdefense.org/kali/palm-stick)

To see a video of the Icepick Wedge technique, click here.

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Chapter Three: Clubs and Saps

What are clubs and saps? How is a sap different from a club?

A club is a short, heavy weapon. It is a blunt force weapon used for striking. My background is in the

Filipino martial arts, where the typical weapon is a stick. A stick is usually longer and lighter than a club, and

has no handle. The stick is the same diameter from one end to the other, while the club tends to weigh

more at the striking end.

The old police billy club is a classic example of a club. It is relatively short and heavy, with a handle

designed to aid in a secure grip. Sometimes clubs also include a lanyard to help the wielder retain it.

A sap is a short, heavy weapon like a club, but it is flat and flexible. Some saps are made of leather

and filled with buckshot. A blackjack is similar, but is round. One design for a blackjack is a spring with a

weight at one end, wrapped in leather.

Examples of Clubs

Bottles

A long neck beer bottle will handle like a club. If I am at a place

that serves alcoholic beverages, I will order a beer in a long neck bottle

if possible. If you order two long neck bottles or keep an empty at your

table when you order your next beer, you can arm yourself with a beer

bottle in each hand if you need to. In nightclubs where patrons can buy

alcohol by the bottle, the Gray Goose vodka bottle is ideal for use as a

weapon.

Another interesting bottle weapon is Frank's hot sauce. The

bottle is small but solid, and has a relatively good grip. Cholula hot

sauce also has a bottle neck that can be grasped firmly. Of course, you

can scan the shelves to find a bottle that works for you as a weapon.

The key is to find a bottle with a neck that is long and thin enough to be

grasped firmly. A-1 Steak Sauce also has a small bottle that is great as a

club weapon.

When I was out late at night on the mean streets of downtown

Cebu City in the Philippines, home to pimps, snatchers, meth addicts,

and so on, I carried either a flashlight in my hand or a Sting energy

drink, which came in a solid glass bottle with a good grip.

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Tire Pump

I met a former cop who, after gaining weight, sold his car and

committed himself to riding his bike everywhere. His weapon of

choice is a bike pump, which attaches to the frame of his bike. Once

he thought there was trouble at a convenience store, so he went in

carrying the pump in his hand, ready to blast someone. If you think

about it, though, a bicyclist carrying a bike pump is really low profile. If

you have a bike, the bike pump is a weapon you can always have with

you.

Flashlight

Unlike the mini-flashlight I mentioned in the fistload section, here I am

talking about longer flashlights. My father was a policeman, and he

swore that the heavy Kel-lite saved his life several times. Renowned

gun writer Mas Ayoob recommends the Kel-lite as a weapon for those

cities where he can't legally carry a handgun.

Crescent Wrench

Go to the tool section of Wal-Mart and you'll find a wide array of suit-

able weapons. A crescent wrench has a sweet ratio of length to weight

that makes it hit hard for a compact weapon, not to mention that it's

flat and concealable. Socket wrenches have similar characteristics.

Stapler

Open up the stapler to extend your reach and grasp the base plate.

Strike against the hinge. If you strike with the hinge, the stapler may

close on you and pinch your hand.

Spike Nail

The Symmetry Galvanized 12" Spike Nail is sold in Wal-Marts. It is a foot long and relatively heavy, yet easily carried or tossed into the car.

Tire Thumper

This is a short club that truckers use to check to see that their tires are

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properly inflated. Anyone driving a truck or large vehicle, or towing a

trailer, might carry one of these.

Examples of Saps

Weight in a Sock

This is also a prison weapon, where the convict puts a bar of

soap inside a sock. You can put anything into a sock, like a battery,

cellphone, rock, etc. It is also possible to put a ball bearing or similar

weight in a bandanna. The drawback of this weapon is that you must

prepare it in advance.

Gloves

Take a glove and fill it with sand. If you grip the opening, the

glove will hit hard, and yet you can casually dump the sand out to

leave yourself clean. It is also possible to drop a roll of coins or sever-

al into the fingers of a glove. Gripping the opening, you can swing the

glove, which will really pack a wallop.

Coin Saps

Green Man Leather sells a variety of coin saps, available here

(www.greenmanleather.ca). These are leather coin wallets with han-

dles. When filled with coins (which take the place of lead weights or

shot), these leather coin purses can be wielded like a sap.

Sap Cap

You will need to go online to order this. This is certainly an un-

expected surprise weapon. The sap cap has a weight sewn into the

back of it. Grabbing the bill, you can swing the weight like a sap into

the opponent's face. You can see a video here: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-vjaqhXUDc

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The Lanyard Weapon

A lanyard weapon handles like a sap. The idea is to mount a heavy

weight on a short lanyard. That heavy weight could be a pocket knife,

a multitool, a flashlight, or a monkey fist, which is a metal ball

wrapped in cord.

