Mastering the Nunchakue
Introduction
I began my training in the martial arts over fourteen years ago in the little town of
Alexandria, Louisiana. From the first I was interested in weapons, but I had great difficulty in
finding any but a handful of people who knew anything about weapons. For many years I was
only able to acquire little bits of weapons training from various teachers here and there. I tried
to learn all that I could from books, but found that the number of books on weapons is almost as
short in supply as the number of instructors with a knowledge of weapons. I also found that
most of the books about weapons were written by the same man and were incomplete in their
depth, for no books were available on the tonfa or the yawara, and only a few were available on
the staff, the bo, and the knife. There seemed to be numerous books on the nunchaku, most
poorly done, and a few books on the sai; but all in all the books available for the martial art
student who was interested in weapons were few and far between.
So I decided to write my own books. I spent the last four years doing research and
training with weapons, learning their use and applications. I was able to achieve a fourth degree
black belt in weapons (kubojitsu), I had already written four other books and a movie script,
"The Leopard," so I was familiar with what was necessary to write a good book. I wanted my
book to have techniques that a beginner could learn, but that a teacher could also benefit from.
I wanted to make the book easy to follow by avoiding any overuse of photos or confusing text.
I wanted to include a basic practice Kata for each weapon, as well as techniques for the weapon's
offensive and defensive use. Finally, I wanted to write a book that would serve as a manual on
weapons for years to come-a book that a student or a teacher would be proud to own and would
refer to whenever they had a question on weapons or wanted a new technique.
I feel that I have accomplished all of these goals in this book, The Complete Book of
Karate Weapons. It is a book that I am proud of and one that you can be proud to have in your
library. If you will read this book with an open mind and follow the techniques and exercises
described herein, you can make yourself one of the few experts with weapons in the worldtoday.
I could never have written this book without the help of many friends and fellow martial
artists who appear with me in the instructional photos, both as technique partners and tech-
nical advisers. These men, some of the most outstanding black belts in the South, include:
Keith Yates: fourth degree black belt. Winner of many kata championships and weapons kata
championships at the top tournaments of the South. A master artist who also designed the cover
of the book.
James Toney: fifth degree black belt. Teacher extraordinaire and tournament champion for
many years. One of the most respected teachers in Texas.
continued
Mastering the Nunchakue by Dr. Ted Gambordella, 5th Dan 2
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Barry Guimbellot: third degree black belt. Probably the most successful teacher in
Dallas, an outstanding example of character and leadership in karate.
Steve Weiss: second degree black belt. A modern jiu-jitsu expert who is also an expert
in karate.
Ross Comerski: first degree black belt. A giant of a man and a giant of a teacher.
Finally, I must thank all of my teachers through my years of training for their help and
knowledge, such great men as: Soke R. Sacharnoski, Soke A. Church, Soke K. Marx, Master
HeYoung Kimm, Shihan B. Pearson, Dr. J. Marler, and Sensi B. Hathorn. These great men and
excellent teachers gave the knowledge and training that enabled me to get to where I am today.
I am forever grateful to them and their arts.
Last, let me take a moment to thank the most important force in my life, my Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gives me the strength and ability necessary to write this book and to
share my knowledge with my fellow martial artists.
Dedication To Keith Yates, Jim Toney, Barry Guimbellot, Steve Weiss, Russ Comerski,
and Steve Rich, without whom this book would never have been written.
Photos by Steve Rich
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Mastering the Nunchakue
The Nunchakue
Perhaps the most popular, purely martial arts weapon today are the nunchaku,
and the reasons are numerous. Extremely effective and powerful, the nunchaku do not
require great strength or skill to master. They are lightning fast and beautiful to
watch, and so powerful that they allow the user to devastate several unarmed men at
once. Therefore, they are illegal in many states, and will be in many more as they fall into
the hands of unscrupulous users who employ them to hurt and kill other men instead of
using them to practice the martial arts.
The sticks are really very simple but can be made quite complex. They consist of
two pieces of hardwood, usually between ten and twelve inches long, held together by a
piece of string, leather, or a chain. Because the nunchaku are illegal to carry in many
states, I suggest that you check with your local law enforcement agency before carrying
them even to and from class.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Holding the Nunchakue
Although many people prefer to hold the nunchaku down near the end of the sticks,
I have found the area that gives you the most control and speed is to hold the nunchaku
where they are balanced in your hand.
To find the balance point lie the sticks across the finger until they
are balancing on the finger. I have marked my sticks with a piece of
tape at this point for future reference.
Now close your hand
around the sticks like
you were holding a tennis
racquet, extending the
thumb and forefinger
up the grip a little
for control.
