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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
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249:(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
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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
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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 130–150 mm (5–6 in) long and easily concealable in the hand.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
274:, there are few legal restrictions on Kubotans, with the notable exception that they are prohibited as carry-on items for air travelers. Whether a non-spiked Kubotan (i.e., a rod) is classed as an offensive weapon in the
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copycats and are more properly classified as generic self-defence keychain sticks (SDKS) or generic self-defence pocket weapons. The term 'pocket stick' is also sometimes used to classify such hand weapons.
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211: in) in diameter, slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen. The material is usually a hard high-impact plastic such as
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to the untrained eye. In some jurisdictions, however, it may be recognized and considered an offensive weapon. In the
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Over time the registered name "Kubotan" (sometimes erroneously spelled or marketed as "Kubaton") has been eroded and
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depends upon the circumstances of the case and is for a jury to decide. In April 2010, actor and entertainer
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Takayuki Kubota & John G. Peters, Jr.: "Official
Kubotan Techniques", Reliapon Police Products, 1981,
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was found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a kubotan-style keyring, by a court in
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Bill and Becky
Valentine: "Self Defense for Life", Self-Defense Publications, 1991,
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Action
Kubotan Keychain: An Aid in Self Defense: Key Chain – An Aid in Self Defense
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Applied as a weapon, some of its uses can be similar to that of the
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Sammy Franco: "Kubotan Power", Contemporary
Fighting Arts, 2014,
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in the late 1960s. It is typically no more than 140 millimetres (
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A generic Self-Defense Keychain Stick (SDKS) with tapered end
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Genericized trademark for a self-defense keychain weapon
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507:"Actor Darren Day guilty of offensive weapon charge"
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Kubotan Keychain: Instrument of Attitude Adjustment
118:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
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435:, Rising Sun Video Productions, ASIN B00065AXWE
428:, Rising Sun Video Productions, ASIN B00011HJAW
165:An original Kubotan keychain with keys attached
547:Pocket Sticks for Self-Defense by Phil Elmore
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412:The Authentic Kubotan Self-Defense Keychain
61:reliable, independent, third-party sources
245:The Kubotan is usually held in either an
149:Learn how and when to remove this message
79:Learn how and when to remove this message
55:by replacing them with more appropriate
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388:S.D.S.-CONCEPT Das Buch (inkl. Kubotan)
266:The Kubotan may appear as an innocuous
38:too closely associated with the subject
537:Kubotan official trademark (uspto.gov)
465:Transportation Security Administration
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386:Peter Weckauf and Irmengard Hanzal:
201:inches) long and about 13 mm (
433:The Persuader Kubotan & Yawara
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461:"Prohibited Items For Travelers"
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36:may rely excessively on sources
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532:Takayuki Kubota (auto)biography
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366:, Unique Publications, 1997,
230:Los Angeles Police Department
180:keychain weapon developed by
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582:Law enforcement equipment
228:then former Chief of the
509:. BBC News. 7 April 2010
104:This article includes a
414:, Unique Publications,
133:more precise citations.
577:Japanese melee weapons
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552:Pens for Self-Defense
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174:genericized trademark
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572:Non-lethal weapons
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69:December 2023
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139:January 2024
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125:Please help
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51:Please help
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440:SDS-Concept
308:genericized
256:radius bone
131:introducing
561:Categories
492:2022-09-07
447:References
420:0100000347
280:Darren Day
53:improve it
43:verifiable
424:Kubotan:
312:knockoffs
294:Trademark
284:Edinburgh
57:citations
262:Legality
513:7 April
470:7 April
268:key fob
236:Concept
219:History
206:⁄
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170:Kubotan
127:improve
47:neutral
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242:yawara
176:for a
405:Films
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