Poor man's alternative...

[Ghost Frog]

I've often laughed at friends for using 'alternative' weapons for practising kata with, i.e. Broom handles, umbrellas, bananas , etc.

Has anyone else got amusing examples of 'making do' without the real thing?

[47Ronin]

Air bo, various other things I can find.

[pesilat]

Originally posted by Ghost Frog
I've often laughed at friends for using 'alternative' weapons for practising kata with, i.e. Broom handles, umbrellas, bananas , etc.

Has anyone else got amusing examples of 'making do' without the real thing?

I've used combs, brushes, pens, pencils, spoons, cell phone, etc. to practice knife work. Bascially, when I pick up anything, I start moving it like a weapon.

But I don't think of it as a "poor man's alternative." I think of it as training to think of and use everything as a potential weapon.

Mike

[Kwajman]

There you go Pesilat, my son is always picking stuff up and saying, "now how could we use this????".

[Ghost Frog]

Originally posted by pesilat

But I don't think of it as a "poor man's alternative." I think of it as training to think of and use everything as a potential weapon.

Mike [/B]

Good point. Didn't all the Okinawan weapons start off as farm implements- rice flails, etc?

Maybe people will be doing kata with tin-openers and x-box handsets in 200 years time!

[pesilat]

Originally posted by Ghost Frog
Good point. Didn't all the Okinawan weapons start off as farm implements- rice flails, etc?

Maybe people will be doing kata with tin-openers and x-box handsets in 200 years time!

Exactly. Tin openers can be particularly nasty and the handsets can be used as flexible weapons or impact weapons - always nice to have options :)

Mike

[khafra]

Y'know, I do tend to do modified balisong openings with my can opener, and try to switch fluidly between fencer grip and reverse grip all the time, when holding a spoon. I hadn't thought about it like that 'til I read this, though.

[gojuman]

I made some escrima sticks out of hockey sticks for fun and they work well.

[Ghost Frog]

Originally posted by gojuman
I made some escrima sticks out of hockey sticks for fun and they work well.

That's a good idea. I really like the wood that hockey sticks are made from.

[YODA]

These things aren't "Poor man's alternatives" - they are the REAL weapons.

What's the likelyhood of you having a nice set of Eskrima sticks, a bokken, a pair of Sai with you when attacked outside the Pub?

(Not likely I hope LOL!)

[David]

In class a few months ago, we were all going through a pole form. I had brought four poles with me (one a broomstick handle) and I leant them out to others so they could get into the form.

I was going to practice with an imaginary one but noticed a vacuum cleaner in the corner. I used the straight metal tube as a pole. It kept coming apart in the middle and the sucking end wouldn't come off at all. Made everyone laugh while I trained seriously :)

Rgds,
David

[Cudgel]

ive actually seen a small piece on can openers as a weapon. I mnot sure if it was serious or a joke.
Ill try to hun tit down if any one wants to see it.




Beware my air hammer

[khafra]

Haha! The air hammer, now that's no poor man's weapon--that classes right up there with the grappling hook and BFG, really.

[YODA]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time beofre 1ONEfighting shows up with his pliers {{{Shudder}}} :eek:

[Yojimbo]

ive used drumsticks in place of my broadswords.

[hwardo]

My wife's peanut butter spreader (yes, there really is such a thing) makes great slicing noises when I practice silat knife techniques with it. It scares her.

[Reiki]

how about using frozen fruit tubes [aka ice lollies in a plastic tube for those who dont have them] as bo or sticks!

my 10yo son dreamt this one up and is a dab hand at doing single & double sinawali and redondo with fruit tubes... LOL! you should see it!

AND he does his bo kata with them too....

usually I use whatever is at hand and have been known to do air bo and ruler bo and pencil bo...

I have done redondo using nunchakus too... quite a lethal move!

[Infesticon #1]

I think a hockey stick would make a pretty mean weapon. It already is one pretty much.

Plus they're normally pretty tough, my old one was some aluminium alloy and my current one is wood/carbon fibre.

[Cougar_v203]

i use legos :D

[Reiki]

dont they fall apart ?
or do u use single blocks??