When I say short, the lanyard should not be so long that it gets tan-

gled up and knotted in your pocket. A long lanyard will be too slow

when you swing it. A long lanyard also carries the risk of wrapping

around the opponent’s arm. If your lanyard is wrapped around

someone’s arm, you wont be able to swing it again, which is danger-

ous if he is stronger than you, and has a weapon or an accomplice.

If the lanyard is too short, you will tend to strike with the fist rather

than the weight.

I met a guy who carried a pocket knife on the end of a lanyard, with a

monkey fist at the other end (similar to the lowermost picture). He

was an army veteran returning from Vietnam when someone seated

next to him on the bus not only objected to his service in the war, but

was becoming agitated and potentially violent.

The monkey fist rested on the outside of his right pants pocket, and

the knife —attached to the lanyard— hung down inside his pocket.

The monkey fist enabled him to quickly draw the knife from the pock-

et, which is what he did. He grabbed the monkey fist and yanked out

the knife, whipping it into the face of the unhinged man. The knife

whacked him across the bridge of the nose and took the fight right

out of him.

In his book Fundamentals of Modern Police Impact Weapons, Mas

Ayoob recommends getting a Bianchi keyring, which has an eight-inch

leather strap. Put 3/4 to one pound of metal keys on the ring, alter-

nating keys so that they are edge up, edge down, edge up, etc. Ayoob

calls it a “makeshift blackjack,” and recommends carrying it behind

the strong-side hip.

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Techniques with the Club and Sap

Hi-Lo

With the weapon in your right hand and your right foot forward,

feint high as if to strike the opponent's head. Your aim is to get him to

raise his hands. Suddenly drop, bending at the knees, and strike the op-

ponent in the knee or groin.

Importantly, as you recover from the strike and rise up, move

backward and raise your weapon to your head to cover yourself. You

don't want to get caught rising up and coming into range of the oppo-

nent's shot to the head.

To see a video of the Club Hi-Lo technique, click here.

The Next Step

If you remember the Wedge from the icepick technique section,

it is possible to combine these two moves. With a weapon, say a pen, in

your right fist, step forward and thrust into the opponent's face or

throat, aided by a shove with the left palm. Now go into Hi-Lo, dropping

down and thrusting into the opponent's thigh or groin.

This combination can also be done with a fistload or a club,

striking with the butt of the weapon using the Wedge technique. Just

make certain you are using a weapon with a solid surface suitable for

the bottom of the fist strike. Follow the Wedge by dropping down and

striking the opponent's groin, kneecap, or shin.

To see a video of the Icepick Hi-Lo Combo, click here.

Howdy, Ma'am

This is an application for the sap cap. Bring your left hand up to

the left edge of the bill of your cap. I call this technique “Howdy,

Ma'am” because it resembles the scene in the western movies where

the cowboy grabs the brim of his hat and nods his head as he greets a

lady. You also want to dip your head as you grip the brim. Raising your

left hand to the brim and dropping your chin down provides protection

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against the typical right-handed opponent's haymaker punch.

As the left hand grasps the brim, your right hand can access a

second weapon. Use the left hand to whip the cap into the opponent's

face. Follow through with a right hand strike.

Tops knives sells their tiny Thumb Nail knife with a sheath that

can be mounted to a baseball cap visor, such as a sap cap. The same

“Howdy Ma'am” technique can be used to access the knife while

providing cover to your head, only with the knife mounted on the right

side of the visor, bring up both hands. The left will swing the cap while

the right draws. Even if your cap isn't a sap cap, an ordinary cap can be

swiped at the opponent's face as a distraction. (See here: http://

www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?products_id=288 )

An old trick is to use a hat to conceal a drawn weapon. You can

remove your hat and hold it at the waist, drawing the knife from the

visor and concealing it behind the cap.

To see a video of the Howdy Ma’am Sap Cap technique, click here.

BOTh

This is my abbreviation for “Back Of the Thigh.” My father was

a police officer in the fifties through the nineties, and in the early years

of his career policemen routinely carried saps and blackjacks. The sap

was used very successfully against belligerent drunks who wanted to

fight officers. My dad recalled one time in a bar when someone chal-

lenged his partner, who whipped out a sap and hit the subject across

the face. With massive swelling instantly appearing on his face, the

subject said, “Yes, officer” and calmly sat down. Fight ended.

My dad had a pocket sewn into his uniform pants at the back

of his thigh, which was common practice at the time. When interview-

ing a subject, the officer would inconspicuously drop his hand to the

back of his thigh to secure a grip on his sap or blackjack. The sap could

be drawn in an instant, striking the opponent in the same motion.

