Nunchuck Instructions

Nunchucks, or more appropriately nunchaku, are martial-arts weapons that consist of two sticks connected by a chain or rope. They should not be wielded by persons who have not had a lot of practice and training. Authentic nunchaku should not be used by children -- they are actual weapons and can be very dangerous. Becoming proficient in nunchaku will take many hours of practice, but if you have patience, concentration and a good grip, you can make efficient use of this weapon.

  1. Gripping Nunchaku

    • Always grip a nunchaku stick at the top, nearer to the chain. Don't grip it too tightly, but also not so loosely that it could slip out of your hand.

    Twirling Nunchaku

    • If using nunchaku for an attack, grip one of the sticks and twirl the other at your target. This is not like swinging a baseball bat. The nunchaku react to very subtle movements in the wrist, and the free stick will have a lot of force even if you don't use much arm strength. If the extended stick does not make contact with the target, you'll have to catch it, either with your free hand or by cradling it in your armpit. Practice twirling before you make any strikes. As you get used to the weight and equilibrium of the weapon, you will gain a natural sense of how much force to use.

    Changing Hands

    • If you're a beginner using authentic nunchaku, you'll probably discover that it hurts to change hands. The sticks are usually made of very hard material; only nunchaku intended for practice have padded sticks. If you don't want to injure yourself, you'll need to concentrate. When you twirl one end of the nunchaku into your free hand, do not slap-grab the stick. Instead, lessen the impact my moving your hand slightly in the direction of travel. For example, if the stick is coming downward toward your open hand, bring that hand down slightly as you catch it. This will lessen the impact.