Heavy Nunchaku

The Facts about Heavy Nunchaku

14 inch Brazilian Walnut Nunchaku
20 oz IPE Brazilian Walnut Nunchaku

One of the most asked questions we get here at American Nunchaku is normally about Nunchaku weight and durability.  “Which nunchaku is strongest?”  “Which nunchaku is Heavy?”  On the surface these would seem to be questions about similar properties that the hardwoods have but in reality they are not.  A hardwood’s “strength” is not based on it’s weight.  When we are talking about strength or durability what we really mean is, how will this stand up to repeated blows in the world of martial arts.  There is some inherent problems with judging any martial arts weapon based on how hard you can beat it without it breaking.  Any object will break if it is subject to blows against another object, period.  With a centrifugal weapon like nunchaku the weight of the woods makes huge difference in this damage, but it’s probably not what you think.  The more weight the nunchaku has, the more damage to the object it’s hitting, and to the nunchaku itself.  In other words, a heavy nunchaku is not going to be stronger than than a light weight nunchaku when it comes to survivability.

Light vs Heavy

The lighter weight nunchaku of course is where any beginner should start out rather than the heavy nunchaku.  They are more forgiving, easier to move and will survive the inevitable drops and bumps.  When a user gets more comfortable they should then move towards the heavier sets which will move slower but provide a great workout as the weight makes the movements work the arm and body muscles. Light nunchaku will always move faster and because they are lighter, they will survive better with your day to day use.  The heavy nunchaku versions are normally made from the more exotic hardwoods which have beautiful  and dense grains.  They feel powerful and are unforgiving.  Great care should be made when using them.  Always practice on a surface like carpet or grass and never on concrete or asphalt.

Heavy Nunchaku
Black Palm Nunchaku

The Smashing Goal

If your goal with your nunchaku is to simply smash them into hard objects you will be sadly disappointed if you choose any nunchaku, even metal sets.  While some will hold up longer than others, in the end you will crack dent and or break them.  Like any real world weapon, there is a life span that diminishes with use.  The movies and tv make us think that some things last forever or have properties that are not based in reality.  The best practice is to be responsible and use them wisely.  Light weight for light contact and day to day practice.  Heavy weight for personal workouts and technique.


The self defense factor

With many years of practice you may be able to think of the nunchaku as tool in self defense.  The key words here however are “many years”  It takes time and practice to be effective and while the movies and tv would have you believe that your attackers would run in fear as you produced your nunchaku and started swinging them wildly, the more accurate reality is that you would in most cases be better off not choosing the nunchaku as a practical self defense weapon.  They would be equal to pulling out a board sword and threatening a sword cut.  Cool in the movies, not so cool in real life.  This is not to say that either couldn’t be done, it’s more of a question of  “should it be done?”  The best bet is to use common sense in any situation which almost always means not engaging and walking away.  Nunchaku are a great tool in the martial arts world and a great way to get exercise.  Always use great care and common sense and you will get the most out of your set.

For more information about our nunchaku and us check about us  Also check out the history of nunchaku to get more information about it’s role is martial arts as well as how to care for your nunchaku, Karate weapons.  Always check your local laws in regards nunchaku and their use as well as our terms and conditions.

If an item becomes “Back ordered“: Since we make all our nunchaku by hand, back ordered for us means that the wood has not been cut yet.  This normally adds from 2-5 days to the time before an item can ship out.  For more information about shipping please see our shipping page for details.  If you need an item for a special event please feel free to use our contact page to get an estimate on shipping time.

Leave a Comment

Item added to cart.
0 items - $0.00