22

The Wallet Draw

This is based on back-of-the-thigh carry. A pair of carpenter

jeans has a pocket at the back of the thigh. Keep your wallet in your

left pocket and a weapon, such as a club, in your back of thigh pocket.

If someone is just out to rob you, I say give him the wallet, especially if

he has a gun. But if you think the criminal intends more than just a

robbery, such as harm to you or your family, then you must act.

If you try to reach for the weapon with your right hand, it’s ob-

vious what you’re up to.

To access your weapon undetected, reach with your left hand

to your wallet in your rear left pocket. Your body will naturally lean

forward to your right, and your right hand will naturally drop toward

the back of your thigh, where you grip your weapon. Bring out your

wallet and toss it or drop it. At that very moment let loose with your

weapon in your right hand.

To see a video of the Wallet Draw technique, click here.

A Training Note

This is a tip I picked up from Tommy, a reader of my blog. To

use the Philippines as an example, the Sting energy drink comes in

both plastic and glass bottles. I often carried the glass bottle Sting for

self-defense, but you could use the plastic bottle as a nearly identical

stand-in for practice. This way, you could practice making light contact

on a partner without hurting him.

Look for similar plastic bottles that could be used to stand in

for glass drink or beer bottles.

Carpenter Jeans with Back of Thigh

Pockets

23

What do I mean by a light stick?

There are some types of natural weapons that are shaped like sticks or clubs, but are too light to real-

ly damage an opponent by striking him. Keep in mind that when confronting a criminal who may be drunk,

high, and unafraid of getting hit, creating an “ouch!” is not good enough. You must hit him hard enough to

cause the lights to go out or the room to spin. A section of broom handle or pine dowel is an example of a

light stick. The wood is just too lightweight to cause serious damage, so we must use different techniques to

successfully employ the light stick as a weapon.

When you buy items that are typically light stick weapons, like the long-handled ice scraper and brush

I bought, look for one with a heavy handle. A heavy handle means you can use this tool as a striking weapon.

It is also possible to replace the light wood or plastic handles with heavier shafts, so that you have a more

robust striking weapon.

Examples of Light Sticks

Chapter Four: Light Stick Weapons

Umbrella

A problem with the umbrella is that it is too light to hurt some-

one by hitting him with it, so we must reinforce it and use it primarily

for thrusting. One possible exception is the unbreakable umbrella,

which has been strengthened to make it more suitable as a weapon. It

is available on Amazon, and can be seen here: http://real-self-

defense.com/unbreakable-umbrella/

Ruler, Engineer's Scale

I accidentally stumbled across the engineer's scale in a co-

worker's classroom. It is like a ruler, but it is three-dimensional and

three-sided. The better ones are made out of solid aluminum. This is a

weapon that is inconspicuous in an office environment.

Rolled Up Magazine

This was popularized in one of the Bourne movies. It actually is

one of the worst of the light stick weapons. A better use of the maga-

zine is to use it to conceal another weapon, such as using your thumb

to clip a knife or a screwdriver to the back of a magazine you carry

against your body.

24

Plumber's Helper

The plumber's helping or “plunger” used to unclog sinks or toilets has a

light dowel handle. This is a weapon that is hard to use impromptu, as

you really need to remove the handle from the bowl end. In an emer-

gency you might be able to break the end off of a wooden broom or

mop handle.

Books and Trays

While not actually light sticks, a book, notebook, or lunch tray

(like those at a cafeteria or fast food restaurant) function similarly, in

that they are not good striking weapons, and should be gripped with

two hands.

Light Stick Techniques

The best method for using the light stick is found in the military

classic Cold Steel by John Styers. Combatives legend W. E. Fairbairn's

Get Tough! also has a section on the use of the light stick following the

same principles. You can find these old gems online.

Grip the light stick at the forward end with the left hand, palm

up. Grip the other end of the light stick, the end closer to you, with the

palm-down right hand. A little bit of the stick should protrude at both

ends, giving you two striking surfaces. I call this grip “rifle grip” be-

cause it resembles holding a rifle, with the left hand palm up at the for-

ward end and the right hand palm down at the rear/butt end. Unlike

holding a rifle, though, your right foot should be forward.

Slam

You are hitting with the portion of the stick between both

hands. You can snap this strike out quickly, or step forward with the

left foot, which gives you greater pushing power This can be aimed at

the face or –in extreme circumstances-- the throat. Repeated down-

ward slams can be used to counter a knife thrust.

If the stick breaks in the middle, you are now holding the equiv-

alent of an icepick in each hand. Stab the opponent with the jagged

ends.

John Styers of Cold Steel

25

Butt

Pivot on your forward right foot, and twisting counterclockwise

with your hips, throw the right butt end of the stick horizontally into the

opponent's jaw, throat, or shoulder. The motion of executing the butt

strike is identical to throwing a jab in boxing. The strike isn't so much

delivered with the arms, but with torque from the waist and hips, surg-

ing upwards from the feet.

