I grew up watching Jackie Chan movies. His movies are slapstick Kung-Fu comedies, and it is obvious he and the other actors have excellent skills in Chinese Kung-Fu. Jackie’s characters would get into fights often, so Jackie would grab the closest object—an umbrella, a bench, or a robe—to defend himself from the bad guys. It is great fun watching him fumble around successfully to foil the attackers.
The pocket stick or yawara is effective because it can mimic hand strikes, especially finger strikes. It does a better job since it has no feelings or flesh to cushion your strike. And anything firm about the size of your hand will do as an improvised yawara – pen, pencil, spoon, screwdriver, or corncob. Please pick up a stick or stone and use it to enhance your fighting. Here’s how:
Availability And Not Illegal
Every day, accessible weapons are just ordinary objects. The best part is they aren’t illegal because the primary purpose of these things is not a weapon. A pocket stick is a percussion instrument, like a cowbell. A knife is a weapon and a tool, putting you in a legal gray area. Consult the laws in your area and an attorney for accurate information because I am no attorney, nor do I give legal advice.
Use On Pressure Points
When you use a yawara, focus on pressure points on the body. Use the yawara when you hook or check an arm. It becomes a great lever and controlling device. During free practice, perform all your defense maneuvers (like combinations, knife defenses, etc.) with a yawara. Adapt the strikes and develop skills to use the weapon in your hand. Remember to go slow, so you don’t injure your training partner.
Make An Impact
Sometimes the best pressure point is made with a lot of pressure with a blunt object. The focused end of the stick feels worse than a fleshy fist. If you miss the pressure point, as suggested above, you’ll still hurt your opponent with the hit. Let the stick take the brunt of the trauma from the impact. It’ll hurt them more than it injures you.
Alternate To A Yawara
Hand-sized rocks use these same techniques too. Hammer strikes lend themselves to rock use more than straight punches with a rock. Once you become comfortable using yawara and other stick-like improvised weapons, start using other small objects like spoons, lipstick cases, or staplers. It will enlighten your abilities and make you a better fighter.
There Are No Rules In A Fight
Always seek a way to gain an advantage in confrontations. Pick up anything to use as a weapon. A conflict stacked in your favor is not unfair; it’s practical. When attacked, there are no rules stating fists only or using tattoo intimidation. Use the rules you want to win the fight, including using ordinary objects to be an extraordinary fighter. Remember, in Kempo, our goal in every self-defense situation is to win by any means necessary and to get away with the least amount of injury.
Does using sticks and stones impact your curiosity? Does using your surroundings as a weapon strike your interest? Then join our Black Belt class and learn the deeper secrets of combat with Kempo thinking. Not a Black Belt? Join our Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu / Philippine Combatives program and become one now!
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