Baseball Bats, Metal Pipes & Other Impact Weapons- Part 1

The unassuming simple stick is one of the oldest weapons known to mankind.  It’s impossible to determine exactly when it came into existence as a weapon, but visions of early man with a stick in his hand stalking his prey come to mind.  With this said baseball bats, metal pipes and other impact weapons still pose a very real threat in this day and age and must be included to any counter weapons program offered by reputable combatives, self defense, reality based, self protection and street survival systems alike.

Worst Case Scenario

It has to be said that defending yourself against somebody who is swinging a baseball bat should be avoided at all costs.  Your preliminary detection skills should hopefully point out the danger indicators involved way before you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.  Make no mistake about it- if you are forced to defend yourself against somebody with an impact weapon, then you are in a “worst case scenario” situation!  Get out of there at all costs, but wait…what if you can’t get out?  What if you just find yourself in that late phase position with no quick escape?  Hopefully this will provide you with an outline of a few simple tricks to create as much “damage limitation” as possible! 

Beware of the Extension- It’s the Extension That Will Kill You!

From the user’s standpoint it is the extension that is created by having an impact weapon in your hand such as a metal pipe or stick that proves to be advantageous in keeping your opponent/opponents at bay.  This “extension” also allows for full power distribution of strikes to be delivered with maximum efficiency.  With this in mind, defending against an attacker with a club can prove to be a disastrous event if you choose to stay out in long range attempting to randomly defend yourself while your attacker is given carte blanche to carry out a turkey shoot.  (Note: For the uninitiated a “Turkey Shoot” is an allegory for something that is easily accomplished)

Close the Gap

By closing the gap and entering into close quarter range you will be able to quash your attacker’s powerbase.  However, with little to no training, this tactic is easier said than done.  A great way to perfect your entries is by having your training partner swing their impact weapon in a figure 8 pattern or slash Xs in a stationary position.  You want to position yourself just outside of the swinging stick.  This is a timing drill where you need to pay attention when to rush in.  You basically have two options: rush to the outside of your opponent or rush to the inside.  To enter successfully to the outside you have to time your entry to happen immediately after he swings a forehand strike.  Similarly, to enter to the inside, time your entry just after he has swung a backhand strike.  Once you get the timing aspect of this drill together have your training partner gradually walk forward while he is slashing Xs in your direction.  Now you will have to use a little more effort to judge the spacial relationship between you and your opponent while he is attacking you.  After you are comfortable with this stage start to increase to intensity to where, eventually, you are both moving around dynamically.  Next step?  Keep increasing the intensity; add protective gear to experience contact.  All in all, this one drill done properly will take about six months of development to internalize the merits of the drill.  Good luck!

Until next time…

Dedicated to YOUR Survival

Joe