Self-Defense Tip 102 Improvised Weapons: Keys

Improvised weapons vs. weapons of opportunity

Google “improvised weapons” and you will find instructions on how to use ordinary keys in self-defense, so this is why I titled this tip the way I did. Nevertheless, to me a bunch of keys is not an improvised weapon but rather a weapon of opportunity. To me keys are ordinary utility objects used in an emergency to defend oneself, much like an ordinary pencil or a sturdy umbrella. “Improvise” means making something needed out of what is conveniently on hand. A key or a bunch of keys are not “made” into anything — they are put to a less usual use without changing them in any way. If you think the distinction does not matter, then have a lawyer explain to you why it does.

How to — and how not to — use keys in self-defense

Now to the tip’s topic: the use of keys in self-defense.

Have you seen pictures like the one below?

If you hold keys like this and hit an attacker, you may hurt him a bit, but you will hurt your hand. And it is not good to have an injured hand in a fight. . . . The following video shows how to correctly use keys in self-defense. It also teaches which keys are better not to be used for self-defense.

Ideal self-defense weapons are those that are legal to carry everywhere, do not attract attention, are simple to use, and do not require practice.

Self-defense tip from Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Science of Sports Training, Stretching Scientifically, and Flexibility Express.

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