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The Nunchaku
History of the Nunchaku
The exact history of the nunchaku is not known. However, we do have an idea how things have evolved. Most likely the nunchaku was originally used as an agricultural tool. It was used as a flail or a horsebit. During the 13th or 14th century there was an emigration wave of Chinese people to Okinawa, an island close to Japan.
These Chinese people mainly settled down in the city of Kumemura. They mastered different martial arts. One of the arts was using a weapon. They called this weapon: shuang chin kun and shuang tse. The Japanese people were very interested in this martial art. They moved in large numbers to Kumemura to study this fascinating art of self-defense. The adopted techniques were later adapted to their own Japanese interpretations, while also the name of the weapon was changed.
The Japanese started to call this weapon the Nunchaku. They also altered the shape of the weapon. The Chinese design consisted of two round sticks connected by a chain. The Japanese model consisted of two octagon sticks connected by a string. This type existed also in different versions.
During the period 1970-1974 Western Europe was confronted with a new phenomenon: the so-called fighting movies of Bruce Lee. The legendary Kung Fu hero Bruce Lee was using a fascinating weapon in his movies: the nunchaku.
With this nunchaku, Bruce Lee looked like an unbeatable machine. The effect of this hand weapon was unheard of. In nearly all European countries, Lee’s movies became a great success and the sports-clubs were overwhelmed with the demand for Eastern Martial Arts. Especially the nunchaku became extremely popular.
This popularity however also had a downside. The nunchaku was regularly found to be used in street fights and gradually the ownership of the nunchaku sticks contributed to the criminal status of individuals. Youngsters found it impressive to carry around the nunchaku even though they wouldn’t know how to use them. Amongst common people this eastern hand weapon soon got known as Strangle Sticks a totally misplaced term, for this weapon was used for striking and certainly not for strangling.
Sadly by now the damage was already done.
In the Netherlands government officials inquired information about the history and origin of the nunchaku. However, at that time the Budo Federation Holland (Budo Bond Nederland, consisting of Judo, Karate and Taekwondo) advised the government incorrect. According to the opinion of the Budo Federation Holland, the nunchaku was an aggressive weapon and it was not recognized in the Netherlands as an Oriental martial art. The nunchaku however was part of the Okinawa Kobujutsu; the art of handling the classic karate weapons. So the Budo Federation Holland had made a big mistake. The Dutch government thankfully held on to the experts advice and banned the nunchaku by law, using the Law of exclusion of unwanted hand-weapons. The nunchaku had now been degraded to the level of bludgeons, knuckle-dusters and all sorts of banned knives! Practicing the nunchaku now was impossible for everyone, including those who seriously studied karate.
However, things changed when Milco Lambrecht from Amstelveen won a big martial art tournament, organized by martial art magazine Zendokan, where the nunchaku skills were the main factor. From that moment on, the foundation of present day practiced Nunchaku-do was established. Milco Lambrecht gathered several nunchaku experts from the whole country around him to explore the possibilities of this magnificent and versatile weapon. Soon a group of enthusiastic people had only one thing on their mind: to develop an official and independent sport around the nunchaku.
In 1985 Mr. Lambrecht developed a special foam nunchaku, the so called: Safety Nunchaku. With this safety nunchaku the possibilities seemed endless. It now became possible to realize nunchaku matches from man to man. Special uniforms were developed as well as safety- helmets, rules and regulations and graduation standards. The sport was taken shape.
Partly due to the support of Veronica-Sport commentator John Haanen, this red-hot budo-sport developed rapidly and impressively. Instructors were trained and big tournaments were organized. In 1987 the Dutch Nunchaku Foundation (SNN, Stichting Nunchaku Nederland) was founded.
This national umbrella organization got a record time acknowledgment in 1990 from the NOC*NSF (at that time still NSF) by means of joining the Federation Oriental Martial Arts (FOG, Federatie Oosterse Gevechtssporten).
The black/yellow safety nunchaku of the SNN is the only recognized nunchaku. All other nunchakus are so far still prohibited. The Safety Nunchaku from the SNN is the only nunchaku recognized by the Justice Laboratory and the Public Prosecutor. Always ask for the official Safety Nunchaku of the SNN.
The initiative started in 1984 had grown to become a national acknowledged martial art. No longer the nunchaku was an aggressive weapon being used by criminals in the streets. In 1996 the WNA (World Nunchaku Association) was founded. At this moment 12 countries are affiliated with this WNA.
This info is from the following site.
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