Note: This article is truly “For Information Purposes Only.” The website and owner will not be held responsible for misuse of this information in any way whatsoever. We also advise against you doing certain things with razor blades found in this article. Understand that some areas of the world are so incredibly violent that anything goes. That is what this article is about. – Don Rearic
I always liked the smart, inventive, tough and humble small handheld striking devices. In my opinion, their uses require a special breed of warrior, with a bigger degree of imagination, with guts, because most of times, the distance to your opponent is reduced to only one arm length, or less.
Guns have complicate construction principles but a somewhat easy way of use (except those guys who cannot shoot a barrel until they touch it with the other hand).
Handheld items are the opposites of guns. From the construction point of view, they are simplicity itself (for example, sticks), in many cases being objects already made and used like they are (coin, pencil, screwdriver, etc.) but for an effective use you must train much more. They are simply more demanding and that's why I love them. They are the thin edge, where low-tech becomes high-tech.
These devices prove their valor in "tight" situation where guns are banned, restricted or just too far to reach. So called "sterile" environments are very good examples, where only weapons you can have are the small (un) important things that passed the checks, and the things that might surround you.
Small handheld weapons, by nature, are universally accepted (Yawara, vajra/kongo, olisi palad, Koppo, shuko, nekade, knuckleduster, saps, etc.) and improvised devices or "as they are " objects who can be used like weapons (roll of coins, keys, awl/icepick, padlock, C cell battery, corkscrew, gaff hook, etc.)
Would be a waste of time to discuss again the acknowledged weapons. They came from established martial systems and they were described and "held under microscope" already. I will not discuss the acknowledged by common law, "battle proved" weapons and improvised weapons either. You should start learning about them at www.donrearic.com - a unique valuable website that gained my heart.
My intention is to bring your attention upon few usual objects which, with or without small modifications can be used effectively as weapons. No, I don’t want to invent again the wheel but these objects are often overlooked because most of them, have by their nature and INITIAL PURPOSE, the tendency to be disregarded. They don’t stick out!
Marker pens, does not draw attention yet. Small flashlights do not draw attention yet either, even they are advertised like possible improvised weapons. Someday, (God forbid that!) maybe, they will ban markers and flashlight, as we know them. Who knows? Did you notice that on newer computer 3.5" disks that rectangular tin piece was replaced with a plastic one? The only metal piece is the central, round one. I'm afraid to count how many "feather-light" new-alloy coins I need to properly load a handkerchief or a bandanna. Not only soft drinks- wine is sold also in plastic bottles. Maybe in the future, we will buy champagne in carton jugs. No, I don't hate plastic, in fact I admire some of its qualities (plastic don't "beep" through the gates) but let's keep them where they belong. Personally, I love the wooden weapons.
The number of pubs and clubs that have the seats fixed on the floor is growing. Everywhere you go, the public places begin to look like a mental asylum. I just don’t understand what they are trying to do...to keep us under control, to prevent us hurting each other or to prevent us hurting them... Do you see my point? These are slow, but steady changes.
With these in mind, let's go back and take a look...
Avery Permanent Glue Stick, Scotch, Lakol stick, all are good. Most of them exceed 3 inches in length and have a widened base to keep them upright or to prevent rolling from the desk. All the end caps I saw on them are very good thumb rests. With their bright colors, are more prone to fool than a plain, tight twisted, roll of coins.
For those who live in countries which don’t use anymore or never used roll of coins, glue sticks are a viable option. Just don’t get one too thick. Your fist must be able to close properly in order to hit your target with the knuckles not with the first joint of your fingers. Experiment. Or you might try a plastic medicine/vitamins bottle, a small perfume container or even your lady's lipstick. It's ok as long as you can tighten your fist over it.
In the same class can be included plastic "single use" syringes (at least you can punch with it, if the syringe it's not long enough to use it like a Yawara/Kubotan putting your thumb on the piston and striking with the nozzle).
Don Rearic (sorry folks but he is the only one I can point at) in his "Fistload" article, at the bottom, gave a very nice example of an unusual fistload - the pager, naming it "modern match-box.” In his book "Get Tough!” Major Fairbairn described the "match-box attack.” I suppose, he talked about those old fashioned, wooden matchboxes made from thin wood sheets with paper glued on it. If such a fragile thing could be used, modern materials will never let us down. Just replace the matchbox with a Zippo lighter. The small, collectible, reproduction metallic car can be useful also. Remote control of your car alarm, a piece of rubber, a Kodak film canister, a cork, a wooden/plastic sewing thread spool or even a short PVC pipe are other examples.
