Nunchaku learning without karate

[Shorin Ryuu]

Well said, Sauzin.

 

There are many schools that teach weaponry without empty hand (many of them Okinawan). I don't how easy they are to find in the states though (I simply haven't looked). If you look at the history of Okinawan weaponry at any rate, it developed independently of unarmed systems but closely intertwined. What I mean to say is even though the "Ryu" system of style separation is generally a newer, Japanese introduction, the empty hand systems certainly had their own characteristics in a general sense (it was not uncommon for people to study under many teachers, including in China, meaning stylistic training wasn't rigid and confining like today).

 

Weapon "systems" were even less confined, students (and masters) might travel around, and learn, for example, sai from this family of martial artists and bo from this town or island, etc. Most of these students were adepts at armed and unarmed combat.

 

Bottom line: while it isn't an exact necessity to learn weaponry within a system of karate, it simply helps to have coordination and all that. Especially with a weapon like the nunchaku, a lot of beginning training is simply how to control the weapon and what to do when something goes WRONG. It is a matter of practicality that a lot of unarmed combat instructors know weapons as well.

 

Ha! You can never get a short answer from me!

[Ebola]

@sauzin (sry last post came when i was writing so the edit)

 

i can't see the conflict between your quotes that you took from me but that is not the point that I'm interrested in. That they need to be learned slowly is right but not my question. If i understood your statement you say that nunchakus aren't a good choice as a self defence weapon and you tell me that they should be trained as a kind of art that is nice and gives a lot of improving your overall skills with weapons. what kind of weapon would be your choice for self defence (I mean MA weapons of course so dont say carry a gun =) ? And why is nunchaku not a good choice ? is the "swung" movement even for very well trained persons to dangerous to control when hitting a target ?

 

the problem why it seems that i dont know what i want is because i just train bare hand at the moment and want to start some kind of weapon i want a weapon that i like AND that is effective. I heard that nunchakus are effective and the movements i saw seem to be quite flowing and i thought i would like them. If you could give me a good reason why nunchakus are not good for using in a fight/self defence situation. I may learn the movements just because they are flowing and learn another weapon for self defence. But a question if they are not good in a fight why are they banned by many states (because its a risk for the owner ?! )?

 

kobudo seems quite nice is this just weapon training ?

 

puh it's late @ night in Europe so excuse my mistakes

 

(next week i'll go and check out escrima=)

[Sauzin]

I seemed like you didn't have a strong understanding of nunchaku applied practically, and in saying that you wanted that, it seemed to me you didn't know what you were asking for. But this is still good, because its a great way to learn about it. I think you are gaining a good picture of what their practical use means.

 

Nunchaku aren't any faster then any other weapon. They are generally seen as martial thug weapons by police who, certainly in the US, look critically on people who use them. This is the main reason I wouldn't use them. I would instead use a cane, or a walking stick. Carrying these things around is easier to justify and doesn't make people think you are looking for a fight. Walking sticks and canes are also very versatile, effective, and deadly when needed. From a purely combative standpoint, any weapon can be effective given the right training, but a nunchaku is not quite as versatile as some. It is harder to control and has some severe weaknesses as far as being trapped, disarmed, or countered.

 

Staffs are great all around weapons with few weaknesses given the right size.

 

Sais are perhaps the deadliest weapons in kobudo. They are like short range guns only faster and more versatile. Sais have the same problem nunchakus have with the police though. You might as well be carrying around a katana.

 

Same with kama's. There effective, but messy.

 

Tonfas are great. Powerful, effective, and very few weaknesses. Good in close and far. Here's a weapon you can take home to you're mother. It's just plain good.

 

There are more, but what I'm really trying to explain here is that weapon training should be inclusive of more then one weapon. The benefits are really exponential. Kobudo or Kobujitsu are the names for Okinawan weapon arts, just the weapon portion. I would highly recommend you find someone who teaches it. I think you will find what you want by doing so.

[Ebola]

@ sauzin thx you post is quite useful. i will look for some kind of kobudo thing but as i said i will look first @ escrima @ my school because it would be no additional cost. there i saw some people train with tonfas or no more excactly with this modern kind of weapon that the police sometimes carries that has the form of a trad. tonfa just rounded a bit. maybe i'll talk with them and first learn these palm stick things there. Even if i like these movements of the nunchaku or other flexible weapons (chain whip or rope dart look quite nice aren't they ?=).

 

And the idea with carring a samurai sword isn't that funny as it seems yes its not easy to carry hidden but who cares, where i live i think everybody would think it's a fake and some kind of freakish new trend from some sort of punk =) You know there are these guys who are playing live roleplays etc. i think everyone would think you're one of them =)

 

so next week i could tell more maybe one of these escrima people can tell me what weapons can be trained there...

[Spin]

Poi technique will be a good foundation for learning double nunchaku, most poi patterns can be utilised with double nunchaku

[Shorin Ryuu]

there i saw some people train with tonfas or no more excactly with this modern kind of weapon that the police sometimes carries that has the form of a trad. tonfa just rounded a bit.

 

The tonfa has been practice for centuries on Okinawa and the police stick has been around for only a matter of decades...The group of people that originally introduced the night stick into the police arsenal said it had no relation whatsoever to the Okinawan weapon, but they trained in Okinawa for a while...

 

Of course, they may even be telling the truth, as police tactics with the weapon almost in no way whatsoever resemble the traditional kobudo use of the tonfa...