Common Object Self-Defence: What You Can Actually Use in a Real Situation

By Aaron Moore, Head Instructor, Krav Maga Auckland (KMG Expert Level 2)

In Brief

For self-defence, you can use whatever is already with you or around you — a bag, a jacket, a chair or a table — to create distance, form a barrier and buy time to get away. At Krav Maga Auckland, training includes recognising and using ordinary objects like these, within New Zealand's reasonable-force framework.

Most people don't carry anything designed for self-defence. They carry phones, bags, takeaway coffees, jackets. They walk through environments full of furniture, doors, and vehicles. The question that matters in a real moment isn't "what's the perfect tool" — it's "what can I use right now to create space?"

That question has answers, and the training to find them quickly is part of the curriculum.

Using an object as a shield — Krav Maga Auckland class.

You don't carry equipment — you use what's there

The first principle of common-object self-defence is realistic inventory. What's actually on you, right now? A bag with weight in it. A jacket or hoodie. A drink container. Keys. What's around you in the space? A chair, a table, a bin, a parked car. None of these were designed as defensive tools. All of them can function as one if you know how to use them.

The shift in thinking is small but important: your environment is part of your defence, if you know how to read it. Most people walk through space without registering its defensive properties. Training builds that registration.

Why do objects matter against a knife?

Against a knife, distance is the single most valuable thing you can have. Anything that helps you keep space, disrupt the attacker, or create a barrier improves your chances of disengaging. This isn't about "fighting with objects" — it's about buying time, creating separation, and improving your position long enough to get to safety.

Even a small barrier can make a difference. A jacket held between you and the blade can deflect or catch some of the attack. A bag thrown at face height creates a half-second gap where decisions become possible. A chair held forward forces an attacker to commit to a different angle. None of these solve the situation on their own. An object may help create space or an opportunity to escape, depending on the situation — and training develops how to recognise and use that opportunity.

What objects does training cover?

Training at 47 Birkenhead Avenue doesn't rely on idealised tools. It works with the items people actually carry and the things actually present in real environments. Three categories come up most often:

Bags. A bag with weight in it can act as a shield, be placed between you and the attacker, or be thrown to disrupt vision and movement. It's one of the most natural objects to use because you already have it in your hand. Aimed towards the face, even an imprecise throw may briefly interrupt vision and movement.

Clothing. Jackets and hoodies can create a temporary barrier, be wrapped around a weapon arm to obscure or control it, or be used to deflect a blade. What matters most is that it's close to hand and used decisively, and even then the outcome depends on the situation.

Chairs and barriers. In environments like cafés, workplaces, or any indoor space, chairs and tables become your best option. They can help keep distance, block movement and slow an attacker down, which may create a moment to leave through an exit behind you.

It's not about technique — it's about opportunity

There's no perfect "move" with an object. What matters is recognising what's available, using it quickly, and creating an opportunity to get away. Training focuses on adaptability, not memorising sequences. You're not learning object techniques — you're learning how to use what's there when the situation demands it.

This is also why object-use training is integrated rather than isolated. Scenario-based training is where this skill actually develops, because the scenario environment includes objects you have to notice under pressure. A static drill against a known threat strips out the recognition step. A scenario built in a realistic space puts it back in.

The legal side of using an object

In New Zealand, using an object in self-defence is judged by the same legal test as any other defensive force. Under section 48 of the Crimes Act 1961, a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances as they believe them to be, in defence of themselves or someone else. Whether force was reasonable always depends on the specific threat and circumstances; this article isn't legal advice.

Separately from that legal test, training at Krav Maga Auckland prioritises disengaging and getting to safety: the aim is to use an object to create an opportunity to leave, not to win an exchange. For a fuller breakdown, KMG New Zealand explains how reasonable force is defined. Carrying something for protection is a separate legal question — see what you can legally carry for self-defence in New Zealand.

How this fits into training at Krav Maga Auckland

Object-based defence isn't a separate module — it's woven through the curriculum. It appears in knife defence drills, in scenario work, and in general self-defence situations. Sometimes the object is obvious (a bag in your hand). Sometimes it's something you have to notice under pressure (a chair behind you, a coat over a chair-back). The training builds both kinds of recognition.

You don't wait years to encounter this. It's introduced early in a controlled way, alongside fundamentals, and develops in complexity as you progress through the levels.

Common-object drills are part of regular training in our self-defence classes in Auckland — see class times and book a trial on the North Shore page.