:D

[Trent Tiemeyer]

Have I mentioned my fondness for pliers?:D

[totality]

i don't actually train with weapons...damn!

does this count?
occasionally i'll ask someone if they're attacking me, and then defend myself with leg kicks. :D

[Cougar_v203]

I....guess that kinda counts ;)


I use them big pieces :D

[totality]

no, don'tcha get it!? improvised heavy bag!

[Silent_Rage]

I grew up using sticks from trees in my yards as swords, knives, staves, etc.. that is where I got the most useful practice in my life. My neighbor and I would fight for hours with them.. now I can pick up practically anything and fight with it...Not quite like Jackie Cahn (such as the ladder from first strike Police Story 3) but well enough to defend myself./

[Syd]

I actually like doing my broadsword forms without the broadsword but with the intention that it is in my hands. Because my art is internal you can get in touch with the movements on an internal level and then do the forms *with* the broadsword and get deeper levels with the weapon in hand... it's a nice training activity.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

We've been through the "everything is a weapon" discussion before, but you have to admit, practicing bo kata with a pencil is funny. Yes, I've done that -- because either a bo or a hanbo, in my hands, will wreak havoc in my house!

[Sub zero]

At a lau gar club i use to visit they never used proper staffs. Just bits of wood they cut themsleves (hard to use but good fro training).

[Reiki]

as practice bo in the dojo for the ppl who havent got their own bo we have bits of wood and lengths of hard plastic pipe...

works well

did I mention yard broom bo and whip bo?? :D

[#1 Stutta]

I've picked up markers, pencils, pens, scissors, and other stuff and used them as knives. I don't use a broom, but I use my metal rake as a bo. Got some nasty scratches from that. :(

I've picked up my dog's leash and tried to use it as nunchucks. Used a blade of grass as a knife once when I was bored. People stared at me.

I hate that. When people stare at me. It just pisses the hell outta me. Unless it's a hot chick. I like that. She stares at me and then I go to her.....

Oops....Went on rambling again.

[Trent Tiemeyer]

*stares at stutta*

[Stolenbjorn]

Originally posted by pesilat
I've used combs, brushes, pens, pencils, spoons, cell phone, etc. to practice knife work. Bascially, when I pick up anything, I start moving it like a weapon.

But I don't think of it as a "poor man's alternative." I think of it as training to think of and use everything as a potential weapon.

Mike

A while ago we used wooden spoons (the big ones) for our knifesparring, as they are so broad in the end that if you by accident hit the opponent's eye, it wouldn't impact on the eyeball. We still joke about us as "The spoonfighters!"

[Cougar_v203]

one word comes to mind- SPOOOOOOOOOOONGUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAARRRRRD!! :D

[ns_oni]

i cut apart a $4 bamboo light for a staff

[Cudgel]

Hey the spoon is an awesome type thingy
I mean the Tick uses it as his battle cry.

[Reiki]

I tried cat bo in the weekend, but the cat didnt like it much....

and I got some nasty scratches!
:D

[Shaolin Dragon]

Your supposed to hold the sharp end towards your opponent...

[khafra]

I forgot the greatest improvised self-defense tool story ever, from Pen and Teller's book How to Play With Your Food. Pen Jillette was accosted by an angry trucker he'd inadvertantly offended, late at night, at a truck stop. Thinking quickly, he grabbed his chocolate milkshake, stood up, flashed the peace sign, and poured it over his own head.
The bemused and rather frightened trucker left hastily, and our comedic magician was left sticky, but having peacefully resolved an imminent conflict without a bit of physical conflict.





I think I've told that story before, here, but it's just so good!

[Reiki]

Originally posted by Shaolin Dragon
Your supposed to hold the sharp end towards your opponent...

I was practising my kata and the cat didnt like the bit where I spun it in one hand over my head, passed it behing my back and then grabbed it in the middle and did a couple of downward strikes... :D

it also objected strongly to being held by the tail while I swung it around my head very fast....

:D

IMHO cats are not suitable for bo practice!

[Cudgel]

Originally posted by Shaolin Dragon
Your supposed to hold the sharp end towards your opponent...

"do you know who to use that?"
"Ofcourse. Pointy end goes into other man"
"This is going to take a lot of work"

:D