There are many different weapons that may be used for self-defense. However, in most cases, they tend to be bulky (canes, sais and katanas), risky to the user (pepper sprays) and even illegal in some areas (stun guns or tasers). A kubotan, on the other hand, is an incredibly useful self-defense weapon. It’s handy, easy to carry and, if you know how to wield it, very efficient. Here are tips on how to use a kubotan safely and effectively:

Know what it is.
A kubotan is also called a yawara or yawara-bo. It’s actually a short stick, made of a strong material such as wood, metal, PVC (a very sturdy plastic, same material used for pipes) or even bone.

At only 5.5 inches long, the kubotan can fit in the palm of the hand, slipped into a pocket, tucked inside a handbag or even used as a keychain. It may not seem like a lot but if you know how to use it, it can be so much more than a decorative stick. Therein lies its function – it will help protect you, prevent bodily harm on your person and stop your attacker if you know how to use it.

Grip it firmly.
A kubotan is designed to fit the hand, with an inch or an inch and a half of material protruding from both ends. The key is to be familiar with your grip – not too light that the kubotan would fly off your hand during an attack and not too tight that you’d hurt yourself. Grip it in the most comfortable way for you so you are more comfortable using it.

You could choose a kubotan with a flat end, a rounded one or a sharp one, depending on your needs.

Know where to hit.
The kubotan is designed to hit certain points of the body. These are the points that will hurt most, allowing you to stop your assailant. These are:

- the eyes and the area between the eyes
- nose
- throat and either side of the neck
- chest area, particularly the diaphragm, the upper area near the center of the ribcage
- underneath the armpit
- pectoral muscles
- lower back at the bladder
- groin

Types of thrusts
A thrust can be downward, upward or sidewards. Just make sure that the tip of the kubotan makes the maximum impact. Learn to direct your strength from the arms to the hands so you could use the weapon more efficiently.

Practice.
Don’t wait until you’ll really need to use a kubotan to wield it. Practice for 30 minutes with it several times a week. This will help make you more confident in using it and build your strength. Try to focus on the main targets (use a dummy or a punching bag). The better you are at hitting your target, the more you can protect yourself.

flat kubotans image

Violence is never good even if someone else has initiated or provoked contact. The best way for women to stay safe is to take preventive precautions and minimize the chances of any dangerous incident from occurring.

It’s how you see yourself.
Be confident. It’s an unfortunate fact that some people have “victim” written all over them. This is not to say that they’re to be blamed for being attacked, but rather, their lack of confidence makes attackers deem them as the easier target. If you have a problem with your self-esteem, you might want to remedy that fact first and before enrolling in any self-defense class.

Avoid traveling alone.
Attackers can be anywhere at any time of the day. It’s best to have someone with you even if you’re simply walking to the grocery a block away from your home or climbing down a flight of stairs to the parking lot. Although your desire for independence and self-reliance is appreciated, don’t cut your nose to spite your face. Attackers have stronger chances of getting to you when you’re alone so travel in company as often as you can.

Take note of “peak hours”.
Attackers prefer to make a move when there’s less likely to be people around. These “peak hours” generally take place in the wee hours of the morning and when people are probably at home sleeping and not alert enough to respond quickly to calls for help.

Be cautious about where you’re going.
Don’t venture to places that are too dark for you to assess potential threats in your surrounding. If a place is unfamiliar, don’t take unnecessary chances and make sure you only take well-traveled paths where it’s easy for you to be seen or heard if anything happens.

Secure your environment.
Bad things don’t just happen outside. They can also happen at home or in your workplace. Don’t wait for something to happen. Take pre-emptive action by securing your environment. You can start by developing safety habits like double-checking that all doors and windows are locked at night. If you can have a burglar alarm system installed, so much the better!

Listen to your gut instincts.
Lastly, do stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings. If your guts are warning you about a particular place or person, do as your instincts bid you. Even if there’s no apparent threat and retreating makes you feel silly, there’s no harm in taking extra precautions, is there?

image credits to gabemac