No. My self-defence concessions for day-to-day life are wearing trainers (never heels), generally trousers that I can kick in, and being piercing-free.

I don't expect piercings would have been my style anyway, but after a couple of impromptu safety lectures on self-defence to the class by the instructor I had as a teen, I've never been able to see nose-rings and such as anything other than a vulnerability.

I'm in the UK and it's illegal to carry anything which is intended for use as a weapon without good reason (it's fine to carry to and from lessons but we always transport our weapons by car), this includes kubotan, shuriken, kusari, nunchaku. Knives can only be carried if they have a folding blade less than 3 inches in length and guns are not allowed

Having said that, I keep a kubotan on my key ring, and am currently sleeping with my son's katana (blunt but looks lethal) by the side of my bed. Like HeliumIsNoble I wear trainers almost all the time, when I do wear heels they're chunky boots that I can run in and would do some serious damage aimed at a knee or a groin.

Part of my reason for training in kobudo is that we learn to adapt our techniques to use everyday objects - a walking stick, and umbrella or just a large stick off the ground is easily used in place of a staff. We have had lessons where we have concentrated on using a rolled up newspaper or a shoulder bag as a defensive weapon.

I have never needed to use a weapon to defend myself, but I have noticed recently that as my son gets older/taller he is increasingly becoming a target of verbal attacks, and I worry that it is only a matter of time before someone tries something physical. At 6 feet tall he tends to stand out, and one thing karate/kobudo teaches him is to carry himself with confidence so that hopefully as he gets older people will see him as a threat rather than a challenge.

Bluebell2325 wrote: »

And here's me wondering how to get my old broken kitchen knife to the police station for safe disposal without being stopped by the police and being charged with carrying a concealed weapon! (UK)

You're supposed to contact the local police station first (on their local phone number, not 999, obviously!) to discuss it and let them know you're coming in.

It's like the legislation provisions for how you can get a car to the garage to be MOT'd if the previous MOT has already expired. I've seen people think it has to be towed there, because if the previous one has expired, it's illegal to drive the car on the roads. However, you can drive directly to the garage for a pre-booked MOT appointment, and if stopped by the police you must be able to confirm you have this appointment.

I think we can all see that this is to stop idiots who had no intention of having their car MOT'd claiming "I was just on my way, officer, really" every time they're stopped!

I would personally wrap it up very well in bubble-wrap and tape, and then brown paper. Then, on the outside, write 'broken kitchenware for police station'. Then another carrier bag, and put it in the boot of the car, if you're driving. The object of all this is to make it clear the knife would be inaccessible in a hurry, and couldn't be used opportunistically on the way.

If you are stopped, that will substantiate that you're not just saying, "oh this old thing in the glove compartment/my bag? Oh, I was totally going to drop it off at the station, officer". Then the police officer can confirm with the station that you already said you were going to drop a knife off.

You just walk into a store and buy one. But you leave it in the plastic packaging until you get home.

That's something I've never considered (transporting sharp tools in UK) - I have heard of the knife problem before, but not expressed in everyday life like this. That's worse than transporting a gun here in the US (in most states)

my car keys. If I'm in a dangerous situation I'm going to stab them with my keys and run to safety and/or the police. I got the idea for stabbing someone with my car keys from a woman's self defense show I watched lol.

@jamespatten3576

The legal aspect is daunting, not carrying a weapon per se but just having a black belt and getting in a brawl of any sort.

trackercasey76 wrote: »

jamespatten3576 wrote: »

Usually being 300lbs and looking like an A-hole is enough to avoid trouble, but I've always thought about it. The legal aspect of it gives me enough of a headache that I've always thought it just wasn't worth it for me. Trying to figure out what's legal and what's not, and then even if it is legal but the police view you as a threat. So many different ways to get yourself killed. I try to depend on situational awareness, and being more of a homebody anyways I'm not likely to be places where trouble is easily found.

Not sure where you are located but I have found exactly the opposite with the police. When the cops find out you are legal to carry they relax a little because you have passed a federal background check and have been looked at extensively. I too am 300 pounds and look like an a-hole (and a 2nd degree black belt) , but I'm too old to get may *kitten* kicked and too young to die.

Yes, agree, to old to get *kitten* kicked, too young to die. As I said I thought about it. The cops might relax when they find out you're legal to carry, but the way a lot of them are so trigger happy and scared it can become an "if" and not a "when". The news and YouTube are full of videos where cops shoot first and ask questions later. Not convinced it's just a few bad apples anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm for concealed carry, it just doesn't fit MY needs. I could find myself in a situation where it would be beneficial, and in that case I'm screwed, but at the moment it seems like it has more potential to cause me grief then do me good at the moment, but situations change and are different for everyone.