Few people can believe that an office stapler can be an instant plastic surgery tool. A normal "desk-size" stapler, opened (where you load the staples) doubles its length and can be used like a light makeshift blackjack (watch the spring inside...it can close the stapler over your fingers; does not hurt but can suddenly shorten your "weapon").
Even it is light, combined with the "surprise" factor can means trouble for sensitive targets like eyebrows, nose, teeth/lips, chin, back of the ear, back of the hand, fingers, etc. Not to mention that you can actually staple a potential attacker (ear, upper lip, etc.) or using the joint to crush the nose or a finger. (Most models can be opened 180 degrees so they bend in only one direction; the "resistant" side can be used to block and the flipping side to strike.)
Of course, paper used as weapon can be found in the rolled shape of a good quality magazine. That's the main idea when it comes to the paper. But it's not all. A book edge can destroy a nose or cut an eyebrow. A 200-pages, hard cover book it’s a good weapon as long as you find the proper grip to strike with it. A surprise riposte behind the ear can seriously affect the balance. If the size permits, can be used like a shield or "deflector."
Few newspaper pages folded in the right way could push "the sleep button". One A4 piece of paper folded like a harmonica wrapped over fist knuckles works great (makes it very tight). Two A4 folded pieces can be worn in bandana tied on your head. Bite hard the chewing gum and let loose a head butt. Your new nickname will be "The Ram."
A notepad tightly rolled its a fist enhancer or a Kubotan but an open notepad can block the vision to help a rear leg roundhouse kick to land on desired target. You actually make a screen, and what comes from behind it's up to you. Remember this: held in a proper way, an Aspirin CAN COVER the Moon.
In a desperate situation, even it cannot be worn like a glove (thing that is possible, depending on model, with your leather wallet) can give a minimal protection if you need to grab a blade. If you have time and patience, you can make wonderful things from minimum requirements consisting in a lot of tissue paper and little water. Of course, if you are home and not behind bars, you can use liquid paper glue and acrylate paint (for additional strength...sorry additional beauty) just use your imagination.
An empty plastic grocery bag can be useful also. Just rip the sides leaving the bottom untouched and you will have a long plastic piece with handles at both ends. In this form can be used from behind...you know; or can be twisted to became a resistant plastic rope.
Maybe you like to wear baseball caps. That's great because a stiff peak would be useful. Grasp it in the concave part inside the cap and strike with the convex side between eyes or the throat. It is dark, a fetid neighborhood and do you expect trouble? Fix at the back of your cap a load (can be some of your keys). When a guy steps in the middle of the alley blocking your way rise and show him a hand to focus his attention; "Hey! Don't be that way...what's the problem?" Rise the other hand and grasp your peak and aim the head. Most people will retract only the head leaving the body exposed to a fast kick to the groin with your lead foot... Maybe you have better ideas. This is just an example.
This one its weird and funny. Oh...How can I put it? It's a very old European toy...It is known as "ball and cup" or Bilboquet. Yeah, I know, it will rise some suspicions and some people will say: “Yeah...you are a smart bastard. Are you making fun of me? I'll look like an old retarded child."
Sure. Maybe an armed and dangerous "retarded" child. Bilboquet have many forms but let me describe it: usually it's a wooden hardwood dowel about 6-8 in. length (aha...it's look like... you say!) which has a small cup at one end where you must put a wooden ball with the help of a string that connects the main piece and the ball. Another form consists in a wooden dowel that ends with a spike that must be inserted in a ball hole.
If there are tactical kitchen knives, tactical/covert cards, tactical icepicks/mine probes and "tactical" ball-bearing yo-yo's why cannot be a tactical, but in plain view, Bilboquet? In other terms, you have a pointed palm stick and a ball connected with a 12-15in. paracord/nylon string piece.
You can stick with the classical hardwood but you can use plastic, aluminum or other fancy materials. Browse the internet and choose a model that suits you. As a benefit, in your spare time, you can practice and keep sharp the "hand-eye" coordination with your tiny "morning-star." Try to develop some "moves" and "techniques" for your toy and work them. As I see it, it's a very interesting item with obvious benefits: punching, poking, scraping, trapping, strangling, etc. Listen what a Bilboquet may tell you and try for yourself.
Another "stress" toy that comes to my mind has a Chinese origin. It looks like a South-American "bolas" and where I live was sold under the “click-clack balls" or "meteor balls". This toy is composed by two hard plastic balls (1.5 in. diameter) connected by a 14in. strong nylon cord.
