Self-Defense: Nonlethal Weapons - Which One Is Best For You?

Until nonlethal weapons such as stun guns and pepper sprays came into being, the main alternative in a confrontation was deadly force. The effectiveness of nonlethal products has helped propel them into the forefront of the mainstream of society. Stun guns and pepper sprays have really come into their own only since the 1980's so they're pretty new on the scene of self-defense.

It's a big decision to make when choosing a product that may have the potential to save your life. So we'll take a critical look at these nonlethal weapons-these self-defense products- to help you decide which one might be best for you.

As a foundation for this discussion, you should know that all police officers have a nonlethal alternative with them when they go after the bad guys. That is part of their continuum of force which allows for the least forceful all the way up to the deadly force as a final alternative.

They must make those decisions in a split second: you don't.

Here we will take a look at the major categories of nonlethal weapons and discuss some of the pros and cons of each to help you decide which one might be the best for you.

Pepper spray is the most widely used nonlethal weapon in the world. It was originally developed for crowd control and the use in apprehension of criminals and is still used that way today by law enforcement authorities. But it has morphed into a prime self-defense product for civilians. One of the reasons they are more popular than stun guns is that it creates an area of separation between you and the assailant. Stun guns require a physical application of the device to the assailant which many people find objectionable. Pepper sprays disable an assailant for up to 45 minutes by causing severe pain, difficulty breathing and excessive tearing of the eyes. They are small and very inexpensive. Many of them have key chain attachments which enables you to carry them with you literally wherever you go.

Stun guns are the second most popular nonlethal weapon. They are hand-held devices that discharge an electrical shock that can disable an assailant for 5 to 10 minutes. The shock comes from stored energy inside the gun from two or more probes on one end. The electricity cripples the body by depleting all the blood sugars so there's no energy left. They are more expensive than defensive sprays but, like them, are close to 90% effective.

Personal alarms are the third category of nonlethal weapons and are really not a weapon but a device that sounds a loud alarm scaring away an attacker and drawing attention to your situation. They are very effective and are generally inexpensive as well.

Our recommendation always has been to carry a pepper spray and a stun device. Use the pepper spray first then if you happen to miss, you have a stun device as a backup.

Self Defense - What Makes Pepper Spray The Number One Product For Personal Protection?

There is no doubt that pepper spray is the number one selling self-defense product for personal protection. Pepper spray or OC spray as it is sometimes called, is preferred by millions around the world as their product of choice when it comes to self-defense especially for female self-defense.

Every law enforcement officer in the country has a canister of pepper spray or defensive spray on his utility belt. The United States Postal Service has issued all their letter carriers with pepper sprays to defend against dog attacks.

So what makes pepper spray so effective? What makes it the number one product for personal protection? In our opinion it is close to obvious. In summary, it is relatively cheap, very effective and can be used from a distance. Let us elaborate a little more on these characteristics.

OC sprays are without a doubt the least expensive of all self-defense products. Many of them are available for less than five dollars each.

Defensive sprays are on average close to 90% effective in disabling an assailant in an assault. They come in a wide variety of styles, colors and disbursement methods from dozens of different manufacturers in the United States. So there are plenty of choices to choose from.

They can disable an assailant for up to 45 minutes from a short burst in the face, which will cause near debilitating pain, excessive tearing of the eyes and it makes breathing very difficult. It is truly nasty stuff.

Defensive sprays have a range anywhere from six up to 25 feet which for many is a distinct advantage over a stun gun, for example, which must be physically applied to an assailant for it to work. A lot of people, women especially, do not like that physical contact if it can be avoided. That is why they prefer pepper sprays.

Some come disguised which may be an advantage in certain situations. Probably the most popular disguised spray is the lipstick pepper spray, but there is also a pen that has spray in it.

There is a lot of confusion about how they are rated for effectiveness. Here are some terms to become familiar with. Scoville heat units is a common measurement of hotness. The minimum for any pepper spray is 2 million Scoville heat units while some claim to have as many as 5.3 million. The percentage of OC in the product is another common measurement of hotness. Most units are 10% concentration of oleoresin capsicum but some go as high as 18%.

Another measurement is the CRC (capsaicin and related capsaicinoids) strength. Most defensive sprays have a minimum of 1.3% while bear sprays have a minimum of 2% CRC's. One more measurement is a certified heat rating as verified by an independent laboratory.

So now you know what makes it so effective and thus the number one selling self-defense product in the world. Remember, it is your life that you're protecting. So choose wisely when picking a one.

Self Defense for Women: A Matter of Life or Death

Both women and men face the threat of violent attacks at some point in their lives. But the statistics for women being violently attacked are staggering: 3 in 4 women aged 21 and over have a chance of being attacked in their lifetime. It is frightening, but law enforcement officials recommend self defense for women class, as a means for avoiding this terrible crime.

When you think of self defense, you might think pepper spray, a quick jab in the eyes with your keys, or a swift kick in the groin. But in reality, self defence for women means doing anything and everything it takes to avoid an attack or stop an attacker, it involves using your head, as well as using your fists.

