Kubotan

'Kubotan' is a registered trademark of Takayuki Kubota, who developed the device as a tool for police officers to restrain suspects. Its popularity grew in the mid-1970s when Kubota brought the weapon to the attention of the LAPD and began training female officers in its application. It is often touted as extremely effective in breaking the will of unruly suspects with painful locks and pressure point strikes. Because of that the Kubotan is also sometimes dubbed the 'instrument of attitude adjustment'.

Over time the registered name "Kubotan" has been eroded and genericized to encompass all rod-like hand weapons. While some variations retain the design of the original, other imitations incorporate spikes and tapered ends. In addition more offensive-looking "ninja" models enhanced with blades, hidden darts and tear gas have also been known to be marketed and sold as "Kubotans". Another variant is the tactical pen. Although these weapons may be marketed as "Kubotans", they are not and are more properly classified along lines of generic self-defence keychain sticks (SDKS for short) and/or generic self-defence pocket weapons. The umbrella term 'pocket stick' is also sometimes used to classify rod-shaped hand weapons.