Gore

This is a gouging blow with the rear end of the stick. Imagine you

have just thrown the butt strike. Return the stick backward, retracing

the same path. Here you are ripping downward or backward, tearing

with the butt end of the stick as you bring the stick back to a ready posi-

tion.

Thrust

Raise your arms up and tuck your chin down. Your upraised arms

should help to shelter your head. Thrust forward with the front end of

the stick, aiming for the opponent's face and/or throat. This can be ei-

ther a quick jab or you can step forward with the left foot to add

strength to the thrust.

Combination Light Stick Moves

Combine all of the above techniques, performing one right after

the other in a continuous flow. For example, slam, then withdraw the

stick. Butt, then bring the stick back, executing a gore. As the point of

the stick returns to the centerline, where it is aimed at the opponent's

face, launch into a thrust.

To see a video of Light Stick technique, click here.

Book Technique

To use a book or tray, grip it on two adjacent sides. This grip will

point one corner forward. Use the light stick thrusting technique, raising

the arms and dropping your head while thrusting into the opponent's

face or throat.

To see a video of Book technique, click here.

26

Chapter Five: Palm Saps

What is a palm sap?

A palm sap is a leather band that goes around the palm with a metal plate or weight attached to, or

built into, the portion of the strap inside the palm. The palm sap is used with a slapping motion.

The palm sap was a weapon favored by policemen. Because the weight tended to be concealed by

the outside of the hand, it was a low key, inconspicuous weapon. A policeman could approach a drunk or a

belligerent subject, and with a light slap on the elbow or shoulder send a warning that trying to fight it out

would be very painful. A heavy blow to the head or face could knock a man out. Because of the low profile

of the nearly invisible palm sap, it would appear to onlookers that the cop had knocked the man out by a

slap of his bare hand.

In my opinion, the palm sap is the most unknown and neglected of all weapons, but is potentially

very powerful as an undercover street fighting weapon. There are several advantages to the palm sap. First,

the palm sap tends to be hidden inside the hand, making it low key. Second, with the palm sap one can grab

or perform other actions of the weapon hand without losing your weapon. Third, one can strike very power-

fully with the open hand without damaging your hand. If you punch someone in the skull or mouth with

your bare knuckles, you can very easily damage your hand.

Examples of Palm Saps

Bad Keychain Ideas

There are many lousy keychain weapons. I don't like the “cat”

or “dog” keychains, which are thinly disguised brass knuckles, but with-

out the advantage of being able to punch like brass knuckles. These not

only look like weapons, but they are gouging weapons. While gouging

weapons look nasty and may cause a flinch reaction, to a person who is

drunk, high, or a hardened sadist, a gouging weapon lacks stopping

power.

The same can be said of the keychain flail. Yes, it hurts to get hit

in the face with a bunch of keys, but it's not incapacitating. Remember,

“ouch!” isn't good enough. You need to shut off someone's lights.

Some suggest weaving the keys between the fingers in your fist.

This not only takes too long, but you are back to a gouging weapon,

and there's little support to keep the keys in position in your fist.

Better Keychain Ideas

A better idea is to use the keychain as a palm sap. Get a key-

chain with a heavy, solid metal fob. Stick your first finger/index finger

27

through the key chain. The metal fob and the keys should be resting

inside your hand on your palm.

Green Man Leather sells a keychain sap, available here

(www.greenmanleather.ca). You can see this sap on You Tube here

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t633qyhGYnU), although I don't

recommend their way of using it for self-defense.

Masterlock

Masterlock sells a luggage lock that is approved by the TSA,

meaning that you can even take this into an airport. You can use this

small cable lock (no. 4688D) to build a keychain.

Rings, Padlocks, and Watches

Wear several class rings or other large, metal rings and turn

them so that they are on the inside of the hand. With a slap of the

hand, the rings will make contact with the opponent's face or skull. Slip

a padlock over your index finger. Take a large wristwatch and put the

face of it inside the palm, with the band around the hand.

Loaded Glove

If you are wearing gloves, you can put a folded knife under the

glove and over the palm. A roll of dimes could also be placed between

the glove and the palm. Old silver dollars or dollar-sized coins, such as

Eisenhower dollars, can also be slipped into the palm of the glove.

Coffee Mug

Instead of swinging the coffee cup as you would normally hold

it, place your palm on the side of the mug and slip your fingers through

the handle, so that you are cupping the mug. Same for a can or stubby

beer bottle.

Knocked Centsless Coin Purse Sap

This is a coin purse offered by D3 Protection

(www.d3protection.com/impact_weapons_28.html). There is a loop on

the back of the purse so that it can be slipped over the fingers. With a

slap of the hand, the weight of coins in the purse will wallop the oppo-

nent.

