The Folding Steel Baton
A Practical Non-lethal Self Defense Tool
The modern folding steel baton has replaced the more traditional "billy club" of police forces worldwide. It offers many advantages in power, speed and portability. Use of the folding baton grew out of a number of martial art styles that emphasized the use of sticks and canes as weapons.
The folding baton has two distinct advantages as a self defense weapon, particularly for people without time for extensive training.
The first is portability. Steel batons fold down to a handy size, easily carried in a pocket, or worn in a holster on your belt, much like a cell phone. The batons come in a variety of sizes and weights to accommodate users of all sizes and ages.
The first is portability. Steel batons fold down to a handy size, easily carried in a pocket, or worn in a holster on your belt, much like a cell phone. The batons come in a variety of sizes and weights to accommodate users of all sizes and ages.
The second is ease of use. With a little training (highly recommended), beginners gain sufficient skill to handle most defensive situations. Because you are using the mechanical advantage of the baton for striking power, you can avoid hours of static and dynamic training associated with bare-handed martial arts and still be able deliver a formidable, fight-ending blow.
A little training with a steel baton will provide the ability to face multiple attackers, and is a great advantage against a knife attack. Knives are weapons that become more dangerous as distance closes. The modern folding steel baton gives its user a reach advantage over a knife-wielding attacker as well as over a larger, stronger foe with most weapons other than guns.
The steel baton acts as an extension of the arm. As such, the movements are natural, and only a short learning curve is needed to gain a useful level of skill. Most people don't need much time to learn the basics of striking and blocking blows.
Live instruction, while always good, is less necessary with the steel baton. The movements can be easily imitated and practiced watching a training video.
The steel baton's mechanical advantage and light weight give almost anyone the ability to deliver a debilitating blow with speed and accuracy. Many units come with foam grips and holsters. Some folding batons are threaded to accept a flashlight head, thus becoming doubly useful tools.
Although a folding steel baton has the potential to do serious damage, it is non-lethal in most hands. Still, its user can apply crippling force to an attacker's extremities and joints while maintaining a safe distance. A single blow to the wrist, elbow or knee can cause crippling pain. A blow to the face, head or throat will generally end any confrontation, and can cause serious damage.
Because of the impressive power of the steel baton, we do not recommend targeting the head or throat unless you feel your life is in danger.
Because of the impressive power of the steel baton, we do not recommend targeting the head or throat unless you feel your life is in danger.
The modern folding steel baton is an affordable, potent self defense tool, useful against a variety of threats, and easily learned and carried.
