I'm not sure how much speed one can get up swinging a cane (seems that the extra length would slow it down), might have to try with my mother-in-laws. But I still remember my old "three from the ring," and I know (from experience) that jabbing a bad guy in the vicinity of the solar plexis a couple of times with something long, skinny, and fast will really take the fight out of him/her. Then, while he/she is flat in the gutter gasping for breath, you can boogie on down the road...