28

Swisstech Multitool

This 9-in-1 multitool, available online and at Wal-Mart, can be used as a

keychain fob.

When one online reviewer complained that it was “too heavy,” I real-

ized it would make a good weapon. What you want is a solid chunk of

steel.

29

Palm Sap Technique

The Wallop

I learned this Jeet Kune Do technique from Tim Evans Sensei, who

learned it from one of Bruce Lee's original students. The mechanics of

the wallop are similar to the jab in boxing and the butt strike in the

light stick method.

Pivot on your forward right foot, and twisting counterclockwise

with your hips, throw the right palm horizontally into the side of the

opponent's face. The strike isn't so much delivered with the arm, but

with torque from the waist and hips, surging upwards from the feet.

Make contact with the center of the hand, striking with the hollow of

the palm.

Practice this technique on a focus mitt, available at Wal-Mart.

When you are hitting correctly, you will hear a resounding “Thwap!”

The person holding the mitt will also feel it. When you hit with the fin-

gers, it stings, but when you hit with the center of the palm, massive

energy is transferred.

This is the basic move with the palm sap. You want to get your

weighted weapon away from the fingers and closer to the center of the

palm.

To see the Wallop technique, click here.

The Keychain Sap and the Thumb Jab

Let's go a step further with the keychain sap. Put your index/

first finger through the ring of your keychain. All the keys should be on

the same side, closest to your thumb. If the keys are on the other side

of the fob, you can whip them to the inside by a quick upward toss of

the keychain, then rapidly drawing it downward. With all your keys

near your thumb, the middle, ring, and little fingers close over the fob

as the right hand brushes against the pant leg. This motion pivots out

the keys so that they can be gripped between the right thumb and first

finger. What you should end up with is your hand clenched in a fist,

with your keys sticking out from the curve of the index finger, held

down by the thumb.

Unlike keys woven between the fingers, these keys are now

30

held securely, anchored by the fist and clamped in place by the thumb.

You can now thrust with the keys, the points of which are all aligned.

The first move is for the nuisance, the person who is a little too

rough or pushy, but you can't deck him because he's your uncle or co-

worker. Jab the keys into his ribs. You can twist the keys.

On a more serious level you can jab the keys into the throat or

the eye. An old dirty trick of boxing was to throw the jab with the fist

horizontal, but to let the thumb separate from the fist. The result was

a thumb jabbing or raking the opponent's eye. (This is why the thumb

is now sewn into the side of a boxing glove.) You can execute the same

move with the key sap.

Shoot your fist toward the opponent's face as though you were

throwing a jab, with the fist horizontal. Only in this case you are aim-

ing the keys and the thumb at the opponent's left eye. The feeling is

like brushing your thumb across the opponent's eye. Of course, this

technique is only for grave circumstances.

Holding the keys aligned between the thumb and first finger,

you can still wallop an opponent with the weight inside your palm.

Throw the wallop, but open up your fingers as you do so.

To see a video of the Palm Sap Keychain Weapon, click here.

Outside

Step off to the right at a 45 degree angle with your right foot.

Use your palm sap to slap the opponent's left elbow, pushing it across

his body. Aim to get metal-on-bone contact by striking the tip of his

elbow.

Grab the opponent's hair with your left hand (or grab his ear if

he's bald) and pull downward. Another option is to strike to the face

with a left palm or thumb jab. Follow through with other power slaps.

This move is called an “outside” because you are moving to-

ward the opponent's outside, or back.

To see a video of the Outside technique, click here.

31

Diagonal

Step off to the right at a 45 degree angle with your right foot.

As you step, throw the left hand fingertips toward or into the oppo-

nent's eyes. Wallop the side of the opponent's head, but pivot as you

do so, whipping your left foot around so you are facing the position

you started from.

The hook or the wallop is an “offline” move. Against a large op-

ponent who is charging into you, or a knife-wielding opponent who is

rushing you, you need to step to the side. In boxing this is compared to

getting off the tracks when there's an oncoming train. Instead of trying

to block the train or stop the train, it's better to get off the tracks. The

same is true with the charging opponent –he will be able to move for-

ward faster than you can move backward, so step to the side.

To see a video of the Diagonal technique, click here.

One More Palm Sap Weapon —The Stubby Beer Bottle and Can

Not every beer bottle has a neck that can be gripped as a han-

dle. In the Philippines the most common beer is a San Miguel Pilsen,

which comes in a stubby bottle with a very short neck.

A friend of mine was the victim of a sneak attack with a San Mi-

guel beer bottle, wielded like a palm sap, with the hand cupping the

bottle around the middle. The strike nearly cold cocked him, but he

was able to rouse himself, rush his opponent, and take him to the

ground.

