The first mention of the Nunchaku can be found in ancient Chinese history, where two pieces of wood tied together by horse hair or piece of straw were used as Horse Brides by mountain soldiers. Nunchaku as a weapon comes originally from Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) which is part of today's Japan. In 1429, King Sho Hashi united the three parts of Okinawa, creating the Ryukyu Kingdom. To decrease the possibility of a revolt, he declared prohibition to carry weapons and left only with their empty hands. To defend them selves, Okinawan citizens and villagers widely practiced Martial arts especially the Kara-te and they used a traditional farm tools where the Nunchaku, the Bo and the Sai were among the farm tools.
Original Nunchaku sticks were curved and became only later the model which is used today with straight handles. The approximate size and weight of the Nunchaku has changed little in the past three centuries, and today it is held by a rope or mental chain, each Nunchaku stick measures between 32 and 36 cms in length and spends 2 and 4 cms in diameter. The official Nunchaku by FINCA (The International Nunchaku Federation) is 35 cm and between 240 to 800 grams. The Nunchaku wasn't a very popular weapon, until Bruce Lee in the 70's came and showed it to the whole world in his movies where he looked like an undefeated killer machine, especially in Game of Death. Nowadays and in any competition or championship, the foam Nunchaku, the helmet and the gloves should be used for safety.
Nunchaku Federations:
* WANO: World Amateur Nunchaku Organization, was the first legal Nunchaku Federation in the world, and organized the first international competitions in Nunchaku combat and artistic in France. Pascal Verhille The father of modern Nunchaku and who put the rules of Nunchaku was the charge of WANO.
Pascal Varhille with Nestor nunchaku (6 kilos) with razor blade nunchaku with king kong nunchaku (12kilos)
* FFNS: In 1988 the FFNS,French Federation of Sporting Nunchaku, was created.
* FINCA: In 1992 and aftervarious problems inside the FFNS Centers, the FFNS and the WANO burst. Raphaël Schmitz decided to run FINCA, Federation International de Nunchaku de Combat et Artistic by combination between FFNS and WANO. Then the first World NunchakuChampionship was organized in Altkirch (France). A Fight with Finca lasts 2 x 2min. There is no need changing neither Nunchaku branch nor hand before hitting, just a correct recuperation is asked. It means that a fighter can do the whole fight only with his right/left hand! This style care few on the technical, but it’s is really physical because there is no stop during the fight (except in case of Loss, lifting or penalties).
Raphael Schmitz
* WNA: The WNA was born in Netherlands too and had a great number of players around the Globe. The WNA way of fighting: it is a « touch fight » in which the technical abilities are very important. After each scored point, the fight stops and the fighters take back their starting position. So they can often recover a little bit. The fight lasts 2 minutes.
* ADINA: The ADINA was born too in France by Samir Boulbiza. The fight rules are the same as FINCA.
* NSCA: The NSCA was born in 1999, a group of black belt players decided to create the first Arabic Nunchaku Association by the Name of Nunchaku Style Complete Nunchaku and recently chaired by Adham Affara.
* ITNA: In 2001, a group of follower black Belt, chaired by Thierry Reichenbach had created, the SNA (Swiss Nunchaku Association). Further to different reorganization and the lack of commitment of certain members, this association and stayed in a drawer till the beginning of this year of 2006. Hardly of a group of dynamic and enthusiastic followers, the former(ancient) always motivated leaders, among whom Daniel Althaus and Thierry Reichenbach, decided to put back(to hand) the SNA up to date and to make an international association under a new name: ITNA. The association, recently chaired by Daniel Althaus, was officially created on October 6th, 2006 to Morges. Techdo Nunchaku is a method of fighting in which we have to change hand and branch of Nunchaku before striking. Therefore we use both hands, right and left, which is excellent for our brain: Brain Gym. Daniel Althaus created Techdo-Nunchaku in a concern of efficiency. It allies the physical appearance, the technique but also the brain gym.
ITNA has created the Techdo Nunchaku which goes the following
way: the fight lasts 2 x 2’30min with a break of 40 sec between the two rounds.
During the round, there is no stop (except in case of Loss, lifting or
penalties).
Between two strikes, the fighter has to change hand and
Nunchaku branch before hitting again, except if he does a block (it’s the
only case he can strike without changing).
That makes a very physical way of fighting, seen that there is no stop, but that moreover, the fighter has to be non-stop in change. The cardiovascular work is very important and the technical capacities are indispensable. To progress, both in fight and in demonstration, the follower owes cultivate his physical condition; especially on the cardiovascular plan, The appropriate muscle structure developing with the practice. Legs, the abdominal belt (fast rotation and stability-balance), the dorsal, the shoulders, the arms and up to the fingertips...
The Nunchaku is one of the most complete martial arts. There is no typical training; every Master develops his own type of training and exercises.
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