Self Defence implements

[Aefibird]

Do you specifically carry/have anything for self defence?

I'm thinking largely of those kobutan keyrings, but I know people keep other things on their person or in their car purely for SD purposes.

For example, I have one of those big "Maglites" in the car, not the largest size, but still pretty hefty. It's mainly there so I can see the car to swear at it when it breaks down... but it'd be a handy SD implement if I ever needed it to be.

[Mr. Precision]

aefibird said:

Do you specifically carry/have anything for self defence?

I kind of thought about it for a while, thought about the stuff you could carry which is usually illegal; expandable batons, stun guns. Thought about stuff you could carry legally without raising the ire of the law; belts, keyrings. Then decided the only things I'd always have with me are my hands, feet and head.

[RigsVille]

I always have a large bunch of keys with me and I've arranged the keys and the key rings so that it makes a very good flail.

I've thought of adding a kobutan but never got round to it.

[AngelaG]

I have been known to nestle a key in my palm if walking home late at night. Beyond that I don't carry anything, although I guess my mobile could be used if needed. The rest of the time I just rely on awareness.

I was under the impressions that kubotan are illegal now. If I wanted something like that I'd buy one of the mini maglite keyrings - that way there is no way it can be accused of being a weapon.

There's some really nasty kubotan here:
www.gungfu.com/cart-htm/weapons_japanese_weapons_kubotan.htm

[Aefibird]

angelag said:

I have been known to nestle a key in my palm if walking home late at night.

I do that.

I live in the rough area of my town (by necessity, not choice!) so I usually have my keys in the palm of my hand if I have to walk anywhere after dark.

Making a fist with your keys in your hand (sticking between your fingers) would be a pretty nasty weapon to use on an attacker, especially if you landed it on a soft part of the body.

[Andy]

I have the 5" Maglite on my keyring, as well as an LED torch.

The LED torch is so bright, it would be momentarily blinding if shone directly in the eyes.

Anyway a torch is a great thing to have if you drop your keys in the dark, err, except you probably dropped your torch then too.

I used to carry a Shwartz jar of Cayenne pepper on me when I was doing rough gigs, but it unscrewed in my pocket a couple of times.

I still carry a really old Opinel knife, which is razor sharp, and I can open really fast one handed.

My Car boot is a different matter.
I'll have a couple of pairs of escrima sticks, nunchaku and sometimes a staff.

Mole grips are another fantastic weapon.
Pinch a fold of flesh, and lock em on. ;D

[AngelaG]

EWWWWWW!

[Aefibird]

andy said:

I

I used to carry a Shwartz jar of Cayenne pepper on me...


Mole grips are another fantastic weapon.
Pinch a fold of flesh, and lock em on. ;D

Remind me never to fall out with you!!

[AngelaG]

Yeah, he'll season you to death! ;D

[Andy]

angelag said:

Yeah, he'll season you to death! ;D

LOL ;D

[random]

Is there a Kata that utilises condiments?

[random]

I know a lady who weights her handbag, very heavy blunt instrument.

This is a long story I shall try to abridge…one night I had a drugged up alcohol fed smack head was on my doorstep. After much negotiation and lots of waiting the police eventually turned up (1Hour wait). They gave the druggy a shot of mace just to calm him down, then had a go at me for the pacifier I had in my hand (a baseball bat).

(This is the point to the story)

He then told me to get a very very large mag light, the one that takes about £200.00 of batteries. He showed me how to hold it, in right hand (swap if you are a lefty) with the torch on my shoulder, my right hand was in a good guard position, and, interestingly enough in the same position my escrima teacher told me hold the stick to start with.

This may not be practical for a girls/lads night out, but it can be well worth while if you think you may have an intruder (a good one will have fused the lights, I can tell you how if you like, takes 30 sec, and you don’t need the fuse box) and the argument, well Your Honour, the lights didn’t work, I had the torch, the robber jumped out I reacted BANG, is a defence in law, almost anyhow.

As for a weapon when you are out and about look at what you carry everyday, an umbrella, this is England, keys, pen, small torch, wallet, purse, small change- imagine getting a face full of pennies-and if all else fails, oregano, parsley, mint will probably do.

[Andy]

random said:

and if all else fails, oregano, parsley, mint will probably do.

LOL.

Anyways, I think the law runs along the lines of 'if it is used offensively, it's an offensive weapon'.
It doesn't really matter if it's a household item or not, except in the matter of possession.
A Kubotan clearly has no other use than as a weapon, but while a torch does, as soon as you employ it as a weapon, the law makes no distinction other than the pre-meditation involved in it's use.

Using a torch or Kubotan defensively, i.e. compliance techniques is going to be nigh on impossible to employ realistically, while using them as a striking weapon is likely to land you in trouble.

My wife (sorry ladies) works/worked in Etam (ladies clothing chain just gone bust), and they were issues personal alarms, which is a little gadget that you pull a pin out of, and emits a deafening squeal. It's really fiddly to put the pin back into those, and the pin has a wrist strap.
So you can put the device in your bag, have the pin strapped to your wrist to help with bag snatches, or just pull the pin and throw it away if you are in trouble.
Means you still have your teeth as a weapon, and don't have to worry about calling for help.

[random]

Has it was described to me by a PC, if you react through reflex and hit once…one argument, pummelling a poor individual is another thing…fortunately we still have trail by juror, 12 of them, in this country, that is where Tony Martin slipped up, you can’t shoot someone running away, but you can clobber then in the act. But only clobber them once.

[AngelaG]

I think they have loosened the law on attacking burglars in your own home too. Like you say, if you shoot them whilst running away that's one thing, but in the heat and panic of the moment...... and I own a lot of weapons. (although my pepper comes in a grinder)