Starting with the Nunchaku
Nunchaku: the training version
The Nunchaku (in Chinese Er Jie Gun but also known as “Nunchuck” or “Numchucks”) is basically a 2 sections flexible weapon.
Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).
There is an infinite number of variations of this tool but it is generally composed of:
- 2 wood / metal bars more or less longer
- A chain / rope that connects the two rigid parts
To begin to familiarize with this fantastic weapon we should buy a training version with plastic covers like the one in the photo (medium-low quality, or to build one by ourselves, read How to make a PVC Nunchaku).
For those who have not yet developed a soft touch basic skill and / or are not advanced practitioners of other martial arts, it is inadvisable to directly buy wood or metal versions:
- The learning would be slower
- The risk of getting hurt is not remote at all
- …
A note by Master Kongling – I remember a particularly funny event: I bought my first Nunchaku at an early age, it had foam protectors but despite this, during a training session, one of the two ends accidentally struck me in the head and (having already reached a certain speed of execution) that strike was (for an instant) enough to make me lose track of what was happening. If in that situation I had used a full steel Nunchaku I probably would have suffered a serious head injury. Do not buy a true Nunchaku if you have no experience, you risk getting really hurt (read Measure ourselves with errors).
The characteristics
Let’s see the training version of the Nunchaku we should buy:
- It is composed of 2 rigid pieces of plastic attached by a chain (let’s avoid the totally soft versions)
- It is covered with soft protections (this will avoid causing real pain)
- It is hollow and it is not heavy like a real martial weapon (but this does not make it, however, completely harmless, let’s pay attention)
- There are versions with a rope and others with a chain, better to opt for the ones with the chain
- Let’s choose the bulkier versions, they are easier to grasp (ideal for learning)
- It can not be used to hit targets, neither rigid nor semi-rigid (only extremely soft ones)
- Its ideal use is linked to the learning of the basic flow (and in no way to do sparring or worse to fight)
- If we do not beat them on the ground or against hard surfaces they are potentially indestructible
- The weak point of this Nunchaku is the plastic core of the 2 rigid parts
- …
Even if it is very cheap, let’s see a few maintenance tips:
- In many cases, the guards come off very easily (gluing them can be a good idea)
- If the outer protection were to be damaged we could wrap it with woven tape (not so effective on sponge surfaces)
- Once we have reached a certain skill we can close and fill the hollow parts with material that starts to simulate the weight of a real Nunchaku
- We should oil the chain sometimes (even if in the beginning it is not essential in terms of performance, as it preserves the metal from rusting)
- In any case, this tool is not to be kept in a damp place
To learn the basic moves of the Nunchaku it takes about 2-3 hours, however, to learn how to fight it takes several months of constant practice. In the next articles of this series, we will see the basic exercises and moves (if you want to ask for specific articles read Learn Kung Fu online: request a specific article).
In-depth video courses
- Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – A video course about how to build real martial skills
- Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu weapons – The path toward the fundamental weapons of our school
- Weapon disarming: what works and what not – A practical and realistic approach to weapons disarming
In-depth articles
- Learning the use of real weapons – The path to arrive to master real martial weapons
- Sparring with Nunchaku – How to learn to fight using a Nunchaku
Questions
Reply in the comments and share your experience:
- What version have you bought?
Author: Master Kongling
Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.How to master 6 Dragons Kung Fu?
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March 31, 2019 @ 11:00 pm
I appreciated the sharing of your funny experience. I have never found a so humble master!
April 1, 2019 @ 12:51 am
Thanks, I try to be as much as possibly useful. 😀
April 1, 2019 @ 12:47 am
I have the metal one 🙁
April 1, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
Do not worry, the training version is cheap and the metal one will be useful later
October 23, 2019 @ 2:50 pm
How can I avoid to get hit?
October 25, 2019 @ 5:03 pm
If you feel that you are losing control of the nunchaku you simply have to soften the grip
March 3, 2022 @ 12:53 am
Hi, I have a wooden nunchaku but I will not use it until it will be time.
November 6, 2023 @ 6:38 am
Is it good to start with a portable one?
November 6, 2023 @ 6:18 pm
Not a good idea, there are many types but normally they are smaller than the classic one and therefore easier to handle but harder to grab (in addition to this they are also normally hard). Maybe you could try them after having built a solid base.