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Nunchaku Keychain pro-xsports.com |
 Nunchaku (ヌンチャク, 双節棍, English spelling variants include nunchucks, chucks, chain sticks) is a traditional Okinawan weapon and consists of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.
[edit] EtymologyThe word nunchaku is generally believed to derive from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese term for two-section staff.[1] but it may come from nun (ヌン), meaning "twin" and shaku (尺), the approximate length of each arm of the nunchaku.[citation needed] [edit] OriginsThe popular belief is that the nunchaku was originally a short Southeast Asian flail[2] used to thresh rice or soybeans (that is, separate the grain from the husk). It is possible that it was developed in response to the moratorium on edged weaponry under the Satsuma daimyo after invading Okinawa in the 17th century, and that the weapon was most likely conceived and used exclusively for that end, as the configuration of actual flails and bits are unwieldy for use as a weapon. Also, peasant farmers were forbidden conventional weaponry such as arrows or blades so they improvised using only what they had available, farm tools such as the sickle. However, it seems that mythology surrounding the origins of the nunchaku has little historical accuracy. Unlike Okinawan rice flail (utzu), original nunchaku had curved arms, resembling an Okinawan horse bit (muge), which gave rise to the theory that nunchaku was originally a horse bridle.[3] Yet another theory asserts that it was adapted from an instrument carried by the village night watch, made of two blocks of wood joined by cord. The night watch would hit the blocks of wood together to attract people's attention and then warn them about fires and other dangers.[4] According to Chinese folklore, the nunchaku is a variation of the two section staff. Associating nunchaku and other Okinawan weapons with rebellious peasants is probably a part of romantic imagery. Martial arts on Okinawa were practiced exclusively by aristocracy (kazoku) and "serving nobles" (shizoku) but were prohibited among commoners (heimin). Furthermore, Okinawan disarmament was never total; nobles were still allowed to carry their swords and members of the royal family and princes were even allowed to have rifles for hunting.[3] Whatever its origins were, the nunchaku was not a popular weapon, evidenced by the fact that no known traditional nunchaku kata exists. This was possibly a result of its lack of efficiency against weapons such as the sword and staff.[5] [edit] AnatomyA nunchaku is two sections of wood connected by a cord or chain, though variants may include additional sections of wood and chain. Chinese nunchaku tend to be rounded, whereas the Okinawan version has an octagonal cross-section (allowing one edge of the nunchaku to make contact on the target increasing the damage inflicted). The ideal length of each piece should be long enough to protect the forearm when held in a high grip near the top of the shaft. Both ends are usually of equal length, although asymmetrical nunchaku exist. The ideal length for the connecting rope/chain is just enough to allow the user to lay it over his or her palm, with the sticks hanging comfortably and perpendicular to the ground. Weight balance is extremely important; cheaper or gimmicky nunchaku (such as glow-in-the-dark ones) are often not properly balanced, which prevents the performer from doing the more advanced and flashier 'low-grip' moves, such as overhand twirls. The weight should be balanced towards the outer edges of the sticks for maximum ease and control of the swing arcs. The traditional nunchaku is made from a strong, flexible hardwood such as oak, loquat or pasania. Originally, the wood would be submerged in mud for several years, where lack of oxygen and optimal acidity prevented rotting and caused the wood to harden. The rope is made from horsehair. Finally, the wood is very finely sanded and rubbed with an oil or stain for preservation. Today, such nunchaku are often varnished or painted for display purposes. This practice tends to reduce the grip and make the weapon harder to handle, and so is not advised for a combat weapon. The modern nunchaku can be made from any suitable material: from wood, metal, or almost any plastic, fiberglass or metal material, commonly covered with foam to prevent self-injury or the injury of others. It is not uncommon to see modern nunchaku made from light metals such as aluminum. Modern equivalents of the rope are nylon cord or metal chains on ball bearing joints. Simple nunchaku may be easily constructed from wooden dowels and a short length of chain. The Nunchaku-Do sport, governed by the World Nunchaku Association, promotes black and yellow Styrofoam nunchaku. Unlike readily available plastic training nunchaku, the ones they promote are properly balanced. There are some alternative nunchaku, made solely for sporting such as:
