Wonder how many will get that. Did you check the Fetzer valve?
My son is very hyper and has problems focusing. He is on a med for that and it has helped him. He wanted to start studying martial arts at around 6 and I was very worried about it because I didn’t want him to use it in the wrong way’s. Finally at age 8 I gave in and the only class in our area that’s close is TKD. Now he is going to be turning 11 this year and is going to be testing for his blue belt grade. Has placed 2nd in forms and 2nd in sparring in a regional tournament. He has went from being a c grade student to an A- student making honor roll his last couple of years. His focus and attention span has increased very good and we have cut his medicine in half. I believe the martial arts has taught him a high degree of this and my wife and I are really glad we made the decision we did. There was a kid in his class that was bulling everybody and I had to talk to the principal on 3 occasion’s about this and other parent’s did as well. My last trip to talk to the principal I informed her that she had a lot of chances to get this under control and the next time I will be visiting the school because either my son got his butt kicked or the bully got his. And let her know that my son will not get in trouble for it at home. She didn’t like to hear that,but it is what it is. I then talked to his instructor about this because I didn’t want my son to get in trouble with his instructor and bring bad thing’s to the martial arts school as well. The bully was picking on my son and some other classmate on the playground and my son basically gave him the chance to chill and in the end cleaned his clock for him. My son came home and told me the story and how the other kid’s wouldn’t rat him out. After a few week’s my son went up to the bully (on his own) and asked him if he wanted to play catch. Now they are friend’s and the now not a bully kid is doing good with the other classmates as well. Sorry for long story, I’m just a little proud of what martial arts has done so far with my son. He now want’s to start learning Nuchucks. Do you have any recommendation’s on what size, foam or wood, and something of good reference for him to start learning? Your posts are always interesting and had my son read this post and showed him the pictures. He want’s to start a wall collection and he wants me to build him a display for his belts. Again sorry for this long winded post.
Don’t get heavy ones. I don’t know if foam ones would lead to possibly sloppy work because they might not hurt. I never had any. But correct length for your arms is important. You definitely don’t want to hit yourself in the face.
It may not be immediately obvious but if you twirl them outside your arm, they could be quite long and they still can’t hit you. If you twirl them inside your arm ( chest area ) and even if your arm is fully extended, if they are too long, it’s simply going to crack you in the head or chin. Likewise if you have them short enough and bend your elbow inward too much as you twirl them it’s the same result.
Maybe invest in a LaCross helmet to start with just to be sure.
I don’t ever remember hitting myself but I learned that length vs elbow bending right quick because you have a natural feeling as you go faster to start bending your arm in a bit. Or perhaps you loose track of the plane of travel but either way. Bad idea. I’m sure AUG can explain the fine points, I never had anyone teach me so all I ever did was very basic.
Here’s another way to do it… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fLVXp-zMvRQ#t=50s
You can imagine if this girl leaned her head forward on some of these moves or if the sticks and chains were too long for her arms. They get to going pretty fast even with beginners ( not that she is a beginner ).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j45hTIEE9tg
Just as you have seen how important a “good teacher” is for positive results, it is even more critical when it comes to things like weapons instruction.
Keep in mind most commercial schools are simply going to teach them how to spin weapons around and nothing more.
If you want genuine instruction in weapons like nunchaku, sai, bo, tonfa, etc. you are going to need to find a school that teaches Okinawan martial arts such as Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu or Isshin Ryu. Some systems of Japanese martial arts like Shito Ryu, Japanese Goju and Shorin Ryu also incorporate traditional weapons instruction.
I pretty much started with the real thing from day one. The only times I really hurt myself was when I tried to skip ahead and learn advanced weapons or techniques on my own simply by observing the higher ranks do them. The benefit of a teacher is they know how to show you things without much opportunity for self injury.
This is the move I was trying to describe. You screw this one up and your doctors are going to love you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hb40xCQ9V0o#t=257s
You should try it with a three sectional.
Yeah, I never had any problem realizing some things were simply best left to others. I was watching some YT videos and there are a couple of guys that look like they actually have some good sound instruction. Then I noticed there must also be some artistic twirlers these days. Like nunchukas on fire performances.
Mostly all I ever learned were basic figure 8 and pass over and under shoulder. I probably spent more time trying to learn how to swing a strike as fast as possible and then stop it’s momentum.
This has sort of renewed my interest. I might have to pick up a basic pair. For what ever reason I just naturally gravitated to them, unlike a lot of other things. I used to love to watch those guys use escrima sticks, but back then it was rare for me to be able to see it much less learn it. I still don’t see how those guys get to rolling with those things and somebody not get hurt every time.
What is your favorite old school weapon?
Sai, I was into any and all kobujutsu weapons, classical weapons associated with Chinese boxing and the Japanese arsenal and while I devoted a lot of time to Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu systems there is still something about the sai that always held a strong appeal for me.
Wow you have quite the collection.
I only have these two off hand (sorry not for sale/trade)
These VERY HEAVY black ones were my “work-out” set.
click to make full sized to save space
I loved the feel on these hex ones
Much lighter and i could go way faster.
BOTH these are early 80’s (my guess 82-83?)
and both Dolands sports as there really was nowhere in Oregon
back then to get these.
But i also had 2 pairs of “Speed Chucks” with the ball bearings
and a very nice set of sai’s that were taken/confiscated from me
by a city police officer who harassed me while i was wait for city bus
i took everyday after school to American States Karate
then had to transfer 3 bus’s just to get home.
(my mom worked swing shift)
But i had long “80’s hairband” hair and a city cop pulled over
while i was waiting for a bus and sad there were lots of break-in’s
in the area and took my duffel bag from my hand and proceed to dump it on the ground.
He seen my gi, fist and ankle pads but when he seen my “speed chucks” in a hard case and sai’s also in a hard case he wet nuts.
threw me to ground, cuffed me, acted like he was going to arrest me at 13-14 years old but oddly never called my mom.
AFTER he mad me miss my bus he decided to let me go but kept and confiscated my “illegal deadly weapons” 
i was 13-14 we didnt have cell phones and he scared the bejeasus out of me.
i felt lucky to be be alive. (it was years later i got pi**** upset about it)
I had MANY pairs over the years and didt like the rope ones (they pinched the side of my palms… i had a move i twirled across chain
then grabbed other handle and same went for ANY longer than 5 links)
AFTER seeing your great collection I dont feel bad telling you these are not for sale
but mostly for sentimental reasons.
I’ve seen your 3-sectional video’s and also very impressive I just never traned or got any good with those.
I did get knocked the F*** out with one and sadly i did it to myself. :lol:
Nice Dolan’s. By the way they are octagon, not hexagon.
You have a pair of 12" Octagon Natural Rock Maples (105s) and a pair of 14" Round Black Rock Maples (120s). The 14" Round pair are somewhat rare.
I completely understand the nostalgia, I’d never part with the ones I’ve had for 30+ years either. Shame you got some of your stuff taken by the cops.