Here are some valuable self defense for women tips from the experts:

Use Your Head

One of best ways to protect yourself is to avoid getting in to situations that would compromise your safety. Use your head, and most of all, trust your instincts. If you are out in a less-than-crowded place, like a park or a mall parking lot, and you get that uncomfortable feeling in your stomach or you can't help but look over your shoulder that could be your instincts telling you that trouble is near. Remember, fear is your friend. It is not a sign of weakness; it is a means of survival.

Here are some other easy ways to protect yourself:

Be aware of your surroundings and the people in them at all times.
Walk briskly and confidently, so you won't become an easy target.
Keep a cell phone handy and call someone if you feel uncomfortable.
Make sure that someone knows where you are at all times.
Travel in groups, especially at night; there is safety in numbers.

As a woman, you must be more observant of your surroundings, situational awareness is critical in keeping yourself safe. Crimes and other types of violence are very prevalent these days and your chances of becoming a victim continue to increase. By learning the basic strategies in self defense it will help you avoid becoming a victim of a violent crime.

For additional techniques, you may also enroll in a self defense for women class at your local police department, martial arts school or check out some of the online self defense training programs. These classes are designed especially for women to help them learn to be smart and safe!

Women's Self Defense: The WHY

Anyone can sit down and watch the news on a given day or turn the radio on and see yet another instance of an assault or even worse. Normally these situations become so prevalent and wide-spread, that the viewer eventually becomes oblivious to the news.

Until... ?

It hits home. When a story or situation hits home, (personal, family, friend, co-worker, or when it just simply moves into your neighborhood or surrounding area) this is usually a "wake-up" call to anyone that is now consciously aware to take the next step.

What... ?

The next step is always some type of action, since inaction in one's mind is no longer an option. Otherwise one would still be "asleep" in our example. Action is now taken in searching out a hands-on class for some type of personal defense or self-protection. And then the entry level or degree of activity also kicks in, meaning armed or unarmed. Now comes the research.

Where... ?

The quickest way to get immediate action is of course the internet and Google. Most would then sit down and type in any myriad of search terms from self-defense, women's self-defense, martial arts, defensive tactics, firearms training, personal protection or even just karate or karate classes. Now the fun begins.

How... ?

How to go about and actually, "sticking the toe into the water" now that one has all of this information on where, but the search can be overwhelming and thus the adventure begins!

Goals... ?

We recommend that you sit down and plan, maybe not on paper, but certainly at least have the proper goals in regards to what you are actually looking for:

What type of class are you looking? (private, group, hands-on, defense, traditional martial arts, firearms?)

How long do you want to train? (Are you looking for the quick stop plan - a few sessions to get a brush-stroke view of basics, or possibly something longer or maybe even on-going or routine maintenance training?)

How much money or what is your budget? (This is very important, especially today.) Most trainers one can haggle with or put together package plans based on it you are willing to continue some type of ongoing training. It certainly never hurts to ask. Since it is a win-win.

What distance are you willing to commute? (You'd be surprised how few really look into this factor and are shocked once calling and finding out about a great program but is simply not good enough to drive that extra 10-20 minutes one way. And now you've wasted what in some cases can be a very long detailed phone call with lots of Q & A.)

Are the person's references or credentials important to you? (Anyone can train or instruct, few can actually teach and meet your goals in a one-on-one or even group setting.)

Is there anyone that you'd like to talk to in your sphere of influence? (It's more relaxing and less stressful to take any type of class along with a friend or family member. You at least know someone and it's proven that adults especially learn better and retain more in a less stressful situation.)

These are all great places to start, provided that there is a why or reason to get up and do something.

More to come...

The Author has close to three decades of training and study in various martial arts or styles, travels and networks with some of the largest Academies, of all Arts, styles and business models around the world. To learn more about some local training in Pittsburgh or other areas check out

Self-Defense: Batons Come In Three Varieties - Which One Is Best For You?

The history of batons goes back to the Victorian age in the mid-1800s when London police officers carried truncheons that were foot long pieces of wood called Billy clubs. Then, as now, they were used by law enforcement officers as a less lethal weapon to gain compliance to a lawful order.

They may be made of wood, plastic or metal. They are still used today by law enforcement officers, prison staff and security guards. The baton is not designed to be a fatal lethal weapon. However, they are illegal in several jurisdictions throughout the world and even in the United States because they can be lethal. They are among the most effective self-defense products.

They can be "used to strike, block, bludgeon or aid in the application of arm locks."

In the modern era almost all batons are made of metal. A wooden nightstick is a very specialized piece of equipment that you will see from time to time. Police officers, especially, used to carry wooden batons.

There are basically three types of batons - stun, telescoping or expanding and fixed length baton.

1.A Stun Baton can be either telescoping or expandable or fixed length with a variety of voltages for the stun device. The stun baton is not meant to be used as most batons for striking or jabbing. It is used exclusively as a stun device. A telescoping stun baton is one of the most popular stun devices sold because it basically extends your reach by close to 2 feet. It has been used for self-defense against dog bites and dog attacks. Most stun batons have other features as well, such as a flashlight or an alarm.

