You and I both know there’s no such thing as a “fair fight”, right?
That’s why – even if it’s not a firearm – you should always have some kind of “force-multiplier” weapon on you to defend yourself if you’re ever attacked by an aggressive individual.
One of the easiest defensive tools to carry with you are “impact weapons” – which covers a pretty wide range of tools – but most notably, there’s no shortage of instructors who will tell you just how effective your keys can be as a self-defense weapon.
Well, since you most likely carry them with you for your everyday carry (EDC), they certainly are handy…
… but will they really stop an enraged attacker in his tracks when you unleash their deadly jingle from your pockets?
Don’t Fall For Old, Outdated Self-Defense Weapon Advice Unless It’s Been Tested “Under Pressure”!
Here Are 3 Myths About Using Your Keys As An Impact Weapon For Personal Defense In A Real Street Fight…
Myth #1: The Dreaded “Key Claws Of Death”
I wish I could get my hands on the first self-defense instructor to tell people (especially women!) of this doozy!
I know you’ve seen it… and it’s common “self-defense” advice that you should always walk to your vehicle with your keys in the palm of your hand, and individual keys sticking out between the fingers of your fist as you grip them.
The fantasy goes something like, “bad man jumps out of the dark shadows only to be punched in the face with your 3 key claws” … and he runs off to the hood with a punctured grill for all of his friends to laugh at.
Unfortunately, the sheer science of this makes no sense.
Between your fingers, your keys have no solid structure to keep them from moving – and so striking anything with them will only bend them against your fingers, possibly even causing you more harm than your attacker’s body.
Just. NO.
Myth #2: “The Key-Flailing Advantage”
Another technique that’s popularly taught for using your keys as impact weapons is key-flailing.
Key-flailing is when you use something like a key-chain Kubotan to “whip” the attached keys at an attacker.
While the 15 keys you have attacked to this popular self-defense weapon can be distracting and annoying… the loose keys don’t have anywhere near the capability you need for inflicting any serious damage to your attacker.
Most likely, it will just annoy your attacker until he can take your keys away from you.
Myth #3: The Key-Distraction Device”
This “myth” sounds a bit more realistic for personal defense… until you stop to really game-plan out the aftermath…
The “technique” is to throw your keys into the face of your attacker to get them to involuntarily flinch while you turn around and beat feet screaming for help while he’s distracted.
Actually, this is a popular “ninja move” and we train with throwing all kinds of objects into the face of our enemy – from “blinding powder” to small metal tacks, or even loose change.
But here are the problems with using your keys for a distraction…
One… your accuracy better be spot-on because your keys are all linked together, which means you only get one shot at hitting your target.
Two… your keys are light and not designed as projectiles so the impact on your attacker – especially if thrown from a distance – is likely to be minimal, and could even provoke them further instead of deterring them.
And finally, they’re your keys – and likely include your home’s keys as well – so handing them over to a criminal while you run off only gives them free access not only to your vehicle… but after looking up your home address on your vehicle’s registration, you now have to re-key your entire house so you’re not up all night listening for the sound of your aggressor opening up your bedroom door!
Keys And Other “Everyday Carry” Weapons Can Be VERY Effective When Defending Yourself And…
Here Are Some (Literal) Ninja Tricks For Using Impact Weapons For Self Defense…
The Ninja are far more adept at personal defense than all the wall-walking superpowers Hollywood likes to show you in the movies.
Masters of not only close-quarters combat – the Ninja are highly-skilled in how to use various objects as powerful “tools” for combat victory.
For example…
Your Keys As An Improvised Surujin
The “Surujin” was a traditional Japanese weapon with a blade at the end of a long chain, used to strike the enemy from a distance.
In addition, the chain itself could be used to retain the blade to pull it back to strike again… tangle the attacker’s legs and feet… pull them in close to finish them off with a sword… or even choke out the enemy combatant in close battle.
Likewise, attaching your keys to a longer loop of “550” paracord puts the weight of them farther out from your striking hand, allowing you to “whip” them at an attacker with great precision, using the jagged edges of the keys themselves to rip shreds of skin from the exposed targets you strike – while at the same time, retaining your keys so you don’t lose them
(And yes… up close, you can use the paracord itself as a choking device for grappling ranges or groundfighting!)
