Kubotan is a genericized trademark for a self-defense keychain weapon developed by SōkeTakayuki Kubota in the late 1960s. It is typically no more than 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) long and about half an inch (1.25 centimeters) in diameter, slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen. The material is usually a hard high-impact plastic such as Lexan. The body of the Kubotan is lined with six round grooves with a screw eye or swivel and split ring attachment at one end for keys.
The Kubotan keychain was originally based on a small bamboo weapon called a "hashi stick", an invention by Kubota's father, Denjiro. Its popularity grew from 1969 to the 1970s when Kubota, at the request of California State Senator Edward M. Davis then former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, created the weapon and began training female officers in its application. It is often touted as extremely effective in breaking the will of unruly suspects with painful locks and pressure point strikes. Because of this, the Kubotan is also sometimes dubbed the 'instrument of attitude adjustment'.
ConceptEdit
Applied as a weapon, some of its uses can be similar to that of the yawara stick or koppo stick. The principal targets in self-defence include bony, fleshy, and sensitive parts such as knuckles, forearms, bridge of the nose, shins, stomach, solar plexus, spine, temple, ribs, groin, neck, and eyes. It is 5-6 inches long and easily concealable in the hand. The Kubotan is usually held in either an icepick grip (for hammer fist strikes) or a forward grip (for stabbing, pressure point attacks, and seizing). Common uses include hardening the fist (fist load) for punching, attacking vulnerable parts of an assailant's body, and gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist, fingers, and joints. With keys attached, it can function as a flailing weapon. As a pressure point weapon, it can attack any point a finger can, but with greater penetration because of the smaller surface area at the ends. For example, a law enforcement officer may wrap their arm around a suspect's neck while simultaneously digging the end of the Kubotan into the small of the attacker's back. The officer may also reach around the suspect's neck and underarm from behind and cause pain by stabbing the end of the Kubotan into the top of the pectoral muscle. In other locking and compliance applications, the body of the Kubotan can be used to create pain. A typical pain compliance technique involves seizing an attacker's wrist and sealing both hands around it with the length of the Kubotan laid across the radius bone. Downward squeezing pressure is applied to the bone to take down the attacker.
LegalityEdit
The Kubotan may appear as an innocuous key fob to the untrained eye. In some jurisdictions, however, it may be recognized and considered an offensive weapon. In the United States, there are few legal restrictions on Kubotans, with the notable exception that they are prohibited as carry-on items for air travelers.[1] Whether a non-spiked Kubotan (i.e., a rod) is classed as an offensive weapon in the United Kingdom depends upon the circumstances of the case and is for a jury to decide.[2] In April 2010 actor and entertainer Darren Day was found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a kubotan-style keyring, by a court in Edinburgh.[3]
Improvised versions of the Kubotan can be readily found and put to use. Because a Kubotan is just a rod made of a hard material, any restrictive regulation would most likely be ambiguous and undefined due to the ability for any common item to be used in a kubotan-like fashion. In this respect, the Kubotan can be substituted by everyday items such as hairbrushes, pens, markers, flashlights, small wooden dowels, and even electronic cigarettes. Metal pens (i.e., tactical pens) are sometimes marketed as substitutes for the Kubotan.
TrademarkEdit
A generic Self-Defense Keychain Stick (SDKS) with tapered end
Over time the registered name "Kubotan" (sometimes erroneously spelled or marketed as "Kubaton") has been eroded and genericized to include many knockoffs and imitations of the original design. Some incorporate spikes, tapered ends, and other modifications that were not part of the original invention. "Ninja" keychain weapons, often enhanced with blades, hidden darts, and tear gas, have also been marketed and sold as Kubotans. However, they are copycats and are more properly classified as generic self-defense keychain sticks (SDKS) or generic self-defense pocket weapons. The term 'pocket stick' is also sometimes used to classify such hand weapons.
BooksEdit
Takayuki Kubota & John G. Peters, Jr.: "Official Kubotan Techniques", Reliapon Police Products, 1981, ISBN0-923401-01-6
^"Chen v Director Of Public Prosecutions [1997] EWHC Admin 221 (4 March 1997)". Bailii.org. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
^"Actor Darren Day guilty of offensive weapon charge". BBC News. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kubotan.
