"I mean, I've learned knives for basic protection, some passing hand to hand. But for closer ranges..."

The twitch of a wrist and a long piece of wood, not so different from an escrima stick. "Tanbo. Pretty effective itself."

Not too different, and yet they're not at all alike. But, for once, she's just taking the whole thing in stride. Which makes Nida relax just a tiny bit. Because he's learned those most likely to accept it at face value are those who have been through something similar enough to get it. HE doesn't, of course, argue about the whole fast enough and balance to make it through things. Clearly he knows a bit of those to have survived to his age.