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How To: Turn Everyday Objects Into Weapons
We’ve all seen it before: The lead in a scary movie runs up the stairs, grabs a vase and smashes it down on her assailant’s head. Or, in a moment of rage, the mild-mannered housewife in a daytime soap swipes an ashtray from the coffee table and cracks it across her husband’s face, killing him instantly. In The Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon's character, Bourne, uses Krav Maga, an Israeli martial arts form that uses real-life situations in its training and everyday objects as weapons in its practice.
There’s no denying that a little preparation and quick thinking could quickly turn you from victim to hero. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? Nevertheless, turning everyday objects into weapons isn’t always as easy as it looks — in fact, without basic knowledge on the subject, you’re more likely to pick something up, lob it at an assailant, and miss completely. The point of Krav Maga is to use everyday objects to their best of their weapon-like potential, defend yourself from attack, and get away unscathed.
types of improvised weapons
Real-world weapon: Mace and pepper sprayEveryday substitute: Cleaning products, aftershaves and perfumes, hazardous chemicals, hot liquids, etc.
Although mace is often seen as a woman’s self-defense aid, you wouldn’t laugh about it if it saved your life. Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that most men don’t carry mace around with them, so substitute it with anything with a spray nozzle. While a simple aftershave or deodorant might not look particularly menacing, think about the damage a simple squirt in the eyes could do. If there’s a fire extinguisher knocking about, even better.
When to use: Liquid-based “weapons” will cause just as much damage, particularly when hot or packed with hazardous chemicals. Always aim for the face, as the attacker’s instinctive reaction will be to protect his ugly mug and release his grip on you. Scalding hot drinks and soups are perfect for this, so hope that an attack comes during the winter months.
Real-world weapon: Bo (staff)Everyday substitute: Pool cue, tree branch, umbrella, poker, candlestick, etc.
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” They sure got that one right. Long and durable stick-like objects are a good bet against attackers. Not only do they enforce a degree of control over your attacker as they enable you to keep them at length, but stick-like objects are also ideal for hitting, swinging, stabbing, and all-round jabbing.
When to use: Whether it’s a pool cue, a tree branch or an umbrella, you’re likely to find stick-like objects practically anywhere you are. You’ll find lots of stick-like objects in a bar. The most obvious choice in this situation is a snooker or pool cue, but you won’t get many points for originality. Many bar brutes prefer to snap the cue in half for extra brutality, while the meaner amongst them will actually break the cue in half over their victim’s head. Not nice at all, but it does the job.
Use your attacker's momentum to your advantage with stationary objects...