Self Defense Against A Stick, Baseball Bat Or Club: Myths Exposed!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Martial arts techniques for stick fighting self defense against a club, baseball bat, tire iron or other impact weapon often use unrealistic street fight situations.
Chalk this one up to inexperience when it comes to how real street fights happen when weapons are involved.
An attacker armed with a club is perhaps even more deadly than someone armed with an edged weapon.
They have a longer reach…can do just as much damage (scratch that…MORE damage) in a shorter time period…and can put a LOT of power behind their strikes.
So what’s wrong with the common stick fighting or club defense techniques?
Lots!
For example…
Forget Trying To Dodge An Impact Weapon!
If someone wants to hit you with a club, bat or other impact weapon, they’re going to do it. Period!
You’re NOT going to be able to dodge the bat until you see an “opening” like you see in the movies. You’re NOT going to be able to duck under the blow and counter with your famous right cross. And if you’re on the ground, your attacker is NOT going to miss splitting your head open like a ripe casaba melon while your expertly roll left and right just in the nick of time.
Training to “dodge” out of the way while your attacker wildly swings the bat at your head or midsection is unrealistic and you should NEVER train this way!
Forget Trying To “Block” An Impact Weapon!
Ok, arguably you may be able to time your attack just right to use the club’s momentum for a disarm…
…in the relaxed atmosphere of a dojo!
But if you think you’re going to be nice and calm and catch a 150 mph baseball bat headed toward your cranium, then I suggest you get all padded up and try it with someone with a real bat and real intent on taking your head off. I’ve seen it and it’s an eye-opener.
Stop trying to block and counter!
Your Only 2 Self Defense Techniques Against A Stick Or Club:
First one is easy…RUN! If you can outrun your attacker, go for it.
Second options is a bit balls-ier, but it’s often the most appropriate…
Strike FIRST!
As soon as you see someone pull out a tire iron from their trunk or baseball bat from behind their seat, if you’re close enough, you need to strike BEFORE they get the opportunity to rear back and swing. The sooner you catch them off guard, the better chance you have of never giving them an option to use their weapon.
Even if they are able to begin their swing, the real damage results from a blow from the end of the stick, club, or bat. If you’ve gained your forward momentum and launched a close quarters attack quickly enough, the only section of their weapon that will hit you will be near their hands and there’s no real harm as a result.
By the time they finish their swing, you’ll have already served them their own head on a silver platter.
But as you get into their circle of swinging, couldnt they have a fast reaction to and step back just enough to still bash your head open? just a thought, but thanks a lot for yet another lifesaving tip
Not likely Jesus.
Their entire intent is on going FORWARD and swinging. Your unexpected forward momentum will most likely even create a flinch response that will take the power out of their swing as their natural body reaction is to go on the “defensive”.
Make your movement fast…close the gap…and attack with ferocity!
Thanks for contributing Jesus!
Much appreciated brotha!
I agree 100% with the idea of a preemptive strike as soon as you see a weapon; strike BEFORE he is fully physically (and hopefully mentally) ready to escalate the situation himself. The thing to remember is that this strategy require total commitment. Once you initiate the aggression, particularly when he has a weapon, you CANNOT STOP until the threat is neutralized, meaning he is no longer holding the weapon and is either in full flight or down and you’re SURE he’ll be unable to get up in the immediate future.
I agree 100%. Offense is always your best defense. The more dangerous the situation, the more important a pre-emptive attack becomes. Attack the attacker. See yourself as the predator and him as the victim. This is the mindset of a warrior !
Very, very good. I have always been a firm believer in stepping into the swing
and striking first. Doesn’t matter if it’s a fist or a stick. I go for the throat or side of the neck just below the jaw bone.
That was a good tip on defending against blunt weapons. You are right many disciplines will teach you to try to block the weapon which will definitely lead to serious bodily injury. Running is always good. I have another suggestion: conceal carry handguns.
Excellent idea… use the tools of distancing and timing to dislocate or destroy the knee cap or strike the windpipe, knee him in the “jewels” or eye jabs. In other words….shut down their brain…what is controlling their body, then get the hell out of there.
The key to any situation as this is being mindful….your brain is YOUR best survial tool…bar none.
Sir;
one of the best advisory notes I have seen recently, I am a retired correctional sergeant in texas, and we tought the same defence to our officers. God bless…
its called being “street wise”—– HOGUES ” do you call that a knife?
I have 2 very hard light short bamboo sticks (legally my fire wood,,,- not a weapon(s), -a base ball bat is for ‘mugs’!, remember movement is best seen through the corner of your eyes and the aim is to target (ie knee caps)-an accurate light tap and they are down like a sack of potatoes. Of course sticks are not always available, but a fist full of keys are or a pen or a torch (destroy night vision) -I stopped 2 guard dogs (Rotweillers) with a pressure can of fly spray,,,they stopped quiet & motionless to within 1 meter.,,,,, remember if a lion charges you stand still, but if a elephant charges you runnnnnnnn!!!!
By the way you can kill an elephant (not that I want to) with a .22 rimfire, first round into the sole of its foot.
Come to Aust. we have some of the most deadliest creatures on the planet,, a Tiger snake attacks, but it flattens its neck before it strikes. (a snake cannot strike back wards),,, I had one guy die for 2 minutes from a spider bite -Red Back,, but thats another story!!!
hi
another good training video having trained in rapid arnis phillipine stick fighting recommended as it gets you mentally prepread to deal with an armed
attacker
we were trained to quickly get inside the arc of the baseball bat /club etc
like the video shows you can then attack the fore arm and block the attack
where as many people naturally try to evade by moving back wards away from the swing but it only allows the attacker room to really hit you harder with full spead and your dead
thanks for good demos keep up the good work
regards to all
peter mcgrath
I agree with this technique 100%.
After training since 1973, I agree, move in fast and don’t stop attack, should be over in seconds, first strike, striking as if the target is 10 feet past where it actually is, it will increase the power by striking mentally through the target not the actual target. iron palm helps mentally train and conditions hands, arms and elbows strikes.
This is all assuming that they will simply swing the bat baseball style– there are more ways to use a bat than this. Though your common thug may not know this
And as always, Springfield XD40 may also solve the problem.