Because of Newton's second law (force equals acceleration times mass), a fighting cane may be more powerful than a baseball bat because it swings faster. Experts have been clocked by radar guns swinging a cane over 200 mph , so you should easily reach half of that speed with practice. Level the playing field and give yourself an advantage. It would help if you also learned to recognize dangerous situations . For example, assume an unfriendly-looking man near you steps back with his right foot and scratches his chin with his right hand. Cops say there is a 90-to-95 percent chance the person is preparing to unleash a roundhouse punch at you. Know how to protect yourself. If you don't want to carry a gun, the next best alternative is a thick stick. Look at the riot police with their sticks (Pr-24s). Get a self-defense cane (usually solid oak or hickory and one-inch thick), and you have the means to defend yourself with something you can legally carry for health. Sadly, in today's world, you may risk your life going unarmed as you walk or go to your car. It is not the same world it was a few years ago. People are desperate.