Kubotan Key Chain

The Kubotan is a self defense key chain made of a hard high-impact plastic rod about 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and 0.56 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter. There are six groves around it for added grip. A key ring is attached to one end.

I have seen some variations, such as tapered ends, pointed ends, some with spikes and some made of aluminum alloy. Some have blades, hidden darts or tear gas, these are not actual Kubotans, but some generic self defense key chain stick. To the untrained eye it appears to be an innocent key fob.

It is a registered trademark of Soke Takayuki Kubota developed as a close quarter self defense weapon. It is a descendant of the Yawara stick and has also been called a pocket stick. It was originally designed as a tool for police officers to restrain suspects without serious injury.

In the 1970s Kubota introduced it to the LAPD and taught female officers how to use it. Due to the fact that it is very effective assisting with painful locks and pressure point strikes it became known as the Instrument of Attitude Adjustment as it could break the will of unruly suspects.

It is a very versatile weapon as it can be used in many ways. Being the owner of a large purse I can tell you it is also a handy key chain.

While swinging strikes work best on boney surfaces, like knuckles, noses, shins, solar plexus, etc. Poking/stabbing jabs work best on fleshy pressure points like the groin, neck, thigh, etc. The keys can be useful if you grasp the rod and flail the keys- or grasp the keys and flail the rod.

Because of the wide variety of ways to use it there is no particular way to hold it. If you are attacked from behind you can hold it like an ice pick and jab the end behind you. For martial artists proficient at joint locks it provides added leverage to wrist locks, arm bars, leg locks and chokes.

It is one of the few martial arts weapons that is unregulated and legal. While not particularly intimidating it is a versatile weapon and with a modest amount of training can become extremely effective.

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