If I’m going to bet my life on a weapon I’ll usually choose something modern. With that said ancient weapons can still get the job done as Latter-day Saints Bishop demonstrated:
Hoyal said 37-year-old Grant Eggertsen assaulted a 35-year-old female victim and tried to get inside her home as she was leaving. Hoyal said the two had a professional relationship in the past, and when that deteriorated the victim had obtained a stalking injunction against Eggertsen.
The victim screamed and ran from the home. Eggertsen gave chase, and a physical altercation took place. The victim tried to pepper spray Eggertsen, but that was not effective.
Several neighbors heard the noise and came outside and confronted Eggertsen. One of those neighbors was Kent Hendrix, who is a bishop with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a black belt in karate.
[…]
Hendrix came outside with a samurai sword, and he wielded the weapon while he and other neighbors confronted and then chased Eggertsen away. Eggertsen ran to his car and drove off.
There are two lessons to be learned from this story. First, pepper spray isn’t always effective, which is why those of us who advocate for self-defense encourage individuals to carry a firearm. Second, swords may be ancient but they still command respect. I also want to give credit to the would-be victim’s neighbors. Neighbors coming to the aid of their fellows is sadly becoming more rare everyday so I can’t help it but be moved when community members actually take the initiative to help one another.