2. Fixed Length Batons are a popular variety of baton too. They come in lengths of as little as 12 inches to as much as 31 inches. There is one variety of a fixed length baton called the kubaton that is generally about 5 1/2 inches long and can be carried on a keychain.

3. Expandable or Telescoping Batons come in different sizes. Most are about 11 inches long when closed and can go up to as high as 31 inches when opened.

If you have ever hit your shin on a solid object by bumping into a piece of furniture for example, you know the pain that is inflicted. That is the idea behind the baton. A self-defense baton is a very effective weapon. It can be deadly as noted - that's why some jurisdictions in the U.S. have made it illegal.

In the hands of a trained professional, even a small kubaton can save your life. All these varieties are effective self-defense products, so you can decide which is best for you.

Self Defense - The Four Most Dangerous Places For Assaults

We frequently get asked by our female customers where they should be carrying their self-defense products. You don't have to be a distributor of self-defense products and write articles and blogs about stun guns, pepper sprays, and other products for self-defense to know where attacks on women occur. Of course they can occur just about anywhere, but the four most dangerous places for assaults on women are parking lots, in and around college campuses, the workplace and the home-not necessarily in that order.

Women need products for personal safety and personal security much more than men because they are the targets of assaults and other violence in close to 90% of all cases. Female self-defense is a major concern, especially to younger women who may be just entering the workplace or who are off to college and on their own for the first time.

Self-defense items can improve the personal safety and personal security of women by providing them with a nonlethal self-defense option.

Let us elaborate on this a little bit more.

1. Believe it or not a commercial parking lot is a prime place for perverts to assault women. There actually is a reason for this. The bad guys know that women who have been shopping in a store of any kind are usually very distracted on their way to the car either by talking to friends, taking care of a young child or talking on a cell phone and so on. "Men" who specialize in assaults count on that distraction factor to sneak up on women and assault them. Throw in the fact that many parking lots are not well lit and it makes a dangerous combination.

2. Young women who are off to college for the first time are subjected to many new experiences. They want to blend in and be social. So their guard may be lowered when they are invited to their first fraternity party or post-football game celebration. For this reason and others, many colleges have made sexual assault awareness classes mandatory for all incoming freshmen. College campuses are not necessarily the serene places administration officials want you to believe they are.

3. When we talk about the workplace as a potentially dangerous place for assaults on women, we are primarily talking about women who may get assaulted in a darkened stairwell or darkened parking lot in the case of shift workers. There is hardly a week that goes by when you don't read about an assault on a woman who is coming home from work at two o'clock in the morning.

4. And finally the last place, believe it or not, that's so dangerous for women is the home and we're talking about domestic violence. Unfortunately, most domestic violence incidents do not get reported.

So for women the best places to use products for female self-defense to help improve their personal safety and personal security are the home, workplace, college campuses and parking lots. That's where the vast majority of assaults occur. But to be on the safe side, women should carry a self-defense product with them basically all the time.

Self-Defense: Ways to Measure Effectiveness Of Pepper Sprays - Are You Confused Yet?

Recently we did an article on some of the considerations you should take into account when choosing a pepper spray. In that article we touched on the amount of product in the canister, the range of the spray, the shelf life, cost and the safety devices of the pepper spray.

In that article we also touched on the percentage of major capsaicinoids, the percentage of oleoresin capsicum and Scoville heat units. In this article we will talk about those three in particular in much more detail. The reason these are more important is because they determine the ouch factor-how much pain is inflicted. That is a key reason people but defensive sprays for personal safety and personal self-defense.

And this discussion in no way diminishes the importance of checking the contents of the spray to see how many shots it has, what the range of the spray is, what the shelf life of the product is, to see what, if any, safety devices there are. Those are all very important considerations for a self-defense product,

But I have to admit for years we only judged the effectiveness of a pepper spray by the amount of oleoresin capsicum in the product, assuming that the hotter it was, using that as a criteria, the more effective it was. That assumption as it turns out is incorrect or better said, it doesn't present the whole picture.

First, let's define some terms. Scoville heat units or SHU is a common term of measurement of the relative hotness of any particular product. Almost all pepper sprays are at least 2 million Scoville heat units. Oleoresin capsicum or OC for short is the main ingredient in all pepper sprays. Usually the minimum amount in a pepper spray is 10%. And CRC-Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids-is the actual heat-producing elements in the spray. Are you confused yet?

It gets worse because as it turns out the oleoresin capsicum gets mixed with emollients to make it a spray, foam or whatever the disbursement method is-it could even be a gel. What that does is dilute the oleoresin capsicum percentage so that the OC percentage right from the get-go is a misleading measurement.

There is one independent laboratory that has been used by the US government for over 40 years called Chromtec LLC. They perform independent tests on a variety of products. For pepper sprays they came up with something called the CHR or certified heat rating. This measures the effectiveness, in terms of hotness, at the point of impact when it hits an attacker. It is the pain producing component of OC.

One problem associated with this is that, as far as we know, there is the only one major manufacturer of pepper sprays that uses this methodology for documenting the hotness of their products so there is nothing to compare it with.