I have been promising some people for a long time that I would have an area for visitors to post their own ideas and moves, and I finally gave up trying to find a bulletin board that would best suit this need (so many get filled by unrelated banter) so I am just going to do it myself as they are mailed to me. Here are a few, including some I want to share myself.
The following are submissions by fellow nunchaku artists who wish to share their ideas and techniques with the nunchaku community. I've done my best to keep the original message so that credit is given where credit is due :)
Hello, nice page on the techs of nunchaku.
Here are some others that you may know but would be nice on your page:
Underarm pass:
A continuation of sorts of your underarm/bicep stop in which user bounces free stick off back of arm into a downward strike which then bounces off the underside of the arm into an upward strike back to the back of the arm. Now, rather than letting the free stick hit/bounce off the underside of the arm, catch it with your other hand in a reverse grip (the other hand just waits, back of hand against arm, until stick hits it). Then release regular grip and go into a reverse grip downward figure 8 or something. I saw this in Bruce Lee's Game of Death.
Downward fig 8 variation
As you mentioned, reverberation lines can be quite dangerous. I remember hitting something when I was starting that caused a painful bounce back into my hand. Then I was pissed and *really* took a swing at a tree. bounce! bap! AAAHHHHHH! "put the chucks down. put the chucks down. put the chucks down." Anyway, as the inward diagonal strike is argueably the most powerfull strike, I got to playing with ways to avoid the reverberation and still keep the power. Here goes an attempt a textual description:
1)Start with free stick hanging over back of arm or in the classic chambered postion with both hands holding sticks around arm.
2)swing an inward downward diagonal strike at opponent head (back of your hand is facing floor or is perpendicular to floor).
3) rather than follow through in direction of your opposite leg to continue the fig 8, after contact has been made or imagined, swing free stick back out to the same side that your strike came from (back of hand now faces ceiling).
4) let stick fly up in a loop so that you can strike again to opponent head (back of hand still toward ceiling) on an inward downward diagonal
5) let this strike follow throgh in direction of opposite leg to begin loop of the fig 8 that will lead to an inward downward backhand diagonal.
6) do the backhand strike BUT do not follow through to opposite side of body to continue the fig 8
7) rather, after contact has been made or imagined, swing free stick back out to the same side that your strike came from
8) let stick fly up in a loop so that you can strike again with backhand to opponent head on an inward downward diagonal
9) follow through to opposite side of body to begin loop of the fig 8 on the side it started on
So, in this fig 8, you get 2 strikes to each side, and because of the "arc-ing off" approach to the first three strikes (forehand 1&2, and back 1) you avoid the straight-line bounce back smash to your hands, AND, it looks really cool when you get it down.
I've attached a crude bmp file I just did to try to help explain it.
Let me know what you think.
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Ok, here goes :)
I've had a few lessons from a local teacher, most of which involved fairly basic stuff i.e.:
1) Traps
2) fig of 8 forwards/backwards
3) walking (right foot 60deg from north, swing chucks a bit, trap (to swap hands), step forward so left foot is 60deg from north, swing chucks a bit, trap (to swap hands), .....
get to end of hall, (assuming chucks in right hand, right foot forward) swing chucks a bit, finish with free stick dangling on RHS, pivot with weight on right foot and bring left foot round behind (almost to meet dangling chucks), then turn body to left and trap and the same time, so now you are in a left foot forward (i.e. left stance) facing the opposite direction (i.e. south becomes north).
After a few lessons, this got fairly dull, and as I had my finals at the time I couldn't really afford the time to go. However, when revision/flatmates got too much to bare, I used to go outside and practice, and taught myself some stuff I'd seen other students doing in class, and stuff I'd made up for a laugh. So, thats how I came to my (limited) stock of knowledge about the weapon.
The first thing that struck me about the vid clips on your site was that you grip the chucks at the *chain* end of the stick. This was true for another site with video clips that I'd seen on the net. In class I'd always been taught to grip the chucks at the *open* end of the stick. Is this a stylistic difference, or do you do both? If you do both, you can probably skip most of the rest of this message :) One advantage that springs to mind from a purely GRRRR-DEATH-NINJA perspective is that if you're holding the chucks at the end you've got that much more range, and that much more oomph (I'm pretty certain that I can get a higher tip speed on the free stick holding onto the open end of the grip stick). However, the path of the free stick is that much longer, so the time between strikes is higher.
