Flexible weapons are considered "exotic" in western culture, probably due to our borderline obsession with all things "hard" and "linear" from a traditional martial arts perspective. Brute force striking, taking a hit with the body or blocking with the limbs, pressing the attack inward or retreating backward in a straight line to the opponent are all elements of "hard" styles, and pretty much how most westerners think in a fight. Flexible weapons do not work like that, so, to use them effectively, the first thing one needs is a mind conditioned toward the "soft" and "circular" approach. It is only this fundamentally different way of thinking that makes flexible weapons and their use seem so strange and alien to most of us.
In truth, flexible weapons are anything but exotic. Even the most mundane items can be put to use as flexible weapons once you know how to use them. Though they may be considered "soft style" they actually work off of principles of softness and hardness, and a constant exchange between the two.When you swing the weapon, it should be stiff as a rod. When you trap with the weapon, it should flow around the body like water, then be pulled tight as a serpent's coils. If a strike should miss, the weapon goes soft again, but my wrap around and strike the opponent from the other side, or you may grab hold of the free end and execute a throw, once again crossing over from softness, to hardness, and back again.
Flexible weapons have the benefit of being able to change size and shape at will. A long weapon can become a short weapon very quickly, making it effective at any range even if that range should change mid-fight. This also means that most flexible weapons can collapse to a smaller size for ease of concealment, yet can be deployed very quickly, giving the element of surprise.
There is a steep learning curve to using flexible weapons. They can be grabbed and turned against the user more easily than, say, a knife, and they require deft movement and reflexes to avoid hitting oneself. The whole body must move as one, both to generate sufficient power, and to keep your own limbs out of the way of the returning weapon when it is swung. Simply swinging with the arm will almost definitely strike the leg or groin of the user if they do not move the limbs in synchronized fashion. For this reason, the best flexible weapons, in my opinion, are the shorter ones. Used in a more-or-less "boxer's style" fashion with the midsection extending between the hands used for parrying, binding and throwing, with the ends only being released and struck with on occasion rather than as the primary mode of use. Nonetheless I am presenting a fairly extensive, but hardly exhaustive list of flexible weapons from different styles with commentary on their use. Some are more practical than others, but then it all depends on what you train with in the end. At any rate, I do highly recommend training with at least one flexible weapon, because the principles are transferable to a number of expedients (belt, plastic bag, beach towel or bathing suit cover-up) and the way that they train the whole body to move in unison rather than as separate parts, which, in turn, helps you to generate much more power in your standard empty hand techniques as well.
Surujin, Pho Bak, and "Cotton Rope Lasso"- The Surujin is an Okinawan rope weapon which comes in two lengths- the tan surujin- reaching to the ankle when dangled from the hand held out at shoulder level, and the naga surujin- which reaches just to the ground when the other end is held in the hand above the head. Pho Bok is the Hapkido rope, which I have seen some schools tie evenly spaced double-overhand knots to add striking and pinching pressure to their rope techniques. Sorry to say, I do not, as yet, have a preferred length for the Pho Bok. The "Cotton Rope Lasso" I read about in a Chinese wushu book called "Soft Weapons- Nine Section Whip and Rope Dart" by Li Keqin and Li Xingdong. The author says it is 4 meters long with knots the size of hen's eggs at each end. I found that a half-inch braided SOFT nylon rope into which a monkey's fist knot is tied at each end, with the free end of the rope simply stuffed into the core of the knot, works quite well for this weapon. I also found the length to be a bit cumbersome, but I am not trained in wushu, so, again, that's just me. I will say that I like working with a shorter version of this weapon though. The knotted ends deliver surprising impact, especially when swung at full speed (you find this out quickly in early practice as you are going to hit yourself quite a bit until your body gets used to moving in the right way). All of these weapons are quite easy to make, conceal, and pass off as mundane items in a pinch. All of them can be used for all manner of trapping, binding, submission, choking and throwing techniques. Impact is not especially effective, but shots to the head can easily daze an opponent even with relatively low force, and knock out with full force. Body and limb shots hurt, but only about as much as a solid punch. I believe the knotted hapkido variety would have a greater affect on pressure points when wrapped and pinching them than striking would, but I have yet to find an uke brave enough to let me test this, and it can be difficult to strike these points in the right way on oneself.
