(Left) Realizing the person is armed with a knife, Mike assumes a guard position with his cane, which he has already determined — based on a self-assessment of his physical abilities — is a viable strik- ing weapon for him. (Right) The attacker’s knife thrust is countered with a cane thrust to the chest or shoulder, stopping the attack cold by using the superior length and 2-handed power of the cane.
earlier in the process. The sooner you start, the more options you have.
Self-assessment With that goal defined, the next
step is to take an honest look at your physical abilities. Focus on your abili- ties, not disabilities, and really try to quantify what you’re capable of. Use that assessment to objectively define your physical resources. Some ques- tions you might ask yourself include: How fast and how far can I walk or
run if I had to? Can I stand without artificial sup-
port and wield a weapon? How hard can I hit with a weapon
like a stick or cane? Can I stand without artificial
support and strike with my hands and elbows? Can I kick? Do I have the strength and dexterity
to shoot and manipulate a handgun? Can I shoot a handgun with both
hands? With one hand? How good is my vision? What types of mobility aids or
equipment must I use regularly? Do these mobility aids or
equipment offer potential as improvised weapons? If I use a mobility aid or a wheel-
chair, how quickly can I move and how far can I go before stopping?
Tools To Work With? Based on these questions and any
others you find relevant, you should
WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM
You may be injured or have a disability, but by no means are you easy prey. With the proper gear, training and mindset you can be a formidable opponent.
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develop a realistic understanding of what you can actually do in a person- al-defense situation. These are your capabilities. With them defined, the next step should be to research the laws in your area (both state and mu- nicipality) and determine what types of weapons are legal to carry and use in self-defense. If you travel frequent- ly, you should also research the laws in the areas you travel to and through to see how they compare to the area where you live. Ideally, your goal is to develop a list of weapons that are legally permissible in all the areas you live and operate. If the laws differ considerably, make separate lists of what is legal in each area. In that pro-
cess, ensure you include both lethal and less-lethal weapons so you have as broad a scope of use-of-force op- tions as possible. These weapons are your potential personal-defense tools.
Wargaming: Considering Your Options In Context With an honest understanding
of your capabilities and the tools available to you, it’s time to start “wargaming.” Wargaming is the mental exercise of imagining plau- sible personal-defense situations and working through them mentally to determine practical responses. Dur- ing this process, above all else, be re- alistic. Don’t assume you will be able
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