A very interesting column Niall, thanks.
In a self- defense class I went to there were only few kubotan sticks, so we used pens instead.
I found two links using the umbrella for self defense
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO8G5zsQohg .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbMNN0Y3-zI
And Peter Gabriel wrote the song
Mercy street for Anne Sexton