Product Details

• Actors: TAK KUBOTA
• Directors: Y. ISHIMOTO
• Format: Color, Special Edition, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: RISING SUN PRODUCTIONS
• DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00011HJAW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,559 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good video, but not for everyone, September 12, 2007

By 

B. Durand - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Official Kubotan (DVD)

After reading a lot of criticism here and there about the kubotan, I have come to believe that most peoples' idea of self defense is the complete incapacitation of someone attacking you. That's a risky mindset. In contrast, most practical self defense involves simply disrupting and stunning the opponent, then running away to get help. This video contains techniques that do just that. However, the instructor does not mention the necessity of running away following each technique, which is vital to the practicality of the defense. If you just stand there after the strike is complete, you're asking for the assailant to come at you harder. True, hitting someone with your keys will never stop him dead, but many of the techniques that the instructor shows will certainly disrupt him and allow you to get free of his grip and run. Using the kubotan to strike bony targets like the knuckles, wrists, nose, or to strike pressure points is very effective, as is simply gripping it to keep your fist tight for a punch. But it's more or less an enhancement to already existing martial arts or self defense skill, not a replacement for it.

One problem that I think arises is that the techniques and applications may not be clear to someone who has no martial arts experience. If the video dealt more with the basics such as gripping the weapon and using the hips, it might make more sense to someone who has perhaps never encountered those concepts in a martial arts context before. Simply flailing the keys won't do anything. The same goes for things like joint locks. The kubotan is an excellent tool for enhancing locks, but grappling of any kind requires a lot of practice to get that touch.

The best self defense, of course, is never having to fight in the first place. But if you are placed in a situation where you have no choice, the techniques shown here can definitely help you disrupt your attacker and run to safety. However, it is not a quick fix for self defense. Carrying a kubotan does not mean you're necessarily safe from any encounter. It is an enhancement to your defense, to be sure, but I think you really need at least some grounding in martial arts or self defense in general to make it a truly efficient defensive tool.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An hour long private lesson with Takayuki 'Tak' Kubota, master of the Kubotan., July 25, 2006

By 

Michael Chesbro (Rainier, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Kubotan (DVD)

Takayuki 'Tak' Kubota is the founder Gosoku Ryu Karate-do, and one of the most outstanding figures in martial arts today. He has earned black belt degrees in karate, judo, aikido and kendo and is presently one of the highest-rated black belts in the United States. Tak Kubota is a consultant in police defensive tactics, an expert on crowd control and street fighting techniques; and the developer of the Kubotan.

In this DVD Tak Kubota demonstrates the basic uses of the Kubotan, beginning with basic strikes (using keys attached to the Kubotan as a flail), then how to use the Kubotan to attack pressure points and escape from holds, and finally how to use the Kubotan to apply wrist-locks and take-downs / throws.

Each techniques is demonstrated in slow motion, then in slow motion against an attacker and then at full-speed against an attacker, showing the effectiveness of the technique. Tak Kubota's martial skill is highly evident and impressive, yet the simple and straight forward techniques he demonstrates in this DVD can be learned by anyone.

The instruction presented by Tak Kubota in this DVD is of the highest quality and is much like having an hour long private lesson with the developer and master of the Kubotan.

If you study and practice the basic techniques taught on the DVD you will quickly develop a very effective self-defense skill that you can use on the street.

Highly Recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instruction on the uses of the Kubotan, December 19, 2006

By 

citan-uzuki "citan-uzuki" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Kubotan (DVD)

This program was designed and presented by none other than the man who invented the Kubotan in the first place, Tak Kubota. The program is far from boring and Master Kubota keeps the pace moving along quickly. He shows us various applications of the kubotan in self-defense situations. And what a man like him can do with this little stick of dynamite will amaze you!

I have not had to use my kubotan for self-defense. I have practiced the techniques on a heavy punching bag though. My first kubotan was made out of hardened aluminum, with a point. Needless to say, even light pressure put a hole on the heavy duty punching bag. I have since switched to a flat-ended aluminum baton. I would think that if you had to use one that had a pointed end, you may have trouble claiming self-defense. Actually, even the flat-ended one will easily punch a whole through 1/4" plywood! Can you imagine jabbing an attacker in the chest with your baton?

I am not yet confident that I would be able to use the wrist locks and pressure holds. I feel like you have to have live practice with a trained instructor in order to pull off those moves. However, you need very little skill, just the will, to be able to use your baton as a flail. Add enough keys to the ring, face the keys in different directions so that you will always have a sharp edge whichever direction you swing, and you have yourself a flail. I have spoken with a couple of people who sharpen a couple of their keys. These keys are not meant to be useful, except for adding damage to the attacker's face, hands, and arms. I have not gone as far as that though. From what the damage that the keys have done to my punching bag and practice boards, I would think that sharpened keys would be overkill.

I am not trained in martial arts. I am just one of those people who would like to be able to defend myself if the situation where to ever call for it. I would prefer to join a martial arts class and train under an instructor. However, I live in a rural area and no such instruction can be found. Given that situation, it would always be best to avoid a confrontation. Without the proper training, basically, your kubotan should be a last resort.