Nunchucks (properly called nunchaku) are one of, if not the most, iconic martial arts weapon. Just mentioning the word brings up mental images of Bruce Lee or the Ninja Turtle Michaelangelo. Part of the reason it’s so recognizable is that they are so… odd. Physically it is a simple weapon. A pair of symmetrical wooden (or metal) sticks with either a cord or chain connecting them. Using the chucks, however, is not as intuitive as say a staff, or a sword (of any kind). As almost every young martial artist worth his salt has found out, the control of the follow through with a flexible weapon can be more difficult than initially thought. Many of us have bruised… egos to tell us that.
Origin
The origin of the nunchaku is cloudy, to say the least. There are some things we can say for sure. The name “nunchaku” is from the Japanese Ryukyuan language. Beyond that, the history is murky. The most common tale is that it is derived from an agricultural flail used to strike rice, wheat, and soy to de-husk the grains. The tool was made from one longer stick, and shorter, flatter stick attached by a flexible joint, often of metal links. It is visually very similar, but overall there is little to suggest a link (pun intended). Because the agricultural flail was used all over Asia, it is hard to pinpoint an origin. Some of the more likely stories have the weapon coming from Southern China to Okinawa and Japan. That’s a more likely scenario only in the fact that the Okinawan pre-karate art of Te also has ancestry in the same area. So it would make some sense if the weapons traveled with the empty hand art. However, because of the flow of information and technology, it is fully possible that the weapon went the other direction, from Okinawa to China as well.
There is also a version of the story where the original form of nunchaku was originally based on Okinawan clappers used by watchmen at night to signal fires and such other disasters.
Form and Variations
In general, nunchucks are pretty uniform. There does appear to be some small differences in the weapon, depending on the art that practices with it. As a generality, Chinese nunchucks are round, whereas those used in Okinawan arts are octagonal in cross-section. The use of chain vs. cord can also be a preference of the specific martial art.
Surge of Popularity
The weapon would have probably been relegated to the annals of history if not for the work of two men. Dan Inosanto was the man who gave Bruce Lee his pair of nunchucks. The way Guru Inosanto tells the story, Bruce instantly took to the weapon and appreciated how cinematic they could be. As he uses them in his movies, they become part of his iconography. They become associated with him. And when young martial artists wanted to be like Bruce Lee… they cut apart Mom’s broomstick and linked them together with duct tape.
What you thought you were the only one?
The weapon became associated with ninja, and therefore ninja turtles, by the Sho Kosugi ninja movies of the ’80s. Kosugi was actually a karate-ka and brought the nunchucks with him. Then, as an advertising gimmick, any of the 80’s toylines that had a “martial artists/ninja” character had to have nunchucks. Panthro and several ninja GI Joe characters had nunchucks as part of their weapons collection.
Legal Restrictions
Many places in the world have restricted the use, or even ownership, of nunchucks. This was because of an association with criminal activity. To quote the now overturned New York law:
- Nunchucks are “widely used by muggers and street gangs and ha[ve] been the cause of many serious injuries”; and
- The bill’s sponsor maintained that the nunchaku “is designed primarily as a weapon and has no purpose other than to maim or, in some instances, kill.”
Germany outlawed them as recently as 2006 where they are considered a strangulation weapon.
Really?
In the US, California has banned even the ownership of them, with the exception of martial arts practitioners. The fear of nunchucks was so great that in the UK, the 1990’s Ninja Turtles cartoons couldn’t show the “nunchuck action.”
Usage today
Except for a few states, the use and practice of nunchucks are allowed (consult your local and state laws). Many people practice them as part of a Kobudo regiment, and they are popular in many Chinese and Korean arts as well. They are used as development tools for agility, coordination, and form. In an ironic twist, in 2015 the city of Anderson, California started training its police officers in nunchucks because of their versatility as both striking and control tools. However, it’s still illegal for the citizens to own/use them.
Do you have a good nunchuck story? Share it in the comments below.
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I study Matayoshi style kobudo. The best answer we have is that original nunchaku were used to shave tree bark with the rope to smooth it down. From there, carpenters could build with smooth and flat wooden surfaces.
Interesting, I didn’t see that at all in my (brief) research. I doesn’t mean it’s not vaild, just another piece.
Interesting. I’ve never seen them used in Chinese martial arts (but I don’t know them all so that doesn’t mean anything :P). I know I heard something in a martial arts podcast (either yours or Hiyaa) someone saying they were also used in Filipino martial arts. More specifically that the way Bruce used them was that way and not the Japanese/Okinawan one. Btw I was a huge fan of Panthro when I was a kid.
Great article!
I remember reading that some Southern Chinese systems had had them, but that they essentially disappeared from curricula due to them being illegal… until Bruce brought them back.
As far as using Filipino methods, that makes sense if the basic instruction came from Guru Inosanto.
Also remember the name means “one shaku”. Shaku being an old unit of measuring length.The old Okinawan masters described it as a portable and easily hidden wooden staff. In the traditional style I study, nunchaku are not used in pairs. If my history memory serves me, Bruce Lee was taught his nunchaku by Sensei Fumio Demura. I was lucky enough to see Sensei Demura demo sai, nunchaku and sword some years back. I have an old autographed picture of Sensei Demura, Bruce Lee, and Steve McQueen (Sensei’s the only signee). My two cents…
I study Nishiuchi kobudo. Shihan Nishiuchi puts for several origin stories for nunchaku: from a bridle for farm horses; rice grain strippers, bark shavers, 3-sectional staff but one section broke off; agricultural flail. Any of these could be correct, or none!
In Canada, buying, selling and possessing nunchaku in public, is illegal unless they are made of foam. You can make your own but cannot have them in public. If you think that’s bad you should check knife laws. Hysterical but not in a funny way…