TBO-TECH

Mace batons are compact self-defense weapons that are quick and easy to use. Just make sure you’ve got your target in sight and no more than five feet away!

Although the words Mace baton calls into mind the steel batons commonly used by law enforcement officers, a Mace baton is actually much smaller than that but just as effective. It’s the perfect self-defense weapon because it’s easy to conceal, simple to use, and very, very powerful.

How to Maximize Use of Your Mace Baton
This product works just like any pepper spray can. Every squeeze releases a burst of pepper spray. Of course, if you want to disarm your offender with just one squeeze, you’ll need to do a bit more than that.

Know the limit of your pepper spray weapon
Under or overestimating the number of sprays that your weapon can discharge could be the greatest mistake you could make. It could make you overconfident or hesitate at the worst possible moment.

For this product, it’s important to remember that your self-defense weapon of choice is capable of releasing six half-second bursts and nothing more or less than that.

Know the spray pattern of your pepper spray baton
Pepper sprays are different from pepper foams and pepper gels and as such, they have an equally different effect from the other two.

Now, two types of spray patterns may be used by pepper spray cans. The Mace baton, for instance, uses a cone spray pattern. Compared to a stream spray pattern, the cone spray pattern has a shorter reach – approximately five feet. If you use your Mace baton and you’re standing more than five feet away from your offender, your attack would be rendered useless.

On the other hand, a cone spray pattern doesn’t require you to have an excellent aim. As long as you point your Mace pepper spray in the general direction of your target, that would be enough. With stream spray, you would have to take its narrow form in consideration and thus make sure that you have excellent aim.

Do not use your Mace baton without thought. Letting fear and anxiety get the better of you could make your hand unsteady and your aim more inaccurate than usual.

Avoid spraying against the wind
If possible, avoid using the Mace baton if there’s any wind at all. If the wind is traveling towards you, this could cause your pepper spray to reverse direction and hit you instead. Just to play it safe, remember to cover your eyes and face – wear sunglasses if possible – when you spray.

There really is no telling when and where crime could occur.  What we do know is that statistical data doesn’t paint a very good picture.  When circumstances aren’t that good or could potentially become worse, people cannot be blamed for wanting to protect themselves.  This is probably the main reason why self-defense products, such as the pepper spray, continue to be bestsellers.  People simply must have a means or tool to rely on in order to defend themselves, their loved ones and their property.  Today, pepper sprays remain as one of the top self-defense products in the market.  And with good reason.

Why pepper sprays work
Although formulations for pepper sprays could differ slightly depending on the manufacturer, they are all based on the substance called Oleoresin Capsicum.  This is a substance found organically in certain species of plants we generally know as peppers.

Oleoresin Capsicum or OC is a substance that is very irritating when applied to the skin of humans and most animals.  It is especially irritating when applied on the mucus membranes, which are commonly found on the eyes, mouth, nose, throat and the stomach.

As a substance, OC produces burning sensation, inflammation and general irritation on the affected area.  It can also lead to gagging, choking and coughing.  It can also cause the eyes to tear up uncontrollably.

Pepper sprays as a top self-defense weapon
A pepper spray is highly effective as self-defense weapon because of its effects.  It can cause momentary blindness, difficulty breathing and general confusion due to extreme irritation.  It is well-suited for many people including police forces and private individuals because it is non-lethal.

Pepper sprays are also considered as a top self-defense weapon because they do not lead to permanent physiological damage.  The effect is only temporary, although it could last for at least 5 minutes and up to about 15, depending on the physical makeup of the attacker, his emotional state and also the dosage sprayed upon him.  For people needing a self-defense tool, that 5- or 15-minute gap wherein the attacker is disabled is usually sufficient enough to fight back, run away from the scene or call for help.

Another reason why pepper sprays are top self-defense weapons is that they are convenient, lightweight and easy to conceal and carry.  Most canisters fit in the palm of the hand and may be kept in the purse or pocket.  Pepper spray containers are also frequently sold disguised as ordinary objects, such as a pen, lipstick, mobile phone, pager or even a pendant.  Users have easy access to the gadget and can readily use them should the situation call for it.

A pepper spray also does not need specialized training to use.  It’s a pretty straightforward and simple device that most people can turn to as a reliable self-defense weapon.  Furthermore, it’s generally legal to own and use and is quite affordable.

Knives in one form or another are one of the earliest forms of manmade weapons.  As tools for self-defense, knives are considered handy, practical and with enough skill, quite effective to use.  Knives come in a variety of designs and styles and one of the most popular among self-defense enthusiasts is the folding knife.  It’s compact, lightweight and protects the user from accidental cuts when concealed in the clothing.  Unfortunately, having a folding knife does not automatically make one a self-defense expert.  Accidents can happen, particularly if the user is unskilled, inexperienced and doesn’t have a good understanding of how to utilize this tool.  Do not make the same mistakes that beginners do and learn how NOT to use a folding knife:

Do NOT keep the knife open when carrying or concealing it
The design of the folding knife is such that it conceals the blade and prevents the user from cutting himself.  When carrying the folding knife or concealing it in your purse or person, make sure that the blade is folded back to the sheath and that the lock is in place.  This will keep you secure and prevent any physical harm to you.

