Improvised Weapons

[ShotokanKid]

After doing some heavy bag work today with my Kali sticks, I looked around the garage and picked up random items and used them on the bag. A skateboard helmet, a dumbbell without any plates on it, a push broom, a piece of wood (as in wood flooring--a big chunk of wood about 1 inch thick), a power tool battery, etc.

So here are the questions:

1) Do you train, in any way, with improvised weapons?

2) How do you train with them?

3) What is your opinion of improvised weapons?

[bushido_man96]

I don't do much improvised weapon training, or much other weapon training for that matter. However, it can be a good idea. Very creative, too.

[NightOwl]

Keys- you don't really need to do any special training with them to use them effectively, just know how to punch. Since I don't carry a weapon, improvised is pretty much all I've (and most people) got to defend myself with.

[SBN Doug]

I don't really train in improvised weapons. But I have on occation just worked around with an item similar to a weapon I do train in (broom, golf club, scissors, etc.), and gotten a feel for the compensation in balance, etc. it would take if I were to use it in place of an actual weapon.

[Montana]

Periodically I have my students bring whatever they want into the dojo and we spend time working on everyday items as potential self-defense weapons. Also once per year I take my students for a "walk about" around town in street clothes to see what might be usable in a street defense scenerio. We walk down alleys, go into a bar or two (I always talk to the owner/manager prior to doing this so he knows what's up) and just wander down the street.

Just about anything can be used to help defend yourself if you open your mind and understand the concepts of weapons and how they can affect the human body. Finding a bo-sized weapon or cue stick is unrealistic, as is having a tire iron at your fingertips. My tire iron is under a mat in the back of my SUV and would take a precious minute or two to dig out, but my bull cane (a heavy cane used to prod cattle) is within easy reach from my drivers seat.

[bushido_man96]

Very nice idea, Montana. When you mention walking around like that, trash can lids come to mind. Pretty decent defense there.

[ShotokanKid]

Ditto, I like that idea.

[dete]

I'm big into improvised weapons.

I like to walk around my neighborhood at night and see what I can find in the streets.

I use to live in bad neighborhoods and I have ended up with quite a collection of sticks.

yes I train with them, and some of them are much more effective than my standard escrima sticks.

if you train in Escrima I hope that you have at least once done a few of the double sinowali forms with a pair of tennis rackets, hammer & wrench.

I'm also always looking for non edged material to use as a blade.

I've also found the plastic bags from the grocery to be quite useful for self-defense. put something with weight in it and now you got a sling

[ShotokanKid]

Didn't really think of that. Thanks for the idea.