What is the Real History of the Nunchucks?

Much has been debated about the glorious history and origin of the nunchucks; according to a well-known myth, the nunchucks originated in ancient Japan where the earliest form of the nunchucks was used as a "rice flail". Subsequently, the farmers utilized this utility tool as a lethal weapon for fighting off the samurais. It is important to note here that this popular myth about the nunchucks is essentially wrong on different levels.

Firstly, the nunchucks do not originate in Japan; on the contrary, the nunchucks originally hailed from "Okinawa", which is today a part of the Japanese territory. However, this region is located somewhere between the Japanese and Taiwanese regions.

Secondly, the nunchucks were never used as a farming tool, such as a rice flail. Not to mention the fact that the nunchucks were also not used by the farmers to fight off the samurais. This myth is definitely wrong. The widely believed aspect that the nunchucks developed from the rice flail is utterly wrong due to the impossibility of it. While analyzing this myth, one can notice that it is impossible to thresh the rice stalks with the nunchucks. If a person would try to thrash the rice stalks, he/she would have to kneel on the field/ground; or, they would have to bring their head close to their knees.

Analysis of the Myth which is Unpractical

Let's imagine this position for a while and see how dysfunctional this really is; even, if one would swing up their arm while holding the rice flail; their hand would strike on their back. Furthermore, kneeling on the rice stalks in order to use the rice flail is as dysfunctional as the previously mentioned possibility of having used the earliest forms of the nunchucks as an agricultural tool. If one digs into history, one can actually read that the first agricultural tool in the form of rice flail used in Okinawa resembled the European flail with a long handle, specifically designed to make the process of threshing and harvesting easier.

What are some of the Rational Myths of the History of the Nunchucks?

According to a myth which has been believed to be credulous by many Japanese "Kobudo" masters, the nunchucks originated from the horse bit, also known as the Okinawan "muge". However, the descended version of the nunchucks comprised bit handles which were curved; subsequently, these curved bit handles were transformed and changed into the straight-handled fighting nunchucks which are worldwide popular today.

According to another mythical version of the nunchucks, these were used by the watchmen as a rattle during the night. Moreover, the earliest form of the nunchucks was used as a barking tool for the banana trees.

Another credible version of the myths related to the nunchuck states that the earliest forms of the nunchucks were copied from the Chinese tools/weapons which were introduced in Okinawa through the arrival of the Chinese immigrants. A piece of indirect evidence for this mythical story of the origin of the nunchucks can be obtained from the Chinese origin of the term "nunchaku" which is actually a Chinese word and not a Japanese one.

What do we know about Nunchucks Today?

Today, non traditional version of the nunchucks "kata" is known; therefore, it might be safe to state that the nunchucks weren't a much popular fighting weapon. The lack of popularity might stem from the fact that the nunchucks are quite ineffective when it is used against swords or any other long-reach fighting tool. However, this doesn't mean that the nunchucks are not effective weapons for personal defense.

In fact, if one is highly skilled with maneuvering the nunchucks, they will be able to easily defeat their potential attackers and opponents if they are carrying simple knives. With regards to the ability to carry a concealed weapon, the nunchucks are concealable and hence easily portable as well. In fact, the nunchucks was used as an effective fighting weapon to fight off hooligans and street robbers in Okinawa.

There are other fighting weapons which resemble the nunchucks; such as the European fighting flails; the Korean "ssangjulbong"; and, the "erjiegun" from China. Today, the nunchucks are an essential part of the martial arts training.