Vanity - cane self-defense

self | 18 Oct 11 | jagusafr

[jagusafr]

Okay, FReepers know everything, so here's a question: what should I look for in a self-defense cane?

Four knee surgeries and the prospect of a knee replacement, combined with having to make my run times for the next 4 years till I retire, have made me seriously consider using a cane for both occasional support and for self-defense. Anybody got an idea on the best cane for both support and self-defense?

Colonel, USAFR

[mnehring]

For someone who wants to jump right into practical, I would suggest looking for a Krav Maga studio and talking with the instructors about your needs. Krav Maga specializes in street fighting survival and has forms for a lot of different ‘alternative’ weapons like canes.

They also aren’t very OCD about forms and most will work with you on your specific need, such as defense if you have a knee injury you are recovering from.

The studio I attend does a lot of Saturday seminars on one or two specific items and they may have a one-day seminar that would cover the basics of what you need to know.

[muawiyah]

Guy I worked with many years ago was crippled enough he had to depend on bus transport, and the last block to his home was a tad rough.

He carried a cane with a built in pistol.

This was in DC so I assume they were fairly common.

He'd been with one or more of the units at this URL ( http://www.bjmjr.net/ww2/black_airmen.htm ) and he never went anywhere without his firearms.

[mnehring]

I noticed you are in Texas. If you are in the Tyler area, go to East Texas Krav Maga and ask for Nathan. He should be able to help you.

[SaraJohnson]

I don’t know about canes but I am sorry you have having trouble with your knees.

[preacher]

Seniors learn self defense at Cane-Fu

[posse rider]

Go have a look at this website:

http://www.canemasters.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=51

I had similar concerns, bought a stout hickory cane that looks very nice. No problem with TSA, a gray bearded guy with a wood cane doesn’t get a second look. Canemasters has videos, books, and links to dojos around the country that can help with conditioning and training.

[Salamander]

One of my personal faves.

If you feel kindly, a good crack upside the head with the very heavy handle might change their mind...if, not push the button and make their day.

[bvw]

Escrima http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=9TtP4x-sRew

Some more cane stuff, canemasters: http://www.youtube.com/user/canemasters#p/u/12/WBjLmGi2TaQ

[dog breath]

I like a good stick, something really hard like a blackthorn would be nice. In Smokey Mountain Knife Works web site you will find if you search under walking sticks several polypropylene walking sticks for self defense made by Cold Steele. If these unbreakable versions aren’t to your liking consider the original wood ones from which these are modeled. As for self defense, a few simple moves might suffice in a pinch. Have you ever had to do bayonet practice? The forward jab but directed at the throat should be effective. Also blows to the knees if it is a righteous enough stick should be less lethal but effective. The big concern would be your strength and quickness if facing a younger stronger attacker. Many communities do offer courses in stick fighting either through a martial arts center, private lessons might be good at your age, I have seen my local community have classes in canes as self defense weapons for seniors. I used to like martial arts and fighting when younger, just knowing the advantage speed and quickness gives a person in any fight with weapons besides firearms makes me pretty hesitant to engage anyone. I gave this some thought myself, I carry a good knife and have about three good moves down for a desperate last ditch surprise defense if attacked while not near a gun. If you have an urge to exercise a Tai Chi instructor could teach you some low impact exercises to do as exercise and they would make the motions second nature after awhile.

[Cold Heart]

Just had both knees replaced. Did both knees at the same time so I wouldn’t be walking in circles during the long recovery time. Used a walker for couple of weeks. Not running yet but certainly over doing it. Have not needed any addtional support devices. My PT said I was wired for the operation. However, I have thought I now have an excuse to carry a nice hardwood Hiking Staff.

[texmexis best]

Btt forever

[Ramius]

I would encourage you to consider not just a cane but a staff. A nice six foot piece of hickory makes a fine walking stick. It wouldn’t be questioned by anyone. It’s also the most useful and deadly weapons taught by the masters in the fifteenth to seventeeth centuries. A little practice with a staff and it doesn’t matter if the agressor has a sword, or a gun, or a knife... You can take them out.

Never underestimate the longstaff.

[Jack Hammer]

With all due respect to many of the comments here, martial arts training at a serious dojo or dojang takes a long time, is extremely strenuous, and is really not for us old duffers - and I say that having trained at a Korean dojang for several years as a youth.

Moreover, realistically speaking, outside of the movies, even a serious martial artist would wisely hesitate bare handed to take on another guy armed with a blade. It’s more or less a cliche of the sillier variety of martial arts movies.

Firearms training is the best thing for us older guys, but, if you’re serious about carrying a stick try here:

http://www.coldsteel.com/swordcanes.html

http://www.coldsteel.com/sticksportal.html

[roamer_1]

meh. Just get a std joe-old-guy cane and carry a .44. I went through all kinds of designer canes, but the main thing it has to do is keep your a$$ up off the ground.

Steel is too heavy, aluminum too light... Standard wood with a std. hook at the top works great, primarily because you can turn it around and use the handle from either direction... A great advantage for the hand, as the handle hits the hand differently fwd. vs. backward - very important as your hand will fatigue eventually, and the swap is a godsend.

Wintertime: drill the center of the rubber tip out and fit a roofing nail, short enough to just penetrate through the rubber.... acts as a cork, and makes for great traction. Nothing worse than leaning on a cane on ice and having it leave. :)

[familyop]

“The Citizen” Self-Defense Walking Stick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDMM0sCbKg

Various cane self-defense forms and info.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2R9Lt1gZj0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cEjgPiiTn8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJO3A6dCupQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0onvP8QlzI0

[caveat emptor]

I have one about 100 years old. Made from a wide angle tree limb crotch. Something like the one below, but with a 90° angle. Cane is about 1" in diameter, handle is 8X2", and is asymmetrically attached to handle. Wood is lightweight and strong. I can deliver a hell of a wallop with it.



Here's a maple one, available online. Looks like a good defensive weapon. Trim to right length and put a rubber tip on the bottom. Put in a bit of quarter inch steel rod and you've got yourself an indian war club.Good luck

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I can recommend “Cold Steel” products. They are mainly a knife/sword manufacturer but they do have sword canes, rattan, and something they call a Mace, which is a wooden walking stick with a large bronze head. The head looks large enough to do serious damage to a miscreant's skull.

http://www.coldsteel.com/specialtyitems.html

I just looked at their 2011 catalog and it looks like they no longer offer sword canes and the mace but still carry a nice variety of interesting items which might suit your needs. I can also reccomemnd Atlanta Cutlery

http://www.atlantacutlery.com/c-115-self-defense.aspx

This is the Mace, given today's litigious society it may prove more acceptable then a bladed weapon.

Regards,
GtG

[ransomnote]

A friend of mine has taken self defense training with her canes (she has more than one for various types of surfaces). Her instructor advised her as to what would be most useful - I recommend you find someone who trains people in self defense with canes and ask them what would be most useful -even if you don’t take a class from them - which I hope you will consider doing too! :)

[Little Pig]

For what it’s worth, Cold Steel used to sell a curved-head cane made from white wax-wood. Supposed to be very strong, and an excellent defensive weapon, and also sturdy enough to support even a large man. I don’t think they carry it anymore, but I found this place that may still have some available:

http://c1k.com/c1k/cld/cld91wcfc.htm

[onona]

Good thread Colonel.

Former Jet Head.