Mastering Nunchaku Tricks: A Beginner's Guide

Nunchaku are traditional martial arts weapons made up of two sticks connected by a cord or chain. They became widely popular thanks to Bruce Lee's films. You too can master this extraordinary skill, which will give you insight into martial arts, equip you well, and help you impress others.

Part 1

Step 1: Get Your Nunchaku

Step 1

Purchase nunchaku. Visit a reputable martial arts supply website and buy foam or rubber training nunchaku connected by a cord. Avoid wooden, metal, or hard acrylic nunchaku at first.

Step 2: Buy a Book

Step 2

Invest in a book. "Nunchaku: The Karate Self-Defense Weapon" can be a helpful transitional guide for those experienced in martial arts. However, it might be wise to get a book aimed at beginners.

Step 3: Focus on the Basics

Concentrate on mastering the basic movements, as they are crucial. Bruce Lee once said, "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times" — so practice diligently!

Step 4: Do Your Research

Step 4

Research is key. Watch Bruce Lee's film "Fist of Fury" and pay close attention to the karate dojo scene. Play the video game "Soulcalibur" as Maxi. Check out YouTube and search for "nunchaku" and/or "nunchaku techniques". The videos showcase a high level of skill, but it's not as difficult as it appears.

Step 5: Get a Feel for the Nunchaku

Step 5

Familiarize yourself with the nunchaku. They should feel soft, not hard, as you might expect.

Step 6: Master the Basic Techniques

Step 6

Now that you have a feel for them, practice spinning them faster, making figure eights, passing them between your legs, over your shoulder, and under your arms.

Step 7: Challenge Yourself

Step 7

Try to step up your game. Attempt to replicate some moves you’ve seen online. Naturally, take it slow at first. Gradually master more complex movements, as many advanced tricks are just basic techniques executed in unique ways. Often, they showcase basic moves performed with dazzling speed and flawless coordination. It might be tough to remember to start slowly, but with persistence, you'll learn quickly.