Weapons And Self-Defense

John hurried down the dark street when it began raining. The streetlights were dim and made it even harder for him to see his way home with his bag of groceries. Suddenly, a man jumped out of the darkened alley and pointed a gun at him! “Give me your wallet! Now!” John, startled and frightened, fidgets for the wallet and hands it over. The man grabs the wallet as his finger slides back on the trigger and fires a bullet into John’s chest. He falls to the ground holding his chest. The man runs off into the night rain.

Suppose someone suddenly pulled a gun and put it in YOUR face and demanded all your money. What would you do or could you do? As in the scenario, John had no time to think and even though he followed the thief’s demands, he was shot.

What about a scenario where a man follows you to your car and as you open the door, pushes you inside and crawls in behind you? What could you do? Is there time for you to pull a weapon? Sometimes weapons are not always convenient to reach for. But let’s look at weapons and what can be a weapon. The word, “weapon” brings to mind, a gun, a knife, mace, or maybe a stun gun. It is hard to have your weapon of choice continually available, even if you carry it in a holster. And even if you do have it handy, do you have a backup plan? What if there are two assailants? Maybe one is behind you and the other is in front of you. What is your planned response now?

Things change on a dime, so the saying goes. But when it comes to safety it is important to have a quick response to the change. Your environment plays a large role in how you react. Suppose John, in the scenario above, reacted the instant the man jumped out in front of him with a swift movement of his body? Maybe flinging his bag towards the robber. Or maybe a quick hand movement pushing the man backwards? Would it have saved his life? Who knows? But the fact that he died anyway is a frightful act.

The backup plan is important in your decision to use a weapon for defense. Any self-defense plan should include what you would do if your weapon was not available or out of reach. Many everyday items can be used as a weapon, if necessary. Tools always make good weapons. Hammers, crowbars, screw drivers, and wretches are something you might keep in your kitchen junk drawer. But consider some other less violent makeshift weapons such as wooden spoons, forks, hand can openers, and yes, even metal spoons. These can be easier to access, if you are at home, and can be just as useful in your defense as the more violent makeshift weapons. It all depends on the target areas. Some delicate target areas are, throat, eyes, ears, neck, knee, and top of the foot. These are just a few areas that are vulnerable to everyone. Just because your assailant is big or carries a gun, doesn’t mean he cannot be taken down. Everyone is vulnerable in some way. If you know the target areas, then learning the techniques used to strike those areas are the next thing you need to know.

By Deborah White, RA, MBA, BA

(Black Belt-Self-defense Coach/Karate Instructor/Prevention Specialist)

Author of: Predator Prevention Guide, Be Bully Proof (Amazon.com),& Women’s Real-life Self-defense

Techniques.  To learn more email me at theselfdefenseguru@yahoo.com