8" Speed Chucks

12" Chucks with Cord

12" Chucks with Chain

14" Chucks

Specialty Chucks

Closeouts

Lessons

This page is in its early stages. More information will be coming as soon as we can get it here. For suggestions, or if you'd like to help out by adding some tips & tricks of your own, please email us.

Before we begin, a few words of wisdom.

Etiquette

The "swinging arts" are getting a very bad reputation in some parts of the world, due in large part to a lack of good manners. To help bring peace and harmony to all concerned, we present some ideas for good swinging etiquette.

Know your space - Many swingers take little heed of who or what is around them before they begin. Besides being a safety risk, it's also very inconsiderate. Don't start swinging in the middle of someone else's workspace, and try to select a place where others won't be walking through all the time. This saves everyone from interruptions and harm.

Be aware - If a prop rolls into your work area, stop swinging or move to allow the person retrieving it safe access. Closing your eyes and swinging without a care for others is great for working on those hard tricks, but it doesn't work if you're in a room full of people. Also, as more children are participating in events, it's important to remember that they're probably not going to look out for you, therefore you must look out for them.

Be considerate - If someone has a Chuck that you'd like to look at or try out, don't attempt the tricks you can't do yet. I've had a couple of fairly expensive props broken because people said, "Wow! Neat prop! Can I try it?," and then as I stand watching them whap themselves, the ground, and the props, they say, "...I can't do this trick yet." If it's not yours, BE CAREFUL WITH IT! Don't take advantage of the kindness of others. This includes asking permission to try out Chucks BEFORE you try them out, and keeping your trial period within the bounds of reason.

Be thoughtful - If you are working in a space and there's a workshop going on, move out of the way or better still, move to a different area. I once watched a group of about six poi swingers actually refuse to move when politely asked by a workshop instructor. This is not the way to make friends and get people to appreciate what you're doing.

Remember, everyone else is trying to have fun, too. If you want others to respect your needs, you must be willing to do the same.

Nunchaku Lessons

Grip

The basic grip is very simple. You will be holding your nunchaku the way you grip any cylindrical object, the way your hand naturally curls around it. While most martial arts styles use a grip near the top of each stick, in artistic nunchaku you will be gripping along the entire length of the prop, depending on the trick you're doing and your desired objectives. The normal grip is with the top of the stick (the end nearest the joint) going out the thumb-side of your hand. There are reverse grips, finger-roll grips, and a few other minor variations, but for now we will only be using the normal grip.

Nunchaku Trick #1: Two Basic Positions

To begin, we will be discussing only two static positions--these are positions in which all moving parts of both your body and the props can come to rest. Every static position is also an option point. Option points will be discussed at a later time. The two static positions we will be talking about are:

1. The up position - The nunchaku are held in both hands, the top hand holding one stick over the same shoulder, the other hand holding the other stick under the arm. For example, the right-handed up position has the right hand holding the top stick over the right shoulder with the left hand holding the bottom stick under the right arm. The cord or chain is behind your arm.
   
   
2. The down position - A one-handed position where one stick is held in the hand, and the other is trapped between the elbow and the body.

"Where's the trick?", you ask. Good question. The first trick is getting into each position, and then moving from one to the other.

Step 1 - Hold the nunchaku in your dominant hand about waist height with the top pointing away from you toward the front. From this position, lift your arm and swing the chuck up so it goes over your shoulder. Reach under with your opposite hand and catch the free end under your arm.

Tip #1: This is a catch, not a whap. Work on catching the free stick as it swings under. Try not to anticipate its arrival, or you will have sore knuckles and a missed catch to show for it.

Tip #2: This trick is a lot easier if you allow your wrist to roll backwards so that you flip the free end over your shoulder. This will help the chucks swing under in the right trajectory, as well as allowing the free end to go under your arm a bit farther which will make it easier to catch.

Practice this until it becomes second-nature. Don't forget to work both hands. You may want to try a variation where you do all the catching with your arm so that you can get into the up position as a one-handed move.

Step 2 - From the up position, flick your top hand forward while letting go with your bottom hand. This will allow the free stick to swing upward and over your shoulder. As it comes around, open your elbow allowing the free end to swing down between it and your body. Catch the free stick between your elbow and body, still holding the stick in your dominant hand. You should now be in the down position.

Tip #1: As you get better at this transition, work on using your fingers to add finesse so that you're just barely tapping your armpit as you stop the free stick. Finesse will prove useful in almost all nunchaku moves.

Tip #2: Just as in the up position, there is a very fine line between anticipating the arrival of the stick and catching it too late. Careful practice is the best way to get this just right.

Variations

• Add a circle between positions. This is particularly easy when going from up to down. Just spin the free stick out to the side as many times as you want, then catch it as usual.
  
• Go from one position to the other and then back again without stopping. Besides being a good "high mileage" trick, it will help improve your control.
  
• Try circles at all the articulation points along your arm (elbow, shoulder, wrist) as you go between the two positions.

Nunchaku Trick #2: Arm Switch

The name says it all. You're going to switch from the up position on one side to the same position on the other side.

Step 1 - From the up position, let go with your top hand while pulling forward & upward with your bottom hand. This brings the chucks down around your shoulder and toward the center of your body.

Step 2 - Continue the motion by lifting your arm (the one holding the prop) up and into line for the catch you learned in Trick #1. If you do it correctly, you will wind up in the up position on the opposite side from where you started.

Tip #1: Your wrist needs to be loose and fluid for this move to work properly. At first, you will probably be too stiff and wind up with the props moving in awkward paths. Stay with it, it gets easier.

Tip #2: Remember to roll your wrist backward at the top of the motion to help swing the free end around better.

Practice this move a lot. It may seem boring now, but it will be a big help later on.

Variations

• Add a circle or two on your way up on each side.
  
• After you've switched sides, try going from the (new) up position to the down, then back to the up before stopping. Try doing multiples of this on both sides.
  
• Try behind the back. We'll cover this a bit later, but give it a try (slowly!) to see if you can get the feel of it.
  
• Work on patterns that work both hands. Look for numbers that feel or sound interesting as you execute them.

More tricks coming soon, watch this space.

Do you have a skill or resource you think belongs in this list? Please let us know!