Nunchaku- please help me with your knowledge

[ShotokanKid]

I have been playing around with nunchaku that are way to big for me (my father got them from a 6 foot kung fu expert) but I know somebody who can make me a pair of nunchaku. How does one get the dimensions for a perfectly sized nunchaku? Is there a way, or whatever feels good? Also, I want to ask the same guy to teach me. How do I measure how good someone is with nunchaku?

[Shorin Ryuu]

http://www.murasakikobudo.com/pages/measure.html

[ShotokanKid]

Thank you Shorin Ryuu!

[BMmonk]

I have a question in regards to the Nunchaku. In compitition forms what kind of Nunchaku do they use, the one with the chain or the one with the rope link?

I want to practice with using two but ive noticed the nunchakus i originally have(the chained links one) seems a bit heavy and doesnt seem to flow as fast. Is there a particular kind of nunchaku i should get if i plan on learning two at the same time?

[Sauzin]

Ummm...that's an...uh...interesting question. What exactly do you consider a "competition" form? Because really anyone can compete with any kind of form. From my perspective a weapon is a weapon is a weapon. What makes a good fighting form, makes a good competition form. And what works well in a fight works well in competition. And from this same perspective, cord works well. Chains are harder to control and more for show. Maybe I'm an idealist but I don't think show should be a factor in a competitive war art.

[SaiFightsMS]

Cord is what I have seen.

[BMmonk]

Ummm...that's an...uh...interesting question. What exactly do you consider a "competition" form? Because really anyone can compete with any kind of form. From my perspective a weapon is a weapon is a weapon. What makes a good fighting form, makes a good competition form. And what works well in a fight works well in competition. And from this same perspective, cord works well. Chains are harder to control and more for show. Maybe I'm an idealist but I don't think show should be a factor in a competitive war art.

well what i meant to say competition wise is, when artists demonstrates a form using nunchakus, do they use the corded chakus or the chained chakus. But i agree that a weapon is a weapon no matter what. I guess what im also referring to are the speed nunchakus, and my guess is that they are using cords as well.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Thank you Shorin Ryuu!

No problem.

As far as being able to determine whether or not someone is a good teacher, that is less easier. However, in many cases, if you have a critical eye for the martial arts, some people will just stick out as being "not good". Simply having basic understanding of biomechanics (and I really do mean basic, not complex) can help you evaluate people from different styles or things you have no knowledge of.

Even in cases where you are totally unfamiliar with what someone is doing or don't feel confident judging someone right away (it happens to me too), respectfully ask the person to explain what they are doing or perhaps show (on you) some applications of the nunchaku. A critical eye will help you determine if the * flag should be raised, but sometimes you can also tell just by how they respond to such a question (basic human interaction skills). If all else fails, you can ask them to be your teacher and if after a few lessons or weeks he doesn't really fit the bill (or if you find out he's not all he's cracked up to be), then respectfully discontinue learning. Yet another indication is the quality of his students. Good instructors generally tend to produce good students.

[Shinjin Kiitsu]

I would agree with Shorin Ryuu, generally if a martial artist dose not know standard form that’s the biggest red flag. In relation to Nunchaku ask to see a simple demonstration judge, the speed, technique, and how clean the forum is. If he is sloppy then he most likely is not a great person to learn it from. Another way is to ask if you can see the 32 strike sequence he should know that if he is higher then 1st Dan.

[Sauzin]

I would agree with Shorin Ryuu, generally if a martial artist dose not know standard form that’s the biggest red flag. In relation to Nunchaku ask to see a simple demonstration judge, the speed, technique, and how clean the forum is. If he is sloppy then he most likely is not a great person to learn it from. Another way is to ask if you can see the 32 strike sequence he should know that if he is higher then 1st Dan.

Uhhh 32 strike sequence???

Sounds like a style specific question. I don't see how knowing that specific sequence or "standard form" will tell you anything about their over all skill with the weapon. It may tell you what style they practice if you know what style the sequence or form is from, but simply asking them would tell you that much. Not saying that I know everything there is to know about nunchaku (far from it) but I'm a 3rd dan in Okinawan Kobudo and I've never heard of a 32 strike sequence. And in Okinawan Kobudo there really aren't any "standard forms".

I agree with Shorin-ryuu here though. Ask questions, ask about applications. Ask about his lineage. If he can't name more then one guy it is generally a bad sign. Also if he is holding the nunchaku near the cord it's a bad sign. If he twirls them around near his body a lot it's a bad sign as well. In my experiance these are red flags that may mean that he knows a lot about twirling them but little about actually using them as a weapon.