I know there are many people looking for something to carry to give them a sense of security and the ability to protect oneself. They do not have the time, resources or interest necessary to undertake a serious study of martial skills. There are literally catalogs full of self defense items aimed at this group and many of them are highly effective. The problem is that more and more places bar you
from carrying any of these self-defense tools/items. Sporting events, casinos and concert venues, for example, regularly run all attendees through metal detectors. They won’t let you bring in your lucky penknife with it’s dull 1.5 inch blade, much less your canister of tear gas, collapsible baton, pressure point key-chain, TASER and double-edged boot knife! Yet we have all read stories of fans being beaten at games, robberies in parking lots and more. Therefore a self defense item/tool needs to be not only effective and fairly easy to use but permissible to carry at all times. Instead of turning to the latest high-tech self defense gizmo, I recommend returning to one of the oldest: The Walking Cane. The Walking Cane has been used as weapons by almost every culture at one time or another. From the Blackthorn shillelaghs of the Irish clans and the Japanese jo staff, our ancestors saw the advantage of carrying a nice, stout club… whether or not you actually needed it in assistance for walking. Around the turn of the last century when urbanization saw an increase in crime coupled with a decrease in the legality of carrying weapons, several manuals and gyms appeared touting the cane or umbrella as a convenient, legal weapon. In fact, Sherlock Holmes was even supposed to be a student of Bartitsu, the hybrid Asian-European fighting system that included fencing with walking sticks. Canes and walking sticks are still readily available and readily accepted because they are still needed by so many people. Walking Canes are not viewed as weapons and as such, can be carried almost anywhere. I have used one on and off for years and I have never had anyone question my need to carry a cane. It sometimes even gets me moved up in lines! Discreet, Non-threatening, the Walking Cane, is the ultimate Self-Defensive tool, that YOU can carry ANYWHERE, LEGALLY!!!
