How to Use Nunchucks: Beginner Basics

A short muted clip of a front-facing figure-eight with the purple Arizona Nunchuck single-point set. Full video tutorial coming this week.

Before your first swing

Clear space. Give yourself room on every side and overhead, away from people, pets, and anything breakable.
Protect yourself. Wear eye protection and go slow. A metal set hurts when it comes back at you.
Grip. Hold one handle near its end, relaxed, not a death grip.
First swing. Swing slowly in front of your body and let the free handle travel; stop it under control before you add speed.
Build reps. Repeat each move on both sides before you link moves together.

Step-by-step photos

Mason Martinez standing facing the camera, holding one red nunchuck handle at his side with the other handle hanging free on the chain — Handle Hang grip.

Mason Martinez swinging a purple Arizona Nunchuck single-point set in a figure-eight — A first figure-eight swing.

Mason Martinez catching a purple Arizona Nunchuck single-point set under his arm — Catching the set under the arm.

Want the full system?

Nunchaku: Freestyle Flows and Combat Conditioning book cover showing Mason Martinez with nunchucks

Book 1 in the Nunchaku Mastery series

Nunchaku: Freestyle Flows & Combat Conditioning

Mason's training guide, printed in full color: freestyle flows, grips, transitions, strikes, and a complete conditioning program built around the nunchaku.

Paperback, 316 pages. A Kindle ebook version is also available.

Get the paperback on Amazon Kindle ebook (paid link)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.