Is A Kubotan Effective In Self Defense? Training & Techniques

A few times in our day while living out our busy lives, we are exposed to some degree of danger or the other and I’m sure you’d agree that we take for granted reaching our destination safely. Whatever the danger might be, the answer to being safe could lie in an unassuming little stick-like metal about the size and weight of a pen. Yes, it’s a Kubaton.

Is a Kubotan Effective in Self-defence?

Yes, a Kubotan is most definitely effective as a well-disguised and unassuming means of self-defense, in that it could amplify the severity of your punch, intensify the restraining pressure on an attacker, making him bow to you in submission.

If you have some understanding and Kubotan training skills, it can be best used to gain an edge over your attacker. Let’s review its potential and effectiveness below in more detail.

What Makes A Kubotan Effective?

The effectiveness of a kubotan lies in the ability to provide a non-invasive defense option which can possibly provide an ulterior restrain on your adversary providing a perfect escape for you to flee.

The fact that it’s about 4 to 5 inches in length, lightweight, and half an inch in diameter makes it ideal for everyday use and is simple to carry rather than heavy machinery, therefore the effort needed in handling and putting it to use is reduced.

The following are characteristics that highlight some of the reasons that make the kubotan effective.

The kubotan basically amplifies the severity of your punch or grapple so that you can gain control over the attacker. It intensifies your grasp on each of your actions used in defending yourself. So if you already pack a mean punch, imagine its effectiveness with the use of a kubotan.

It can also be said that the kubotan is a master of disguise. It may appear to be an innocent object since it can easily be taken as a key holder to the untrained eye, but its unassuming looks help catch an attacker off guard when something small and unnoticed suddenly turns to great discomfort.

It aids in compliance, In some countries, law officials and securities use the kubotan with defaulters and prisoners, especially to those defaulters who resist commands. E.g. removing defaulters from cars can be a handful if the accused is resisting. So not only can it be used to strike an attacker, but while grappling and struggling, a Kubotan provides that great edge once it is stuck in the right painful areas causing submission.

What Are The Different Kubotan Techniques That Make It Effective?

While using a kubotan can be fairly simple, one must remember that an attack can arise unexpectedly without sufficient warning especially while walking along streets or even traveling to work.

Physical preparation isn’t enough; you need to be able to think under pressure and use muscle memory and reflexes to combat the attacker.

Through practice and repetition, you start to perform actions and acquire techniques without thinking by purely activating reflexes and instinct.

Kubotan training instructors teach real-life scenarios which develop certain instincts such as reflexes, timing, and force which are crucial in a fight or defense.

The Training Also Includes:

Practicing how to pull out a kubotan quickly when reacting
Different types of grip positions for different scenarios
Targeting the opponent, using both hands with different techniques
Breathing exercises to stay sound even in harsh situations.
Understanding which pressure points and joints of the body to target

Kubotan Grip Techniques

Technique and positioning, on the other hand, are more difficult and require a little more practice to assist you in becoming more flexible and familiar.

Such Grip Techniques Are as Follows:

For control and compliance:

This technique doesn’t require you to use severe violent actions. The purpose is to give a warning to the attacker by the use of pain usually in bony, fleshy or sensitive areas to gain control.

Anchoring:

Other techniques used to gain control are anchoring and joint locking where the Kubotan can be leveraged on the inside of a person’s wrist while the wrist is bent inwards towards their forearm causing immense pain.

Striking technique:

Held like a hammer or as you would pass an item to a person. This method is used as a striking tool with one edge protruding out. Hammer grip, as if the tool is a hammer thus the edge protrudes. Centre point grip, place the tool at the Centre of your hand so that either side of the tool can be seen from the sides of your hand.

Stab Technique:

Also known as the ice pick grip. This technique is more of a violent option in a desperate situation to slash away at very rootless attackers in a way that you strike quick successive swings to maintain distance and injure without getting into uncomfortably close and grappling situations

Kubotan Target Areas

As much as distance is always your aim when attacked, the kubotan is most effective and precise when used in close proximity. For example when the attacker is approaching to grab or punch you.

A quick instinctive strike can be taken to disable and bring down your opponent.

Often the best places to strike an assailant is at their vulnerable areas that are easily exposed. Ideally, you want to make this contact period very quick and painful for the attacker while giving yourself a quick escape route.

Of course, where you target the person is dependent on your level of kubotan skill and each scenario.

Proactive Kubotan Target Areas:

Eyes,
Throat,
Side of the Neck,
Temple (side of the forehead or either side)
Solar Plexus (the area near the sternum of the chest)
Groin area,
Spine
Collar Bone,
Wrist,
Inside of the Elbow area (top of the forearm at the start of the bicep)
Inside of the bicep or arm area,
Any joint in general.

Kubotan Pressure Points

Pressure points are merely sensitive parts in the body where pain can be felt the most, no matter how strong or muscular a person may be.

These points include knuckles, forearms, shins, stomach, ribs, throat, collarbone, groin, and temples. Joints are also used to capture and disable offenders.

In a case where your defense is more reactive in that you didn’t have any inclination of being attacked, then you might already find yourself in a grappling situation where a Stab or Ice Pick technique may not work, neither can you stab aiming for their temple or eye if you’re attacked from behind.

Your priority would be to get their hands off you or your neck or throat and to get free to use the Kubotan more effectively.

Here targeting the pressure points in your attacker’s wrist between the forefinger and thumb would severely disable the person quickly if you just sink it deep into their flesh or bone.

Why Is A Kubotan Small and Can it Still be Effective?

Unassuming, easily disguised or hidden, and effortlessly maneuvered are some of the benefits of its size.

The size and design of the kubotan ensure that it is equipped to perform its primary function which is to provide a defense. The Kubotan is one of the few must-have defense tools that are easily mobile and unassuming as a decorative keychain or mistaken for a pen.

Being small and least expected by your opponent makes this tool very powerful in your hand.

What Are The Laws Regarding The Use Of A Kubotan In The US?

Firstly, one needs to be aware of the difference between self-defense and assault, therefore when attacked, use just enough force in a controlled way to cause pain to the oppressor so as to protect your life.

Always remember the aim is to perform a maneuver in defense and not an attack or murder.

Primarily the tool’s main purpose was for self-defense, however, in some countries, officials use it to make prisoners and offenders adhere to the law. It is used to inflict pain on the accused forcing them to cooperate.

No matter the effectiveness and protection a kubotan can offer, we must admit that with everything there is the case of abuse and exploitation of such defense tools and mechanisms.

Likewise, with a kubotan, the United States and its surroundings have their own criteria of rules and laws which need to be adhered to even though the tool is legal.

Below are some of the cases that deviate from one’s defense:

If you walk around in search of fights and petty quarrels, you will be found guilty of assault.

if you were in an attack but you gained control of the opponent, and you still inflicting pain on the attacker while they were on the ground, you will be found guilty of aggravated assault.

In the United Kingdom, hollow kubotan tools are considered illegal. Non-hollow tools are allowed, but a good reason must be given if found in possession. The jurisdictions in some areas are quite strict since people can easily misuse the weapon causing severe injuries and even death in some cases.

REMEMBER…

The main purpose of the kubotan is to provide defense and not to commit an offense.

A kubotan can either be a saving grace or a prison space. The outcome depends on the user. Therefore, stay safe, be observant, and remember if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.