The link no longer works; however, don't get caught up in complex techniques that you already need to be a black belt to use. People who need to use canes are already slow and weak so they need simple impact techniques to discourage attackers and not subdue them on the ground.

Personally I have always found that if you need something other than your hands...... and it does not involve bullets.......... you better know what the hell you are doing. Most of us are not going to be carrying a cane. A 12 gauge would go a lot further in leveling the playing field, buy I could be wrong. 😈

I use a can - have now for a few years. As HaliBoy pointed out "people with canes are targets". For myself - it allows me to walk in public armed. I have had batton training, I know the zones that are leathal strike zones and I also know the zones to disable. Believe me this thing could be very dangerous if on the recieving end. I see it as a big batton I walk with that is able to be used as defensive and offensive asset.
But there is a flip side - HaliBoy is right these days anyone showing a weakness is a potential target. A cane IS seen as a weakness.

On the other hand it's about the only option these days if you have to get on an airliner.

They even put my wooden tree branch through an x-ray scanner to make sure theres nothing to conceal pre 9/11 that never happened in Australian domestic flights.

Does my Canadian Crutch with the arm bracket removed, a nice strong nut and bot thru one of the height adjustment holes to make it tall enough for my big self count as a cane?

When i had someone enter my place uninvited earlier this year they stopped when they saw my 6ft4 sumo sized self.. but standing up with about 4ft of aluminium crutch in my hand made em back right out 😀

Few weeks back i did think of about 6 ways i could kill the dog that killed my parents pet duck with the crutch,, and a few to touch up the dickhead owner 😉

Susannah;

I have trained for over 20 years with a cane-length "half-staff". It is, IMHO, one of the most user-friendly and versatile defensive weapons available, and definitely worth your consideration. For straight-up, no-frills self-defense, I strongly recommend that you give the Doyle Irish Stick-Fighting system a look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcH0ww_Jbfg (* I'm the sweaty guy in the blue tee-shirt, at 1:26 - 1:34)

The Doyle stick-fighting system is the most straight-forward, aggressive and effective I've ever seen. I would - and DO - stake my life on it. I trained to the first instructor level in the Doyle system, but that credential has expired. I haven't trained with Mr. Doyle in quite some time, due to time and lifestyle constraints. He's a talented martial artist, gifted teacher, and extremely passionate about his family's fighting system. If you like what you see, you should give him a shout.

Cheers!

P2P

This is WICKED! That youtube video got me pumped! I'm a former police officer and my husband is still in law enforcement, he is at work right now but when he comes home I'm definitely going to show him and see if he feels like practising with the batons!

I have a mate who is looking at instructing Shillelagh soon. I'll see if he's getting set up or not if anybody is interested...

-S.

Hey, Jane and Pilgrim;

Shortly after posting to this thread, I resumed my training with Glen, and recertified as an instructor in Doyle Clan ISF. If you are interested in checking it out first-hand, let me know. I am in Orillia, ON. 🙂

I too like the cane. We used to spar with the staff when I was young and many of the half staff moves are useful with the cane.(though less balanced due to the handle) In todays society, it is good to have a somewhat hidden advantage over those who are agressive by nature. Even possessing the cane presents you as a potential cripple and might lead your opponent to underestimate you. Therefore your advantage is to not convince him otherwise until it is too late.

The second advantage is that when authorities arrive, you can still present yourself as the disadvantaged to prevent charges such as "assault with a deadly weapon" or other charges of intent. If you are carrying a staff, you are hard pressed to be viewed under that same light.

Crutches are even more deadly as you then possess 2 weapons with a long reach. Even if your opponent manages to grab hold of one, the other can bean him before he can do much. A person with any balance at all can be fairly fomidable when on crutches. Most folks try to capture one crutch and then push you off balance and over. The best tactic is to swing the first low with your with your non-dominent arm and when the attacker is busy avoiding that crutch, swing your dominent arm's crutch for the fatal blow...(try not to kill em though as thats harder to explain away). Also putting all the wing nuts forward on your crutches is a good habit to acquire as they can rip the crap out of your attacker with even glancing blows....

And remember that your the helpless victim....so act it when the authorities get there!

Used to use an umbrella when bullied or in a street fight. Sadly the metal parts on umbrella these days is easier to bend and broke.