Spyderco Forums

Does one exist? Seems pretty practical.

There are quite a few systems that incorporate the flashlight as a defensive tool.

JabFynger wrote:There are quite a few systems that incorporate the flashlight as a defensive tool.

yepp as a ku-baton

delicafreak wrote:yepp as a ku-baton

I was thinking more of a shotgun with a light mounted on it.

Kubaton based martial art systems can easily be adapted for flashlights.

I work nightclub security, and I always carry my kubaton(and my stinger). They both work great provided you know what you're doing with either.

Piercieve wrote:Does one exist? Seems pretty practical.

Sure does!...I train LEOs at least once every two month in the tactics and techniques of the defensive flashlight...not the small kubotan like tactical lights but big D cell Mag-lites...For everything from weapons retention and suspect control and restraint, to weapons disarming...interview posture and positions...etc. etc etc....Doc :D

Dr. Snubnose wrote:Sure does!...I train LEOs at least once every two month in the tactics and techniques of the defensive flashlight...not the small kubotan like tactical lights but big D cell Mag-lites...For everything from weapons retention and suspect control and restraint, to weapons disarming...interview posture and positions...etc. etc etc....Doc :D

That is awesome. Do you find most departments lack proper training in the use of the flashlight? I would assume that it is an under-emphasized, non-lethal defensive implement.

I have a light and a kubaton/pepper spray of roughly the same size. They work similarly in dynamics at night, which consolidates training.

SolidState wrote:That is awesome. Do you find most departments lack proper training in the use of the flashlight? I would assume that it is an under-emphasized, non-lethal defensive implement.

I have a light and a kubaton/pepper spray of roughly the same size. They work similarly in dynamics at night, which consolidates training.

Not really...More often than not it is one piece of equipment that officers tend to bring along with them (especially at night) when they exist their patrol cars...often a PR-24 or Baton can be left behind because they can be cumbersome and the officer is already loaded down with other important equipment. The aircraft aluminum flashlight is strong and can be quite the impact weapon...Though we teach LEOs to strike, if needed, to the belly of muscles rather than the head or the perps joints. If the perp moves or the officers aim is off, oh well....and if it hits something more vital, can't blame me...I teach to target the belly of muscles when it come to striking....Doc :D

:spyder: I attended a martial blade concepts seminar a few years back dealing with flashlights and improvised weapons borrowing heavily from MBC's reverse edge curriculum. I'm not sure if Mr. Janich has released any videos on the subject yet but it'd sure be worth the cost if he has! :spyder:

I know a lot can be incorporated. My instructor uses dowels of anywhere from small flashlight to large to represent them. Small ones (like a stinger flashlight) he would call a palm stick (or kubotan) and has many ways to do terrible things with them, the longer ones are basically escrima sticks adapted down a little in length and you have to allow for weight. Other than that, anything translates to it if you have the training. I've watched Sifu Farrell roll up a newspaper or magazine and beat holy **** out of me or someone else with it. Amazing what some paper can do! I've also seen Dan Inosanto break 1 inch thick boards with a regular newspaper rolled up. It's an old phillipino trick. Anything that has the length can be used as an improvised escrima stick and as such adapted to whatever you know.

There are reverse grip knife techniques that can be directly applied to using a flashlight. The same mechanics apply whether you have a knife or flashlight in your hand.

Regarding...

"Do you find most departments lack proper training in the use of the flashlight?"

This question came up recently in talking to a retire NYPD chief this past week. Based on what he told me they get some training in the academy but these are perishable skills that many of them don't take the time to reinforce. The conversation was specific to counter blade training (we were discussing the recent knife murders in NYC) but I'm sure it applies to flashlight as well.

Application as a kubotan is obvious, I meant more using the actual light to distract, mask attacks, etc.

Michael Cook wrote: :spyder: I attended a martial blade concepts seminar a few years back dealing with flashlights and improvised weapons borrowing heavily from MBC's reverse edge curriculum. I'm not sure if Mr. Janich has released any videos on the subject yet but it'd sure be worth the cost if he has! :spyder:

Thanks for the post, Mike.

As a matter of fact, the DVD "Forever Armed" addresses my approach to improvised weapons and focuses heavily on "fist loads," a category of one-handed weapons that includes flashlights, Kubotans, tactical pens, etc. Here's a link to it:

http://www.staysafemedia.com/product.ph ... ge=FOREVER ARMED

Stay safe,

Mike