Unbreakable Fighting Umbrellas

I’m trained in 半棒 (hanbō), and personally, I find most full-length umbrellas that aren’t thin aluminum fine – as long as you don’t care too much about rain protection after the fact (assuming that you’re dealing with an opponent with an edged weapon).

Petréa Mitchell • July 14, 2008 6:14 PM

This is just the thing to go with the “cane fu” story from this past weekend’s WSJ.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121582129325447667.html

Davi Ottenheimer • July 14, 2008 6:52 PM

Amusing, but clearly it would be no match for the unbreakable watermelon.

ok • July 14, 2008 9:06 PM

@James: Ahhh… thanks for cracking the code for us…

Felix Dzerzhinsky • July 14, 2008 10:44 PM

This is not really new to anyone who watched the old British TV Series “The Avengers”. John Steed kicked ass with his sword umbrella. And of course there was the lovely Diana Rigg as Emma Peel!!!

Caleb • July 14, 2008 11:29 PM

Great, how long before we can no longer carry umbrellas on airplanes?

Paeniteo • July 14, 2008 11:43 PM

Kinda lame. I thought it would stop bullets when openend or something like that.

Sparky • July 15, 2008 2:14 AM

I’m surprised they only demonstrate beating things with it, while I imagine it is even more useful when used as a fencing weapon to keep opponents at a distance.

Most bodyguards (or other people) will never have to deal with a trained opponent with an edged weapon, and it they would, most would probably still lose because of lack of training and skills.

Maybe using something like kevlar for the fabric might be useful to offer some protection against small firearms, but I’d think it would get very think and heavy, and therefor totally useless, if the kevlar is thick enough to be of any use.

TS • July 15, 2008 9:56 AM

And how does it work as an umbrella? I never buy expensive umbrellas since they don’t last too much longer than cheap ones.

Some restaurants and stores require you to leave big umbrellas at the door, which is why I carry a small folding one I can stuff in a bag and continue to walk around. With a full sized umbrella, you never know if it’s still going to be there when you’ve finished dining/shopping.

SteveJ • July 15, 2008 10:49 AM

“Unbreakable”? I wonder what wind speed it’s rated to…

Fred P • July 15, 2008 11:47 AM

@Sparky-
I think that beating things look more dramatic to an untrained eye. A cane/umbrella/半棒 is very useful for blocks (hard or soft) disarms, holds, and chokes, but showing that assumes that the audience has some knowledge about blocks, disarms, holds, and chokes. I suspect that they’re trying to sell this to a more general audience.

-ac- • July 15, 2008 12:32 PM

If you don’t poke your eye out opening it first 😉

pegr • July 17, 2008 9:02 AM

No fair correcting the headline after I point it out! It was “umbella” people! It was! Bruce is changing his entries without telling anyone!

😉

steve • July 18, 2008 9:24 AM

great post. good to have a laugh sometimes. my only comment would be ‘not indoors’.

Kermit the bog • July 20, 2008 8:39 PM

I’m with Steve – doesn’t that guy know it’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?

Jonesy • August 5, 2008 1:35 PM

A 21st Century Mary Poppins could use that!

But can it make you fly?