Could Nunchucks Actually Break a Sword?

A sword blade looks almost indestructible when compared with two pieces of wood connected by a cord or chain. Yet martial arts stories and demonstrations have helped create a much stranger possibility: could a hard swing from a pair of nunchucks actually damage a sword badly enough to break it? At f…

Were Nunchucks Ever Actually Used in Real Combat?

Nunchucks are so firmly established as a fighting weapon that questioning whether anyone actually fought with them sounds almost ridiculous. They appear in martial arts demonstrations, movies, training halls, and modern weapon collections, while their reputation suggests a long history of warriors s…

Why Did America Become So Afraid of Nunchucks?

For a weapon made from two short sticks connected by a chain or cord, nunchucks managed to cause an extraordinary amount of anxiety in the United States. By the 1970s, they were appearing on movie screens, turning up in martial arts schools, and becoming instantly recognizable to millions of America…

Why Are Escrima Sticks Usually About 26 Inches Long?

For generations, martial artists across the Philippines trained with sticks that were remarkably consistent in size. Whether called escrima, arnis, or kali sticks, many measured close to 26 inches long. That length was not chosen at random. It created a carefully balanced weapon that could reach an …