Improvised Shuriken Devices
While I don’t recommend throwing your loose keys at your attacker, thrown objects like the shuriken “throwing stars” always had a place in the Ninja’s weapons arsenal.
The sharp so-called “ninja stars” are largely illegal and do require quite a bit of practice to be consistently accurate with them.
However, anything you can throw as a distraction at your attacker – in particular, their face – can damage their eyes, disrupting their vision to give you and advantage and give you the split second you may need to hightail it out of the danger zone.
Ninja would even use small pebbles or sand for this purpose – but some loose change in your pocket or purse can do the trick quite nicely.
“Hidden” (In Plain Sight) Impact Weapons
While these various thrown or “whipped” weapons can offer a nice little boost to your force-multiplier arsenal, most will lose power by the time they reach their point of impact.
That’s why having some kind of a hand-held striking tool that can magnify the force of your normal strikes is a far better option outside of a firearm or knife.
The Ninja were masters of hiding weapons in plain sight and could carry and use everything from a fan to a hairpin at a moment’s notice if attacked.
Ku
The popular, hand-held “Kubotan” is one such device that’s fast and easy to deploy and has the benefit of concentrating the force of your blow into a much smaller, harder impact point – but these weren’t developed until long after the Ninja and they are often illegal and could land you in jail if you use them.
A better covert option is to use an item that’s considered common for everyday carry and can be
That’s why so man defense-minded individuals now carry a “tactical pen” for personal defense.
However, “normal” tactical pens are usually too tactical… and can land you in hot water with police (and in court!) for the same reasons a kubotan isn’t recommended.
You’re better off with a tactical pen that’s “tactical”, but doesn’t look like a “weapon”, allowing you to more easily explain to responding police that it was simply a “weapon of opportunity” you were forced to use to defend yourself.
No matter what you use as a force-multiplying self-defense weapon, you must remember that any weapon is simply a “tool”… and it will ultimately be your skills with the weapon that will be the deciding factor in your winning the fight.
Well I hate to burst everybody’s bubble but keys are not a good weapon I’ve seen it used and from what I’ve seen it does not work you make a strike on somebody and hits them in the arm or shoulder and your keys bust apart and all over the ground are your keys or someone takes it away from you and now they have the keys to your house your car and everything else it’s not a good idea I’m sorry to burst everyone’s bubble with this but it’s too light of a weapon it does not hold up
I often use a cane to steady my right foot it has a tendency to pronate (ARTHRITIS). I can get by without it by altering my stance which also is a relaxed defense stance. My cane is fiber reinforced plastic, and I know how to use it.
Two quick suggestions, first, always have an umbrella, if its a aggressive dog, the simple action of opening it will freak the “sh, Poop”, right outta them, Second, now days you can pick up a mini stun gun / flashlight, for around $10 bucks, again, the mere sound of it will freak ANYONE out instantly, just remember to check it for usage from time to time, a dead battery is just that, DEAD….Semper Fi
am now in my senior years, but as a boy walking his dog, i use to carry a tightly rolled up newspaper, to keep other dogs away. a blow from this can be like being struck with a piece of timber, plus it is not classed as a weapon. with practice, it can be used to; flick, thrust, parry, and strike.
I have an electric key fob for my 2013 vehicle. I carry it on a break away lanyard tucked into my shirt. My house key tucked away elsewhere. My open carry keys are becoming worthless except as a distraction.
Closing distance poses a risk to bodily harm. Personally would Not use keys. Centrifigal force works best. Plus use of them prevents closing distance.
Use of a large “nut” with its hexagonal edge attached to length of string. Prevents notice until used and is common item.
If you tie a key to a long section of paracord the key is still very light. Better to use some washers or a lead sinker. Based on your own “Myth busting comments” this doesn’t seem like it would be any better than the other ideas.
Probably is the more weight you add to your keychain the more you put stress on your ignition lock. Then you have the more newer cars with just a key fab. Break that and it can be expensive to replace.
I have the habit of carrying keys on a “Key Safe” on a choke collar that has two welded rings. Keys on one end the other in the safe. For forty years this was how I carried my work keys. It is a functional chain whip.