Self-defense Techniques With A Wire Or Rope

Self-Defense Techniques With a Wire or Rope

Jun 21, 2010 | By Jason Brick

Flexible weapons training is part of many martial arts, most commonly those from Japan, Korea and China. Though not as efficient and harder to learn than some more traditional weapons, they do have some advantages. The basic physics of swinging a flexible weapon makes the striking tip move much faster than a rigid weapon. They are inexpensive, legal to carry and easy to improvise. These techniques can also be used with belts and chains.

Snapping Techniques

The basic strikes with a wire or rope are whipping and snapping. When whipping, you swing the wire in a tight arc, striking your opponent with the last few inches of your weapon. When snapping, shoot out the rope like snapping a towel. Both techniques work best when striking soft and vulnerable parts of the body, such as the throat, eyes and groin. Although it takes practice, they can both be used against an attacker's hands, forcing him to drop his own weapon.

Trapping Techniques

Wires and ropes can also be used to trap, lock and restrain an attacker. Whip with the rope as described above, striking with a section in the middle of the rope. As it wraps around your attacker, catch the free end with one hand. Pull tight to trap and bind your attacker, looping extra lengths of rope around as necessary. This works well in combination with joint locks you might have learned from other martial arts styles. These techniques are advanced and complex. You should only try them after you've had plenty of practice on the mat.

Tripping Techniques

You can trap an attacker's leg or legs with your wire to make them trip or stumble. Swing the wire in a low, horizontal arc, striking the attacker across the shin or shins with several feet of wire beyond the point of impact. The momentum will cause the wire to wrap around the attacker's legs. Once it's wrapped at least once, pull the rope sharply with both hands. When your attacker stumbles from the restraint on his legs, kick him hard in the chest or belly to knock him to the ground.