Concealed Self-defense Tools You Can Take Anywhere - Thug Stoppers! 

Love the way you have said that we are not all on the same boat, but we are all facing the same storm. Thank you 🙏

What I like about you is the fact that you're not promoting you merch all the time, you are genuinely out to help people. Thank you.

I like your outlook, Marine. Thanks for the great self defense tips. I was USN "Gator Navy" in the Vietnam Era. We were an amphibious unit that carried Marines and their equipment, 7th Flt. The troops were as fine a bunch of men that anyone could call friend. Thanks for your service.

Great to know that people like Matt are on task in teaching real world self defense

The , 'Massage Stick', delivers that perfect level of massage for the volunteer. And provides instant relaxation as it lulls him to a deep, sleep state.

Good morning Sensei !! I appreciate you taking the time to point out the importance of using pressure points .!! I have a little bit of training with using pressure points to disable an assailant. And , you just showed me some new ones .... I am constantly training with my canes , one or two at a time and I can say , thanks to your training , I am getting better and more confident going out .. Thank You Sensei .!!

"Is that a Yawara in your pocket or are you just happy to see me"

Carabiner works too as an EXCELLENT and FUNCTIONAL knuckle-duster that will never be confiscated - IT'S A KEYCHAIN!!!

Great video ! Love the little stick ! The last strike you demonstrated also gives a little more reach. I practice ridge hands, inside knife hands and hammer fists every morning into the heavy bag. That little stick would add a new wrinkle into those techniques.

Love how you break it down and keep it simple, GREAT JOB as usual!

Regarding the pocket sticks (referred as kubotans) they are listed as prohibited carry on items on the TSA list and should be transported in checked baggage. Regardless if you get caught with one they can just confiscate it and it is easily replaced 🤷🏻‍♂️

Great video. My TSA approved version is the xl sharpie marker

Pressure points are great but when you're under the stress of self protection that precision can be the first thing to go

Great tips & strategies as always Quantum ! Thanks Matt 💪🎯

As a martial artist I still find new ways to deal with self defense. Thank you this is great.

Lol i made some fancy eight sided with smooth edges for my kids, my kids made music with the one like you are showing i made them in pairs. I also made deer antler keychains for my kids in highschool. I even got a phone call from my youngest daughter to come to the principal office. She explained why, i asked my daughter to remain silence, told her i love her, you will be free to go back to class in less than 20 minutes. Got off the phone, called the school, let the office know why I'm calling asked for the principal, ask him to let my daughter demonstrate what she can do with a pencil, All she needs is a pencil and a apple. I'm sure you can find an Apple in a school, do you really what to go to court and expose the need to remove all pencils from all schools across nation. This key chain is for her safety it's also a trophy of the buck she killed. On the phone he call my daughter in and asked her to go back to class, she broke her silence by speaking loud enough so I can hear her say thank you Daddy on the phone. I thanked the principal for being reasonable. I ask you sir what can you do with a driver's license or credit card. My kids know weapons are everywhere. And they practice each one they think of.

Good workout, good talk, real and honest! Thank you for sharing, Steve

Hello Matt! I love this presentation due to the fact that you speak straight from the heart but with realistic practicality. I was in the military as well, and nightclub doorman along with managing businesses in the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago. Needless to say, I have learned that in 99% of violent encounters, simple always works best. However, in today's society, we need to be a little creative to adapt to the challenges, but without compromising simplicity. To that end, I have been working on an invention in my mind that would at least maximize positive outcomes but minimize losses or injuries. I love the cane idea as a possible tool. A cane is long and provides distance as you mentioned, but also could be constructed to provide shielding. Imagine a cane comprised of plastic - rubber composite flat strips, condensed to present the appearance of a cane rather than created from 1 solid piece. My idea is for the cane to be able to be used as a blunt weapon baton, or it could be spring loaded which could release the composite strips and immediately rotate around and lock into place forming an almost impenetrable personal shield. Theoretically, a 40 inch can could expand to an 80 inch by 80 inch shield. I am contemplating the very strongest and lightest non metal composite material which could provide protection from most bullets or knives. It would be an old school defense. Basically the victim would activate the cane shield in a split second, and charge at the offended with full force and speed thereby completely incapacitating an attacker. Of course nothing is guaranteed, but I do believe this device would work and be mostly effective when the victim is under fight or flight, which means that only gross motor movements would be able to be employed. I promise you Matt to give you the design and patent once I perfect the prototype. Thank you.

