“Elegant but simple in form,” is the phrase that fully describes the keychain Kubotan. This particular mini-stick measures 5.5 inches in length and 1/2 inch in diameter with a key ring wrapped around a hole on one end and a tapered tip at the other business end. Weighing just a few ounces, it is the perfect key holder for its size and weight. Little does an average person know that this mini-baton doubles as a self-defense impact weapon.

Keychain Kubotans come in 4 colors: silver, red, acrylic keychain blue, and black. I prefer the black color since it is more stealthy to carry around, especially in the dark. Since they are metallic, they are more dense and can generate more momentum and force upon impact as compared to other plastic models. This reminds me of a story several years ago of a Highway Patrol Officer telling me that she made a traffic stop on a drunk driver suspect who resisted. She deemed it necessary to draw her PR-24, a 24 inch side handle baton, and swung it across the driver’s knee. The baton strike did not even “faze” him since the officer used a polycarbonate version of the PR-24, a much lighter model of the standard aluminum impact weapon. There is a lesson to be learned here.

Keychain Kubotans are also available with either a flat or tapered edge. I favor the ones with a tapered tip since they provide more pressure, force over an area, for every strike. This is analogous to a knife having more penetrating power with a sharp tip instead of a blunt tip. A Kubotan with a pointed edge simply creates more damage in terms of pain and trauma to tissue and bone.

Compared to other less-than-lethal weapons, you always carry the Kubotan with you since car and/or house keys are attached to it, making it readily available when the need arises. Its rifled grooves on the surface helps in gripping the device. Also, unlike a stun gun or pepper spray, it never needs batteries to replace or liquids to expend. Furthermore, it is extremely affordable at a cost of about $5 each! An image of it can be seen at Striker701 Group at any search engine.

A keychain Kubotan is best applied on nerve and bone strikes such as the temple or xyphoid process, which can be fatal, carotid nerve, median nerve, kidney, skull, collarbone, elbow, shin, and ribs. These hits induce more pain and incapacitation. Furthermore, the Kubotan is best utilized as a close quarter weapon in hammer strike flurries. A certain style of stick fighting martial art called Cabales Serrada Escrima comes to mind as a most suitable complement for the Kubotan. Its flowing and continuous techniques at trapping range, a term invented by the late Bruce Lee in his practice of Jeet Kune Do (JKD), make the mini-stick a formidable weapon.

The Kubotan is the bridge between empty hand defense and an edge weapon such as a knife. You would not break your hand while fighting and you surely would not make a bloody mess with a blade.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2156330