History of Nunchucks - Exploring Every Aspect
Every tool or weapon has a history behind it. Whenever you explore history, you can find a lot of facts that make you more interested in it. One of the weapons that I am really interested in is the nunchucks. Also called nunchaku, it is an extremely advantageous and solid weapon. It is now quite popular in the US and around the world. Nunchucks are wooden tools that have a great history behind them. They became popular in the US in the late 1970s but they were discovered during the 10th century. We should explore every aspect of its history. So, let’s begin with the exploration of its history. Following are almost all the historical facts you need to know about the nunchucks!
The nunchucks are sometimes known as the nunchaku. It was also known as a flail in ancient China. The origin of this iconic martial arts weapon is believed to be Okinawa. However, China is also considered to be its birthplace. Most historians suggest that it is an Okinawan weapon. It was used as an agricultural tool before the 10th century. It was often used by Chinese farmers for reaping different crops. Typically, it was used to reap and cut crops like rice, wheat and soy etc. So, it was originally an agricultural tool used in ancient China.
The First China-Mongolia War
There is a popular story regarding the Chinese-Mongolian war. Whenever the history of the nunchucks is explored, this war is discussed. During the 10th century, a Chinese emperor from the Sung Dynasty fought the Mongols and lost the war. It was a massive loss for him as he had to lose his territory as well. So, he retreated and went to the Mainland Chinese territory along with his troops. They stayed in a village and assisted the farmers in their agricultural work. The villagers fed the emperor and his army as they were helped in their agricultural work by them.
The Discovery of the Badass Side of the Nunchucks
After a few days had passed, the Chinese emperor discovered an amazing tool. He saw that people use a strange tool to reap crops. It was actually a nunchaku. He thought that it could be a very lethal warfare weapon. So, he gathered a few nunchucks and learned how to use them in a fight. In other words, the Chinese emperor discovered the badass side of the weapon. He gathered his army and handed them this weapon. They spent a few days and learned some fighting techniques with the weapon. They practiced hard for a few days and prepared themselves for another war with the Mongols.
The Second China-Mongolia War
After the Chinese emperor realized that his army is ready to take on the Mongols, they decided to fight them one more time. So, they marched towards the Mongols and the armies collided once again. This time around, they managed to defeat the Mongols with ease. The reason for their win was the use of this new warfare weapon called the nunchucks. They used this weapon effectively to beat the hell out of the Mongols. It was a massive victory for them and they got their territory back as well.
Nunchucks as a Martial Arts Weapon
After that historic war, the nunchaku was used as a martial arts weapon. Even today, it is being popular as a martial arts weapon. Many martial artists tend to use it for practicing different martial arts techniques, including both attacking and defensive techniques.
Nunchucks Becoming Popular in the US
Nunchucks were not as popular in the US as in Asia. They were made popular by Bruce Lee who introduced them in his movies. During the 1970s and 1980s, many of his movies included the use of the nunchucks. He was too good at using them. He had an immense level of skill to use it. So, this is why this iconic weapon became popular in the US!