This is the grip from which most of your moves will be made, but there are other ways to
hold the sticks and other strikes, so let's look at a few.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Holding the Nunchakue
The front spread: for an eye strike.
Hold the sticks in one hand with the
sticks side by side in your hand.
Now roll your hand across the
stick, pushing your thumb and
fingers apart. This will open the
front of the sticks for an eye strike.
You can also open the sticks using two hands and this
posisiton can be used for blocks and strikes to the eyes,
throat and leg.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Holding the Nunchakue
The backward spread: hold the sticks
in your hand with the string end facing
your body and both sticks side-by-side.
Now, roll your hand
so the thumb and
fingers spread apart.
This will open the sticks to the back. This can be used for
striking or blocking.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Holding the Sticks on Your Body
Since the nunchaku are illegal to carry, I will not discuss carrying them concealed, but
you should know how to carry them in class when you practice with them.
The front carry: place the sticks
into your belt with the string end
pointed down. This allows you
easy access to the sticks.
The back carry:
place the sticks with
the String up top and under your belt across your back.
This allows you to be able to reach around behind and
grab the sticks.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Moving the Sticks
There are many different movement patterns you can practice with the sticks, and some
of them are not functional, such as the swing and catch around the neck. Let's look at
some of the better ones.
The figure 8: this is the most common movement
and most versatile. It is used in most strikes and
defenses. Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart and hold the sticks in either hand;
keep the other hand up for blocking. Now begin to make a large figure 8 in front
of your body.
As you get better, make the figure 8
smaller and faster.
Practice with
both hands.
Take care to keep the swing wide enough
not to hit the elbow, and far enough away
from the body that you don't hit your face.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Behind the Back Swing and Catch
Practice with both hands. Try to drop the sticks
straight over the head. This rnakes the drop
uniform and the catch easier. Keep the catching hand wide open until you feel the sticks
hit it. This prevents broken fingers.
Start out by making several figure 8s in front of the body, then take the sticks up over the
head and drop and catch them behind the back.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Behind the Arm Catch and Hold
This is most commonly used for defense, and almost all your defense positions come from
this position, so practice it well.
Start out by holding the sticks in
front of the body.
Now take the right arm and bend it up,
while pulling the left arm across the front of
the chest and toward the back.
Now you have the sticks being held behind
the arm, with the right arm up and wrist back
to hold the sticks, and the left arm down
low across the chest.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Behind the Arm Catch and Hold
You must now practice this so you can do it
while swinging the sticks.
Do a loop up in front of the arm and catch
the stick behind it.
As you get better you can make figure Ss in front,
then flip the stick up and behind the arm to catch it.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Swinging the Sticks
Across the Body: for Strikes and Blocks
You have to learn to do this so that you do not hit yourself with the sticks and so that you
can get power.
Start by holding the sticks behind
your back and over your shoulder.
Now bring them across your body (very slowly
while you learn). Make sure to snap the wrists
directly in front of the body, and not near the
end, or the sticks will hit you in the back.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Swinging the Sticks
Practice with both hands, and as you get
better increase your speed and power.
The other arm should be kept in front
for balance and blocking
and the shoulders slightly
turn to move the sticks faster
and keep them under more
control as they cross the body.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Swinging the Sticks Straight Down
This is a great strike, but you must practice slowly and easily so you do not hit yourself in
the shin or groin.
Start with the sticks behind
your back. Practice with both
hands. Only go faster when you Now, slowly swing the sticks down in front
can do it blindfolded and not hit of you until they go between your legs.
yourself. In fact, all of the moves Snap the sticks in front of the body, not
you practice you should be able near the legs or you will hit your back,
to do blindfolded. shin or groin.
Make sure to point the wrist down and
be sure to always airn the wrist between
the legs so the sticks may pass there smoothly.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Catching the Sticks Between the Legs
Needless to say, you had better start out slowly and keep going very slow, if you want to
have babies.
Start to learn by just dropping the sticks
down between the legs and grabbing it
through the legs with your other hand. Then practice by taking short swings in
front of the groin and catching the sticks
with the hand.
As you get better, you
may take a slow and
easy swing to the back
and down between the
legs catching it in Be sure not to snap the
front. sticks between the
legs, and keep the
catching hand open
wide till you feel the
sticks contact it.
Practice with both
hands, and practice
catching them from the
front and from the
back.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Blocks
The high or rising block:
snap up the sticks together
and do a standard rising block.
The two-handed down or groin block:
snap down with both hands holding
the nunchaku.
The square or body block:
used to catch the wrist.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Blocks
The two-handed downward block demonstrated.