I am now currently trying to teach myself to use the chucks gripping at the chain end (or cord end in my case), which is good fun once you get the hang of it. I got the wrist-flip from your video fairly quickly, but it took me ages to figure out how you got back into the overhand grip without reversing the direction of swing! Eventually I spotted how you were doing a roll over the back of your fingers, and I can now just about do that, although it makes me a little nervous (chucks flying towards face!). Anyways, other things I've learnt whilst gripping at the *open* end of the stick (always overhand grip):-
1) Reverse diagonal back pass (chucks in right hand, free stick goes over left shoulder and appears under right armpit)
2) Reverse back pass (chucks in right hand, swing free stick as if to left trap but let it continue around the waist so free stick appears on right hip to be grabbed by left hand (arms are crossed over))
3) mid air direction change (CIRH, swinging chucks across body from left shoulder, down pass right knee (i.e. swing chucks in backward direction) and up into 'staying alive' position (i.e. part of a figure of 8), wait till chucks at highest point then immediately snap the back down along the path they came up into a forward swinging figure of 8)
4) my best one - forward rolling break fall with big overhead strike into kneeling position upwards block...eek, running out of time. Recognise any of them? Hope you can decipher the descriptions! If you're interested in the rolling one, I can send you a description but I'm already late for a seminar. Speak to you soon,
Hi Patrick,
I think the most interesting one (well, most fun in a way) is the roll technique. I don't think I described it fully in my last message due to time constraints, but I'll give it a go here:-
1) Doing forward fig of 8, chucks held at open (rather than chain) end in right hand.
2) As chucks come across body from L to R in a downward motion, step forward on left foot.
3) As chucks reach (roughly) the lowest point down by your L side, initiate a forward rolling breakfall with your L hand.
4) You should execute the roll with your right arm frozen with respect to your body, so the chucks make a big motion (has to be quite slow compared to usual tip speed).
5) As the roll finishes, the chucks should come out directly north wrt where you where previously standing and make a strike against the floor.
6) Assume a crouching position with an upward block.
Thats the basic one, to give you an idea. The (IMHO) slightly better version involves holding chucks in same hand, but doing a R rolling break fall.
1) Start holding chucks the same, but no fig of 8 (just down by side)
2) bring chucks round in front of body and up over the head as if to prepare to do the largest L to R waist high strike you can (i.e. looking down from directly above you, you would be simply describing a circle with the tip if you kept going).
3) instead of simply swinging them across, reach forward with you whole body (jumping) and take a long range swing at your opponents ankles. Your R hand should be nearly touching the floor when the chucks are directly pointing north.
4) this motion has initiated a R handed rolling breakfall. Your chucks should come to rest on the ground facing roughly west as you roll over them.
5) as you exit the roll, execute same big sweeping arc so chucks hit ground in front of you.
6) crouch, up block.
This one is also a little more realistic ;) as you could claim to be knocking your opponent over by taking his ankles, and then bopping him whilst he's on the floor.
Both these things can be replicated from the crouching position, as well as reverse rolls (careful you don't clock yourself though). Try it out, and tell me what you think.
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Hey, I figured I'd throw in my 8 cents or so. I wanted to remind everyone that nothing compares to glow in the dark displays. Go to your local Spencer's Gifts store (or wherever sells glow in the dark paint) and get yourself some. It is relatively cheap, I treated one pair with 3 coats and barely used up any. Get a 3 color pack and make your nunchakus multicolored! Also, those will be exceptionally cool under blacklight, which seems to charge the glow-particles extaordinarily well. The cost is about $10-$15. Not bad, and it pays off. It's not messy or sticky, and it is water reduceable. I wish I could get some clips of how it looks, but I can't figure out how to make the lighting right. I do have one picture in the nunchaku related pictures area.
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I don't remember if "Fists Of Fury" had nunchaku scenes, but the rest of Bruce Lee's movies had nunchaku scenes.
I think the first Batman movie had a scene where Batman is fighting some thugs and one of them had 2 chucks...I think they were chucks I can't remember...
There was a scene in "Enter The Fat Dragon" where Sammo Hung uses some chucks to beat up a bunch of thugs.
There's a scene in "New Game Of Death" where Bruce Li uses some nunchucks...all I can say is that he does a crappy job handling the chucks, however, in "Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth" Bruce Li actually wields the chucks pretty decently.
"They Call Me Bruce" was a comedy movie that featured nunchucks being used as chopsticks...there were also some parts involving nunchakus.
from Ron
-------------- i know a lotta moves actually, and with the change-overs (what you called flips) you can make a whole new set of trade-off moves. by being creative, you can actually come up with 7 kinds of change-overs. in fact, i have too many moves, and im not trying to be cocky, cuz its making me mad. your site helped me remember a few. your variation of the 8 figure is just one of the possible 200. I made another 8-figure type with 3 loops instead of 2. I cant explain all of them, but I hope i can make a site for myself. I'll try to explain that juggle thingy as simple as i can. It may seem like a really crappy move at first, but it'll look really good with practice. i can do 30 spins in 10 seconds, give or take a few, and the most i've done constantly without making a mistake or resting was 667. to do the juggle your way, you havta start with an overhand grip, but with my version you havta start with an underhand grip. (imagine the possibilities, these 2 moves together can open up a million other tricks). to do my version of the juggle, (i dont have a name for it, since i made it myself) you need really good finger coordination. the loop starts with your index finger and the thumb wrapped around the nunchaku stick, with the other 3 fingers on the palm, like a 3/5 fist. While twisting the wrist, open the 3 fingers, and push the nunchaku stick backwards, such that the centrifugal force will bring the other end forward (of course, you'll get the centrifugal force when you get better). The thumb should naturally let go, to make way for the loose stick. then make your hand so that when the chain comes it will roll around the back of your palm, with the loose stick providing the force. As it is rolling, let go of the stick you were holding with the index and middle finger. as soon as you let go, close the 3 fingers again(just like in the beginning). then when the stick comes around, it should land right between the thumb and the index. now catch it. then start the loop again. with practice this will look really good.