Kusari fundo or Manriki Chain- This is simply a chain with weights. Lengths vary greatly, from the length of the forearm, to reaching to the ground with hand extended at shoulder level with palm down. I find the length from the extended arm to the center of the chest to be best, but that's just me. The weights, too, can be different shapes, from egg to square and even (my preferred type) handles with rounded ends for pressure point striking. While they may be thrown, like bolas, it is better to keep the weapon in hand and use it for striking, binding, parrying, throwing and choking techniques.
Bolas- Bolas are the quintessential tool of the gauchos, or Mexican cowboy. They are typically used to snare the legs of hooved animals. Consisting of a rope or braided leather with weights attached to the ends, these may be thrown to trap or choke, at least long enough to close the distance and execute a finishing move, or used in close for striking, binding and choking, much like the manriki. Bolas may have only a single weight, designed to be thrown to knock out or kill animals by hitting them in the head. Excellent as an improvised tool for taking small game, it can also be used at close range like a small flail for striking etc. I personally like to use a large eye-screw such as those used for fastening heavy items into wooden joists because they are made with a point, are inconspicuous (requiring no modification) and can be held like a yawara to strike pressure points and gouge flesh, in addition to the whipping strikes and binding techniques you would use with round weights.
Sarong- An article of clothing worn by both men and women in Indonesia, and likely a few other places. It is essentially a large, thin sheet of cloth which is wrapped and tied like a skirt or dress, depending on who is wearing it. Some Silat practitioners wear an extra sarong like a sash across the chest to be quickly deployed as a weapon. I have personally used T-shirts and towels to execute sarong techniques effectively. They are used in a number of ways, such as swinging at the eyes or covering the face to temporarily blind an assailant while you change position, but mostly they are used for tying, trapping and choking. Joint locks and submission holds are also easily performed, but it is not typical of silat to be forgiving, so most techniques end in a skull-crushing throw or a choke out.
Slung-shot and "monkey fist"- Touring a law-enforcement fair when I was younger, I got to see an exhibit of contraband and illegal concealed weapons. Along with sword canes, nunchaku and switchblades was the "slung-shot" which consisted of a "shot" or lead weight, which is "slung" by a cord or rope. The "monkey's fist" is a kind of knot used by mariners to throw lines, allegedly once used by desert caraveneers to conceal jewels within the core. When using this knot around a weighted core, one is essentially making a slung-shot, so I caution anyone who buys one of these "self-defense monkey ball key chains" because, as I understand the current law, many of these old banned weapons are now okay to own UNTIL you use them on a human being. That being said, this weapon comes in myriad shapes and sizes, but the most effective ones will have some length to them. Most have only about a 1 inch core, any larger and it would be hard to carry or conceal. Short ones can be whipped at the face, head and hands in hopes of a disarm or knock-out, but longer ones can be swung and recovered, wrapped around the hand, or grabbed with the off hand and swung when in-fighting, while the rest of the length is used to parry, tie, lock and throw. The greater the length, the greater the impact of your swing. That is why the short ones will likely just get you hurt if you try to use them in a real fight. It is a difficult weapon to master, as it requires a great deal of accuracy, and some distance, for an effective strike. Simply beating someone about the body will do very little to someone who seriously wants to hurt you. Only bony targets such as the hands, spine, knuckles, nose, temples and jaw are truly vulnerable. MUCH larger weights and ropes may be used to break ribs, or cave the skull, but these would be impossible to carry discretely.
"Smiley"- A brutal street fighting weapon allegedly popular among biker gangs. It is just a heavy chain with a large padlock on the end. The nickname comes from the "smiley face" shaped marks it leaves on the victim's skin. If you have something that needs locking up, such as a bike, you can pass it off as simply utilitarian. In the bed of a truck, among other tools, it would hardly be noticed. Lengths vary, but are generally fairly short. Wrapped around the hand, with a few inches swinging freely with the lock on the end, it forms what is essentially a metal gauntlet with a short flail. Swinging the weapon allows you to put distance between yourself and your attacker(s) as you strike at the head and limbs with quick, whipping strikes. You can also use this for binding and choking. The lock acts as a sort of handle to grab on to while the other end is usually kept wrapped at least one time around the hand. A simple belt can be used as an expedient weapon in much the same way as the smiley, with the added benefit of slipping the end through the buckle and pulling hard for a very effective choke, especially when performed with the knee or foot pressing between the shoulders of a downed opponent.
