History of the Nunchaku

Maxi's weapon is a Nunchaku, obviously... the weapon itself is thought to originate from either China or, more likely, the Okinawa Isands, Japan. Okinawa is a set of islands known as the Ryukyu Islands, and was once an independent kingdom in its own right - the Ryukyu Kingdom. Yup, Maxi's homeland. The lands were also where karate was developed!

The actual date of the invention of the Nunchaku is unknown - it is thought to have been invented either in the latter half of the 16th century or the first half of the 17th (for Soul Calibur, it is assumed that the 16th century is correct). There are several theories as to why it was created, too. The most widely-believed and popular theory is that it was originally a flail used to thresh rice! Modern versions could not be used for this end, however.

Composition of the Nunchaku

A nunchaku consists of two handles connected by a chain or cord. Each nunchaku will usually need to be made specifically for each person, as the ideal length of each handle is the length of the wielder's forearm. A major necessity for a good nunchaku is that it is well balanced - without a good balance, the more complex and interesting moves are hard to pull off. You are also far more likely to injure yourself with a nunchaku with poor balance!

Traditional nunchaku are usually made as follows (passage from Wikipedia.com):
The traditional nunchaku is made from a strong, flexible hardwood such as oak, loquat or pasania. Originally, the wood would be submerged in mud for several years, where lack of oxygen and optimal acidity prevent rotting. The end result is a hardened wood. The rope is made from horsehair, and was traditionally claimed to be able to block a sword. Finally, the wood is very finely sanded and rubbed with an oil or stain for preservation. Today, such nunchaku are often varnished or painted for display purposes. This practice tends to reduce the grip and make the weapon harder to handle, and so is not advised in a combat weapon.

More modern nunchaku are made from all sorts of materials, and are often covered with foam to prevent injuries to the user and their opponents!

There is also a type of nunchaku made with three handles, which is known as a Sansetsukon.

Nunchaku Styles

From Wikipedia.com:
The most common martial arts to use nunchaku are the Japanese and Okinawan martial arts such as some forms of karate/kobudo but not in ninjutsu, but some Eskrima systems also teach practitioners to use nunchaku. Songahm Taekwondo, a Korean style patterned after karate, also teaches how to use one and two nunchaku, though in Korean, they are known as Sahng Jeol Bahngs, or sometimes Sahng Jeol Bongs. The styles of these three arts are rather different; the traditional Okinawan arts use the sticks primarily to grip and lock, while the Filipino arts use the sticks primarily for striking, while Songahm Taekwondo teaches a combination of both.

There is also a nunchaku style called 'freestyle nunchaku,' which uses the nunchaku as a display tool rather than a weapon. A performance art of sorts.