From the movie screens of the seventies and eighties to Karate competitions across the nation, one distinct weapon has stood out prominently, and that was the nunchaku. This traditional Japanese weapons was a favorite of Bruce Lee, was used by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Michelangelo, and has earned a bad reputation as a violent option for street gangs. But with all this fictional and real-life exposure, the question must be asked; Is this tool viable for personal self-defense? Though on the surface many would answer an immediate yes, but once the layers are pulled away, it might not be so clear.
Nunchaku: Difficult To Conceal & Carry
Tools carried for self-defense, first and foremost, must be easily carriable and concealable. If not, they most likely would be left at home only after a few days and that would defeat their primary purpose. Unfortunately, nunchaku don’t meet either of these needs. First, they are cumbersome. They are constructed of two sticks (sometimes constructed from heavy hardwood), averaging between 12 and 14 inches in length with a four-inch chain holding them both together. This design doesn’t exactly allow them to be hidden easily from others. In a jacket or pants pocket, they would clearly stick out. As for ease-of-carry, nunchaku “holsters” are really not used, and to retrieve them from a bag or backpack doesn’t make them advantageous against a surprise attack. To sum it up, nunchaku is not a convenient weapon to carry.
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Won’t Work Like The Movies
Unfortunately, people can confuse movie fights with real-life fights, and this is very evident during nunchaku scenes on the big screen. In movies, the action star can be seen with two chucks under his arms and is shown dispatching wave after wave of bad guys with single precise strikes. His rhythm with the nunchaku is perfect, as is his ability to knock an opponent out with one hit. This may look great, but it’s far from realistic.
During a real-life physical conflict, the defender would most likely be rushed, smothered, and taken down. When against multiple attackers, the nunchaku user would face all three at once, not the bad guys “waiting in line to attack” like they do in the movies. Also, the stressful situation itself, the location of the attack, and the experience of the intended victim all will play a factor in the effectiveness of the chucks. Under ideal conditions they may indeed be effective, anything short of ideal and their effectiveness proportionately decreases.
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How Would Nunchaku Most Likely Be Used?
When it comes down to a possible life or death conflict, it’s likely nunchaku would be used in a manner uncharacteristic to the way they are viewed in martial arts competitions or on film. This would mean there would be no spinning tricks, no figure-eight twirling, no rolling the chucks around hands, necks or waists, and no passing the nunchaku from one hand to the other. Instead, hard downward swings would be used, targeting key areas like the head, elbows, or knees.
Additionally, if the fight goes close-quarters, gripping both nunchaku’s wooden shafts and using them as a blunt force weapon (like one would a stick or baton) makes very practical sense. Even choking out an opponent or applying a lock with the chain (or rope) of the nunchaku is not an easy undertaking and would most likely end in failure due to the complexity of such techniques. Simple put, the use of the nunchaku would not have the finesse and flow as on may think, but rather wild swinging of the weapon would be incorporated to cause the most pain and damage to the attacker.
Possible Legal Issues
Finally, there are legal issues to consider just by possessing this weapon, let alone concealing it and using it in a fight. Though laws have eased over recent years, with Massachusetts the only state continuing to ban the use of nunchaku (with an exception for martial arts use), you do want to check all your local and state laws prior to purchasing and carrying them. Although most states eased restrictions around nunchakus, the user still has to answer for their actions if they are involved in a physical conflict and cause severe injuries to the attacker. The use of excessive force and the severity of the injuries delivered to the other person would be under investigation by law enforcement.
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Not The Best Choice
When you compare the positives to the negatives for using nunchaku as a practical self defense weapon, the clear winner is obvious…it’s not the best option. Though having something in your hands to defend yourself and go on the offensive rather than having nothing is beneficial, you can find better choices on the market today. More controllable blunt force weapons such as an extending baton or heavy tactical flashlight are two great options. Additionally, more concealable weapons almost ensure that you would carry them each and every day for personal protection. Nunchaku, as mentioned earlier, are not carry-friendly. So the next time you come across your forgotten pair of chucks, hang them on your wall for a nostalgic feel or swing them around your living room for fun, but never take them out on the streets…that would be where the fun would end.