The keychain kubotan is a close-quarter self-defense weapon.  Kubotans are highly accessible, extremely durable, effective self defense weapons. They can be used for stabilizing your fist, applying pressure to sensitive parts of an assailant's body, or gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist or fingers. The Kubotans are made of aluminum and come in various colors and have either pointed or flat tips.

As a pressure point and pain compliance weapon it can attack any point a finger can, but with greater penetration because of the smaller surface area at the ends. For example, a law enforcement officer may wrap his arm around the suspect's neck while simultaneously digging the end of the Kubotan into the small of his back. The officer may also reach around the suspect's neck and underarm from behind and cause pain by digging the end of the Kubotan into the top of his pectoral muscle. 

One typical pain compliance technique is a wrist "gasket" lock in which the attacker's wrist is captured and sealed around with both hands and the body of the Kubotan laid across the radial bone. Downward squeezing pressure is then applied to the bone to take down the opponent. Its techniques are greatly linked to 'empty handed' martial arts techniques, and almost all of its uses can complement the fighting style in which it is included. It is a weapon that can adapt to an art, rather than just dictate its own set of movements and uses.