My favorite topic! It seemed, "fitting" to post about Improvised Weapons after "Use of clothes" because the two are so closely related. Over the years, Vladimir has shown us how to make a weapon from most any day to day objects. (Something many women have known for years, instinctively bred into them when they throw things at you). The key is creativity…

"The Pen is mightier than the sword" There are thousands of uses for pens besides writing. A good heavy steel pen can be used for stabbing (in self defence of course) Where you stab can make the difference between a wound and a fatality. I won’t go into details because most of you know critical points. But even in a removal situation, one can use the pen like a pair of pliers in order to control the person to remove him or control him as such. You hold the pen as you would a lighter and simply grab the persons skin between your thumb and the end of the pen (donest have to be the pointy side either). Try grabing a finger the same way! Where your fingers can bend other’s fingers, the pen also adds a solid surface that, against bone, really hurts! Eg, if the bending action doesn’t take’m down the sheer pressure of steel against bone will drop the biggest of men. Study, Pens and Pressure points and you will soon become handy with the pen.

Credit cards: Besides draining your account, you can use them for illegal access to doors (so Im told). With some practice, they can be thrown with such intensity they can stick in wood!! This take much practice. By themselves they can cut readily but it you want to be sure, you can sharpen the edges just to be on the safe side! Again, works best on pressure points. You also get a phycological advantage if you cut above the eyes. Blood runs over the eyes and the attacker doesn’t know how bad the injury is. Plus he cant see as well. Life or death situatioin, maybe your aim wouldent be so good (as high). If someone is grabbing you, a sharpened credit card across the knuckles will open them up like a Turkey on Thanksgiving. I found Airmiles works best! They make a good card and you might not be able to redeem the points now anyway!

You wouldent believe what you can do with a magazine! Here’s the senario; You are reading your favorite Cosmo article in the subway. Buddy comes up to you and asks you for some change. You say you don't have any which is a big insult to most muggers. He shows a knife. You roll the magazine up (fold the page so you know where you were). Parry the knife aside, hammer him in the face with the rolled end of the magazine. Try this lightly on yourself. Just below the nose works well. Lips work, even eyes. Remove the knife with your free hand. You can also use the magazine to shield you from the knife. You average magazine is thick enough to avert a knife strike but you have to be "in the movement" EG, if its held still, probably the knife will go through but if you move both knife and magazine get moved to the side.

Use your surroundings: If hes still giving you problems (or if you were already having a bad day) use those poles used for holding onto. Bend his arm backward across those poles, across a seat back etc. If he’s bent a little, you can grab his hair from behind the pole and attempt to bend his neck around the pole. What did you think those poles were made for anyway? Of course, if he isn’t yet bent, use you magazine to smack him in the balls in order to get him to bend so you can trap him against the pole.

Different Scenario: You are near a wall. Any building will do. Heck, lets open it up. You are near ANYTHING! A tree, a car, garbage pale, an obsolete telephone booth. USE these surroundings! Push the opponent against them. Smack their heads against them. Do you know how you can choke a guy using a garbage can? You bend him, stick his face in the garbage can and push his neck to down onto the edge. That way if he hurls, it will be in the right place, not on your suit. They go to punch you or stab you, use that wall so they hit their hands there or better, the knife stops and their hand slides over the blade! If it’s a gun, you can swing their arm sharply against the wall. (making sure you are not in the possible line of fire) Holding a steel gun and hand being smashed against the wall will hurt, break the knuckles or at least cause him to let go of the weapon. Of course, in the case of all moves, practice makes perfect. You are not going to save yourself by reading one article here or in BB magazine. It has to become natural.

Imagine for a minute; A beer bottle in a bar fight. A heavy ashtray. A chair! The kewl thing about chairs is you don't have to throw them! Vlad showed how to use the legs as grappling tools. Eg guy has a knife, the chair not only shields you but also you can rotate it, tying up his legs and arms, rotating in the direction that his limbs don't go. This can break him or take him down and you are still at "arms length from the blade" Once down you can pin him and sit there enjoying your drink while authorities come (of course you might also just want to "buggeroffski") Bottle opener gives you great leverage on the fingers! A coffee mug to the fingers or face. The beverage itself. (ask for HOT HOT chocolate or HOT HOT coffee if you are in doubt of the scene and stuck in a situation were leaving would be bad)

An umbrella can distract the opponent, mask your intention etc. Closed, it can be used like a cane, as leverage to arm lock, choke or just straight smack to the vital points. Cane – the same only possibly better because you are viewed as a "non-risk" (A guy carrying an umbrella is usually viewed as a non risk as well – least where I come from).

Always carry some WD40 and a lighter in your car. The WD40 is good for leaks and makeshift flamethrower as well! Even Unlit, WD40 make a great dog repellent! If you attach the little straw they give you with it you can increase the range up to 15 or so feet!!

Duct tape is a must for any vehicle!! It does everything from hold things down to submit opponents! Imagine how silly the bad guy looks after trying to rob you, you duct tape him to the lamp post, call for assistance and buggeroffski?

Mirrors, glass, etc just like a knife. Use some clothing to hold it with. Throwing glass (like the credit card) is very brutal. And you are not worried if you don't get it back.

Now, if I’m ever in an area of lots of people I’m watching for chair legs, how heavy are the tables? Can they be moved? Are they bolted down? Where’s the nearest exit? Are there windows in the bathroom (usually not – to avert possible dine and dash scenario) Is the floor tile (slippery when wet) or carpet?

Using your creativity, you can come up with endless possibilities of how to use your surroundings and articles around you in case of attack.

Yes, there are unlimited scenarios and unlimited resourses available to you to deal with each. The key is to be able to act naturally, on the spot when the attack comes! It comes with being aware of your surroundings. Avoid confrontation whenever possible. Avoid possible scenarios that could lead to such a predicament. Then again, maybe I’m just paranoid!