tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post2204397796555402345..comments2023-10-22T16:13:55.130+01:00Comments on My journey to black belt: Training with Nunchaku, not a rice flail...Sue Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-72034502106193313372010-08-08T11:00:13.951+01:002010-08-08T11:00:13.951+01:00Hi Michele, good luck with your class. I actually ...Hi Michele, good luck with your class. I actually like the fact that our kobudo system concentrates very much on direct application rather than just lots of manipulation. Manipulation looks good and trains you to handle the weapon well so it's useful but if we never progress to application then there's probably no point!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-87875907969380089932010-08-07T18:13:46.183+01:002010-08-07T18:13:46.183+01:00Hi Sue: I agree...karate weapons make excellent gi...Hi Sue: I agree...karate weapons make excellent gifts! <br /><br />After reading your post, we are going to work on nunchaku throws and locks in class next week. It has been a while since we worked applications with the nunchaku. <br /><br />Thanks for the great article!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317845403611730397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-63278613788568004872010-08-06T22:06:08.374+01:002010-08-06T22:06:08.374+01:00Hi Matt, yes I'd read that about horse bridles...Hi Matt, yes I'd read that about horse bridles -they say that nunchucks were originally curved,like a horse bridle but I'm not sure I buy that one!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-24894860968609257312010-08-06T21:34:44.958+01:002010-08-06T21:34:44.958+01:00Great stuff Sue! I think starting with foam is a v...Great stuff Sue! I think starting with foam is a very safe and reasonable approach.<br /><br />Another interesting piece of nunchaku history/mythology is that they began as a horse bridle, which you can see here - http://www.ryukyu-kobudo.com/images/buki_images/nunchaku_horse_bridle01.jpg<br /><br />Rice was and is a much less dominant crop on Okinawa than a lot of people assume.<br /><br />However, in my opinion both 'histories' were developed by the okinawans as cover ups for having another tool-weapon on hand to fight with.Matthttp://www.ikigaiway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-8652480964549149142010-08-06T16:18:20.266+01:002010-08-06T16:18:20.266+01:00Hi John, the kobudo syllabus that we are following...Hi John, the kobudo syllabus that we are following is closely allied to jujitsu (it's a joint jujitsu/kobudo club). This presents a few problems for me because I'm not technically a student of jujitsu and so I'm not familiar with most of the throws even when they are performed empty handed. To overcome this my instructor has put together a jujitsu program for me that just covers the locks and throws that are found in the kobudo syllabus for the weapons I have chosen to study. So far this is working out okay but I won't actually be grading in jujitsu - just in kobudo. <br /><br />I didn't realise that our style of syllabus was so rare! We do do a bit of twirling but I don't have any kata to learn on my current level. It's virtually all blocks, locks and throws.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-53028927099946854042010-08-06T11:18:05.392+01:002010-08-06T11:18:05.392+01:00SueC - I was intrigued to see you're being tau...SueC - I was intrigued to see you're being taught to cature and apply joint-locking, throwing, and takedown techniques with the nunchaku. That is extremely rare in my experience. The majority of nunchaku trainging that is around is striking based (and the ubiquitous twirling). While they are not part of our grading system, Jan de Jong taught us nunchaku which replicated the jujutsu approach which you appear to be being taught. Other techniques than just striking (and twirling). I hope you appreciate the uniqueness of your instruction.<br />I know I didn't until I started to study other martial arts and jujutsu styles.John Coleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14634192254115557179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-86862443512206973882010-08-05T12:51:59.395+01:002010-08-05T12:51:59.395+01:00Frank, exactly! Some weapons are more useful than ...Frank, exactly! Some weapons are more useful than others but those that arn't - just think of them as a useful training tool instead :-)Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-81075193178078062292010-08-05T12:28:27.859+01:002010-08-05T12:28:27.859+01:00You're right, Sue. If we only did things becau...You're right, Sue. If we only did things because they were practical, life <i>would</i> be pretty bland, wouldn't it?<br /><br />I remember a quote I read somewhere that said, "There are two reasons for ever doing anything: Because it is needful, or for the sheer joy of it." :-)<br /><br />As I've thought more about nunchaku, I've realized that working with them would enhance one's reflexes, quickness, and sense of timing, similar to the way a boxer works a speed bag or a reflex bag. :-)Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00864581044857425565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-81146145740874131292010-08-04T14:57:35.418+01:002010-08-04T14:57:35.418+01:00Hi Frank, if nothing else, weapons training is fun...Hi Frank, if nothing else, weapons training is fun (and painful!). And those physical things I listed really are starting to happen for me :-). Let's face it, life would be pretty dull if we only ever did things that were entirely practical!<br /><br />Hi T. We've already discovered the light thing, not to mention plaster dints on the ceiling! We now do all our kobudo practice outside!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-4169681287193712932010-08-04T03:55:14.784+01:002010-08-04T03:55:14.784+01:00One important thing to remember when practicing in...One important thing to remember when practicing indoors:<br /><br />"No light is safe."<br /><br />:)The Barefoot Lawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15596336864651517822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-75618920781397673002010-08-03T17:40:31.407+01:002010-08-03T17:40:31.407+01:00OMG... I would bloody my own nose and probably giv...OMG... I would bloody my own nose and probably give myself a concussion! Hahahaha...<br /><br />We have some weapons forms in Isshinryu, but I'm not real excited about them. We have Tonfa, Bo, and Sai. The only one that I can see the real practicality of, is the Bo. Just about anything can be used as a staff, after all.<br /><br />Probably the least practical of our weapons forms, is the sai. I just don't understand what real benefit twirling around a couple of Chinese knives is going to accomplish...<br /><br />But, just like your Nunchaku, for tradition's sake, and for the hand/eye coordination, I'll probably go ahead with it, when the time comes.<br /><br />Good luck with your nunchaku training and practice!Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00864581044857425565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-49602751031944539812010-08-03T15:51:58.366+01:002010-08-03T15:51:58.366+01:00Hi Marie, that's the thing about kobudo - you&...Hi Marie, that's the thing about kobudo - you're never short of gift ideas!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-4784490832357556562010-08-03T15:40:58.273+01:002010-08-03T15:40:58.273+01:00I just LOVE that your son bought you nunchucks for...I just LOVE that your son bought you nunchucks for your birthday. How cool is that? LOL.<br /><br />I was never really interested in the idea of weapons training but the more I learn about martial arts and the more karate training I do the more intriguing the idea becomes. Our Shihan does weapons training for higher grade students to it's definitely on my agenda for some point in the future. I doubt the nunchucks would be first on my list though - I suspect I could do myself some serious damage with those things (foam or otherwise! LOL).<br />xMx.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03272574764983174076noreply@blogger.com