I find the measure of value of watching RU-vid videos in the number of great tidbits of applicable advice. Matt your videos are so rich and dense with multiple points of information and action they are at the top of the heap! Really great stuff! I’m a new fan for the coming storm. Thank you.

A harmonica can function as Yawara stick, and is less conspicuous.

That was awesome man. I had a feeling you had military experience. My sensei trained us like that when I was a kid. To be effective not for show or sport but to survive. I love the exercises you can do with that band, it is so portable. I found this very inspiring. Subscribed.

The cane truly is the ultimate secret self-defense weapon, because it's the only one you can hide in plain sight without drawing a single bit of suspicion. My dad just ordered that same cane from cane masters, it should show up in a few weeks and then I'll get to see if I want to buy one as well.

Hey Matt, love your videos!! I have a set of the resistance bands and the idea of using the stick like a barbell is ingenious, I don't know why I have thought of it before. Currently I use the Tiger Moves dynamic tension exercises taught by the late John Mcsweeney.

Hey Matt, thank you for a great Yawara stick! Finally it came in the mail today! Well made and finished. I guess we overwhelmed you with orders!

Starting with the title of this video, that caught my attention. How important it is to be prepared on a trip against theft or unexpected attacks.

Matt…the man who lives to discover new things to hit other people with.

Thanks for the video. I wonder whether carving patterns into the palm stick would look good and make it more effective as a massage tool.

You are like the ‘Macgyver’ of self defence. That is an awesome covert tool to protect yourself!!!

Thanks!

Excellent info. Thank you. You mentioned the limits of getting things past TSA. Could have used people like you on the 9-11 flights. I wasn’t even looking for a stick, your videos popped up, I will buy one.

A flashlight is also good as a kubiton..but avoid defensive flashlights with crenulated bevel.... You just need a plain flashlight it can be also used to shine in the perpetrators eyes.... And has a flashlight if the lights go out where the power goes out while you're on vacation...

thank you, Sir

Thank you for your service! Semper Fi!

Ur yawara looks very handy in self defense. It seems unassuming but effective ! It reminds me of a cigar in shape n color. Lol. Kudos for ur various everyday self defense weapons. Anticipating ur next one. Peace

Cool concept with the little stick thing. I might be getting one of those in the future. The thing with the cane and the tension band was a great tip too. Didn't see any cane master canes for anywhere close to $50 on their website though. Maybe you bought that one pre-pandemic and that's why?

Nice to meet you Matt, found you just now, fortunately for me. I have been training in a school owned and run by a Marine and NYPD Sargeant that worked the streets of NY City in the 80's. He was at that time drafted into the "decoy" program and they wanted people with a martial arts background, his was Wing Chun. Back then, he started training only police officers and altered a decent portion of Wing Chun to fit the police and eventually opened his school for the public and taught real street self-defense. His time as a "decoy" got him 1100 felony arrests in 6 years, so we learned from a grandmaster that deployed these tactics. I don't want to make this post too long because I could talk forever, so I'll say that of the many things we learned, one of them was improvised weapons and after seeing your video, you hit all the points, so let me give you, as a new subscriber a big thumbs up and all the respect you deserve for making these videos along with your gentlemanly personality. Really good stuff!

You can also tell TSA that the palm stick is for leathercraft to burnish the edges of your leather projects.

Good advice &effective techniques, I like to carry a tactical/ survival flash light similar length, w/ stobe function, &a beveled edge on one end can use same as palm stick ,& shine very bright strobe in bad guys eyes, always part of my EDC.

Right On ✌️ THANKS every episode I learn at one if not two new things 👍

Canes are great to carry. I flew international with a expandable aluminum trekking cane. A wooden cocktail muddler makes a great short stick or even a rolled up magazine. I take a CRKT metal pen on the plane all the time.

Great guy Matt. Many thanks mate.

thanks Matt

thank you for good details

Thanks!

Thank You ... I'm 71 and I was just thinking about carrying something other that prpper spray. Plus, I like the exercise band. Again, thanks.

Thank you for your videos - glad I found your site as this is exactly what I have searching for for some time.

