Edged weapons often used in street attacks: Straight razors and sharpened bicycle spokes
This tip continues the topic of edged weapons most often used in street attacks.
Today, straight razors and sharpened bicycle spokes.
Straight razor: This weapon slashes and is obviously not suitable for stabbing. In skilled hands, a straight razor can disable a knifer because a very light contact with flesh, say a knifer’s forearm, cuts deeply — a touch and press is usually enough. The drawback of straight razors is their relative brittleness (see Self-Defense Tip #63 — Learned opinion on the superiority of a knife over a straight razor). Skilled users grip a straight razor in ways that minimize this weakness, as shown in the videos below.
In skilled hands, the razor may not be visible until it cuts — for ideas see this video:
Bicycle spoke: Lethal as a stabbing weapon, a bicycle spoke can also be used to whip or slash with its tip, so its use is similar to that of a foil. It is set in a small grip, usually a wooden cylinder. A bottle cork may be stuck on the sharpened tip for safety while carrying. This is a weapon familiar to the French underworld and also reportedly “the most common weapon used for murder in China.” In South Africa it is used to inflict paralysis.
I know of no mass attack in which razors or spokes were used — perhaps because both those weapons require being very close to the victim and a different mind-set than that of a rampaging slasher and stabber.
Attention:
Applying any of the techniques mentioned above is your sole responsibility.
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The reader or viewer assumes all risks and hazards of injury or death to herself, himself, or others, as well as any resultant liability for the use of the techniques and methods contained in this self-defense tip.
Specific self-defense responses demonstrated or described in this self-defense tip may not be justified in certain situations in light of all the circumstances or under the applicable federal, state, or local law. Neither Never-Thought-of-It LLC nor the author of this self-defense tip makes any representation or warranty regarding the legality or appropriateness of any techniques described or demonstrated in this self-defense tip.
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.
Self-Defense Moves
To learn how your natural reactions can instantly defeat any unarmed attack, see the video Basic Instincts of Self-Defense.
Defend Against Weapons
To learn how the typical street weapons (club, knife, razor) are used by an experienced streetfighter and how to practice with them, see the video Self-Defense: Tools of Attack — Club, Hatchet, Blackjack, Knife, Straight Razor.
Mental Toughness
To learn mental techniques that let you calmly face any threat and act rationally in the heat of a fight, click here.
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