Schappert Terry - A guide to improvised weaponry : how to protect yourself with whatever youve got

Avon, Massachusetts

To all the foreign enemies, street thugs, belligerent drunks,
and other assorted threats that have come my way
thanks for keeping me on my toes, and my sincerest wishes
that you mend your ways or meet your maker.
Terry Schappert

For Darla, Veronica, Sammi, Taylor, and Tracey
I will always protect you.
Adam Slutsky

Did you ever think that you could use an oven mitt to defend yourself against a home invader? How about using a dirty diaper to fend off a mugger? Or a drinking straw to take down a terrorist?

Like it or not, we live in scary times. Violent crime is on the rise. Overcrowded jails and prisons are releasing scores of dangerous criminals prematurely. And the threat of another major terrorist attack within our borders is real. With this ever-present danger lurking at every turn, theres a chance that, at some point, you may be faced with a frank decision that every living organism has experienced since the dawn of time: fight or flight. When that frightening moment comes, shelve your ego immediately. If you can extricate yourself from a dicey situation simply by running away, do it! Theres no shame in survival. However, if fleeing isnt an optionif youre forced to stand your groundknowing how to defend yourself can make all the difference between life and death.

Equipped with that knowledge, if a confrontation is inevitable, youd be wise to arm yourself. Even the smallest object is superior to the biggest fist. Fortunately, virtually any objectfrom a coffee mug to a rubber band to even your own sneakerscan be used as a weapon... if you know how to handle it correctly. Some items can be used exactly as they are, whereas others require some creative manipulation to be used in a defensive capacity. Granted, some of these objects and instructions may seem a bit peculiar, but theres a method to our madness. Weve purposely taken an unconventional approach to improvised weaponry and self-defense in order to get you thinking, and to show you that no matter what the situation youre facing, there is always something you can do, and, in all likelihood, there is always something within reach to assist you.

In addition to the objects and their possible uses, weve included sidebars that clue you in regarding the psychology, mindset, and stark reality of having your life threatened and how to deal with that harsh scenario should such a situation arise. Please know that this book is not intended to scare you. Quite the opposite. We want to assure you that you have a chancea good chanceof coming out on top of a bad situation, if you utilize the underestimated courage and ability you have lurking inside you, just by being the kind of person who can flip that switch when its required.

Remember, you dont have to be a Green Beret or an MMA star to win a fight. You just need to have something to fight for; something, no matter how innocuous, to fight with; and the tenacity to not stop until the fight is over. As a matter of fact, the less you look like a badass, the more of an advantage you may have when some street thug sets his sights on you, only to realize too late that he picked the wrong preythe prey that becomes the predator. And that philosophy doesnt only apply to self-defense, either. Its a philosophy you can benefit from in every aspect of your life. And its that philosophy that will enable you to see every object around you, great or small, normal to obscure, as a potential weapon to be used against anyone threatening your safety.

So how do we know how to protect ourselves in a fight? Where did we find out how to use all of these everyday items in ways that are completely unexpectedfor both you and your possible attacker? Two words: Green Beret.

Green Berets like Terry Schappert are the multi-tools of the Special Operations community. The true first in, last out operatives, Green Berets are far more than merely weaponry-toting badasses. They are trainers, teachers, and advisers who go through extensive cultural and language training in order to truly immerse themselves in whichever foreign land they are dispatched to. They also receive additional specialized training in every category you can think of: medicine and trauma, engineering, computers... the list is endless. Green Berets have delivered babies; inoculated farm animals; pulled teeth; built homes and structures; blown up buildings; and trained, lead, and kicked down doors alongside host nations soldiers. But even with all their skills and abilities, its still not a cinch to pick a Green Beret out from a crowd. Theyre not (all) musclebound, Conan-looking freaks with Death from Above (or any other professional warrior motto) tattooed on their foreheads. Green Berets go out of their way to blend in, to hide in plain sight. And excessive use of action and force is never on the menu. Sure, when push comes to shove, these guys will stand and deliver, no questions asked. But theyd much prefer to accomplish their assigned tasks with as minimal effort and signature as possible. Bottom line: They aim to be ghosts. Very effective ghosts. In that respect, Green Berets are the ultimate problem solvers. They dont take no for an answer; and when they encounter resistance, they dont see a wall, but merely an obstacle that they must climb over, tunnel under, maneuver around or, if all else fails, go right freakin through. The content of this book is a testament to that ideology. Dont panic. Weigh your options. Use all means necessary and all available tools. Solve the problem. Survive. Go home to your family. By applying that logicand ultimately that determinationto any physical confrontation that comes your way, you willat least in spiritjoin the ranks of the illustrious United States Army Special Forces, the Green Berets.

GREEN BERET GUIDANCE

Green Berets and other members of the Special Ops or self-defense community use an array of terms that may not be familiar to someone just learning how to take down an attacker. If words like garrote, kusari-fundo, fist filler, or eskrima sticks leave you scratching your head, check out the glossary at the end of the book to make sure the self-defense objects and tactics described throughout make sense.

2 4

Youre walking past a construction site when a vagrant who has been making the unfinished structure his home accuses you of intruding on his turf. Next thing you know, the bum pulls a knife and is intent on sticking it in you.

What do you do?

If you dont think you can outrun your attacker, head straight to the unused lumber pile and grab a 2 4. They come in different lengths and weights (depending on the type of wood), so choose one thats easy for you to wield with some degree of control. Once you have your 2 4, consider the following options: