When you hear “self-defense”, what do you think? An attacker on the street with an elbow to the face and a knee to the groin?
You are being attacked, and you look around for something you can use as a weapon. Depending on where the attack occurs, you might see several options, if you can get to them fast enough.
A good self-defense weapon should be something you can carry around with you and is easy to use, like a kobuton on your keychain or a knife concealed in your hand.
The problem with carrying a gun is it takes time to get it out of the holster and take off the safety before you can fire. This may take precious seconds and is a distraction that your attacker will take advantage of. Unless you have hours at the practice range, most people don’t fire a gun often enough to be proficient at using it. An experienced fighter does know how to disarm someone with a gun, so the chances of your weapon being turned against you are quite high.
For this article, I opened my bag of tricks of common items that make handy weapons. You can have these scattered around the house, or carry them in your car, and they do not draw attention to the fact that you can use them as a weapon. Taking advantage of the element of surprise will take your attacker off guard long enough to do some damage and get the hell out of there. Who would think the straw in your cup can put out someone’s eye? Or how about a credit card?
While you are thinking about that, let me introduce you to six types of weapons you might find useful. These are just suggestions. Look around your house, your shop, your office. Use your imagination and see what you can do with some of the “weapons” that are right under your nose.
With Tomari-te, sometimes all it takes is one punch, properly placed. In Hollywood movies, people fight to the death with butcher knives. It takes twenty minutes to put the other guy down. In real life, your goal is not to fight to the death, but disable your attacker and then run away like the wind.
SIX WEAPONS YOU CAN USE FOR SELF DEFENSE
1. KUBOTAN – Read how to use a kubotan here. There are several types of kubotans made out of metal or 
wood, some have a pointed end, some are flat. The best way to carry this is with your keys. It is easy to slip into your pocket and easy to find in your purse. However, no weapon does any good unless it is in your hand, so make it a habit to carry it with you. It fits nicely in the palm of your hand, which lends to a great surprise when the attacker is struck in the temple with this. Be sure to check out the blog on kubotans, because it shows the best points to strike to disable someone.
2. SHARP OBJECTS – Orange sticks or cuticle sticks have nice shar points and can be used in many ways, as can a 
spoon, chop sticks, keys, your toothbrush. As you see, size is not important. The thinner the point, the sharper the penetration. Use these in much the same way as a kubotan, but aim for soft tissue, like the eyes or temple.
3. CREDIT CARDS – A quick swipe across the eyes will stop any attacker for a moment or two. The edges and 
corners of the card can be used to jab just about any soft tissue – the top of the hand, across the face.
4. HOBBY TOOLS – This is a leather working tool. Let your imagination take over and decide what you would do with this 
sharp-edge, seemingly harmless tool. Look through your crafts, your wood shop, your sewing kit. If you see a use for it, then it is a good weapon.
5. PEPPER SPRAY – This is one of the most sought-after self-defense tools on the market. Once sprayed in the 
eyes, it pretty much disables your attacker. However, this is one of my least favorite self defense weapons. You don’t want a weapon that will harm you! Because it is a spray, you cannot control the blowback. Unless you have a high-powered tube that will spray 30 feet away, you take the chance of being blinded yourself. If your attacker ias 30 feet away, he is not a threat because he hasn’t entered your red-zone. There is also the problem with accessibility. Where will you carry it? Like a kobutan you can carry it in your hand, but you are sending signals that you are expecting trouble. A kobutan and other household items are much less obtrusive.
6. KNIVES – Most self-defense is up close and personal, and a knife is held in the palm of your hand, easily 
concealed. The knife in the picture has an assisted opening; simply push the lever and the blade pops out!
When you take a knife to a gun fight, you must first disable your attacker by getting the gun out of his hand. When you are fighting knife on knife, you still take out the knife hand in much the same way.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Any weapon can be taken away from you and used against you. Be sure you practice with your weapons of choice until you are comfortable using them.
With home invasions on the rise, people feel unsafe in their homes. Too many people are angry at just about everything and you never know when you will become a victim of their anger. But an intruder into your home, or an attacker on the street, is not in his right mind, and will do anything to make sure you do not overcome his attacks.
That is why guns are not a good idea for the novice. If you own a gun, you must become proficient in it. If you must use it, do not hesitate. How does the saying go? “Shoot first and ask questions later.”
Unless you are willing to deal with the consequences of shooting another human, you might rethink your options as to which weapon is best suited for you. Most martial art styles have some kind of weapon in their arsenal, and as an experienced martial artist, you must know how to defend yourself against various weapons, and how to use them proficiently.
These are simple weapons women and children can use without coming across as a victim. The last thing you want your attacker to see is your fear. If you feel confident in your self-defense, then you will not exude the fear most attackers look for.
That alone may be enough to send him down the road and not bother you. But you never know. With illegal drugs that make people feel invincible, with the high degree of anger in our society, you never know what the other guy will do.
This is why awareness of your surroundings is the best defense. The best block is not being there. If you sense danger, get out of the woods!
Martial arts are about protecting yourself, your family, and your possessions. Protection does not mean confrontation.
I hope this short list will give you ideas on how common everyday household items can be turned into weapons of self-defense.
Stay safe.
Sensei Carol
