"Fistful of Dynamite," "Rod of Pain," and many others lead the way as writers share their own knowledge and insight into this inconspicuous, and yet surprisingly powerful little weapon. Unfortunately, far too many of these articles serve little to no real purpose in helping you to actually create results. And, these articles range in scope from the generalized "what it is" variety, to the overly bloated tome that includes what seems to be every single detail and supposition that the author wishes to impress you with.
Believe me, I have read a lot of what's available, and while there are certainly a number of valuable resources from real experts, they are buried in a cyber-world of practically worthless "chatter." While you can feel free to recreate my extensive research on the subject, I've brought it all together so you don't have to.
So, what, exactly, is a Kubotan (pronounced "koo-bow-tahn") anyway?
Good question. And to answer that, this article will give you the short, "what's it look like and what else might it be called," version. In addition, we'll have to take a quick overview of the strengths and weakness of this popular self-defense weapon. But, for now...
The Kubotan, also known as a...
1. Pocket-stick...
2. Self-Defense Keychain...
3. Mini-Stick, and...
4. many others...
...is arguably, the most common self-defense weapon, next to the handgun, in the United States.
While many new tactical weapons continue to find growing acceptance within the law enforcement and security communities, there seems to be little change within the realm of private citizens. It appears that, once people find a good thing, they tend to "stick" with it. (Yes, pun intended!) According to many experts in the field of defense and personal protection...
"...the most popular, and quite possibly the most versatile, personal defense weapon is the Kubotan.
For simplicity's sake, I will refer to the weapon throughout this book as the Kubotan or, more simply, the self-defense keychain. However, regardless of the name given to it, this powerful little compliance tool, carried by thousands of men and women - martial artists and non-practitioners alike - is an awesome means of deterring and controlling an attack situation.
Besides being, quite probably the cheapest weapon you can buy, in the hands of even a person skilled in only a few basic moves, the Kubotan is a formidable weapon for stopping an assailant in his tracks. And, for those with more training and developed skills, the self-defense keychain is one of the most effective self-defense tools that you can use today.
The weapon is simple in appearance, inexpensive to acquire or make, and fairly easy to conceal. While not as versatile and convenient as a clipknife like the Delica from Spyderco - my preferred weapon/tool of choice, by the way - it is easy to learn and even easier to use.
Depending on the manufacturer, the Kubotan is just a basic rod made of metal, plastic, or wood. It's about 6 inches long and, as the name suggests, usually has a key ring attached at one end. The "official," patented, Kubotan weapon "invented" by a man named Tak Kubota, has grooves machined into the weapon to identify it as a unique creation.
There are other variants of the basic model, including what is billed as the "Ninja" version of the weapon. This little piece of imaginative effort, created during the '80's when every weapon had it's own "Ninja" version, has two thinner spikes protruding out from the side of the weapon that fit between your fingers when you grasped the main bar of the tool.
Let me assure you that, regardless of what you ever read or hear, the Kubotan or self-defense keychain is NOT a Ninja weapon - officially or unofficially. It's ancestors that gave rise to the modern version, at least in Japan, were used by all trained warriors - not just the Ninja.
The more commonly recognized variants of the weapon are generally manufactured from heavy-duty plastic or aluminum. The official Kubotan, and third-party copies, are simply straight rods with blunt ends. However, many self-defense key chains have at least one tapered end with the key ring attacked to the squared, blunt end. Needless to say, some of these "centerpunch-like versions, like those shown in this photo, are extremely dangerous - as they have the capability of actually penetrating the target and doing more severe damage.
And, for those of you who are fashion-conscious and need to make sure that your self-defense weapon doesn't clash with your Armani, these little gems even come in a variety of colors and high-tech shapes to match just about any ensemble.
But, to anwer the question, "what IS a Kubotan?"
It is a simple, easy to learn and use, self-defense weapon that can be used by the smallest defender, to bring the largest assailant to his knees in seconds. Quite simply, it is the best weapon for the person with little to no formal training and who wants to be able to learn to defend him or herself with the least amount of time, effort, and money.
Many people, including would-be attackers, underestimate the effectiveness of the Kubotan. After all, it looks like a fat pencil and is barely big enough to extend from the closed hand that's holding it. But that is where the magic begins. After all, didn't mom always remind us to, "Not judge a book by its cover?"
While most self-defense teachers and books focus on using the Kubotan in an overtly aggressive manner, students should also explore the use of this powerful little weapon in "attacking the hidden spots" - the places where your assailant can neither see nor protect...
...until it's too late.
What most so-called "experts" fail to remember or realize is the truth of human nature. The fact is that all human beings, including muggers, thieves, and enraged attackers, all have one thing in common with you and me. And that is the subconscious, hardwired response to protect the body from physical damage. So, when threatened by a victim-turned-hostile, any would-be assailant with the "grey matter" still functioning between his ears will naturally try to defend against the defender's technique.
If we are to be successful in our defensive actions, we must understand this natural response. After all, aren't we defending against their attack? Why then do many teachers and students of the martial arts assume that the attacker will "just stand there" while you're attacking him?
No, in order to successful repel an opponent's attack, we must attack those places that he cannot defend very well, and from directions that he cannot see. This "attacking from no-where" is putting the advantage of surprise squarely in your court.
But how do we do this? What kinds of attacks work well for this inconspicuous little weapon? And, how do we deliver attacks that stand the greatest chance of success without our aggressor countering and turning up their intensity against us?
Good questions. I'm glad you asked!
3 Basic Uses of the Kubotan and The 3 Best Target Types
The Kubotan has three basic functions, or methods, by which it can deliver the maximum amount of damage with a minimal amount of effort on the part of the defender. These methods are:
1. Levering or crushing - Here the weapon is placed across or pressed into sensitive areas with a grinding or crushing force that overwhelms the attacker with pain and the fear of having the target area broken under the force of the weapon.
2. Striking - The blunt end of the weapon is slammed into body targets with the intention of knocking the attacker back or down. The Kubotan is simply used in a manner that magnifies the defender's own punching power so that even a smaller, less-trained individual can deliver debilitating strikes against a larger, more skilled assailant.
3. Scraping - This involves techniques where the corner of the end of the weapon is placed against sensitive areas - usually boney areas covered by little or no muscle - and then drug across the target-area in a scraping, digging fashion.
When done against the right targets on the opponent's body, the results can be quite devastating. And this brings us to the next logical question:
"What are the specific body areas or target types that the Kubotan, self-defense keychain weapon, works best against?"
The three attack methods can be used in a variety of ways against specific "sensitive areas" on the body, known as kyusho (pronounced "kyoo-show") in Japanese. These three areas, or target types, are...
1. Pressure points (these are the same ones used in accupressure and accupuncture for healing)
2. Soft areas (like the eyes, thinner skin on the insides and backs of the arms, lips, etc.), and...
3. Bone structure (especially areas not covered by muscle).
The Kubotan self-defense keychain is a very powerful weapon, even in the hands of a novice. In fact, I would say that it's the best first-weapon for the beginner or person with no formal training looking to give themselves the advantage of a weapon, without the longer learning curve usually required by other, more commonly recognized self-defense tools.
Jeffrey Miller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing Tips, Recreation and Sports and self improvement and motivation. Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder of Warrior Concepts Int'l. He is the author of, and the best selling DVD,. Jeffrey Miller's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.