The kubotan is a 5.5 inch long self-defense weapon developed by Japanese karate master Takayuki Kubota. The word kubotan is a combination of his name, Kubota and baton. The use of the kubotan is for self-defense either by supporting the fist for punching or for applying pressure point attacks to sensitive parts of an attackers body or gaining leverage on wrists, joints, and fingers. When attached to a keyring the kubaton is easily accessible and appears as little more than a large key-fob to the untrained eye.