Carrying Pocket Sticks, Page 2 (Go
to Page 1)
By Phil Elmore
ITEMS TO AVOID
There are a few pocket-stick-style implements on the
market, relatively common in martial arts catalogs and stores, that I do not
recommend. Any of the metal pocket sticks incorporating concealed blades
are poor choices. Such a device will get you in a great deal of trouble if
its true nature is discovered by a curious law enforcement officer. As the
blade takes a great deal of time to remove and reattach to the body of the
“stick,” it cannot be employed when you need it anyway — rendering
the whole device an exercise in folly. The risks outweigh the dubious
benefits. The same is true for the pocket sticks that look like metal
kubotans and are hollow inside for carrying metal “throwing spikes.”
The “Ninja Keyrings” available that
have metal protrusions that thrust out between the fingers are similarly poor
ideas. For one thing, it’s difficult to see these devices as keychains —
they practically scream “offensive weapon.” For another thing,
they’re bulky, awkward, and difficult to carry comfortably. Don’t waste
your money on these.
PURCHASING POCKET STICKS
The source I recommend for pocket sticks is Self
Defense Gear, the store site linked to Self
Defense Forums. They provided me with excellent service, superb
customer communication, and genuine enthusiasm for the concept of
self-defense. Their plain
metal kubotan-style pocket stick was of noticeably
better quality than the (albeit lighter) kubotan I purchased elsewhere (foreground).
The site also has an extensive
selection of tapered aluminum
pocket sticks.
What makes SDG unique, however (and the reason I recommend
them by name here), is the willingness of its staff to take existing materials
and ideas discussed online and make them reality — reality you can buy
and with which you can equip yourself. Borrowing the koppo concept and
applying it to their stock of tapered metal sticks, SDG produces
a hybrid called the “Koppo-ton” that combines the two in a single
package.
Because the Koppo-tons are made from existing
stock, they can be had in the same
colors as the standard aluminum pocket sticks. These are well-made,
strong, and light, though the precision grooves machined into the body will feel
almost sharp to some hands. If you’re used to the wider grooves on
wooden pocket sticks or standard kubotans, it make take a little while for you
to become accustomed to the tactile sensation these produce.
While I imagine it is difficult to drill out aluminum
neatly, the Koppo-tons display good
workmanship. Each Koppo-ton comes complete with instructions for
adjusting the finger loop. You’ll need a pair of scissors, a lighter, and
of course the stick itself. The same adjustment applies to any koppo that
has a paracord finger loop, so I’ll walk you through it here.
1. Adjust the Koppo-ton’s loop around your ring and
middle fingers until you are comfortable. The loop must be tight enough so
the stick will be retained when you open your hand, but not so tight that you
can’t comfortably slip the loop on and off your fingers. (Wrestling to
pull the thing on your fingers defeats the purpose if you need the stick in a
hurry.)
2. Use a loose knot as you adjust your
finger loop. One end should already be tightly knotted, so you’re
adjusting the free end only. (There’s no need to multiply
variables.) Repeat the process as many times as necessary, finally
knotting tightly the free end of the paracord when you are satisfied.
Don’t cut that cord until you’re convinced it’s the right length, or you’ll have
to get more and start all over again. Once you’ve got it just right, clip
the excess.
3. Burn the end of the paracord so it
won’t fray. Melt the knot itself a bit to make sure it won’t come
loose. A supply of paracord and a disposable lighter are must-haves for
koppo or Koppo-ton owners.
CONCLUSION
There is no excuse for not carrying a pocket stick,
provided there are no laws where you live forbidding them. A powerful,
portable, simple device that greatly amplifies your ability to deliver force
when necessary, the pocket stick is an overlooked and underestimated
self-defense tool. While the material, shape, length, and design of your
pocket stick is a matter of personal preference, the basic concept behind the
device is one that has been applied successfully for centuries. Do not
ignore it.