Using Your Environment as a Weapon

[Shorinryu Sensei]

This is something that I do in my classes periodically, and I was wondering if others did also.

 

About once/month or so, we will setup chairs and a table or two in the dojo and practice "scenerios" against an attack while we are sitting or standing with these objects in the way. We'll set the tables with candles, salt/pepper shakers, silverware (sometimes), glasses (we use plastic ones so that accidental glass breakage doesn't cut someone severely), beer bottles, plates, etc. We'll have several students sit around the table pretending to eat, or just relaxing (leaned back, legs crossed) as they would be in a bar setting, and have an attacker attack from the rear (grabbing/choking) or the front (grabbing, striking or kicking).

 

I've found it is a very effective way of working on realistic training without the benefit of nearly unlimited room to move, and how to utilize your environment for weapons that can be used within easy reach.

 

There are a few periodic drawbacks though, such as 7 chairs and two tables that have been destroyed during the practice, not to mention a couple of broken beer bottles that had to be vacuumed out of the rug when they broke against something solid (not a head thank God!)

 

Plus, I and my students have a lot of fun with this! We wear street clothes on those days, including the women wearing dresses (with shorts on underneath of course) and high heels if they do on a real occassion.

[ramymensa]

Now that's quite a good idea. And it really adds some "reallity" to your training. Most of the times when in a conflict situation the martial artist is hinderred by the environment. It's easy to kick in karategi and with all the freedom of move in a dojo, but wearing high heels, pants, street clothing and having to cope with all the crowded areas ... now that's an achievement.

[White Warlock]

I have, in the past and on occasion, taken urban (and rural) field trips with my student(s) and those i've worked out with. The goal would be to continuously find things around as viable weapons and apply them in mock attack or defense. The rule, of course, is no trespassing, no destruction of personal property (vandalism), no 'carrying' of items (once applied, it is returned), appropriate attire (casual clothing, etc), and no hostile or unruly actions near or around pedestrians, moving or stationary vehicles. I.e., unseen, inobtrusive, non-threatening, and yet deadly when needed.

 

Granted, these restrictions pose significant limitations, but that's what makes such an exercise a challenge.

 

Edit: An additional challenge i sometimes posed, usually when i wanted things to start winding down, was to state that new weapon-types must be used for attack, although previously encountered weapon-types would still be viable for defense.

[delta1]

Sure! It's a lot of fun, and good training too! But I think of it more like learning to work in variouse environments, and useing the environment as well as finding improvised weapons in the environment. Just a few ideas to work with:

 

*Use of light, and shadow. Try to get him looking into the light, or try not to be backlit if trying to get position before commiting.

 

*Use of terrain or structure. Try to make him fight uphill. or use pinch points/restrictions to limmit multiples access or maneuverability.

 

*Use of apparetus/equipment. I once used the HVAC (ventilation) system to pick up my scent and dump it in another area while trying to avoid a K-9 search. It worked.

 

*Someone here once asked about fighting in a vehicle, so I went and tried it. Caught some flack when I posted my findings, but I learned a lot from those exercises.

 

*Fighting on different surfaces. The more experienced you are on uneven terrain, slick, soft, or other surfaces, the better your chances when moving on or between them for real.

 

*Try moving or defending from some of the postures you find yourself in dureing the day. Can be an eye opener, both from the standpoint of vulnerability and what you actually can do.

 

Your immagination is the only limmit here. If nothing else, go rent every Jackie Chan movie you can and try some of his stunts. Take pictures if you try that, though. We'll all want to see your out-takes!

[Ironberg]

Unfortunately, I've only personally seen the wall used as a weapon. If you're sparring and backed into a pole or wall, then jump off the wall and send in a nasty blow. Didn't always work for me because the metal pole was kinda slippery !