| If you do a search on the internet, there seems to be | | | | weapon for stopping an assailant in his tracks. And, for |
| no end to what has been written about this simple, yet | | | | those with more training and developed skills, the |
| powerful weapon. There seems to be no small supply | | | | self-defense keychain is one of the most effective |
| of writers who have used dramatic titles to add to the | | | | self-defense tools that you can use today. |
| impact of an otherwise so-so article on the subject. | | | | The weapon is simple in appearance, inexpensive to |
| "Fistful of Dynamite," "Rod of Pain," and many others | | | | acquire or make, and fairly easy to conceal. While not |
| lead the way as writers share their own knowledge | | | | as versatile and convenient as a clipknife like the Delica |
| and insight into this inconspicuous, and yet surprisingly | | | | from Spyderco - my preferred weapon/tool of choice, |
| powerful little weapon. Unfortunately, far too many of | | | | by the way - it is easy to learn and even easier to |
| these articles serve little to no real purpose in helping | | | | use. |
| you to actually create results. And, these articles range | | | | Depending on the manufacturer, the Kubotan is just a |
| in scope from the generalized "what it is" variety, to | | | | basic rod made of metal, plastic, or wood. It's about 6 |
| the overly bloated tome that includes what seems to | | | | inches long and, as the name suggests, usually has a |
| be every single detail and supposition that the author | | | | key ring attached at one end. The "official," patented, |
| wishes to impress you with. | | | | Kubotan weapon "invented" by a man named Tak |
| Believe me, I have read a lot of what's available, and | | | | Kubota, has grooves machined into the weapon to |
| while there are certainly a number of valuable | | | | identify it as a unique creation. |
| resources from real experts, they are buried in a | | | | There are other variants of the basic model, including |
| cyber-world of practically worthless "chatter." While | | | | what is billed as the "Ninja" version of the weapon. This |
| you can feel free to recreate my extensive research | | | | little piece of imaginative effort, created during the '80's |
| on the subject, I've brought it all together so you don't | | | | when every weapon had it's own "Ninja" version, has |
| have to. | | | | two thinner spikes protruding out from the side of the |
| So, what, exactly, is a Kubotan (pronounced | | | | weapon that fit between your fingers when you |
| "koo-bow-tahn") anyway? | | | | grasped the main bar of the tool. |
| Good question. And to answer that, this article will give | | | | Let me assure you that, regardless of what you ever |
| you the short, "what's it look like and what else might it | | | | read or hear, the Kubotan or self-defense keychain is |
| be called," version. In addition, we'll have to take a quick | | | | NOT a Ninja weapon - officially or unofficially. It's |
| overview of the strengths and weakness of this | | | | ancestors that gave rise to the modern version, at |
| popular self-defense weapon. But, for now... | | | | least in Japan, were used by all trained warriors - not |
| The Kubotan, also known as a... | | | | just the Ninja. |
| 1. Pocket-stick... | | | | The more commonly recognized variants of the |
| 2. Self-Defense Keychain... | | | | weapon are generally manufactured from heavy-duty |
| 3. Mini-Stick, and... | | | | plastic or aluminum. The official Kubotan, and third-party |
| 4. many others... | | | | copies, are simply straight rods with blunt ends. |
| ...is arguably, the most common self-defense weapon, | | | | However, many self-defense key chains have at least |
| next to the handgun, in the United States. | | | | one tapered end with the key ring attacked to the |
| While many new tactical weapons continue to find | | | | squared, blunt end. Needless to say, some of these |
| growing acceptance within the law enforcement and | | | | "centerpunch-like versions, like those shown in this |
| security communities, there seems to be little change | | | | photo, are extremely dangerous - as they have the |
| within the realm of private citizens. It appears that, | | | | capability of actually penetrating the target and doing |
| once people find a good thing, they tend to "stick" with | | | | more severe damage. |
| it. (Yes, pun intended!) According to many experts in | | | | And, for those of you who are fashion-conscious and |
| the field of defense and personal protection... | | | | need to make sure that your self-defense weapon |
| "...the most popular, and quite possibly the most | | | | doesn't clash with your Armani, these little gems even |
| versatile, personal defense weapon is the Kubotan. | | | | come in a variety of colors and high-tech shapes to |
| For simplicity's sake, I will refer to the weapon | | | | match just about any ensemble. |
| throughout this book as the Kubotan or, more simply, | | | | But, to anwer the question, "what IS a Kubotan?" |
| the self-defense keychain. However, regardless of the | | | | It is a simple, easy to learn and use, self-defense |
| name given to it, this powerful little compliance tool, | | | | weapon that can be used by the smallest defender, to |
| carried by thousands of men and women - martial | | | | bring the largest assailant to his knees in seconds. |
| artists and non-practitioners alike - is an awesome | | | | Quite simply, it is the best weapon for the person with |
| means of deterring and controlling an attack situation. | | | | little to no formal training and who wants to be able to |
| Besides being, quite probably the cheapest weapon | | | | learn to defend him or herself with the least amount of |
| you can buy, in the hands of even a person skilled in | | | | time, effort, and money. |
| only a few basic moves, the Kubotan is a formidable | | | | |