Sap, Blackjack, Billyclub, or Slapper- All of these are names of various weapons consisting of a heavy (usually lead) weight connected to a flexible handle, and all of them are technically illegal. Billyclub/blackjack/slapper/sap are used somewhat interchangeably to describe leather-wrapped items with either a round weight attached to a round spring core, or a square weight attached to a flat spring core, the later being sandwiched between pieces of latigo shaped more or less like a beaver tail. Both have a strap to help maintain grip and control of the weapon. These were popular among police in the old days, but have been banned for along time due to issues with excessive force. They are capable of quickly delivering a knock-out, but repeated striking can cause serious brain injuries and death almost as quickly.
Nunchaku, Jool Bong and Tabak Toyok- The sticks of the nunchaku should be about the length of the forearm, and the chain or rope connecting them should be just long enough that both handles rest comfortably on either side of the palm when it is lain across the open hand. "Jool bong" or "joined staff" is what they call them in Korean martial arts. The Filiino Tabak Toyok, to my understanding, should have shorter handles and longer chains, making them a bit easier to conceal. Contrary to the way they are portrayed on screen, in movies, television, and by hobbyist "trickers" on "YouTube" it is not practical to whip these weapons around constantly at all angles, doing pointless spinning and twirling movements. The notion that this is all designed to "confuse the opponent" is easily refuted by anyone who has actually been in a fight and had any degree of serious martial training. In a fight, you are focused on fighting, not easily distracted by flashy movement like some kind of kitten with ADHD. No, the joined stick weapon's primary function is as a grappling implement, secondary as a fixed fist load and short striking weapon, and tertiary as a whipping/flail weapon. The relatively low power and poor control over whipping strikes make them best suited to long range tactics to keep an opponent at bay or set them up for more powerful techniques. Chokes, throws and limb destruction are what these weapons are good at, and should be executed at close range, with a handle held firmly in each hand. At mid range, holding a handle in each hand, or both together in one, the weapon functions as a fist load and can be used for striking with the ends. Reversing the grip so that the connected ends are closest to the hand and the free ends are extended one can strike and block as they would with a regular short stick. Since nunchaku are often tapered, this puts the heavy end forward, as it should be when using a truncheon.
Jiu Jie Bian or Chain whip- Consisting of nine, twelve, or three sectional metal rods attached with rings and a pointed dart at the end. Folds up to the length of the rods and is quite heavy. Capable of striking around blocks or even the cover of a shield, tree, post or car door. Most are not made of hard enough steel to be put to much abuse as they are primarily for demonstration anymore. The longer varieties are too long to be practical in the up-close-and-personal world of street fighting anyway. The rare three section chain whip, on the other hand, is only about as long as a kusari fundo, and can be used for trapping, choking and throwing as well as striking at close quarters while giving you the versatility of length and whipping strikes should the opportunity arise.
Sanjigun and Shao Zi- otherwise known as 3 and 2 section staff respectively. The Shao Zi, also known as the "Ling Jia Gun" is probably the eldest, and, it is said, that the Northern Chinese accent on this later name spawned the Okinawan "nunchaku" which is regarded as a shorter variety of the same weapon. The long section should be about the length of a Jo staff- about floor to shoulder or armpit- and the short section, that of the forearm ("shaku" in Japanese) or about the length of a Korean Dan Bong. The chain or cord connecting them should be about the length of the hand. A shorter version exists wherein the long section is roughly the length of the arm, short section that of the hand, and chain the width of the palm, as with nunchaku. Historically, this was a simple rice flail, used for threshing the grain from the sheaf into canoes around the rice paddy. Theoretically, the long end could be used like a gondola pole to propel the boat through the shallow waters while the small end was kept relatively dry so the rice did not stick to it from the moisture. In combat, think of this weapon as what it is, an extended nunchuk. Historically it would have been used against enemies on horseback. The Sansetsukan is used much more as a flexible staff, from what I have seen, with greater emphasis on trapping and throwing than whipping strikes. Instead, striking seems to be done mostly at close range, often after successfully trapping the assailant. It is cumbersome and awkward, at least in my hands, but surprisingly solid in terms of practical use IF you can learn to use it. Unfortunately it is too large to be very concealable, and doesn't appear practical for anything else. Each section of the sanjigun is about 2 feet long, or one third of the user's overall height, with chain, ring, or rope lengths about equal to that of the hand.