I carry my Yawara with me everywhere. I've taken it on planes, trains and busses with never one issue. As you stated, it's my massage stick for tendonitis in my forearm. I've also carried my 5' Ash walking stick on planes. I can do a very convincing limp when needed.

Thank you for the excellent video, Matt! Very helpful indeed!

I carried a duct taped roll of quarters and an extra pair of socks in my pocket when l last flew. "Change for vending machines, and being on my feet, I may want a change of socks." No one ever questioned it though, and I never needed it for self defense purposes anyway.

I carry a homemade Paracord belt with two G clips at either end to act as the buckles. I also carry a short tail Paracord monkey fist with a loop at the end. It looks a lot like a fob that you'd have on your keys. This way i can connect the mokeyfist to the belt and use it for striking. Apart they look like run of the mill items.

Very effective. We used to call it a Fist Filler, they really stregthen the hand in a blow. One can get the same filling effect with a rag, or cloth of various length,

Hi Matt, i am definitely going to purchase, one of your wooden palm sticks. It appears to be approximately the same diameter to fit in my ASP baton leather holster. I believe it is superior to the yawara stick being a stronger grip can be used to secure it. And with the pointed ends, when a very close hands on confrontation occurs, the strike does not have to be performed with as much power as the yawara. I am sorry i wasn't here for class. Out of town on personal family issue. I hope you have a great and blessed Thanksgiving. Stay Safe. Doug.

I wear an oversized, $15 stainless steel ARMY ring on a cord around my neck. It is a FANTASTIC flail. It's never gotten a second glance at the airport. And who's gonna take a vet's ring?!

I have carried a Cibolo 'Derby' cane now for about 4 years... The only time TSA has ever said anything about it is that the Gargoyle face on the end of it is really cool. One time at LAX about five of them tried for a few minutes to make sure it wasn't a sword-cane, but gave it back without issue. It even has a black leather strap on it that has raised metal studs.

I like what I call "gift shop weapons" . I go into airport or museum gift shops and see what's common to work with . #1 is anything hard and dense like a can of pop or soup, or a snow globe etc , and a plastic bag . Got yourself a decent sap. #2 is a liquid irritant that comes in some type of squirt bottle like hand sanitizer or nasal spray. It's kind of fun but also practical.

Been flying with a canemaster cane since they first started and were trying to build a program. 36 countries and counting, many multiple times. The most I have been asked to do is put it in the overhead if they spot it in the seat with me. But I have learned not to wear my leg braces through TSA though as they always will check you for explosive residue, easier just to put them on after clearance.

Don't forget the folded newspaper that's lethal too.

Thanks Coach. Happy Thanksgiving all.

Thanks for the helpful video, sharing with friends. 1) How long is your Yawara, and do you oil the oak when finished shaping? I have a Kubotan made from thermoplastic that served a similar role and is travel friendly, though doesn't offer the thickness of your Yawara. 2) What's your opinion on telescopic metal kubatons? They are compact yet can extend for much better blocking and range.

Semper Fi!

Excellent

Keep in mind that the American ADA and HIPAA laws don't mean squat in other countries.

Lee Morrison from Urban Combative’s has a great video on pocket sticks, well worth a look.

I have always been interested in any improvised weapon for self defense and I really like this one.I have been a black belt for over 27yrs here in Canada and I get asked a lot about carrying items by people I know or come across in my area.I have been a Nidan and Certified Instructor since 2000.Yes lately people are very stressed and need to have options such as this one.Very nice my friend.😊👍

😮😊very nice Matt😊 Thanks

Highly practical tools. This is a great video, thanks.

Thank you for this powerful video.

Yes! The back swing will be better for women, they have more power. A throat strike, eye strike…I taught chi sau also, helps people from being grabbed.

One of my favorite videos? I'm just waiting for you to make a video on how to use the yawara pocket stick to massage ... this way. If they hit me up and they tell me to demonstrate, I'll know what to show them.?

Ex boxer, having something in your fist replicates having a boxing glove on, saves braking your knuckles. Incidentally always use bands doing press-ups when working away from home and staying in hotels and have no access to a gym.

