Miscellany: Alpha Innovations Kubaton Review

Impact weapons are among the simplest self-defense tools, and they're easy to improvise in a pinch. In olden times, for instance, the gentleman's cane doubled as a hanbō. Yet while the cane is still a viable option for some, I'd wager that most people simply can't carry a full-size walking stick around with them every day.

That's where Alpha Innovations comes in. They produce a line of small, inexpensive handheld strike aids for self-defense - everything from traditional koppo sticks to aggressive-looking polymer knuckles.

I opted for their kubatons, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A kubaton is a small, rigid stick designed to improve the effectiveness of strikes (Tak Kubota popularized it, but the idea is old). Since the ends of the kubaton are hard and small in surface area, you can use it to target a wider variety of areas than you could striking barehanded (bony areas like collarbones, for instance).

Here's the short kubaton, which measures 4-3/4" long:


I also ordered the flat-ended, 6" version:



Now, it's easy enough to use a hairbrush or a ballpoint pen as a kubaton. The Alpha Innovations models offer several advantages, however. They're made of a dense, hard polymer that makes for a very sturdy pocket stick (I've used them to crack bricks and cinder blocks without too much trouble). Despite this rigidity, they're relatively small and light, and easy to carry inside a jacket or jeans pocket.

Of the two, I prefer the short model - the nominal point makes it more effective at striking, and it's easier to conceal. I found it a little too large to be a key fob, so I detached the included split ring and tied a paracord loop to it instead. The flat-ended kubaton does have its place, though - it looks a little less threatening, and the additional length means it's easier to strike with both ends of the weapon.

I do have some minor criticisms. The surface of both kubatons is relatively smooth except for a few round ridges; I would have liked to have some molded-in checkering to prevent the thing from slipping out of the hand. You can have the kubatons in any color you like, as long as it's black - low-key color options (a flat grey or tan) would help reduce the mall ninja factor.

All in all, though, Alpha Innovations makes a good kubaton. For those times when you shouldn't draw a gun but need something to extricate yourself from a hairy fight, the Alpha Innovations kubaton is a great option that'll buy you some time while you size up the situation. They're well worth a look for people who need a simple, pocketable impact weapon.

Disclaimer: local laws governing the possession of weapons like the kubaton vary widely, and are often vague - is a kubaton a sap? A blackjack? It is your responsibility, through either competent research or the advice of qualified legal counsel, to learn what is and what is not legal to carry in your jurisdiction.