Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Improv is not just for comedy!: Improvised weapons

Picture yourself at home in your Kitchen. It’s about 11 o’clock at night and you happen to be alone. Suddenly you hear a large smashing sound in your front room like the front door being kicked in. What would you do? The best thing to do would be to go out the Kitchen door and call the police from a safe location. What if you have no way out because you’re on the 5th floor? You should arm yourself. A knife, a fork, a frying pan, all of these are viable weapons. Hot water, bug spray, even a towel over someone’s head would make them pause temporarily. A second is all you would need. Turn, what could be a horrible experience, into a fighting chance. Some people freeze, some people try to reason with an attacker, some just give in. Don’t be one of these sheep.
Self-Defense Weapons Always Depend on Being Ready to Execute Aggressive Self-Defense Moves
Today’s technology should work for us, right? Why “get physical” if I can zap a bad guy with my stun gun and make it to dinner on time?
However, relying too much on your firearm, pepper spray or whatever you think will save you, is dangerous. Violence pops up when people least expect it. Your body and whatever is within arm’s reach is all you can count on in such situations.
Once you know how to use your body to generate power for self-defense moves and you possess resolve (the deep muscle that funds all acts of self-protection), a pen in your hand, junk on the street or a hallway fire extinguisher can become effective self-defense weapons when used against vulnerable targets.
However, even with a “weapon” in hand, never expect one strike or a surprise attack using improvised self-defense weapons — such as hot liquid in the face — to enable your escape. A pumped-up aggressor can take a lot of punishment, so prepare to let loose!
Improvised Self-Defense Weapons Are Everywhere!

There are only two types of weapons that you can hold in your hands: edged and impact. Even a bullet is a hybrid that goes really fast, crushing bone, and cutting through tissue. As a rule, at least with handheld weapons, impact weapons seek bone and edged weapons seek flesh.
If you pick something up, hit someone with it and it does not cut (or poke) them, then you have an impact weapon. If it cuts them, then it is an edged weapon.
The rock is a small weapon that can be easily manipulated. If you pick up something heavy, you will naturally swing wide to hit with it. The same thing goes for something long. The bigger it is, the more room you need to deploy and use it.
Ballpoint Pen: This everyday writing tool can become a deadly weapon for self-defense moves when thrust into the soft tissue of the throat, under the jaw line or — in a life-and-death encounter — the eyes. The point also can be driven into a groin or “punched” into the thin-skinned back of a hand.
Sticklike Implements: Golf clubs, broomsticks etc., can make great self-defense weapons because they can be thrust into vulnerable areas or used to strike (and bust) knees, hands or the head during intense self-defense moves. When held sideways, sticklike self-defense weapons (including umbrellas!) also can be rammed into a neck or face.
In the Kitchen: Choose from cutlery, pots and pans (a pot cover worn on the hand will add zing to any palm strike!), cutting boards or hot water. A metal soup can, jar or ceramic mug can be struck into the temples or face, swung back into a groin or used to bust a collarbone and disable its adjoining arm. Many people wouldn’t think of them as self-defense weapons, but hardcover books — such as cookbooks — can be thrust into a throat or smashed into a face.
Sharp Objects: Knives, letter openers, scissors or pieces of glass can serve as self-defense weapons and inflict painful damage. One woman stabbed her rapist with a steel comb from her purse. It worked — she escaped!
Objects With Weight or Mass: A heavy vase or small table can be slammed into the face or torso. Don’t merely toss the item, however. Keep it close to your body, then charge into and through your target.
Makeshift Shields: One physician shielded himself from a patient’s oncoming knife with his briefcase. Large, thick hardcover books also could fit this bill.
Stuff It: A pillowcase containing a hard-hitting object — a brass candlestick, paperweight, your defunct toaster — could leave a lasting impression on an attacker’s face. (And for you campers, a nice rock-in-a-sock is one of several self-defense weapons available in the woods.)
Your Mind Is Among the Best of Self-Defense Weapons
Be smart! Nothing beats preparedness and the ability to improvise. Keep these tips in mind:
Environmental Terrain: If immobilized from behind or lifted off the ground in a confined space (elevator, bath room, kitchen), get one or two feet onto the edge of a countertop or any flat surface and shove off as hard as you can. You have padding behind you: your attacker! He will “eat” the crash landing.
Distraction: Buy yourself a moment, then take control! A towel thrown over the eyes could work. So could dirt, sand, household products (and of course, pepper spray) aimed at the attacker’s face and eyes.
Practice = Preparation: Wherever you are, imagine you are suddenly ambushed. Give yourself three seconds to get a “weapon” in hand with the emotional and physical readiness to use it. Practice fashioning self-defense weapons wherever you are often until it becomes second nature.
Visualization: Picture yourself in scenarios like the one above. See yourself fighting back, improvising self-defense weapons from your environment and fighting back like a warrior with attitude.
Reconciling Internal Conflict
I can think of few things more repugnant than smashing or cutting another human being. The use of aggressive force in self-defense moves and the subject of self-defense weapons grates against most people’s ideals. However, there are many things worse than hurting another human.
To effectively bring any weapon to bear, you must vanquish the voices of doubt and overcome moral or spiritual conflicts. A divided heart can jeopardize your ability to forcefully, unhesitatingly strike back when seconds count and your survival may be at stake. Self defense is a mindset.
Skills are only tools. They do not define you. You can be a good and loving person and still be able to defend yourself.

Semper Paratus

Burn

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