How To Use Tactical Strike Pen Effectively?
A tactical strike pen is a self-defense weapon that has become popular among civilians. The strike pen was originally designed for military use but over the years, it has evolved into a practical and affordable self-defense tool for civilians. But how do you use this tactical strike pen effectively as a ballpoint pen? That's what we're going to find out in this blog post!
What Are The Pros And Cons of Tactical Pens?
Before you can begin to learn techniques, you must first understand what your weapon is and is not capable of. Then, you will maximize what it is good at while strengthening its weaknesses. Your tactical pen has one significant advantage in that it can go anywhere and, as long as its design is not overly aggressive, it may have a bright led flashlight or with a bottle opener and a pocket clip that will pass through almost any security screening. After all, it's just a pen, albeit one built to last. This non-weapon status is also helpful when traveling to areas with a strict gun and knife laws or flying commercially, where you cannot even bring a nail file.
In general, using a tactical pen on someone is not considered lethal force, falling into the same category as kubotans, yawara sticks, and other blunt or semi-blunt impact tools. Aside from its ability to go anywhere, the most significant advantage a tactical pen can provide is its surprise factor.
A tactical pen is easy to carry like an ordinary pen, hide, and deploy, allowing you to launch a powerful and painful, even crippling, first attack from seemingly nowhere when your attacker expects you, the would-be victim, to be unarmed to improve self-defense or can help to survive natural disasters. If you strike with precision, the pain your attacker will feel from a hardened piece of metal being driven furiously into his bones, muscles, or joints will be shocking.
A strike pen is not the best self-defense tactical pen (weapon), nor is it a panacea or just an interchangeable multi-tool for all problems. Their range is abysmal, and they do require some skill to get the most out of them, but their advantages allow them to go places that other weapons simply cannot.
Gripping the Tactical Pen
There is no excellent and mysterious technique for gripping the tactical pen correctly. The reverse grip, also known as the ice-pick grip, and the forward grip, also known as the saber grip, a term borrowed from knife usage, are the two most common methods. The reverse grip is more common because it allows the fastest draw regardless of how the pen is held.
The pen is held in the middle of the fist with the point protruding beneath to use the reverse grip. The tip of the pen should protrude at least an inch above the recommendations of the fingers. When driving the pen into a dirtbag's face, neck, or skull, the thumb is curled over the top cap of the cell to reinforce the grip and keep the pen steady. For this reason, avoid tactical pens with sharply crenelated or spiked tops; if held in this manner, it will injure you on impact. In addition, a tactical pen only has one striking surface.
The reverse grip is preferred for a tactical pen because it allows you to generate massive power with downward blows, similar to a hammer fist technique. In addition, the reverse grip allows for backhanded jabs, counters, and strikes of opportunity. To use the forward grip, do the same thing as before, but with two changes: the pen's point is held upward, past the index finger, and the thumb is wrapped around the fingers as in a standard fist. The forward grip allows you to use thrusts and other techniques similar to what you would use with a knife or even some boxing punches, but it is not as powerful as strikes delivered with the reverse grip.
Whatever grip you prefer or are forced to use, hold the pen tightly! Very tightly! Even these slightly oversized and knurled, stippled cells have a small diameter and allowing it to shift in your hand when you deliver your blow will reduce the power of the strike.
Targeting with the Tactical Pen
There are many targets for the strike pen for self defense, but accuracy is essential because it is not an intelligent weapon like a knife or a heavy blunt weapon like a club or crowbar. It will undoubtedly hurt, no matter where you hit, but hurting is not enough; we must inflict injury to reduce our opponent's capability and will to fight. If we hit him with a tactical pen hard enough and he quits, that's great, but we can't count on it. The target locations listed below are commentary geared toward situational selection and maximum effect.
- Face
- Neck
- Collarbone
- Deltoid
- Hand
Depending on the amount of damage inflicted, strikes to the head and neck with a tactical pen may be considered lethal force. Strikes to the throat and eyes are unquestionably deadly. Keep this in mind and use only the amount of force required by the situation.
Tactical Pen Techniques
Unless otherwise specified, the following techniques assume the pen is held in your dominant hand in a reverse (tip down) grip. The correct stance for using the tactical pen is similar to a boxing stance: feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing in the same direction, strongside leg tailing slightly to the rear. Maintain a relaxed and slightly loose posture, and keep your weight centered on the balls of your feet for the best mobility.
Palm to Face and Strike
Keep your chin down and your hands up around your eyes, ready to defend, attack, and counter. Your elbows should stay close to your sides for protection against blows as well as to facilitate striking.
This excellent essential combination employs the tactical pen against an unarmed assailant. Snap your non-dominant hand out in a palm strike, not a punch aimed at the bad guy's chin before he can throw a punch at you. Aim behind him to deflect his attention, then drive in behind your "jab." This accomplishes two things: it prevents him from seeing your follow-up attack, which is a big overhand strike to the side of his head or neck with your pen. Give this shot some oomph, and the fight will be over before he realizes he's lost.
Parry and Strike
This is a variation on the previous technique, but it can be used against a punch and an attacker swinging a longer weapon. Step to the outside as they swing at you, and dodge the attack with your non-dominant arm. Follow up on the parry by wrapping up the attacking arm, putting an end to their offensive. Then, fire a vicious thrust into his face before they have time to recover.
If he doubles over, keep control of the attacking arm and begin raining overhand blows on the back of his head and neck if that level of force is justified, or on his shoulder and deltoid area if it is not.
If you ever get caught off guard before you can set up the type of blow required to bring the point of your tactical pen to bear, remember that your tactical pen is essentially a fist load, and you can throw a punch as you would any other time. Don't pass up an opportunity to cause havoc just because it doesn't fit the script in your head.
Uppercut
A particularly lethal shot with the pen held in the forward grip. If your enclosure is long enough to protrude significantly from the top of your hand when stored this way, you can also do this with the reverse grip. The thumb is removed from the cap and wrapped typically around the hand when using the reverse grip.
To set up this strike, go for it on the backside of a party or whenever you are in close quarters. Wind up the pen and drive the point into the soft underside of the jaw. This is excruciatingly painful and can pierce and ravage the soft tissues of the mandible and mouth. A straight-in shot is another variation in which you use a punch or palm strike to snap and hold the attacker's head back, exposing the jaw to harm.
Hook and Trap
A tactical pen is a natural replacement for a kubotan or mini-baton for trapping and controlling an offender's limb. When held in the reverse grip, the length of the pen can wrap around and provide leverage over anything from a wrist to an elbow, and it can even be used up near the shoulder to help you turn or spin an opponent. In addition, when used in conjunction with a tactical pen, a variety of small joint locks are improved and made more secure.
Pressure point compliance techniques are also made simple with a tactical pen, giving you more force options when mauling someone with the pointy end is not appropriate. A dissertation on those maneuvers and their variations is beyond the scope of this article, but you should look into it.
Conclusion
Due to its unassuming appearance, the tactical pen is a versatile, concealable, and constant companion. A tactical pen is easy to conceal and draw, is the ideal low-profile tool for turning the tide in a hands-on fight when others are unavailable or expressly forbidden.
Maximizing the tactical pen is highly dependent on sound technique, and by taking the time to master some of the moves presented above, you'll be well on your way to hitting way above your pen's weight class.