Many bottles, and every can, are best when wielded like a palm

sap.

32

Chapter Six: Chemical Weapons

What is a chemical weapon?

A chemical weapon is any kind of irritant, especially one that burns the attacker's eyes or nose.

Examples of Chemical Weapons

Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is a good option, and in view of the fact that it is

ultimately harmless, even though it may sting like crazy at first, it is le-

gal in many localities if you are willing to get the proper training. I rec-

ommend the impact weapon pepper spray casing available from Griffin

Martial Training. (http://www.griffinmartialtraining.com/fury-

pepperstrike.php) I believe that you need some sort of back up to pep-

per spray. Your attacker may be wearing glasses or a face covering such

as a scarf or a hood. You may find it impossible to spray the opponent

in the eyes while you are being attacked.

Cold Steel also makes pepper sprays in various sizes and with

hard canisters.

You can buy Hot Walkers, which are a combination walking

hand weight and pepper spray device. Counterstrike offers a similar

product.

Wasp Spray

Some have recommended wasp spray, because it sprays farther

than pepper spray and is supposedly more incapacitating than pepper

spray.

However, there are drawbacks to using wasp spray as a weap-

on. In some localities using wasp spray as a weapon is illegal. Because

wasp spray hasn't been proven safe on humans, you may be facing

charges if you injure someone with it. It is also possible to get pepper

sprays that are effective at greater ranges, such as the Inferno spray by

Cold Steel. In view of these facts, I recommend either pepper spray or

crushed chilies, which I discuss next. Nevertheless, it might not hurt to

have a cannister of wasp spray lying around as a last-ditch weapon.

33

Crushed Chilies

I call this “Chicano pepper spray.” My friend Ed was an alco-

holic who often found himself out late at night, drunk, in rough parts

of town. His secret weapon was crushed chilies, which he carried in

his pocket. Pepper spray gets its name because the active ingredient

is the same as that found in chili peppers and crushed chilies. Ed

would walk the dark streets with his hand in his pocket, and if some-

one jumped him, he could throw the chilies or smear a handful into

someone's eyes.

Crushed chilies are available at Wal-Mart in the Hispanic foods

section, very cheaply. (See upper right photo.)

Chemical Weapon Technique

Wallop

We return to the wallop technique of the previous palm sap

chapter. Carry crushed chilies in your front sweater, jacket, or pants

pocket. Get a handful. When attacked, execute the wallop, hitting the

opponent in the side of the face. The impact is likely to scatter chili

into his eyes and nose. Follow through by smearing your hand over

his face and eyes.

Shredder

You can amplify Richard Dimitri's Shredder technique, availa-

ble on Amazon.com. (Read an interview here: http://

www.themartialist.com/0903/dimitri.htm ) This will also apply to oth-

er head and neck controls. With a handful of chilies, move inside the

opponent's attack and grab the back of his head with your left hand.

Push his face with your right hand, smearing the chilies into his eyes.

Twist both hands counterclockwise as you pull his head down.

Kimber Pepperblaster II

This double shot pepper pistol is analogous to the Heizer .45

Double Tap , a two-shot derringer. The pepper pistol can be used as a

training tool to fill in for the Heizer, or as a replacement for venues

where you can’t carry a firearm.

34

Chapter Seven: Projectile Weapons

What is a projectile weapon?

A projectile weapon is any weapon that is thrown. Most people think of projectile weapons in forms

like throwing knives or shuriken, known as throwing stars or ninja stars. If you have a knife, though, you are

better off keeping it in your hand instead of throwing it. Throwing stars or spikes cannot be counted on to

stop an opponent, even though they may hurt.

The big problem with traditional projectile weapons is that they are used at a distance, far enough to

be thrown, but in real life you can't count on distance. The thug who ambushes you will usually initiate his

attack as close as possible.

Examples of Projectile Weapons and Techniques

For our purposes, a projectile weapon is anything that can be

thrown, from your sack lunch, to the book you're carrying, or the foun-

tain drink or water bottle in your hand. A handful of coins or crushed

chilies are also good projectile weapons. The purpose is not to drop the

opponent, but to create a “gap” by means of the flinch response. In

other words, while your attacker is reacting to your thrown object, ei-

ther flinching, ducking, or raising his hands, you're using that moment

as an opening to counterattack.

The strategy is simple: throw whatever you have in your hands

into the attacker's face; kick low at his knee or groin; then run. Or you

can throw whatever you have into his face, them draw or employ your

undercover weapon.

Diagonal

Let's go back to the diagonal technique in the palm sap chapter.

Begin by carrying a potential projectile weapon, such as a water bottle,

in your left hand.

Step off to the right at a 45 degree angle with your right foot. As

you step, throw the object in the left hand into the opponent's eyes.

