Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Expedient Weapons: Other Expedient Yawara Sticks

Any short stick-like object, six to eight inches long and between 3/8” and 2” in diameter can be used as a Yawara (also known as a Kubotan). A “perfect” Yawara would be seven inches long, ½ inch in diameter and hard but not brittle.

An expedient stick is limited in its ability to duplicate the range of techniques available to a Yawara to the extent the expedient stick’s dimensions diverge from those of the “perfect” Yawara.

The “perfect” Yawara can be used in four different striking modes.

Ridge hand strikes
Hammer fist strikes
Front of the knuckle punches (straight, reverse, hook, upper cut, etc)
Back fist strikes

It can be used to apply leveraged pressure on fingers and wrists. And, it can be used to apply force to pressure points.

If the diameter of the expedient stick is too small the effectiveness of ridge hand and hammer fist strikes are reduced because the stick is difficult to grip and it tends to slip through the fist.

If the diameter of the expedient stick is too large the effectiveness of front of the knuckle punches are reduced because the stick distorts the shape of the fist making knuckle strikes awkward at best.

If the expedient stick is too short the effectiveness of leveraged pressure is reduced and if the stick is so short that it fails to protrude from either end of the fist then the force multiplying effect is lost on ridge hand strikes or hammer fist punches depending on which end protrudes from the fist and which does not.

If the expedient stick is too long all Yawara techniques become awkward and the stick is better used as a baton.

Some examples of expedient stick-like objects suitable for use as a Yawara are:

Felt tip markers and highlighters
TV and DVD remote controls
Table knifes
Staplers
Three hole punches
Large folding knifes with the blades folded
Hand-held dust pans (with one end of the handle protruding from the fist)
Pliers
Scissors
Hand mirrors (with one end of the handle protruding from the fist)

Many other objects would do as well. Practice finding suitable expedient sticks wherever you are. Regardless of the specific object used as a Yawara, the basic techniques are the same. Practice them with a variety of expedient objects and practice noticing expedient Yawara’s in your environment to improve your mental and physical ability to use them if the need should arise.

Link to other topics in the Special Report: Expedient Weapons

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Expedient Weapons: Rolled Up Magazines

Rolled up magazines, like pen lights, make excellent Yawara sticks; And, because they are very common, they are more likely to be available as expedient weapons than most other objects. Any tightly rolled up magazine will make a useful force-multiplying weapon. Rolled up magazines can be carried everywhere and will attract no attention.

The rolled up magazine’s usefulness as a weapon is similar to that of the pen light as described below.

By grasping the rolled up magazine in the middle with the ends extending out from both sides of the fist the magazine multiplies the potential of the fist. The diameter is such that the barrel of the magazine reinforces and solidifies the fist increasing the effectiveness of the knuckles.

Four different striking modes are available with the magazine held in this manner.

Ridge hand strikes
Hammer fist strikes
Front of the knuckle punches (straight, reverse, hook, upper cut, etc)
Back fist strikes

The magazine is long enough to protrude more than two inches from both sides of the fist. However, it isn’t very effective when used as a lever to pressure the bones of the fingers or wrist because the diameter is too large and the rolled up magazine is not quite rigid enough to concentrate pressure into a point or line.

Link to other topics in the Special Report: Expedient Weapons

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Expedient Weapons: Ball Point Pen

Ball point pens, like pen lights, make excellent Yawara sticks. And, because they are very common, they are more likely to be available as expedient weapons than most other objects. Of course, if you pick one up as an expedient weapon – you take what you get. Ball point pens can also be carried everywhere and are even less likely than pen lights to attract attention.

Although any metal or plastic pen will make a useful force-multiplying weapon; if you chose to carry a ball point pen, the larger diameter pens with aluminum barrels make the best weapons.

The ball point pen’s usefulness as a weapon is similar to that of the pen light as described below.

By grasping the pen in the middle with the ends extending out from both sides of the fist the pen multiplies the potential of the fist. The diameter is such that the barrel of the pen reinforces and solidifies the fist increasing the effectiveness of the knuckles.

Four different striking modes are available with the pen held in this manner.

Ridge hand strikes
Hammer fist strikes
Front of the knuckle punches (straight, reverse, hook, upper cut, etc)
Back fist strikes

If the pen is long enough to protrude about two inches from one side of the fist and still protrude at least 1/4 inch from the opposite side, it can also be used as a lever to pressure the bones of the fingers or wrist.

Link to other topics in the Special Report: Expedient Weapons

Friday, June 5, 2009

Expedient Weapons: Pen Light

Aluminum barreled pen lights that use two AA or AAA batteries are useful as weapons as well as flashlights. They are generally the right length and diameter to use as Yawara sticks (also called Kubotan).

By grasping the flashlight in the middle with the ends extending out from both sides of the fist the pen light multiplies the potential of the fist. The diameter is such that the barrel of the pen light reinforces and solidifies the fist increasing the effectiveness of the knuckles.

Four different striking modes are available with the pen light held in this manner.

Ridge hand strikes
Hammer fist strikes
Front of the knuckle punches (straight, reverse, hook, upper cut, etc)
Back fist strikes

If the pen light is long enough to protrude about two inches from one side of the fist and still protrude at least 1/4 inch from the opposite side, it can also be used as a lever to pressure the bones of the fingers or wrist.

The aluminum barreled pen light is a common tool that doubles as a weapon and can be carried everywhere – even on-board passenger aircraft.

Link to other topics in the Special Report: Expedient Weapons