History

• There are multiple theories on the origins of the nunchaku. After the invasion of Okinawa in the 17th century, the Satsuma family of feudal lords disallowed peasants from owning edged weapons, so weapons developed from farm tools arose to fill the void. One theory asserts that the original nunchaku had curved arms much like the Okinawan horse bridles, leading to the belief that nunchaku originally were horse bridles. Another theory states that nunchakus were developed from a tool carried by the night watch that consisted of two wooden blocks connected by a cord.
  
  

Construction

• Traditionally, nunchaku arms are constructed of hardwood, such as oak, with a horsehair rope connecting them. The wood may be submerged in mud for years causing the wood to harden further. The wood is then sanded and treated for preservation. This construction technique is now typically used to make display nunchuku as most functional nunchuku are now produced with modern materials. Modern nunchaku are made from a variety of hard materials including wood, metal, plastic or fiberglass. The connectors are made of nylon rope or metal chain.
  
  

Styles of Use

• While nunchaku are most commonly used for exercises in Okinawan martial arts, distinct versions of nunchuku are used in Korean taekwondo and hapkido. Nunchaku are utilized as both offensive and defensive weapons. For example, the hardwood arms may be used to strike an opponent as well as using the weapon to disarm an opponent by wrapping the chain around the other weapon and pulling it away. A modern style of use is referred to as freestyle nunchaku. It is largely a performance art used to impress viewers with displays of speed, dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
  
  

Modern Popularization

• Nunchaku are often used in modern entertainment due to their flashiness and the impressive skill required in order to wield them well. Nunchaku were popularized in America by their appearance in martial arts films such as those starring Bruce Lee. Other pop culture appearances of nunchaku include many cartoons, films and video games. For example, nunchaku make prominent appearances in television including "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Charmed," "The Boondocks" and "Naruto." There is also the popular Nintendo Wii console featuring a controller extension called the Nunchuck.