Training Weapons

Training with martial arts weapons develops the same skills needed in unarmed combat as weapons are quite often used as an extension of the arm providing more reach and deadly force. Even though you may never carry a weapon around with you, training with weapons is a very important part of self-defence training. If you really want to be able to defend against a weapon you must at least have a basic understanding on how that weapons works. At Universal Self Defence the most favoured weapon to use for training purposes is the knife. Self Defence against the knife is a very practical choice as it is the most common weapon you can come across in every society that still uses the kitchen. Also the self-defence techniques you learn against a knife can also work effectively, with only minor adjustments, against many other handheld objects that maybe used as weapons. There are three main types of training knives used, the rubber knife, Tanto the traditional wooden knife and combat training foam knives. Other training weapons available at Universal Self Defence are the Arnis Eskrima Kali sticks and self defence training guns.

Rubber Knives
The most popular type of self defence training knife would have to be the rubber knife. At Universal Self Defence there is a good selection of rubber knives to choose from a very basic plain rubber knife with a straight silver blade and black handle that looks real enough and is ideal for the novice self defence classes. There are also more fancy looking deluxe training knives that look much more dramatic and are often used by theatre companies and used for martial arts demonstrations. For more hard core self defence or special forces training there is the top grade heavy duty straight black tactical combat training knife made from the toughest and incredibly durable heavy duty Poly Propylene material. The biggest advantage training with rubber knives is the safety element, as the knives are relatively harmless unless you poke someone in the eye, so it is better not to attack too close to the face in training.

Tanto Traditional Wooden Knives
The wooden training knives do not look as realistic as the rubber knives but many still prefer them for training purposes, as they are nearly impossible to break. The Tanto Traditional Plain Wooden Knife shape is a realistic shape and they do not bend so training with wooden knives is very practical. There is also a Tanto Deluxe Bound Handle Wooden Knife, which gives you a better grip with the black rope bound handle. Although the wooden knives can take more punishment than the rubber knives you have to be more careful when training with them because they are very solid and can hurt when you get whacked with one.

Arnis Eskrima Kali Sticks
Stick fighting martial arts have been traditionally most popular in the Philippines. Practising with Arnis, Eskrima or Kali sticks is in many ways similiar to the sport of fencing with swords only it is fighting with sticks. The traditional Rattan wood sticks are much lighter and less jarring than sticks made of hardwood sticks so they are much better for training purposes. Also padded foam sticks with a solid inner core are great for training.

Training Guns
Hard plastic hand guns are ideal for self defence and personal safety procedure training. The training guns available at Universal Self Defence have a realistic weight and feel to them and are in eye catching bright colours so they cannot be mistaken for a real gun. These training guns are perfect for safe simulation and disarming training or for practising appropriate safety procedures in an armed hold up. Plastic handguns otherwise known, as Glock guns, are also ideal for self defence martial arts demonstrations.