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Impact weapons are a subject that comes up a lot in my realm and for the most part I disagree with many. I don't disagree that they can be force multipliers nor that that should be employed but I disagree on when they should be employed and the purchase of them as a stand alone unit serving no other purpose than impact weaponry.
I do not buy something, make something or carry something that is only an impact weapon. If might carry a tactical pen but I will replace the usually cheap cartridge and get a good one and use it. I always carry a flashlight as EDC. In my mind there are too many common objects laying around that can be used in the real world as an impact weapon to go and buy one just for that purpose. I also had a friend when I was a young man who had to go to court and defend his position of using a stand alone impact weapon during an altercation with a thug and while escaping any liability he was "warned" that he needed to avoid that move again. As I sat on the sideline and watched the case it made an impression.
So can impact tools be justified? Yes but with conditions. When I look at getting an impact tool such as a pen I avoid pens that have coolio strike fear into the heart of soccer moms everywhere names, shapes that look menacing, extras like "DNA" catchers that will attract the eye of even the most sleepy TSA agents when traveling. Flashlights are the same except I will get models that strobe because I can always show a jury that I tried to use that to deter them in a non harmful way and yet they continued their actions. I am guilty of the beveled end flashlights and I can make excuses but that's just what they are is an excuse, in the legal world. I don't make paracord monkey foot or buy the kuboton because its real hard to explain that it is a "keychain". Yeah they really don't buy it in court, your just kidding yourself. The however to this is that since we have firearm carry laws now it actually has helped this cause by being able to say I used a LTL (Less Than Lethal) weapon first in an attempt to not have to kill the badguy. That statement they do buy but you also need to look at local laws as many specifically list impact weapons as illegal such as a sap. You will still find yourself in a heap of trouble for using one and would be better off having shot them to death. Check your local laws before making the choice otherwise you just bought another safe queen or shelf piece.
Now having said all this I still believe you should train with these weapons because the training is as important as the tool. The kuboton is easily replaced by another object but knowing what to do with it is what will save you as you struggle with the rapist at 2am in your bedroom as your hand feels that bottle of nail polish just before you apply a proper temple strike from a bottom position after shifting your hips allowing you to raise one shoulder off the ground and using your core for power having been there before in a BJJ class. If you don't know what I just said and have not been there before then you need that training too.
Now to "the use" disagreement: The impact weapon is to be typically used at range of arm length for the most part. A common mistake is for two individuals to begin the typical wrestling around on the floor and one will go for the weapon filling and dropping his hand from his head to his waistline and focusing all his efforts onto that weapon thinking he will deploy pressure point moves and somehow be able to strike even though the awkward positions in the ground game rarely allow for it. In today's world this will earn you a choke out in most cases because you dropped your hands to retrieve the weapon and the reality of you deploying a pressure point before passing out is pretty poor odds. There is a time to go for the weapon and a time not to and the only way you will know is to have been there before thru training. You must earn that weapon thru a variety of other techniques. The same can be said for standing and retrieving your weapon. You must gain a satisfactory distance to draw it out or you will take unnecessary hits, stabs or shots.
I also disagree with many that believe one strike from their awesome impact coolio will totally disable any aggressor no matter what. I've been in to many fights and skirmishes to know better than magic and ninja fairies and impacts are no different than bullets. You don't stop till it done, down is down and be damned the ego factor.
I do not buy something, make something or carry something that is only an impact weapon. If might carry a tactical pen but I will replace the usually cheap cartridge and get a good one and use it. I always carry a flashlight as EDC. In my mind there are too many common objects laying around that can be used in the real world as an impact weapon to go and buy one just for that purpose. I also had a friend when I was a young man who had to go to court and defend his position of using a stand alone impact weapon during an altercation with a thug and while escaping any liability he was "warned" that he needed to avoid that move again. As I sat on the sideline and watched the case it made an impression.
So can impact tools be justified? Yes but with conditions. When I look at getting an impact tool such as a pen I avoid pens that have coolio strike fear into the heart of soccer moms everywhere names, shapes that look menacing, extras like "DNA" catchers that will attract the eye of even the most sleepy TSA agents when traveling. Flashlights are the same except I will get models that strobe because I can always show a jury that I tried to use that to deter them in a non harmful way and yet they continued their actions. I am guilty of the beveled end flashlights and I can make excuses but that's just what they are is an excuse, in the legal world. I don't make paracord monkey foot or buy the kuboton because its real hard to explain that it is a "keychain". Yeah they really don't buy it in court, your just kidding yourself. The however to this is that since we have firearm carry laws now it actually has helped this cause by being able to say I used a LTL (Less Than Lethal) weapon first in an attempt to not have to kill the badguy. That statement they do buy but you also need to look at local laws as many specifically list impact weapons as illegal such as a sap. You will still find yourself in a heap of trouble for using one and would be better off having shot them to death. Check your local laws before making the choice otherwise you just bought another safe queen or shelf piece.
Now having said all this I still believe you should train with these weapons because the training is as important as the tool. The kuboton is easily replaced by another object but knowing what to do with it is what will save you as you struggle with the rapist at 2am in your bedroom as your hand feels that bottle of nail polish just before you apply a proper temple strike from a bottom position after shifting your hips allowing you to raise one shoulder off the ground and using your core for power having been there before in a BJJ class. If you don't know what I just said and have not been there before then you need that training too.
Now to "the use" disagreement: The impact weapon is to be typically used at range of arm length for the most part. A common mistake is for two individuals to begin the typical wrestling around on the floor and one will go for the weapon filling and dropping his hand from his head to his waistline and focusing all his efforts onto that weapon thinking he will deploy pressure point moves and somehow be able to strike even though the awkward positions in the ground game rarely allow for it. In today's world this will earn you a choke out in most cases because you dropped your hands to retrieve the weapon and the reality of you deploying a pressure point before passing out is pretty poor odds. There is a time to go for the weapon and a time not to and the only way you will know is to have been there before thru training. You must earn that weapon thru a variety of other techniques. The same can be said for standing and retrieving your weapon. You must gain a satisfactory distance to draw it out or you will take unnecessary hits, stabs or shots.
I also disagree with many that believe one strike from their awesome impact coolio will totally disable any aggressor no matter what. I've been in to many fights and skirmishes to know better than magic and ninja fairies and impacts are no different than bullets. You don't stop till it done, down is down and be damned the ego factor.
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