Ninja Nujitsu and a Nunchaku

By Anne Torres

The word Ninja conjures up many exciting images of feudal Japan when secret operations practically characterized the whole era. Espionage and assassinations were an ordinary thing and if there were anybody who could execute such missions with unfailing precision, it would be the Ninjas. Aside from their mastery of physical movements, these highly trained fighters also banked on their strategically designed weapons which always gave them an advantage over their enemies.

One such weapon which found its way today is the Nunchaku. The original creation, composed of two sticks bound together by a rope or chain, was meant for use by rice and soybean farmers who used it to separate grain from husk. It was made of wood tied together and hardened by long-term exposure to mud, usually for years, to keep the wood from rotting.

Today, Nunchakus can be anything from wood to fiberglass and connected by a chain or any type of rope. They should be equal in length and may be round or octagonal, although the latter is more injurious due to its edged structure. If you've taken a glimpse into ninjutsu classes, you must have seen one of these historic weapons.

One trick with the Nunchaku lies in its length, averaging twelve inches, which should be just enough for the user if it is to function with as much power as it should. The standard rule is for the sticks to be about as long as the fighter's forearm. Mini chucks, which are at least eight inches long, make them easier to hide and catch an enemy off-guard immediately before an attack while longer chucks equip the user with the ability to strike from all angles.

Along with length, the other essential component of a good Nunchaku is balance or its ability to hang from the user's hand while forming a ninety-degree angle from the floor. This is the usual problem with inferior Nunchakus which don't satisfy this requirement. The result is poor control by the user, thus hindering the full power of the weapon. In fact, sophisticated routines are just impossible with a poorly balanced Nunchaku.

What made these weapons particularly strategic for the Ninjas was their small size which allowed them to be concealed from the enemy who would tend to think that the opponent was unarmed. Once the Ninja achieved a good distance from the target, he could quickly pull out the Ninchaku and begin attack. - 30300

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