What Is A Kubaton?

By Adelia Ladson

History Of The Kubaton

A kubotan is a keychain weapon developed by Takayuki Kubota in the late Sixties based on the hashi stick, an invention of his father. It’s usually no longer than 5 1/2” and about a 1/2” in diameter. It’s made of a hard, high-impact plastic and is lined with deep grooves, featuring a screw eye and ring at one end to attach keys. The kubaton became an established method of self-defense, and anything used in a similar manner for self-defense is, now, considered a kubotan-style weapon. With that in mind, an ink pen is a logical tool for kubotan self-defense because of its size and shape. A modern uptake on the weapon, the tactical pen is like a kubaton on steroids. Not only can it be used as a kubotan, but it functions as an ink pen, making it an invisible self-defense weapon. Most tactical pens have extra features like a glass-breaker, DNA collector and even a hidden blade.

Basic Self-Defense Kubaton-Style

A kubotan is designed as a striking weapon against targets like the eyes, groin, joints and pressure points. (You can easily find a diagram of pressure points online.)

Striking Techniques

Kubotan self-defense is basically jabbing and striking using different hand-grips. The main idea is that you strike at your target with as much force and as many times as it takes to stop an attacker. There are three grips: the ice pick, the hammer and the center point grip. The ice pick and hammer grips are pretty self-explanatory as to how you hold the kubotan. The center point grip is holding it in your closed fist so that you can use it for fist-loading techniques.

Hammer Grip Strike

Holding the kubaton like a hammer, strike downward just like you’re hitting a nail into a piece of wood. If you’re using a tactical pen, hold the “cap” end up. To increase its effectiveness, strike down diagonally like you’re making an “X” on the target. This is especially effective for the face. For the abdomen, strike from side-to-side instead. Use a combination of side and diagonal strikes to the face and abdomen for maximum impact.

Ice Pick Grip Strike

Holding the kubaton like an ice pick, strike downward just like you’re breaking up ice and, if you’re using a tactical pen, strike with the point of the pen. It’s almost a stabbing motion that you do over and over again to different parts of the attacker’s body. You are using the point to hit the sensitive areas of the body like the face and neck, and, most importantly, the pressure points.

Center Point Grip Strike

Basically, this is using the weight of the kubaton to add power to your punch when you strike an attacker. It’s used the same way as a roll of quarters or any other object can be used, when held in your closed fist, to add weight.

Slashing Techniques

Using a kubaton like a knife, by holding it like a knife, allows you to slash at an attacker, especially, if you’re using a tactical pen and can take advantage of the point. You can use this method most effectively to slash and scrape across the eyes and face like you’re clawing them with your fingernails.

Our Picks

The tactical pen is a close-quarters kubaton that can be taken anywhere since it’s disguised as an ink pen and can be carried easily with the requisite pocket clip. If the tactical pen has a hidden blade, then, it can be used as both a stabbing and slashing weapon. Although, the basic design of the tactical pen is the same, there are a few options in features. Here is a model with a hidden blade and two models without. All of them are of the highest quality, giving you the peace of mind that they will back you up without fail.

UZI Tactical Pen With Glass-Breaker

What I really like a lot about the UZI Tactical Pen With Glass-Breaker is that it has a hidden hand-cuff key built right into the end of the pen. It’s made of ultra-heavy-duty, lightweight aircraft aluminum with a metallic pocket clip and it has a slip-free grip. It also features a carbide-tip glass breaker.

Tactical Pen With DNA Collector

Often your last defense against an attacker, a tactical pen like the Tactical Pen With DNA Collector is made of ultra-heavy-duty aluminum with a ridged, slip-free grip. The sleekly designed, refillable ink pen features a DNA collector built right into the end of it and you just twist the body to reveal the ink point. It has a metallic pocket clip for ease of carry and also a built-in glass breaker.

Black Ink Pen Knife

The Black Ink Pen Knife is primo for discreet self-defense! The black ball point pen is built to work in extreme conditions. The 2 1/2” stainless steel blade can be accessed by just pulling the pen case apart. The tactical pen knife's case is tough aluminum, and it has the requisite pocket clip.

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