The use is simple. Keep the middle of the cord between your index and middle finger. Moving fast your hand up and down, the balls will "click-clack" above and under your fingers. If this way is annoying for your company, you can juggle with it in various patterns above or under arm, changing sides, etc. like you would do with a Nunchaku without letting the balls to touch each other. As weapon, it can be used like a Slungshot or a garrotte.
The plastic, commercial, model can smash glass Coca-Cola bottles and even thin tile sheets. A sturdier model can be improvised without problems.
I heard that the original model had the balls made from glass or marbles and being dangerous, the production stopped. As I said before...
This is the last toy I will describe here. No, it's not a Teddy bear filled with lead shot. Called sometimes "mojo" it’s only a wooden, 10cm. tall, soldier that is painted in bright and contrast colors. Some of them are Prussian soldiers so they have their helmets shaped with a spike or a ball.
They can be used with or without the base platform that keeps them upright. The platform its a good thumb/palm heel rest but removing it, creates the possibility to strike with soldier's feet also. No need to mention that this item can be worn as a keychain or in pocket without problems. I saw effective knuckledusters shaped from "laminated" plastic cutting boards. You can shape from a material that meets your needs a human or animal silhouette, which fits your clenched fist. Try a horse for example...
Razors...I mean the two-edged razor blades that can be snapped in two
longitudinal halves. Where I live, in certain "circles" living with a razor in your mouth was considered a basic "skill." Yes, I cut my tongue several times till I learned to spin the razor and to put it near cheek, to be able to speak, to chew gum and to spit with it. Practice with a dulled razor was exclusively reserved for "pussy posers." Anyway, razors can be dangerous.
They can be used in various ways but most of times, when a razor became a weapon; again, you should improvise a handle for a better grip. A chewing gum wrap, a piece of rubber (eraser), a tissue paper, or a small twig are good to improve the grip on razor( yeah, I know about toothbrush handle but you might be short on time). Obviously, because it’s so small and flexible, the razor's most used parts are the "corners". Restricted by his own particularities, the razor it's very demanding in use. The lightning-fast cuts are, generally, oriented to "key" targets (eyes, forehead, neck, wrist/elbow veins, etc.). More exotic ways to use a razor:
- Held between index and middle finger can be used to slap forehand and
- Backhand; this grip is also used with MuayThay clinch (cut the side of his neck and he, by instinct and by surprise/pain, will try to protect the wounded side and it will lay the head to it; that will open the opposite side to a 45-degree downward elbow which can be followed on the same side of his body by a knee, etc.)
- A razor can be thrown but being so light, the effective distance it is very short (3-4ft.).
The main reason you throw a razor is to "steal" distance or distract your opponent because a launched razor makes a very distinctive/ impossible to forget sound that causes, in most cases, the "turtle head" (the opponent will want to dig his head between shoulders, he will turn the face away or he will blink to protect the eyes). You must fix the razor on the tip of your middle finger (near nail) in his ring finger side. To do this, bent the razor a little, insert the finger and release the razor. Your finger will be pinched in the middle of the razor. Now, with the thumb and middle finger do a HARD fillip. The razor will be thrown with a spinning motion. You can improve your skills in the old poor-boy game of shooting razors at an improvised Styrofoam target.
As long as you have a "legitimate reason" or "story" behind the item you carry, it is OK but most of the objects mentioned here don’t need explanations.
They are only few examples. Even if you have only the clothes on you there are options. You can use almost any object but you must figure out how to use it BEFORE the actually need arise. Develop and practice this mindset.
Play more often, reality oriented; "What if...?" game. I have seen people that turn themselves into walking weapon collections: fixed blades, countless folders, palm sticks and so on. What do they do with more than 2-3 folders?
Do they throw them? It's a folder for each attacker? Why a person carry Kubotan in all the marketed materials (one aluminum, one zytel or plastic, one from wood and eventually one homemade) along with a small mag-lite and a marker?
I didn’t asked because I really don’t care but I think the number of pieces you daily carry cannot compensate the above-mentioned mindset. I think "DIVERSITY" should be the key word. Be ready having what you need but don’t neglect the mind aspect. Keep a balance between these factors.
Anyway, you are the one who does all the work; you are the one who cares, you are the one, who thinks about what you can carry not to cross the law, you are the one "cornered" by police, you are the brave one. They don’t have such problems because they don’t care about your life (or their own), they have firearms no matter what law says, they don’t give a damn because police cannot make the difference between "they" and "you.” They are the ones who will shoot or stab you in the back. And the horrible problem is that "they" are not the only ones...not to mention that "they" are NOT examples. "They" are
REAL...
Christian "MadWolf"
March 2002
copyright 2003 DonRearic.Com