Do NOT show off the folding knife
The less your potential attacker knows, the better.  If you’re carrying around a folding knife, do not whip it out for no reason just to show off or perform a demo in front of your friends or co-workers.  This is probably fine for private parties but it’s best that not a lot of people know you have one.  That way, you have the element of surprise to your advantage.

Do NOT use the folding knife without practicing first
Even a Jedi had to learn to wield the light saber, so why not you with your folding knife?  With practice, you become familiar with your weapon.  The more you know how to wield it, the more confident you will be using it.

Do NOT use the folding knife without clipping the lock in place
The lock is meant to keep the blade from folding back into the sheath.  If you have to use the folding knife, make sure that it’s locked and stable.

Do NOT expose the folding knife to moisture
Some types of steel blades are vulnerable to corrosion when exposed repeatedly to moisture and/or air.  Clean it regularly and wipe any moisture off with a clean cloth.

Do NOT use the folding knife without knowing if it still works
Always keep your folding knife clean and try to inspect it periodically when not in use.  This will help prevent any corrosion that could occur, which could lead to tighter blades that won’t ‘swing’.  Check the parts regularly to determine if they’re still working properly.  If you’ve been keeping a folding knife in a drawer somewhere for at least a year or two, inspect it for any damage before carrying it with you.  That way, you’ll know for sure that it will work in your defense.

Kidnapping is a very real threat, wherever you may be in the world or whatever city you may live in. It’s not just a problem in third world or politically unstable countries. Each year, tens of thousands of adults and children go missing due to kidnapping, the reason for which may not always be related to money. To protect yourself and your family, here are tips on how to prevent kidnappers from victimizing you:

Find alternative routes
If you think there is a threat, find other streets or highways you can use when driving from home to work and back. Kidnappers rely on your routine to track you down and then look for a time when you’re most vulnerable to an attack.

Do not accept lifts offered by strangers
Once you get into a stranger’s car, you are at their mercy. They could either incapacitate you or hold you hostage and you might not have an opportunity to defend yourself.

Do not leave your doors open
Kidnappers don’t always snatch their victims off the streets. They can sometimes begin the attack right in your own home. To prevent kidnapping in your own property, close your doors and gates and install locks or alarms. The more secured you are inside, the more difficult you will be to abduct.

Let someone know where you are
If you must meet a new acquaintance, make sure someone knows where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Leave word with a family member or friend where you’re headed and if possible, give the name of the person you’re about to meet and other details you might know.

Meet them in a crowded place or somewhere other people can see you. Heavy human traffic is a major deterrent for kidnappers and may just save your life.

Tell your child to never talk to strangers
Train your children to avoid strangers, even if they seem friendly and offer gifts. If a stranger asks for help, tell your child to refuse and to call the attention of an adult immediately. If a gift is being offered, tell them not to accept anything.

Arm yourself with self-defense weapons
Other than a gun, there are weapons and gadgets you can carry with you that are very effective for preventing kidnapping. Pepper sprays, for example, are very effective for stopping an attacker and giving you sufficient time to incapacitate him/her and escape.

A stun gun is also a very important self-defense weapon to bring to help prevent a kidnapping. A stun gun is capable of bringing a sufficient bolt of electricity to shock an attacker, rendering him/her helpless for a few precious minutes so you have time to run away.

pepper shot pepper spray image

stun pen image

For Adrian Quintanilla, jiu jitsu is not only a way to get in shape, but it’s also a fun way of learning self-defense.

The literal translation for jiu jitsu is the “way of yielding” or “the art of softness”. It is also a collective term for various styles of Japanese martial arts, many of which are based on striking and grappling techniques. The sport is derived from ancient techniques used by samurai in the old days and against opponents who weren’t just armored but carried weapons as well. Jiu jitsu was also used by samurais when they had no means or were forbidden to use weapons.

Unlike other methods of self-defense, also teaches people how to use their opponent’s energy against them rather than employing techniques which require them to directly confront their opponent.

Although there are different schools of teachings for jiu-jitsu, all of them have certain similarities. Every jiu-jitsu student, for instance, learns the traditional techniques through observation and imitation. Most schools also place special emphasis in joint-locking when they are teaching their students unarmed techniques in combating.

All schools include striking techniques in their “curriculum”, although the actual technique may vary from school to school. Nevertheless, striking techniques often target a vulnerable part of the body.

While techniques used for combating with weapons differ, the actual weapons used remain the same for all jiu-jitsu schools: short one-hook truncheons called jitte, knives (tanto), short and long swords, and three and six-foot staffs called hanbo and roku shaku bo, respectively.

Men and women of all ages can learn jiu jitsu, and The Boxing Gym in Edinburg is indeed open to accepting anyone who wishes to lose weight and learn self-defense through jiu jitsu. At present, Quintanilla tells Monitor.com that their students range from 10-year-old kids to forty-year-old men. The classes take place at night, from Tuesday to Friday, and costs $75 to $95 per month.

The classes offered at The Boxing Gym focus, however, on the Brazilian version of jiu-jitsu. This version originated Esai Maeda Koma, a jiu jitsu master who settled in Brazil in 1916. Quintanilla describes Brazilian jiu-jitsu as the martial art “for the little guy” because it teaches techniques people can use even or most especially when they’re on their backs.

Of course, knowledge and skills in jiu-jitsu should not be abused and Quintanilla advises people to use such techniques only when other and less risky tactics, like simply walking away, prove to be unsuccessful.

image credits to The Adventures of Kristin & Adam