Wallop the side of the opponent's head, but pivot as you do so, whip-

ping your left foot around so you are facing the position you started

from.

To see a video of the Diagonal Projectile technique, click here.

35

Chapter Eight: Other Weapons

These weapons are an odd assortment that can't be easily categorized.

Corkscrew

This is a fistload weapon that also functions like a push dagger

with the screw portion extended. With the screw portion extended

between the knuckles, you can attack with a punching motion. Cork-

screws often have knife attachments, so you can also use it like an

icepick with the blade extended.

If you carry a wine bottle (carefully chosen for its suitability as a

club) and a corkscrew, you are armed to the teeth, but in a perfectly

reasonable, inconspicuous manner.

Tire Plug Reamer

I thought the corkscrew was a one-of-a-kind freak when it

came to undercover weapons, but it turns out that a reamer for a tire

repair kit is nearly identical. It can be used as both a fistload and an

icepick/puncture weapon. For the trucker, auto mechanic, and bike

rider, this is a low-profile weapon.

Shield Weapons

The best and most common of the shield weapons is the chair.

To wield the chair, grasp the back of the chair at the top and the for-

ward edge of the seat. Lift up the chair with both hands and thrust

with the legs, aiming for the opponent's eyes and throat. While he is

preoccupied with this attack, kick low at the shin, knee, and groin. If he

grabs the chair and pulls it toward himself, don't fight it, but push it

toward him, following up with low kicks.

A gym bag, a backpack, a garbage can, and a garbage can lid

also function as shield weapons. To wield them, grasp them with two

hands and thrust toward the opponent's face while kicking low. For

the garbage can lid, grab the handle with the right hand and the outer

edge of the lid with your left hand. Thrust the forward edge of the lid

into the opponent's face by pushing it with the left hand and guiding it

with the right hand. The lid should be held vertically (perpendicular to

the ground) so that it slips between the attacker's hands.

36

Millwall Brick

This is not a spontaneous weapon –you must make it

up ahead of time. But this is a weapon that you could put to-

gether inside an airport. Get a newspaper or a tabloid.

Starting at the narrow end, fold over about a half an inch. Re-

peat, folding over that folded section. Continue folding until

you reach the bottom. The more tightly you fold and crease

the paper, the stronger your weapon will be. You will now

have a narrow strip of folded newspaper about an inch or so

wide.

Fold this strip in half so that the ends meet, forming a

narrow 'U.' Grab the folded ends in the fist so that the curved

portion extends from the bottom of the fist. Strike with a

downward motion, icepick fashion. You can view a video of

Millwall Brick construction here: http://www.metacafe.com/

watch/395204/amazing_paper_brick_easy_to_make/

British soccer hooligans used this weapon to great effect after

authorities began confiscating “all” weapons at soccer games. It is in-

teresting to note that Polo mints were also confiscated, which come in

rolls like Life Savers, because they could serve as a fistload weapon.

You can boost the effectiveness of the Millwall Brick by soaking the pa-

per first, or adding coins in the folds.

Gloves

Sap gloves, which have lead shot in the knuckles, are typically

sold only to law enforcement. They are illegal in many localities.

But you don't need sap gloves in order to hit harder.

Search online for “knuckle protector gloves.” The problem with

punching someone's skull is that your bare knuckles aren't designed to

handle that kind of punishment. The irony is that the original bare-

knuckle boxers did not hit as hard as glove-wearing boxers, who dished

out more punishment. Why? Once a boxer wore gloves, he could hit

harder because his hands were protected. You don't need to have steel

shot on the knuckles, just an extra bit of padding to protect your

knuckles from damage.

It is also possible to order knife-proof or slash-proof gloves.

37

While these gloves aren't an offensive weapon, they can be used to

help you ward off a knife in a dire situation.

Armor

Bladerunner.tv sells a wide range of slash-proof clothing. They

also sell an insert for a baseball cap to provide additional protection to

the head.

You can also buy ballistic clipboards capable of stopping a bul-

let. These can also be wielded like the tray/book weapons in the light

stick chapter.

A ballistic briefcase will function like a shield weapon, explained

earlier in this chapter.

The Hybrid Fistload/Palm Sap

The Böker Koppo Stick is like the standard yawara or kubotan,

only it's made out of steel or titanium. Another difference is that the

Böker Koppo Stick has a loop for your fingers. What this means is that

with your fingers through the ∩-shaped loop, you can open up your fist

and the still retain the stick. This enables you to open up your hand for

palm strikes or to grab the opponent.

Dallyn Knives makes a similar weapon. See here.

You can also turn a combat flashlight into a similar weapon. (Go

here: http://www.themartialist.com/pecom/koppowrap.htm )

Get paracord or a shoelace and run a loop over the shaft of the flash-

light, attaching it near the lamp end and at the butt end. Slip your fin-

gers through the loop. You can now hit like a fistload, slap like a palm

sap, and grab the opponent, all without losing your flashlight. Running

your fingers through the loop also aids in retention, so the opponent

can't strip it out of your hand.

