Quote Originally Posted by Yum Cha View Post
There's a book, Shubumi - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibumi_(novel) that's all about an assassin that uses common objects as weapons. Great adventure read.

Weapons can be anything. Weapons training to me is more about the use of that core object than the weapon in detail. A cricket bat, baseball bat, cane, Dao, all have similar application, with adjustments for weight. Long staff, med staff, rattan staff, shovel, broom, kwan dao.

Translating skills across weapons is a good objective in weapons training in my own opinion.
I also have a personal thing about not getting attached to any weapon as an object, any one will do, so I get used to accommodating differences in balance, weight, feel, etc..

Favorite non standard weapon I've seen is two pieces of Angle Iron along the forearms, wrapped with an ace bandage, under a light jacket.
Ah, Nicolai Hel...good stuff !
Improvised weaponry should be a must and, with a good core in edge and impact weapons, it is easy to turn anything into a weapon.
Key is principles over specific techniques.