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Palm Stick - Tactical Pen - Tactical Flashlight

The Palm Stick (also called Pocket Stick, Kubotan, Dulo Dulo or Olisi Palid) is one of the most effective close-quarter self-defense weapons. It is essentially a derivation of the Yawara stick, usually 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and 0.56 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter, slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen. Attached with a key ring for convenience and concealment, the Palm Stick appears as an innocuous key fob to the untrained eye.

Palm SticksAside from its size and shape, much of its usage is quite similar to the Yawara stick. As with the Yawara stick, the principal areas for attacks in self-defense include bony, fleshy and nerve targets such as knuckles, forearms, bridge of the nose, shins, stomach, solar plexus, spine, temple, ribs, groin, neck, eyes etc. The Palm Stick is usually held in either an ice pick grip (for hammer fist strikes) or forward grip (for stabbing and pressure point attacks). Common uses include hardening the fist (fist load) for punching, attacking vulnerable parts of an assailant's body, and gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist, fingers and joints. With keys attached, it can also function as a flailing weapon. As a pressure point and pain compliance weapon it can attack any point a finger can, but with greater penetration because of the smaller surface area at the ends. For example, a law enforcement officer may wrap his arm around the suspect's neck while simultaneously digging the end of the Palm Stick into the small of his back. The officer may also reach around the suspect's neck and underarm from behind and cause pain by digging the end of the Palm Stick into the top of his pectoral muscle. One typical pain compliance technique is a wrist "gasket" lock in which the attacker's wrist is captured and sealed around with both hands and the body of the Palm Stick laid across the radial bone. Downward squeezing pressure is then applied to the bone to take down the opponent. Its techniques are greatly linked to 'empty handed' martial arts techniques.

In the absence of the Palm Stick (and similar weapons like the Yawara stick and the Koppo stick) improvised versions can be readily found and used in similar fashion. Since a Palm Stick is just a rod of material any restrictive regulation would most likely be ambiguous and undefined due to the ability for any rod-shaped item to essentially be used in palm stick-like fashion. Thus, the Palm Stick can be replaced by everyday items that can include hairbrushes, pens, magic markers and Sharpies, flashlights, twigs, etc.

The palm stick is known by many names among Filipino
Martial Arts (FMA) practitioners. Among the more popular terms for this weapon are




Folding knives like the Balisong or the modern tactical folder can be deployed in a less lethal manner by using them closed as a palm stick. Some tactical folders are built with a glass breaker making them ideal bludgeoning implements. In the case of the Balisong, it is better to use the exposed tang of the closed blade for hitting than the other end of the handle where the latch is located because the latter is more susceptible to damage.

Another benefit of palm stick training is that after the dagger, it is the shortest weapon that an FMA student can learn to understand the transition between weapons and empty hand fighting. Take note that the FMA being originally a battlefield art has a reversed progression of training compared to other Asian martial arts. In Arnis, Eskrima and Kali, the student trains with weapons first then later on progress to empty hand fighting. A quote from the late Eskrima master



While the angles of attacks remain constant in Arnis, Eskrima, Kali training, the student must realize that there are subtle differences when transitioning from weapons to empty hand combat.






The Tactical Flashlight for self defense


When used effectively, the tactical flashlight is an excellent tool for self defense. It combines the power to blind an attacker with night adapted vision with the benefits of the palm stick. It's difficult to imagine how effective an extremely bright light can be, until you're shined with one in the dark. All you can see is light, as in the image to the left, and when the light goes off you see black while your eyes adjust to the change. But imagine what your attacker will experience, as immediately after losing his vision he gets kicked hard in the balls, hit in the solar plexus, or hammered in the face with what amounts to a thick, metal bolt. Not only is the flashlight a great self defense tool, but you can carry it everywhere, inculding where weapons of any kind are illegal to carry.

General Principles

Prevention should always be your first option
!. Using your flashlight as a deterrent, instead of as a weapon, should be your second option. It's always better to avoid physical contact when possible. If you maintain your distance and blind a potential attacker or attackers, that may well be enough for you to escape. If it's not, many combinations will work with a "flash and bash" strategy, including empty hand combinations where you substitute the light for hand strikes or elbows. Because most people instinctively bring their hands up to their face after being flashed, my preference is generally either to kick low, punch low, or grab or smack the lead hand down to strike the head with the light as an opening move. This palm stick defense also works well as an attack after a flash, and can be done to the face, throat, sternum, or solar plexus. Like everything else, in order to use it you need to train with it. So if you do choose to carry a flashlight for self defense you must put in the training time to be able to use it.

Another important point is that the light needs to be in your hand already. It's not going to do you any good in your pocket or purse. When carrying a light for self defense you should carry it in your hand when walking outdoors at night.



Tactical Pen & Tactical Flashlight

Olisi Palid Targets

Olisi Palid Targets

Olisi Palid Targets

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Filipino Kali Palm Stick