There are times when all I can carry is my multi-tool, which made me wonder how effective a multi-tool would be for self-defense. My conclusion, multi-tools can definitely be used for Self-Defense.
Having been involved in a few different martial arts styles over the years. One of the first things you learn when being introduced to handheld weapons is that the weapon is just an extension of your body. With this in mind, evaluating the use of a multi-tool as a defensive tool was no different than looking at each thing in my EDC loadout and determining its purpose and alternate uses.
ust having a knife doesn’t really mean that you can protect your self better. In untrained hands, it may put yourself or others at risk of injury. Ideally having some form of unarmed fighting skills to start with gives you a huge advantage. But when push comes to shove having something is better and nothing. Even without training, multi-tools can be utilized very effectively.
Why A Multi-Tool Can Make A Good Defense Tool?
- Convenience
- Discreetness
- Versatility
- Non-Lethal Pain Compliance (
Kubotan ) - Lethal Threat Defense (Knife)
Convenience
When do you think you might have to defend yourself? In almost all cases of self-defense, you’re not given prior warning of the event or you could simply just find somewhere else to be, but life doesn’t work like that.
Having your tools at hand, when you need them is of utmost importance. I haven’t always lived in the quiet rural midwest and in the past, I have found myself in a few predicaments where multiple levels of force were required. Thankfully in my case deadly force was not necessary for any of those situations, but from those experiences, I gained a wealth of knowledge.
I learned many lessons about verbal jujitsu and about using only the amount of force necessary to overcome the threat. These things are covered in most martial arts systems, but it’s one of those things that takes real world experience to fully grasp the implementation of the theory.
One thing I learned, between martial arts and life experience, is having more options is always better than having less. Having options is important and having a multi-tool with an easy access knife blade can give you more than just a knife.
Having a multi-tool with a pocket clip and an externally accessible knife blade can allow for quick deployment, giving you similar performance as a folding pocket knife. At the same time, you have a multi-tool with several tools to give you
Being Discreet
Being from a small rural upper midwest town I often forget that sometimes there’s a need to discreetly carry self-defense tools. There are times when I do travel places where being more discreet is preferred.
One of the beautiful things about a multi-tool is that when someone sees it clipped to your pocket, on your belt or in your hands they don’t think of it as a potential weapon, most just see a tool. This makes it possible to carry one more frequently and to places that might otherwise frown upon carrying a pocket knife.
Its all about perception, in the world today it seems that too many people look down on someone who is willing to defend themselves. With discreet defensive tools, you can blend in and go about your day unnoticed.
Versatility
Multi-tools by their nature are very versatile and when it comes to using them as an improvised self-defense tool it is no different. There are three basic self-defense uses that multi-tools can be used for.
- Pressure points
- Striking
- Cutting
Using the multi-tool in either the open or closed position, in a closed fist offers greater force to be applied when using for either pressure point techniques or hammer fist striking techniques. By using this technique you gain an advantage. When using it to strike harder target points like hands and face, you reduce the risk of fracturing your hand in the process.
Non-Lethal Pain Compliance
There are two main ways to use a multi-tool for pain compliance in a non-lethal way. Depending on the situation you may use one or both techniques. The best part of using these two basic techniques is that most any multi-tool that is longer than your hand is wide will work effectively.
The first is through the use of pressure points. Using the multi-tool body and ends in the closed position provides a makeshift Kubotan to engage pressure points. Unfortunately to be able to use pressure point techniques effectively some education and/or training is required. Although once the basic pressure points are learned and with a little practice you can be more prepared than most people.
Secondly, Striking techniques can be both lethal and non-lethal. Generally strikes to the torso and limbs will be non-lethal, but strikes to the head and neck can most definitely lead to life-threatening injuries or even death.
Lethal Threat Defense
In this situation, you are in the fight for your life, for real. There is no question about it, its do or die time, no joke. When you are in a fight for your life, anything goes and its time to use any means necessary. This is when it may be necessary to deploy your blade.
One thing about multi-tool knives is that they are not very long, but for self-defense purposes, this is not a hindrance because it will not be used for stabbing. It’s not like in the movies where the bad guy gets stabbed in the stomach and slowly falls to the ground. In real life, most people that have been stabbed don’t even know that they have been stabbed until the incident is over. Many times they think that they are just being punched. Because of adrenaline, it takes time for the body to realize what has happened.
Basic Self-Defense Knife Tactics
To stop an attack, you must first understand what your final objective is; to stop from being harmed by someone. So you have to ask yourself, What is the main thing that’s going to harm you? The answer – Hands.
Without hands they cannot grab you, without hands they cannot strike you and without hands, they cannot stab or shoot you. So the next question is, how do I stop their hands? The hands are controlled by the muscles and tendons in forearms. To disable the hands you must cut deep enough into the forearms to sever the muscle belly and/or tendons. Without the ability to control their hands they cannot control or harm you.
The choice to deploy your knife
Choosing The Right Multi-Tool
If you ever think that you might use your multi-tools knife for self-defense there are a few things to take into consideration. The first thing you really should have is a multi-tool with an externally accessible knife blade. Having an externally accessible knife blade on your multi-tool will allow for fast easy deployment of the blade.
Having to unfold the tool, unfold the knife and then fold the tool back up in the middle of a high-stress situation when seconds count is counterproductive if not nearly impossible in most cases. Most self-defense incidents last only seconds so these types of multi-tools are not a feasible option.
The second thing that your multi-tool should have is a locking knife blade. Using a knife blade that does not lock back is a recipe for disaster. I’m sure there’s nothing like trying to defend yourself with your off-hand because your other hand is missing fingers after the blade folded back on it in the process.
Lastly, having a pocket clip is not absolutely necessary but it will assist with faster deployment. A pocket clip will keep the multi-tool in the same position in your pocket. Keeping its location consistent will aid in faster deployment due to muscle memory, plus you won’t have to search around in your pocket to get a grip on it.
Final Thoughts
In self-defense situations things happen quickly and having the means to defend yourself, with what you have on you, is very important. If for whatever reasons you are unable to carry other forms of defensive tools, then the right multi-tool might be your best bet. (Click here to check out my top picks)
Now follow me for just a minute, I’m going to play devil’s advocate, I’m not saying that a multi-tool is the most ideal self-defense tool. Nor am I saying that it’s the end-all, be-all answer. What I am saying is that, if circumstances dictate, a multi-tool can be utilized for self-defense. Even more so with Kubotan and/or knife training.
Just remember that any defensive tool is just an extension of your body, so nothing can replace good training.
If you feel like you need a larger more capable blade (Click here to check out my favorite EDC knives)
