Weapons of Opportunity: Defensive Shield Example (All Belts)
Before we begin to examine krav maga weapons defense techniques, it is helpful to review how a weapon of convenience might enter a previously unarmed conflict. Not only must you be aware of a person’s hands, body posture, and any pronounced threats, you must also be mindful of potential weapons of convenience he might be able to reach. For example, take a moment to look around you to engage your fighting chess game. What could you immediately grab to use as a weapon or a distraction? Of course, your opponent could use the same object(s) as well. Remember, whatever you could use — so could an opponent. Anything and everything portable could possibly be used as either a weapon or a distraction. Here is a partial review list of how krav maga loosely groups weapons into the six categories:
- Defensive shield-type These include chairs, briefcases, duffle bags, garbage lids and cans, car doors, and other shield-like objects.
- Blunt objects. These include impact weapons, flashlights, stones, chairs, magazines, books, garbage can lids, briefcases, bottles, shoes, and wrenches.
- Edged or point-like objects. These include broken bottles, keys, scissors, pens, forks, and cooking thermometers.
- Flexible elongated objects. These include belts, chains, ropes, jackets, and towels.
- Distraction objects and irritant liquids/sprays. These include keys, coins, watches, loose papers, cellular phones, jewelry, clothing, perfume, spittle, and aerosols. Note that certain liquids or sprays may result in a temporary or even more permanent blinding effect.
- Immovable environmental objects. These could include such varied things as using a curb to upend an assailant, racing around a parked car when being chased to then turn opportunely on the assailant, ramming an assailant assailant’s head into the ground or a wall.