Translation of Interest: Karate no Rekishi Miyagi Tokumasa (1987).

Below is a translation from "Karate no Rekishi" by Miyagi Tokumasa (1987), discussing the history of the nunchaku and tonfa. Tokumasa, a specialist researcher in karate and kobudo history who worked for the Prefectural Government in Okinawa, clearly outlines the multiple possibilities and ultimately unknown origins of the nunchaku. It is noteworthy that this was published in 1987, yet many self-appointed 'historians' in videos and print made since then continue to promote the theory that the nunchaku originated as a horse bridle. This misconception has undoubtedly led many karate and kobudo tourists and practitioners to part with their money in pursuit of training with so-called 'authentic' horse bridle designs.

I am grateful to my good friend Mario McKenna for providing the original Japanese version. My translation may not be at the level of Mario's, but it should convey the essence of Tokumasa's insights.​

Nunchaku Techniques
The nunchaku is represented by the characters for 'double stick' or 'double-section staff'. Its thickness is approximately 3.5 cm, and each stick extends slightly beyond the length from the elbow, crafted in octagonal or hexagonal forms, and rounded at the base. These are joined by a robust string.

Currently, silk cords are utilised, but historically, it is believed that braids made from women's long hair were employed. Through skillful manipulation and leveraging centrifugal force for both attack and defence, the nunchaku can exert considerable power.

The origins and inventor of the nunchaku remain obscure. However, given the existence of the similar three-section staff in China, it is possible that the nunchaku was inspired by this Chinese weapon.

Nunchaku are rumoured to have been influenced by the Somugee (bridle) of a horse or derived from threshing tools used for wheat and soybeans, though the veracity of these claims is uncertain. It seems more plausible that they were influenced by weaponry from China.

Chinese three-section staffs are significantly larger, with each section measuring about 66 cm in length and 3.2 cm in diameter. These are linked by metal rings, with additional rings added to create sound, and each section is capped with a metal fitting. Owing to their bulk, which complicates portability, smaller versions about 16 cm long have been developed. This adaptation represents a completely novel concept.

It is conceivable that the nunchaku could have evolved from the three-section staff. Furthermore, the nunchaku does not conform to a specific shape, and its utility is primarily based on the movements and forms of unarmed martial arts, involving dynamic swinging actions.

Mastery of nunchaku techniques demands extensive practice. Despite their seemingly simplistic nature, nunchaku possess formidable destructive capabilities.

Toifa (Tonfa) Techniques.
Similar to the nunchaku, the toifa is a wooden weapon approximately 45 cm in circumference and slightly longer than the elbow, equipped with a handle. It is typically fashioned from oak wood, either in a square or slightly rounded shape.

In performance, while there is no designated form, the movements are ingeniously integrated with karate techniques. The toifa is manipulated with both hands, incorporating techniques such as blocking, thrusting, and swinging to strike.

The origins of the toifa are shrouded in ambiguity, with several prevailing theories suggesting its development from a freely movable hook, adaptations from agricultural tools in paddy fields, a stone mortar’s handle, or as a modification of a wheat-threshing tool.

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