Mas Ayoob uses a heavy rubber band running from one end of the

short stick to the other, like a ‘ ) ’, so he can strike with the stick or

open his hand to grab without losing it.

38

Steel Bangle

In the Indian religion of Sikhism, a baptized Sikh must wear at

all times a kara, or a steel bangle. Not only can the bangle be used as

a weapon, but it was traditionally used in India in boxing duels to

settle grievances, and there is a fighting system based upon it, as can

be seen here: http://youtu.be/qUeB-RlRX9o

With your arms crossed you can slip the bangle off your wrist,

by squeezing the bangle under the armpit and pulling the hand back,

drawing the hand partially out of the bangle. You are now holding the

bangle in your fist, with the upper portion of the loop extending from

the top of your fist, like brass knuckles.

Handcuffs

For the law enforcement officer or security guard, a pair of

handcuffs can be held in the hand like the bangle in the uppermost

right photo.

Handcuffs can also be wielded like clubs, saps, and raking

weapons.

Carabiner

A large carabiner can be used like a combination fistload and

brass knuckles. Slip your hand through the carabiner so that the outer

bar runs across the back of your fingers. If you punch, this will serve

as brass knuckles. You can also strike with a hammerfist, making con-

tact with the 'U' shaped portion at the bottom of the hand.

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BBonus: The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is a weapon I’ve invented. Keep in mind that this is a weapon, and not an ordinary object

that can be carried undercover. Because it is a weapon, you must check your local laws.

The Nutcracker consists of two Boker koppo sticks. I removed the cord from one of the sticks, and tied them

together with a shoelace. Think of the Nutcracker as a mini-nunchacku. One of the problems with a

nunchaku is that it is difficult to control and recover; however, the Nutcracker is short enough that it is easy

to retrieve back into the fist. The folding characteristic of the weapon makes it compact.

This weapon will function like a fistload, like a palm sap, and a sap or blackjack. Because the two sticks are

made of steel, they will hit hard.

The Nutcracker can be carried by inserting one of the sticks into a pocket or inside the pants and draping

the other stick over the outside.

You can watch a video of the Nutcracker here.

If you want an undercover, legal weapon, you could buy

a real nutcracker, either one designed to open nuts, or

to crush lobster claws and crabs. (Look for a seafood,

lobster, or nut cracker. at amazon.com.) This real tool

would function similarly to the weapon above. You can

strike like a fistload or hit by gripping one arm and

swinging the other.

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Although I have listed a number of commercially available products, I am not in any way reimbursed

for doing so.

It is impossible for me to list every single improvised weapon, but the idea is to grasp the concept of

a certain category of weapon, such as icepick, fistload, club, light stick, palm sap, etc. Once you recognize

the properties of these weapons, you can instantly spot otherwise invisible weapons and know how to use

them.

I am also a big believer in being prepared. Choose a weapon in advance and carry it with you. Don't

wait until you are confronted by some thug and then desperately scan the area to try to find something to

save your butt. If you're walking a dark street or heading out to your car late at night, you should have your

weapon in your hand. Don't wait until you're jumped to try to fish out your weapon.

Many of these weapons can be used impromptu, meaning you have no idea an attack is coming and

you frantically look around to see what you can use as a weapon. I prefer to think of these weapons as semi

-impromptu, which means I am looking for weapons in advance. If I'm at the nightclub, I've brought my

fighting pen and my key fob sap. I order a beer in a long-necked bottle. If I'm at a restaurant, can the ketch-

up bottle, the hot sauce bottle, or salt shaker be used as weapons? Can I ask for a steak knife?

Let's say you like to barbecue in the back yard using your outdoor grill. Quick quiz –what category of

weapons do a long-handled wire brush, barbecue fork, and spatula fall under? I suggest that when you buy

any of these tools, you carefully consider your options and choose the one that will best serve as a weapon.

(By the way, these tools fall into the category of light stick weapons.)

Moving beyond the barbecue grill, apply this line of thinking to everything that you buy, from a cell-

phone to a hammer, to a coffee mug, to a broom, shovel, pen, silverware, etc.

Evaluate your daily environment: Do you drive an ice cream or mail truck, work in an office, a

school, a grocery store? What sort of weapons could you stash in your home or car? Think about the sorts

of undercover street fighting weapons that would not be out-of-place in your environment, and be pre-

pared.

For more information on self-defense related topics,

read my blog, BigStickCombat.com.

To learn how to use the walking stick, cane, long stick, and

baseball bat as weapons, check out the Big Stick Combat

package.

Final Thoughts