Weapons

                                       WEAPONS

                                                                Formal and Informal

 

Nihonto Japanese Swords

Armed Bushi

   Jujutsu evolved in a nation of armed warriors. In feudal Japan the warrior class held all the power. From the 12th to the 19th century even the Emperor was never more than a figurehead. Only the Bushi were allowed to wear swords, and only the Bushi could study Jujutsu. Their principle weapons for hand to hand combat were a long and short sword (katana and wakizashi, or daito and shoto).  A knife (tanto) was also carried in the obi. Swordsmanship (kenjutsu), was the heart of the arms training of bujutsu. 
     Battlefield weapons included the longbow and arrows, spears (yari) and poleaxes (naginata) of various designs and styles. Each kind of weapon had it’s own art, or jutsu. The Samurai trained in the 42(+/-) combat arts that comprised Bujutsu, the Bugei arts, of which Jujutsu was the unarmed form. The Samurai were masters of Zen archery (kyudo), as well as yari jutsu and naginata jutsu. Yari and naginata were also mastered by women of the Bushi class as the weapons of choice for domestic defense.

Naginata

   Besides the bladed weapons, blunt striking weapons, wooden staffs of various lengths, approximately 6ft (bo), 4-5ft (jo), or 2-3ft (hanbo) on average, and wooden swords (boken) were considered weapons worthy of inclusion. Even the harmless appearing yawara stick (tebo or kanga) was recognized as a superior non-lethal weapon in some Japanese ryu. Other non-lethal weapons included the jutte, a short (14" - 18") steel truncheon with a single blade-trapping tine that was a civil officers weapon against the sword, and the tessen, a steel ribbed fan capable of trapping a blade, a Sensei’s defense.

Jutte

                                                         

Tessen

Weapons: hor top to bottom; Daito, Shoto, and Tanto; vertical r to l; Jo, Yawara stick, Hanbo, Yawara, and Bokken

    On Okinawa, ruled at various times by Chinese and Japanese overlords, the peasants were unarmed and chafing under multiple occupations. In self defense they taught themselves to use innocent appearing tools and agricultural implements, rice flails (nunchakus), grinding wheel handles (tonfa), sickles (kama), with tether and ball (kasurikama), and bo staffs with deadly effectiveness. These, are among the signature weapons of most karate systems. Though they might be considered informal weapons by origin, today they are modified and intended primarily for self defense or combat training, my definition of formal weapons.

                                                   Slings and Arrows 

   Most of the evolution of individual armaments has been in projectile weapons, objects thrown or shot at an enemy. This category might include everything from stones thrown by hand or sling, to rocket propelled grenades. Formal hand thrown weapons include knives, spears, javelines, bolos, boomarangs, and an assortment of throwing stars or blades (shuriken). The bow and arrow, crossbow and quarrel, blow gun, sling, handgun, and long guns, are all weapons that are historically significant or relevant today.

   In addition to a wide range of deadly weapons modern self defense has some non-lethal options to offer. Pepper spray (OC) a high tech version of the eggshell filled with pepper of the Ninja, can discourage an attacker, as can electro-shock weapons; stun guns and tazers.

    Informal weapons, tools and other objects not primarily intended as weapons, but repurposed for self defense, include household items like mop handles, fire pokers, kitchen knives and sharpening steel. Tools, axes, hammers, pitchforks; baseball bats, tennis racquets, and golf clubs; belts, keys, even your cel phone can be a weapon of self defense. A rock, your keys, a handful of dirt thrown point blank into an attackers face can deter or distract him and allow you to escape, or better. Informal weapons are everywhere, and it’s an inexpensive precaution to make note of those things around you that might serve.

    In a dangerous world should you arm yourself? If so with what weapons? These are individual decisions dependent on you, your circumstances and situation. If you want to arm yourself with formal weapons do so if, and only if;

1. You are properly instructed, and practiced in the use of the weapons you choose.
2. Your armaments are secure and not, themselves, a danger to you or others.
3. In arming yourself you recognize the limitations and implications thereof.

