- Kelly Mccann
- Jan 23
- 5 min read
It’s become increasingly difficult to legally arm yourself for the purpose of self-defense. Laws vary greatly from state to state, and the last thing you need is to find yourself jammed up because, although you legally defended yourself, you did it using an illegal weapon. The same can be said for using an inappropriate yet legally carried weapon.
For example, a folding knife may be legal, but it might not be appropriate for the circumstances — yet it’s the only thing the intended victim has with them, so it gets used.
Introducing any weapon into a violent situation can be problematic. Courts generally take a dim view of hurting someone with a weapon unless the situation clearly supports its lawful use in self-defense.
The distinction between a purpose-built weapon and a weapon of opportunity is basically this: A purpose-built weapon is "an instrument of combat by design," whereas a weapon of opportunity is an everyday implement that’s at hand and pressed into service as a weapon because of urgency or necessity.
Enter the Flashlight
Which brings us to the point of this column: the flashlight. Notice I didn’t say “tactical flashlight” or “CQB flashlight.” The reason for the differentiation can be found in the preceding paragraph.
In my opinion, if a structurally sound flashlight is designed with a sharp, crenulated bezel that’s specifically for striking, it is, in fact, a weapon. And to be honest, it’s a maiming weapon.
I’m not mincing words, and I’m well aware of the plethora of such flashlights in the marketplace.
What I’m suggesting is that you don’t purchase a light with sharpened edges or teeth designed to cut into an attacker.
What to Look for in a Flashlight
I always advise people to choose a flashlight based on a few important design features.
First is diameter and length. I recommend a light that’s approximately 8 to 8½ inches long for a couple of reasons. It will carry well in a rear pocket, the average depth of which (in jeans) is 5 to 6 inches.
A light that’s 8 to 8½ inches long means the head is positioned above the pocket rim and is instantly available, provided you have the right grip, to use as a bludgeon or dan bong (Korean for “short stick”).
The diameter should be ¾ to 1 inch so it’s easy to manipulate and can be used as a kubotan or koppo. If the diameter is right, the light will fit between your hand and wrist in the natural saddle that occurs near the styloid process on the ulna or radius side.
If it’s too thick, it won’t be effective as a kubotan and can’t be held between the thumb and little finger as a koppo.
The second feature is brightness, usually measured in lumens. The light should be bright enough to legitimately “night-blind” a would-be attacker and preferably bright enough to diminish his vision in daylight hours as well.
How bright is bright enough? If you have a light that produces more than 100 lumens, you’ll effectively diminish anyone’s vision at night.
Brighter is better, of course, but that entails increased power requirements and better bulbs, which can adversely affect size.
The third important design feature is construction. Most good lights today are made of “aircraft aluminum” and have decent shock-absorption qualities with respect to protecting the electronics and the LED bulb against damage from impacts.
You’ll want to ensure that your light will continue to function as designed if you start hitting things with it or drop it in a struggle.
The last pertinent feature is the switch — in particular, the ease of use and resistance to unintended activation. This is mostly about personal preference.
Some people prefer side-switching designs, while others like tail-cap switches. Suffice it to say that the one you choose should permit you to turn the beam on and off easily and with certainty, with only one hand.
Putting the Flashlight to Use in Self-Defense
Once you do some research and handle a few models — and it’s crucial to handle them — buy the light you believe best suits your purpose. Now, what do you do with it in a self-defense situation?
I don’t have the space to get into the actual techniques here, but generally speaking, you have a blinding tool in your hand that you can strike with.
In the simplest terms, if a thug was to approach you in a threatening manner, you could flash him in the eyes with the beam and run. If a thug was to walk up and physically threaten you, you could hit him in the eyes with the beam and then hit him in the head with the light. See what I did there?
The light can function as a simple bludgeon, held in your hammerfist and used to smash into arms, chests, faces, and hands. It can be used as a kubotan or pain-compliance tool with a little familiarity and training. Either end of the light can be used against clenched hands or used to concentrate force into a small area, generating excruciating pain. The barrel can be used to roll against nerves in the wrist, creating some good pain as well.
You also can wield a light like a dan bong — by holding the head (which is why I prefer lights with a head rather than designs that have a uniform diameter) in the ring created by your thumb and index finger. The rest of your hand cups the head, and the barrel protrudes from your hand. From this grip, you can whip the light and snap-strike targets effectively.
Finally, you can hold it between your thumb and little finger in a way that permits usage as a koppo. That enables you to slap an adversary in the face or head, as well as parry a punch.
The Flashlight: A Fight-Bender, Not a Fight-Ender
Like a pocket stick, a flashlight likely will be a “fight-bender” and not a “fight-ender.” It can buy you time, distract, and dissuade. But unless you literally knock someone out with it while you’re in an adrenalized state, your opponent probably will keep fighting.
The most important thing to remember regarding flashlight self-defense is this: Like with any purpose-built weapon, if you find yourself having to grab it, that should trigger your brain that you’re in a potentially dangerous situation and need to get the hell out of there. And like with any other tool, it’s the user that makes it effective.
Otherwise, it’s just an object.
If you’re going to carry a light for self-defense, you need to train with it.
