Weapons training practical?

[elbows_and_knees]

What I haven't read from anyone who is is a proponent of weapons training is how you have a lesser chance in knowing how to defend against an armed attacker if you have very little experience with weapons in the first place.

I really don't know if that's true. If I am learning katana, I am training katana vs katana, not empty hand vs katana, most likely. If someone on the street attacked me with a katana while I was empty handed, I'd be just as confused, as my defenses are based on the assumption that I have a weapon as well.

When kali was created, pretty much everyone DID carry a stick or knife. So you learn to fight with that, later learning empty hand defense. In non weapons focused styles, I doubt you spend much time on empty hand defense against weapons.

[kikr]

Weapons training is practical, BUT you have to look at it the right way. First remember that all Traditional weapons were makeshift weapons, rice flail, boat oars, rods used for carrying buckets of water across the shoulders. Practicing with weapons increases, speed strength, coordination, body awareness, situational awareness, knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and respect for the responsible we have as martial artist. "with great power comes great responsibility" to quote my favorite marvel comics hero. No people dont (usually) walk around with a pair of sai's in their pocket, but we know through traditional weapons training that anything sharp, solid, flexible, or capable of launching a projectile can be used as a weapon. Good luck.

[bushido_man96]

I feel that the best weapons we could learn to use are the knife, stick, and gun, along with the OC spray the elbows_and_knees mentioned. These are practical in use, and can be easier to find.

It would also be very important to train some in defending against these weapons. A training regimine could include weapon vs. weapon, empty hand vs. weapon, and weapon vs. multiple opponents. This small regimine could be expanded on, but it would be a good start.

I think that gun and knife defense are some of the most practical defenses to learn at this point.