    A weapon is of no use if you don’t have it at hand. Unless you’re always carrying, and always have your weapon at your bedside, you might not have it at hand. The weapons of the body, however, are always with us.


     The Shaolin Monastery in Southern China was the first Chan (Zen) Buddhist school in China. Founded in the 5th or 6th century by Batuo (Bodhidharma) who brought Buddhism from India, it grew famous for the fighting skills of the monks. Bodhidharma is improbably credited with having introduced martial arts to the monks. The monks, forbidden by their beliefs to carry weapons, were easy prey for robbers et. al. In self defense, purportedly with Bodhidharmas admonition to make their bodies their weapons, every hand a knife, ever fist a hammer, every finger a spear, Shaolin Temple Boxing became legendary for the fighting skill of the monks.

    Under the successive occupation of Okinawa the legendary instructions of Bhodidharma found fertile ground among the unarmed populace. They developed a fighting style called Okinawa Te with the same emphasis on developing and disciplining the weapons of the body. Drawing on Japanese Jujutsu for Atemi waza (striking to vital centers) and Chinese Chu’an Fa, masters refined the art of striking with devastating power, through  focus, control and discipline of the weapons of the body. Okinawa Te became modern Karate. The tradition of training in the peasant's weapons bo, kama, nunchakus, etc. continues in the Nippon-Okinawan karate schools.

                           Hand striking weapons of Shin Go Ju Ryu Karate

   Whether complementing other weapons of choice, or freeing you to live in relative safety without being formally armed, training in martial arts is the most important practice I know of  to arm yourself against the uncertainties of life. Traditional Jujutsu training teaches us to defend against armed or unarmed attack, practicing principles and techniques in situational settings against simulated attacks, strengthening our bodies, refining our skills, disciplining our weapons and managing realistic self defense situations. Whether or not we choose to include them in our own armories, we need to be familiar with the weapons and tactics we might encounter in order to practice defensive strategies and techniques against them.

    So arm yourself. Be competent with whatever weapons you choose. Be prepared to defend yourself, your home, and your family. And be aware of the informal weapons at hand. Note items you might use defend yourself, and practice handling those you think might be relevant. First and foremost develop the weapons of your body. Be strong, be alert, and be safe. Your most important weapon is your mind.

RS

   John Donald, Marine, Law Officer, NRA Certified Instructor and Director of Western Maine Defensive Tactics, offers the following thoughts about carrying weapons.
                       
   One thing I might add that is relevant today is that a weapon, be it handgun, knife, pepper spray, taser or brass knuckles, is not a magic talisman that by its mere possession prevents one from being a victim. This is a reaction from fear: " I carry XX because I was scared of XX, and now I feel better".   That's all though, its a FEELING, not the confidence that comes from hard, realistic training.
   Carrying a weapon is an exercise in personal discipline. Less so now that we have the vast array of "micro" handguns and mini knives available. The idea is that they are convenient, and thus don't require great modifications to the lifestyle and wardrobe ( and thus the MINDSET) of the person carrying it.
   A regular sized fixed weapon requires inconvenience, modification to the lifestyle and wardrobe, and a mental commitment to keeping it available, yet out of sight so as not to attract attention. This, I believe, leads one to consider the realities of carrying a weapon, and the realities of the consequences of using it in the real world. Make physically carrying a weapon too easy, and people start doing so because their friends do so, not because they have arrived there through their own thinking.
   As far as tasers and OC, they are useful, but need just as solid a groundwork in hand skills as do actual fixed weapons. Perhaps moreso, as they are a one trick pony, particularly a taser. OC is just the latest rendition  of an egg of pepper. People, myself included, can fight through it. But, it can make someone rethink a course of action, and if they continue hostilities, a half blind man is easier to fight, not easy, just easier. 
   Weapons are not the solution to every problem, thus unarmed skills are essential, and in my mind need to be the solid foundation that weapons skills are built upon. Not every confrontation is a "shoot (stab) scenario" but every one for sure is armed, as you brought a weapon with you.

   Remarks included with permission, and appreciation. Thank you John.