Chisai Sansetsukon- "Sansetsukon" is the Okinawan word for San-Jie-Gun (sanjigun) described above. "Chisai" simply means "small". This weapon would be most easily described as a "three-section-nunchaku" of sorts. Exceedingly rare and little known, though the construction is quite simple, and it is a far more practical implement than the more well known three section staff. The chisai sansetsukon consists of three pieces of wood, about the size of yawara, or a bit bigger, connected by rope. There are no exact dimensions to this weapon as it may be improvised from a piece of equipment once used on goods carts. If you wish to make your own to practice with, I would suggest the wood pieces be about 1 inch in diameter and the length from the bottom of your palm to the tip of your longest finger. Drill a hole down through one end (toward the other end) about 1 inch deep, then drill a hole cross-wise through the handle which intersects this channel at the lower end. Drill another hole about an inch below that in the same manner. If you have the skill, you can cut a recess into the space between the two parallel holes that is the same size as your connecting cord to give the finished product a sleeker look and feel. Replicate this process on one end of a second piece of wood, then do the same on both ends of a third. Run a piece of cordage through the lower of the two parallel holes, then up and into the upper of the two holes on one side. Use a small crochet hook to reach down into the top hole and pull the cord end up through it. Feed this through one end of the stick with two sets of holes, then pull through one side, feed into the lower hole, then back into the other side of the upper, and back out through the end. Continue to feed the cord through the holes, coming back down into the end of the first stick, pulling it through the last remaining hole on the side. Adjust so that there is a length of cord between the sticks that is just wide enough to allow them to rest on either side of your open palm so that the point straight down. This is the same process used for making nunchaku, but there are only two handles, and they are the length of your forearm. Tie off the ends of the cord, then repeat the process with the remaining handle and other end of the center stick. This weapon is used to strike and entangle in similar manner to nunchaku, with the added benefit of a solid bar in the center to empower chokes and add focused pressure to vital points when locking the limbs. Furthermore, as the handles are much smaller, it is far more concealable than nunchaku, while having the same, or greater reach.
Urumi- Part of the little known Indian martial art Kalaripayattu, this is one of the most insane and dangerous weapons I know of. Essentially a flexible sword with one to five blades made out of reclaimed band saw blades up to 10 or more feet in length. These are bound together by a handle, usually incorporating a wide knuckle guard. The weapon is worn coiled around the waist, uncoiled and used by keeping it in constant motion, all while avoiding cutting yourself. Both I and a fellow knife maker designed a short, single bladed version and tested it. If you have experience with flexible weapons, it is not much different than using a rope or chain. The biggest challenge is developing the sensitivity to direct the edge of the blade to the target rather than striking with the flat. I believe this is the reason for the multiple blades on the traditional urumi, the more blades you have swinging, the more likely at least one will cut. Even our short urumi would be fairly useless in close quarters due to the fact that the weapon must be extended to its full length to be effective, and much shorter than 4 feet the weapon becomes less flexible and is essentially just a flimsy machete. I have no doubt that a full length version would have no problem keeping multiple assailants at bay in an open fieldor parking lot where you had room to wield it, but in a world of firearms, there is nothing to keep them from shooting through your whirlwind of blades. Still, it is an interesting concept which, if nothing else, could serve as a very extreme (and impressive) training tool for those who thrive under pressure of threat, which, itself, is good training for dealing with the genuine danger of a defense situation.
Whips- So many varieties I could (and eventually may) devote an entire article just to them. From the Tibetan Baga, which consists of a wooden club and looped end, used for striking, binding and lassoing, to the more familiar bullwhip, the stiff-cored riding crops and cattle goads to the semi-flexible sjambok and the extra flexible snake whip... Some have single tails, some have multiple, and some, like the knout and scourge have solid tips used to inflict serious injuries. Outside of BDSM and corporeal punishment, all whips are pretty well useless in the real world, and likely to get you charged with a hate crime if you use one on a human being in the streets, regardless of skin color. I once had an officer draw his pistol on me just for PRETENDING to strike my cousins with a novelty bullwhip from the town fair. I wasn't even sure how to respond to his shouts of "DROP THE WEAPON" at first. "What weapon?" I asked, which the cop was not amused by in the least. Bottom line, don't try to be Indiana Jones, whips are bad news all around in the streets. Enjoy with a consenting partner, or practice popping balloons for performance, but best leave them alone otherwise.
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