The leg block with the
sticks spread in front.
The two-handed eye thrust.
The rising block demonstrated.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Striking Areas
Strike the back of the neck and shoulders.
Strike the collarbone.
Strike the ribs.
Smash the knee.
Thrust sticks into the abdomen.
Smash sticks across face.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Wrist Lock with the Nunchaku
As he punches, flip the sticks up and over
the top of the wrist.
Now reach under and
grab the end of the stick
and pull them close to
the wrist.
Wrap the sticks around the
wrist very tightly.
Now squeeze and turn the
ropes and grind them against
the wrist, causing pain and
controlling him.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Chokes
The two-handed straight choke
behind the neck: lean his head back
and hold the sticks on the ends and
The X choke: this is the most powerful.
pull them against the throat.
Hold the sticks in the right hand and place
them across the neck, now reach up with
the left hand crossing your arms behind
and grab the end of the sticks.
The string choke: wrap the sticks
around the neck and squeeze them
together choking him
now lean back and squeeze while pulling
down; this will choke him well and is very
hard to get free from.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Chokes
The eye and face smash from behind:
You simply grasp the sticks in both
hands and press them very hard against
the bridge of the nose or mouth area.
The face choke: wrap the sticks across
the mouth and squeeze.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
A man attempts to strike at you. Ready the
sticks in the behind-the-arm position. Block his punch with your left hand,
and smash the end of the sticks into
his abdomen.
Come back with a flip smash
to his collar bones.
Then draw back your sticks
for another strike as he begins
to fall over.
Smash the back of his
head as he falls, and
when he hits the
ground smash the
sticks into his back.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
A man prepares to kick at you.
You swing the sticks down onto his
shin, breaking it.
Draw the sticks back up as he falls down
from his broken shin.
Smash the back of his head.
Finish him with a
string choke
on the ground.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
A man attempts to punch at you. You ready
the stick behind the arm.
As he punches, smash the sticks into
his ribs.
then move to your left and wrap the sticks
around his neck and give a quick hard jerk.
Throw him to the ground
by pulling the sticks around
his neck.
Finish him with a string choke.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
Step under his arm while tightening
the sticks around his wrist.
This will enable you to lock up his wrist and
throw him to the ground.
Finish him with a smash to the face.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
A man attempts to kick you.
Block down with a double groin
block and stop his leg.
Now drop your right stick very fast and
wrap it around his foot, catching his foot in
the string part of your sticks. This will lock his
f oot up, and by turning very hard in a circle,
you can throw him down to the ground.
On the ground, finish him by
smashing the back of his head.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Techniques
A man attempts to punch at you. Block up
with a rising block with the sticks.
Now take both sticks and thrust the ends
into his eyes.
While poking his eyes,
snap a kick into his groin.
Finish him with a smash
to his groin after he is on
the ground.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Defense Against the Nunchakue
Wrap the gi top, or your coat, around your
forearm and prepare to block using this
as a target.
As he swings block up with a rising
block with the gi top.
Now quickly, before he can move, smash a kick to his
groin and a palm heel to his throat. This should knock
him down.
Finish him with a shuto to the throat.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Defense Against the Nunchakue
Take off your belt and hold it extended
between your arms, ready to block.
As he begins to move the stick, flip
the end of the belt into his eyes,
blinding him.
Now before he can recover,
smash a groin kick out.
Finish him with an elbow
smash to the side of the head.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Defense Against the Nunchakue
Blocking the kick empty handed: prepare
yourself to move very fast and with power.
As he starts his swing at you,
jump out and hit his arm with a
block with both your right arm
and left hand.
Now quickly step back and
smash a kick to his groin.
Finish him with a hard
shuto to the back of his neck.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Defense Against the Nunchakue
Note:The following move requires intense concentration and speed.
As he swings the sticks at you, stay clear
and watch the sticks intently, especially
the string area.
Now flash out your hand between the
swinging sticks and grab the string,
stopping the sticks.
Continue to hold his arm and turn to
your right and smash an elbow into his ribs.
Throw him to the ground
and finish him with a stomp
to his ribs, crushing them.
Then take his sticks
and smash his head.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Blocking the Sticks with the Jo
Hold the baton ready in your right
hand as he comes at you with the sticks.
Now take the baton and thrust it
between the sticks, catching them by the
strings and in- tangling them, pull back
sharply, and you will pull the sticks from
his hands.
Counter with a smash into his ribs
with the staff.
Finish him by smashing the
back of his head and neck.
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Kata
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Kata
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Kata
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Mastering the Nunchakue
Kata
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