So probably best to keep the Yawara on you till you get to security and then put it in your carry on. It is in your bag for self massage if asked. When you are cleared and on your way to your gate , put it back in your pocket, just in case you encounter some dirt bag criminal. Wham, wham, wham and down they go! The one you made from me is very pointy on one side and more blunt on the other. As a massage therapist, that will work great, pointy for reflexology and acupressure, blunt tip for fascia and trigger points! Thank you Matt, you da man! 🙂⚡⚡🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

If you travel within the US wooden objects are probably not a problem but to other countries you might have to declare them. I usually carry a strong metal or plastic pen to use as a kubaton but you can also write with it. Yawara stick, Kubaton and Koga's are slight variations but use the same techniques but of course nobody sees a weapon in a pen, unless it's one of these special self defense pens with all kinds of crazy stuff on them like DNA collectors.

Another great video thanks 😊

I like your instructions!

I have an extendable Sherlock painting stick from Home Depot, with one end rubber handle and the extendable part solid aluminum. Quick to extend. 2’-4’

Very effective system i live in L A CALIFORNIA it's the wild wild West im a chameleon i. l blend in very well until you have to defend great video

Bycicle inner tubes work well for this...save some money....try hanging/suspending a tennis ball or two for better accuracy...

Good video. Good tips

Thank you for the help

Personally I vastly prefer the versatility of empty hands. Putting a yawara, roll of coins etc into your hands restricts what that hand can now do, since you can't effectively grab, push or scoop. If I picked up anything, even over a knife I would prefer a 12" steel rod, such as a 1/4"-drive ratchet extension. Once I had softened up the opponent and closed, I'd probably drop it for close quarters. Or run, depending on the situation. The only other thing I would want in my hands is what resides in my holster, if the situation was that serious.

Another item that you can carry anywhere is a hard cover book. It can be used for bocking and the sharp ends of the hard cover will do a lot of damage to human flesh.

Started carrying a length of para/ nylon cord and a large metal nut, carry desperately through security, never been stopped yet, .. put it together once passed security. Short length of cord will still give you a good weapon

I think I'd rather just take my chances on the street than pull out that first thing and tell another dude it's my "massage stick."

In the film hard times( Charles Bronson ) when the bare knuckle fighter they brought in to beat Bronson was losing , his seconds threw a pair of yawara type sticks on the floor for him to pick up .Which as says will add weight to the fists.

Matt you Sir are a wealth of useful information. Thank you for sharing your martial combat wisdom and expertise.

Thank you for sharing your video ❤❤❤

I have a Wortac Travel Wrench and also a wooden massage tool, used them both a fair amount over the years. That cane is awesome, need to see if I can get one in the UK. Great vid!

Awsome Video!! Very informative.. thank you 👍🏼

Best aircraft self-defense hands down. Just go to the planes, latrine, grab a turd, there's plenty floating around, some are blue too. Trust me, ain't no one messing with you when you have a blue turd in your hand. You can even conceal a load yourself. 😅😂😅😂😅

Those "massage sticks" are legit massage tools. I use them for massage, especially trigger points and like you, keeping that fascia going.

Oh come on, Mike. Really, don't you think the TSA and security people get the memos? My son is a police officer and my daughter is a parole and probation agent with a clientele that is all adult felons. They know at a glance the "personal massage tools" and the Jaw jackers and all that stuff. If one wants a good fist load/yawara stick, carry a AA mini Maglight. First, it's a real flashlight and it gets dark every night I've been alive. Goes right through TSA security. And the Zebra 701 also goes right through as does the Sharpie marker. Leave the Yawara sticks and kubotons and jaw jackers home. And carry a cane.

Thank you very much for the awesome content, it's hard to find such quality content nowadays. I want to buy the Yawara stick but I was wondering if it ships to Canada?

I understand about the airline issue.. but I never fly.. So, in that respect, wouldn't it be better to have finger grip sanded into the stick? to make it more secure in your grip?

Wonderful info.

great information. thank you

HI Sensei Matt it's probably ok to keep my PR 24 home my home my question to you is I think some one said it's very simialar to the Kama Do you think I would benefit from a video by demura how to use a kama thoughts please thank you I mean do you think the skills would transfer to the PR 24 / tonfa ? Thoughts please thank you

Great points

You are amazing! I can now go out without fear.

“KISS”: acupressure therapy medical device.

Love this guy!