There are also some types of nunchaku with no sportive use noted, such as:
[edit] Formal stylesThe nunchaku are most commonly used in Okinawan kobudo and karate, but it has also been adopted into eskrima, taekwondo and hapkido. Its application is different in each style. The traditional Okinawan forms use the sticks primarily to grip and lock. Filipino martial artists use it much the same way they would wield a stick, so striking is given precedence. Korean systems combine offensive and defensive moves so both locks and strikes are taught. Nunchaku are usually wielded singly but they can also be paired. It can be whirled around, using its hardened handles for blunt force as well as wrapping its chain around an attacking weapon to immobilise or disarm the opponent. Nunchaku training has been noted to increase hand speed, correct posture, and condition the hands of the practitioner so it makes a useful training weapon. The nunchaku had always been regarded as an inferior weapon until Bruce Lee popularised it around the world with his movies. Note that there is a difference between the nunchaku and Bruce Lee's two-section staff, which is often mistakenly called nunchaku.[citation needed] The two-section staff is derived from the three-section staff (traditional weapon); its chain is a bit longer than the nunchaku. The way of holding the sticks are also slightly different. Bruce Lee's flashy and fluid style was emulated by a number of Chinese martial artists, which gave rise to a distinctive Chinese style. There are some disciplines that combine nunchaku with unarmed techniques:
[edit] FreestyleFreestyle nunchaku is a modern style of performance art using the nunchaku as a visual tool rather than as a weapon. With the growing prevalence of the Internet the availability of nunchaku has increased greatly, combining this with the popularity of YouTube and other video sharing sites many people have become interested in learning how to use the weapons for freestyle displays. Freestyle is one discipline of competition held by the World Nunchaku Association. Some modern martial arts teach the use of nunchaku as it may help students improve their reflexes, hand control, and other skills. [edit] Sportive associationsSince the 1980s, there have been various international sportive associations that organise the use of nunchaku as a contact sport.[11][12] Current associations usually hold semi-contact fights where severe strikes are prohibited as opposed to contact fights. Full-Nunch matches, on the other hand, are limitations-free on the severity of strikes and KO is permissible.[13]
[edit] LegalityPossession of nunchaku is illegal in a number of countries including Belgium, Germany, Norway, Canada,[17] and Spain. In the United Kingdom it is legal to possess and use for martial arts purposes, although public possession is not allowed unless transporting between a place of training and private addresses; its usage was, in the 1990s, censored from broadcasts of American children's TV shows, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.[citation needed] The UK version of the Soul Blade videogame was also edited, replacing a character's nunchaku with a three-sectioned staff. In Hong Kong, it is illegal to possess metal or wooden nunchaku connected by a chain. It can be possessed by obtaining a license from the police as a martial arts instructor. Any rubber nunchaku are allowed. However, possession of nunchaku in Mainland China is legal. Legality in Australia is also determined by individual state laws. In New South Wales, the weapon is on the restricted weapons list, and thus can only be owned with a permit. Legality in the United States varies at state level, e.g., personal possession of nunchaku is illegal in New York, Arizona, California and Massachusetts, but in other states possession has not been criminalized. In New York, attorney Jim Maloney has brought a federal constitutional challenge to the statutes that criminalize simple in-home possession of nunchaku for peaceful use in martial-arts practice or legal home defense.[18] As of March 2009, the case was awaiting the filing of a petition for certiorari for review by the U.S. Supreme Court. [edit] Popular cultureThe nunchaku has been a popular weapon in movies related to martial arts. In western pop culture, the nunchaku is often portrayed as a Japanese weapon favoured by the ninja, but it was only introduced to mainland Japan in the early 1900s.
[edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External linksInformation and techniques
International associations
Legal issues
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