From Ben ----------
Pat; I finally got someone to send me two nunchaku katas. 1) The first one looks really simple. It's required in Koshomatsu-ryu Shorin-ryu Okinawan karate, for the 2nd & 3rd Kyu tests, (brown belt, and brown belt/1black stripe.)
During the students training for 2nd and 3rd Kyu, The student will complete the following;
KATA
Nunchaku Kata
TECHNIQUES
The student will demonstrate the following nunchaku techniques accurately;
1. 3 basic strikes - Up, dpwn & middle
2. Figure 8
3. Return passes - Back, thigh & shoulder
4. Passes - Arm, back, shoulder & neck
5. Snap strike
6. Catches - Underarm & hand
7. Overhead circle
The student will first show these movements separatly and then in one constant routine to show comfort with the weapon.
HISTORY
The student will verbally give any history and knowledge applicable to the nunchaku.
2) This one is a lot better. It's from the "Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Koryu Kan" system. It's performed for the 2nd kyu (brn. belt/one blk.stripe), and 1st dan (black belt/1 stripe) rank tests. In case you don't know, the "attention stance" is (hands straight down, heels together, feet at 30 degree angle to each other). "Yoi" position is the same as "choonbi" position in Taekwondo, (feet at shoulder width, fists straight down and in front of thighs).
ODO NO NUNCHAKU
1. - Attention Stance, REI (Reishiki: Bow with nunchaku in right hand, left hand at hip),
2. - Step out sideways with left foot into Yoi Position, hold Nunchaku in open position in "Inverted - V" position with both hands in front,
3. - Shift out into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Mid-level Block,
4. - Step forward into right Seisan Stance, Right Side Mid-level Block,
5. - Shift out into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Mid-level Block,
6. - Step back with left foot into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Mid-level Block, Right Side to Side Strikes, double circle, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch Behind Back with left hand,
7. - Step forward into Left Seisan Stance, Left Upward Disarm, Left Hand Side to Side Strikes, double circle, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch Behind Back with right hand,
8. - Step forward into Right Seisan Stance, Right Upward Disarm, Right Hand Side to Side Strikes, double circle, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch Behind Back with left hand,
9. - Step forward into Left Seisan Stance, Left Upward Disarm, Left Hand Side to Side Strikes, double circle, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch Behind Back with right hand,
10. - Step forward into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Upper "L-Block",
11. - Look left, pivot 180 degrees setting down on Left Knee, Right Side to Side Strikes, double circles while standing, Side to Side Strikes, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circle, Front Catch with left hand,
12. - Step forward into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Mid-level Block,
12. - Step forward into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Mid-level Block,
13. - Scoot forward staying in Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Upper "L-Block",
14. - Look left, pivot 180 degrees to rear into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side to Side Strikes, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circle, Front Catch with left hand,
15. - Step out with left into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Lunge Punch with both hands (closed nunchaku, left in front),
16. - Step out with right into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Lunge Punch with both hands (closed nunchaku, right in front),
17. - Pick up right leg (avoiding sweep), triple circle (opposite directions), set down to Right Seisan Stance (facing front), Right Side to Side, Side to Side, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch behing Back with left hand,
18. - Step forward to Left Seisan Stance, Left Disarm, Left Side to Side, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch in front with right hand,
19. - Look Right, Left hand under right armpit, Pivot 180 degrees to Right Seisan Stance, Right Side to Side to Side Strikes, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circle, Catch in front,
20. - Step out with left foot into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Low-level Block, pull back to Right Cat Stance with nunchakus held over right shoulder,
21. - Throw nunchaku out (holding left side only), Left Side to Side, double circle, Over the shoulder Strike, double circle, Catch behind Back,
22. - Pivot to Right Seisan Stance after catching nunchaku, Right Side to Side, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circle, Catch in Front with left hand,
23. - Pivot left 45 degrees scooting out into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Upper "L-Block" ,
24. - Look left pivoting 180 degrees to rear into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side to side, double circles, Over Shoulder Strike, double circles, Catch in front,
25. - Step forward into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Mid-level Block,
26. - Step backward into Right Seisan Stance, Right Side Mid-level Block,
27. - Step backward into Left Seisan Stance, Left Side Mid-level Block,
28. - Scoot forward staying in Left Seisan stance, Reverse Punch with nunchaku (right hand in front), KIAI,
29. - Left foot comes back to Yoi Position, nunchaku held in "inverted - V" position with both hands, weapon transferred to left hand and held at hip, weapon shifted to right side while stepping up to Attention Stance, REI.
From Russ
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