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Q: Legality of Nunchakus
A:Possession of nunchaku is illegal in a number of countries, including
Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom (anti-nunchaku laws in the UK were loosened somewhat in
1991, however media scenes with nunchaku are still edited out by censors). Legality in the United States varies at state level,
e.g. personal possession of nunchaku is illegal in New York, Arizona, California and Massachusetts, but in other states possession
is not criminalized. Legality in Australia is also determined by individual state laws. In New South Wels, the weapon is on
the restricted weapons list, and thus can only be owned with a permit.
Q: What type of bistick is good?
A:
There are several different types:
Traditional, speed, pocket, chained or corded...
Chained...
Cons
1. Noisy
2. ball bearing is no good at all! Easily
brakes. China nunchaku championship with ball bearing chaks result - approximately 5 chaks broke per one fight ( 2 min ))
Never used again...
3. Not comfortable in hands, with wrong move and fast speed can easily hurt your fingers
Pros
1.
Can block a sword :-)
2. Makes center heavier, kinda helps in spins...
Personally, I prefer cording with NYLon
ropes... Traditional nunchaky is horse hair ropes...
As for sticks, I have tried so many materials and must say that nothing
is better than wood. Pure wood with no paint or lacquer, finished with olive oil. However lacquered bamboo sticks are also
very good, but that is because of bamboo shape. So, my oppinion is: for traditional Okinawa nunchakus - oak, iron wood or
rose wood sticks, for Chinese shuang jie gun or "speed sticks" the best is black bamboo lacquered (no rattan).
As for
sizes:
1. Traditional Okinawa sticks: 4 fist long sticks (or forarm + fist) and 1 fist long connection (30-36 cm)
2.
Chinese sticks: 3 fist long (or forarm) sticks and 2 fist long connection (25-30 cm)
3. Speed sticks: 1.5-2 fist long, 3-4 fist long connection. Compact, pocket size
and very fast.
The rule about the connection: longer is connection faster are sticks but harder is control and opposite,
shorter is connection slower are sticks and easier is control. Some different spins and tricks will require long and some
short connections. Better is if you will have both types. But to start I would suggest Okinawa traditional size and type nunchakus.
Round
vs Octagon
Round chaks are more comfortable in hands and easier to find the replacement (almost all sticks are sold
in round shape ) Octagonal have a two nice features: thay are whistling louder and hurt much more than round ones...
Q: How important practicing both hands is?
A: Practicing
both hands equally makes you smarter, you know... One of the important things bisticks symbolize is Equality and Balance.
It is very important to keep your hands equal mastering technique, teach your "weak" hand with your "strong" hand. Have two
"strong" hands.
Q: How often and for how long should I exersise?
A: Well, 30
minutes in the morning and 30 minutes before going to sleep will be minimum, 3 hours will be good and 5 hours will be too
much. Practicing bisticks is not just an exersise it is also about learning. You must also rest! And resting is important
part of learning. While resting the knowledge will go from your head down to you body.
Q: When will I be a "master"?
A: I am afraid
the whole life isn't enough to master Nunchakus in all ways...
I am practicing for 30 years already (well, may be 15 years
netto) and yet all the time see new moves and tricks people invent which I've never knew about...
3 years - may
be enough to learn some kata and get confident in some fighting technique.
As about relation to practicing time there
is a phenomena... After practicing some move for 1000 times you need to rest, and let "the knowledge go down from the head
to the body"... Sounds crazy but that is the way it is... You must take brakes to have the move automated...
Q: What is special about practicing double bisticks?
A: Independence. Yeah, that is the word. Your both hands must be able to perform different moves... Start
with simple ones... Do some simple rotations with one hand and more complex technique (which you know well) with other, then
switch hands... Must meantion that those different moves must be kinda "compatible", meaning the whole body should do a natural
move...
Q: How to check if the move is natural?
A: Well, very simple, try to do it 1000 times continuously - if you survive so the move must be a natural
one, otherwise call Ambulance (joke :-))...
Q: Are they a weapon?
A: Yes, they are, and may be one of the most
efficient for close combat. Scared? Don’t be, all Olympic Games are about weapons and military training. But there is
something special about bisticks. They are probably most variable in techniques. About 3000 different exercises, no other
sport has such complex and wide technique. It is good and for all your body muscles and for stretching and for mind.
Q: Can I carry them?
A: Only in
the closed bag. Do not show them up in public. For some contries it is forbidden even to keep them at home. To be on the safe side check with your local authorities nunchaku rules and regulations,
and keep them at the place you practice them, preferably some martial arts school (dojo).
Q: What about safety? It hurts!
A: Always practice new move with safety bisticks.
Only after knowing new technique well try it with real ones. Use safety nunchakus, protection helmets and gloves when do fights.
Never use metal bisticks, they are not practical for exercises and way too dangerous for beginners.
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