I thought this was a joke. (A question for martial artists)

[ooflendoodle]

So today as I was waiting for my class to start (this was a kenpo karate class and I'm a first degree black belt) my friend told me that he had asked a cop wether his hands were weapons or not and the officer said yes. He was telling me about this and that someone could press assault charges a black belt if they got into a fight (I don't get in fights and I always try to sort things out verbally). I thought this was just a joke, but are my hands really weapons (lol)? btw I live in colorado.

[no-Name]

how are you using them? is my wood-cutting axe a weapon?

[ooflendoodle]

I haven't gotten into I fight I just heard my hands were considered weapons and I don't think this was real is it the same in other places? EDIT: Sorry but could I have this moved just into regular threads it doesn't really go here.

[ninja9578]

Depends on the context. I teach legal issues along with martial arts. If you started the fight, then you can be charged with assault. If you are defending yourself you can not be charged with assault. If you are defending yourself and use lethal / crippling techniques, you can be charged with assault (unless they are armed) If they are armed, you can not be charged with assault unless you disarm them and keep using unnecessarily strong force It's all how you respond, use this as a guideline 1 opponent - no threat, move around them a little to let them know they're outmatched and if he doesn't get it, choke them out or something, don't hit them too much 2 opponents - medium threat, knock one of them out, then treat the other as above >2 opponents - massive threat, use your entire arsenal until you're down to 2 guys 1 opponent + close range weapon - minimal threat, take the weapon away then treat them as above >1 opponent + close range weapon - massive threat, full arsenal 1 or more opponent with long rang weapon - massive threat, full arsenal ^ Obviously that only applies to a blackbelt or above

[no-Name]

^ Obviously that only applies to a blackbelt or above And also for when you can't just back away.

[Spartiate]

According to my hunting class I had way back, your bare hand counts as a hunting weapon (mostly so you don't pick up frogs without a permit).

[VividMan]

Damn.. it has to suck if your hand has to get locked up in evidence..