Kubotan official trademark (uspto.gov)
The Koppo Stick by Don Rearic
Pocket Sticks for Self-Defense by Phil Elmore
August 30, 2023
kubotan, genericized, trademark, self, defense, keychain, weapon, developed, sōke, takayuki, kubota, late, 1960s, typically, more, than, inches, centimeters, long, about, half, inch, centimeters, diameter, slightly, thicker, same, size, marker, material, usual. Kubotan is a genericized trademark for a self defense keychain weapon developed by Sōke Takayuki Kubota in the late 1960s It is typically no more than 5 5 inches 14 centimeters long and about half an inch 1 25 centimeters in diameter slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen The material is usually a hard high impact plastic such as Lexan The body of the Kubotan is lined with six round grooves with a screw eye or swivel and split ring attachment at one end for keys An original Kubotan keychain with keys attached Contents 1 History 2 Concept 3 Legality 4 Trademark 5 Books 6 Films 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThe Kubotan keychain was originally based on a small bamboo weapon called a hashi stick an invention by Kubota s father Denjiro Its popularity grew from 1969 to the 1970s when Kubota at the request of California State Senator Edward M Davis then former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department created the weapon and began training female officers in its application It is often touted as extremely effective in breaking the will of unruly suspects with painful locks and pressure point strikes Because of this the Kubotan is also sometimes dubbed the instrument of attitude adjustment Concept EditApplied as a weapon some of its uses can be similar to that of the yawara stick or koppo stick The principal targets in self defence include bony fleshy and sensitive parts such as knuckles forearms bridge of the nose shins stomach solar plexus spine temple ribs groin neck and eyes It is 5 6 inches long and easily concealable in the hand The Kubotan is usually held in either an icepick grip for hammer fist strikes or a forward grip for stabbing pressure point attacks and seizing Common uses include hardening the fist fist load for punching attacking vulnerable parts of an assailant s body and gaining leverage on an assailant s wrist fingers and joints With keys attached it can function as a flailing weapon As a pressure point weapon it can attack any point a finger can but with greater penetration because of the smaller surface area at the ends For example a law enforcement officer may wrap their arm around a suspect s neck while simultaneously digging the end of the Kubotan into the small of the attacker s back The officer may also reach around the suspect s neck and underarm from behind and cause pain by stabbing the end of the Kubotan into the top of the pectoral muscle In other locking and compliance applications the body of the Kubotan can be used to create pain A typical pain compliance technique involves seizing an attacker s wrist and sealing both hands around it with the length of the Kubotan laid across the radius bone Downward squeezing pressure is applied to the bone to take down the attacker Legality EditThe Kubotan may appear as an innocuous key fob to the untrained eye In some jurisdictions however it may be recognized and considered an offensive weapon In the United States there are few legal restrictions on Kubotans with the notable exception that they are prohibited as carry on items for air travelers 1 Whether a non spiked Kubotan i e a rod is classed as an offensive weapon in the United Kingdom depends upon the circumstances of the case and is for a jury to decide 2 In April 2010 actor and entertainer Darren Day was found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon namely a kubotan style keyring by a court in Edinburgh 3 Improvised versions of the Kubotan can be readily found and put to use Because a Kubotan is just a rod made of a hard material any restrictive regulation would most likely be ambiguous and undefined due to the ability for any common item to be used in a kubotan like fashion In this respect the Kubotan can be substituted by everyday items such as hairbrushes pens markers flashlights small wooden dowels and even electronic cigarettes Metal pens i e tactical pens are sometimes marketed as substitutes for the Kubotan Trademark Edit A generic Self Defense Keychain Stick SDKS with tapered endOver time the registered name Kubotan sometimes erroneously spelled or marketed as Kubaton has been eroded and genericized to include many knockoffs and imitations of the original design Some incorporate spikes tapered ends and other modifications that were not part of the original invention Ninja keychain weapons often enhanced with blades hidden darts and tear gas have also been marketed and sold as Kubotans However they are copycats and are more properly classified as generic self defense keychain sticks SDKS or generic self defense pocket weapons The term pocket stick is also sometimes used to classify such hand weapons Books EditTakayuki Kubota amp John G Peters Jr Official Kubotan Techniques Reliapon Police Products 1981 ISBN 0 923401 01 6 Takayuki Kubota Kubotan Keychain Instrument of Attitude Adjustment Dragon Books 1985 ISBN 0 946062 09 9 Takayuki Kubota Kubotan Keychain ISBN 0 86568 068 X Takayuki Kubota Action Kubotan Keychain An Aid in Self Defense Key Chain An Aid in Self Defense Unique Publications 1997 ISBN 0 86568 101 5 Bill and Becky Valentine Self Defense for Life Self Defense Publications 1991 ISBN 0 9629866 0 7 Peter Weckauf and Irmengard Hanzal S D S CONCEPT Das Buch inkl Kubotan 2009 in German Sammy Franco Kubotan Power Contemporary Fighting Arts 2014 ISBN 978 0 9853472 6 0Films EditTakayuki Kubota The Authentic Kubotan Self Defense Keychain Unique Publications ISBN 0100000347 Kubotan The official Kubotan Rising Sun Video Productions ASIN B00011HJAW Georges Sylvain The Persuader Kubotan amp Yawara Rising Sun Video Productions ASIN B00065AXWE Peter Weckauf SDS Concept BUDO InternationalReferences Edit Prohibited Items For Travelers Transportation Security Administration Retrieved 7 April 2010 Chen v Director Of Public Prosecutions 1997 EWHC Admin 221 4 March 1997 Bailii org Retrieved 2022 09 07 Actor Darren Day guilty of offensive weapon charge BBC News 7 April 2010 Retrieved 7 April 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kubotan Takayuki Kubota auto biography Kubotan official trademark uspto gov The Koppo Stick by Don Rearic Pocket Sticks for Self Defense by Phil Elmore Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kubotan amp oldid 1131152343, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
