Before I got into slinging I was really interested in these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubotan

The idea is so simple you could virtually use anything small, blunt and sturdy as one. The first one I made (went missing a few months ago) was made out of a rod of some random, sturdy plastic I found in my house. Hooked it up to my drill, used it as a lathe and started going into it with a chisel and a few files. It came to a blunt tip and had a nice finger notch.

The one pictured below is made out of 1/2" steel rod, with two wide-angle tips (very painful) and wrapped in nylon for grip. I always carry it on me, but have never needed to use it.

Anyone else had experience with kubatons?

A. I do have experience, I made a "totem" with a bear claw carved into it which was really just a miniaturized tonfa that I disguised. Works great for stabilizing my fist and the little stick poking out between my fingers was excellent for pain compliance. I'm with Steven on perception, though The impact kerambit would be hard to disguise I'm thinking about getting one. Where I live right now it's dangerous at night. I need something to even the odds (in my favor) in a fight, and a loaded fist in a fight isn't a felony like a knife is. Even though I always have a knife I'll never use it on someone.

B. Kubotan is the correct spelling, it's really counter intuitive. Even though it seems like Kubaton would mean a kind of baton the name is actually not related.

No problem, dude.

These fall under a whole category of short stick weapons that are used in several different styles.   The Japanese call them Yawara Sticks, or "kongo", and there's an equivalent in the Filipino systems as well.
I recall reading years ago that some Yawara schools use much heavier weighted items.
Mostly, they are used for striking, either in hammer-fist mode or thrusting; the idea being to concentrate force on a small area.

The "kubotan" was actually developed by a Western law enforcement officer, as I recall, and he tended to use it more as a pain-compliance device by exerting pressure against pressure points.

I had one years ago, only used it once with poor results.  I had a resisting drunk who was preventing me from closing the door of the squad car...He kept kicking it as I tried to close it.   I whacked him on the ankle bone with the thing, which should have been excruciating.  He didn't react at all....

Yes, as I mentioned.   Danny Inosanto's book, The Filipino Martial Arts, shows several 6-inch or so sticks.

as soon as i get paracord i'm going to make a paracord Kubaton.

if your wondering, the Kubaton is made with either a box weave or a Crown (round) sinnet. both are pretty similar. you then soak the Kubaton in glue twice, to harden it.

all well and good - but a hard kick in the crotch even works on drunks

xxkid123 wrote on May 1^st, 2010 at 4:47pm:


Heh, that sounds pretty interesting.