When it comes to personal self-defense weapons, there are numerous options on the market today. From stun guns to knives, tasers, kubatons, and even blinding flashlights, there’s something for just about anyone. However, one choice that often gets overlooked due to its on-the-surface simplicity is the extendable baton. This weapon, unbeknownst to many, is much more than just a “stick” used to hit an attacker. In fact, with the proper training, the wielder can strike, defend, lock, choke, and jab an assailant, turning the tide of the fight firmly in their favor. Still have doubts? Then read on to fully understand extendable baton defense and its best-in-class versatility.

Extendable Baton Defense: Much More Than a Stick

One misconception about an extendable baton that many people believe is that it only has one use, and that’s to swing it like a club. The baton, like its simpler form, the two-foot long stick, may appear to be a one-trick pony, but in reality has numerous applications. First, it can be a blunt-force, striking weapon. With sharp, quick hits (more on this later) that target an attacker’s vital areas. Second, it can aid in joint-locking techniques. The solid mass of the shaft can lock elbow joints, knee joints, and shoulder joints to near unescapable levels. Next, the baton’s butt or pommel end can be used for short-range striking in close-quarter areas.

Finally, the shaft, once again, with its steel body can help when applying a respiratory or a vascular choke on a foe. With an unyielding design, it can speed up the process, causing your assailant to pass out from either lack of oxygen or lack of blood from reaching his or her brain. To the uninformed eye, a stick is not very impressive. To an experienced wielder of this weapon, its versatility is extensive. 

Offensive Capabilities

Offensively, an extendable baton is a remarkable weapon. Due to its telescoping design that offers a thick handle end with a slimmer tapered tip, the baton can move at incredible speeds. Almost whip-like, a short flick of your wrist, with very little help from your arm, can send the baton’s solid ball tip (or in some models, a squared solid piece of steel) to an attacker’s vital areas. These vital areas include the temples, eyes, bridge of the nose, throat, and the groin. Multiple hits with minimal adjustments of your hand can be delivered within seconds.

Properly used, a baton shouldn’t be cocked back behind your body for a full arm swing. This can leave your torso and head exposed and viable for an attack from your foe. Instead keep your arm in front of you, which creates a barrier between your body and an offensive attack coming at you, and “snap” out strikes at your foe while keeping your elbow nearly in the same location at all times. Your arm is up, your body is protected, and your forearm is dishing out the punishment towards any bad guy in front of you. That’s the baton’s offensive capabilities, and they are quite formidable. 

Excellent Defensive Tool

On the flip side, the baton is ideal to counter many diverse attacks that a foe can throw at you. Giving your arm an additional reach of about two feet (some more, some less, depending upon the length of your preferred baton), you can effectively defend against a knife or other bladed or sharp weapon. No matter if the attacker has a broken beer bottle, hunting knife, razor cutter, or even a screwdriver, you can effectively keep their weapon at bay, all the while targeting their weapon hand with the tip of your baton. One or two precise hits to their hand and their weapon would most likely drop.

Keep in mind that incredible speed and power are delivered through the solid tip of the baton to the attackers tender flesh and can cause instant pain and lack of gripping power in their hand. Even broken or fractured bones can occur if you happen to hit with perfect precision. 

Unconventional Uses

As mentioned earlier, the baton can aid in joint-locking and choking techniques. These are advanced moves that require more than elementary-level training but are incredibly effective when mastered and applied. The baton can be used to take an opponent down (by possibly striking their knee or sciatic nerve that runs down the outside of their leg) and then positioned on the inside of the thigh and the outside of the lower leg, causing intense pain and incapacitation. This can also be performed on the arm, which can lock the shoulder, with possible joint dislocation occurring if a high level of pressure is exerted.

Chokes are also viable options during a conflict. Naturally, you can’t lead off with an intended choke (that would be a definite failure), but once the attacker is down, disabled, or weakened, you can slide the shaft of the baton across their neck and secure the tip with your free hand. Simple, direct pressure against the neck will create a respiratory choke, while squeezing the side of the neck with the baton will create a vascular choke. 

Compact & Concealable

What makes an extendable baton an excellent carry-everywhere weapon (see local laws prior to carrying) is in the word, extendable. When closed, the baton is between just over six inches to nine inches inches in length depending upon the model, which makes it easy to conceal under a jacket or in your back pants pocket. It telescopes to three times its closed length, which can both surprise and intimidate an attacker. The baton opens with a flick of the wrist, but some models do offer automatic extension at the touch of a button, which only adds to their intimidation factor. Nylon sheaths with Velcro latches often come with the baton that can be attached to your belt, gear bag, or within arm’s reach within your vehicle. Overall, they are both easy to conceal and easy to open.

Extendable Baton Defense: With Training, A Formidable Weapon

Now, it must be discussed that the vast uses for an extendable baton can only be achieved by consistent training with the weapon with a qualified instructor. Sure, you can swing it around right out of the gate, but without proper guidance, a great majority of its versatility and effectiveness will be limited. However, with that being said, once the baton becomes natural in your hand, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with when or if you get attacked. In the eyes of the bad guy, it may not seem like much of a threat, but after your intense barrage is let loose, he’ll fully understand his mistake to underestimate the threat.