The Nunchaku

The nunchaku is a weapon used in Okinawan Kobudo traditionally made of hardwood. Under Japanese rule in the early 17th century the people of Okinawa were not allowed to own popular weapons such as Swords. In response, the people learned empty fist fighting, or karate, and created weapons out of household and farming implements. Fighting arts revolving around a staff, also known as the bo staff, the handle of a millstone, now called tonfa, a sickle ,also called kama, developed. The bit used for horses was two sticks tied together with a string. That simple device became the weapon we formally known as nunchaku or in popular culture refer to as nunchucks or simply chucks.

Nunchucks can come in a variety of sizes, but for adults this most common lengths are 12 inch and 14 inch and the most common diameter is 1 inch with either rounded or octagonal sticks. For younger practitioners 8 inch long chucks are generally preferred.

Corded or ball bearing chucks, which is better?
Nunchaku attached with cords will not rotate or spin as fast as ones attached with ball bearings and chains. Corded chucks are also more prone to wear and tear, but will weigh less without the added bulk of chains and metal caps. Most beginners chose corded nunchucks then move up to ball bearings when they become more acclimated to the weapon.

What type of Nunchaku is right for me?
For beginners:

For those just starting out with the nunchuck, padded styles are often preferred. In addition to reducing the force of many impacts, the padded surface is also easier to grip. Many padded nunchucks are also lighter than their wooden counterparts. Foam padded nunchku are legal in every state within the USA and also legal in Canada as they are considered to be more of a toy than a weapon. In order for the nunchaku to be legal in Canada the nunchaku must be slightly flexible.

For muscle conditioning and speed development :

To increase speed and develop muscles, using a heavier nunchaku made from hardwood or a heavier artificial material is recommended. The extra weight will build muscles, gain you speed and ease of motion when you move to a lighter nunchaku for demonstrations. However, many States within the USA and all of Canada consider hardwood, hard rubber, and metal nunchku to be illegal.

For Demonstrations :

For demonstrations lighter weight, faster rotating nunchaku are used. Demonstration nunchaku are generally made with plastics, acrylic, or extremely lightweight wood such as rattan or white wax. Ball bearing chain attachments are almost always featured on demonstration nunchaku.