I pulled out a Nunchuck after a big guy threatened me. Should I have tried hand-to-hand combat instead?

Question

Yes, I beat him up with the Nunchuck. I broke his nose and bruised up his body. I'm only 5'10... And the guy was about 6'4.

Answer 1

Ok, you've likely had enough of people pissing and moaning at you for using a weapon that may or may not be illegal to even have in your area...I'm not here to argue that, ok?

Point is you got out of a situation alive where the larger guy could have a) tackled you and beaten you half to death, b) pulled a gun or knife on you and killed you, or c) had half a dozen of his buddies waiting for the word to swarm you. Kudos for surviving even *if* you had to cheat...some would argue if you aren't cheating then you aren't *trying hard enough*. ;)

Now....speaking of that cheat. Eventually, you will get caught, your toy will get taken away and if you don't go to jail for it you'll consider yourself a lucky man. Having said all that....you still practice your nunchuku forms, maybe even spar with a willing partner somewhere? Ok, good....

Now ask yourself....are your elbows double-jointed? No? How about your knees? No? Can you make yourself supple enough of arm and leg to fake it? Why am I asking this...?

Because it seems like you've put in the time and effort to get proficient with your weapon, so....if you can make it work, that means you know the physics and find them useful. You have them functionalized. You have skills. So rather than have to learn new skills all over again for unarmed fighting, why not see if your armed skills can be applied to unarmed fighting?

Why not see if some of the "wrapping" moves, for instance, that you can use to grab someone with the middle of the weapon, couldn't just as easily work with you using an arm, and the crook of your elbow. Or see if you can't teach yourself, on a heavy bag, how to whip a straight backfist into the bag as easily as you could a straight whipping blow with the weapon?

Idea here is to do a kali or escrima thing: take what you know of your weapon, and see if you can apply it to kicks, punches, leg sweeps, and wrapping/hooking grabs...while your body is likely not going to be as quick and supple as the weapon is, that doesn't mean *none* of the physics you are familiar with will work...some will, and you may as well find and practice what will work now, while you still have your weapon to compare things with, so you'll know better than to try bending and working your own knees and elbows *beyond their limits*. ;)

Just my humble plug nickel. That and you might want to invest in a *belt* with a big, thick, heavy buckle, and practice some of your 'chucks moves with the *legal* tool.

Answer 2

Good for you if his threat of grievous bodily harm was believable by a reasonable person. It takes about 12 months to become proficient in the martial arts. Less than 12 monthes training is not effective. It may even give you a false sense of security. If you have to think before executing a combat move it is usually too late. The move must be automatic. This automatic behaviour is like walking driving a car, swimming or skating. We learn how, and then it becomes automatic. Repetition and regular practice eventually allows us to eventually perform martial arts moves automatically. If you punched me I most probably would have blocked your strike before I realised what the situation was all about. (I could then go on to fade and retreat, or attack and neutralise , maim, or kill. The latter choices are conscious although lightning fast.) The first block was subconscious.
This reaction takes a lot of practice, repetition and some considerable time to learn and to become habituated.
To summarise, you did the right thing.
Dan the Answers-Man.

Answer 3

Weapons are for teh weak. I'm 5'10 and have fought many people larger than me, especially like 6'4-6'5 size really doesn't matter. My friend s roughly 5'11 6 feet tall and very strong for a smaller framed person. He could beat me up I weigh roughly 20 pounds more than him, its all in technique and i'm betting if you can wield nunchaku properly you can probably defend yourself adequately in hand to hand. sorry ifi sounded ignorant but i believe if you would have tried you coudl have knocked him out because 5'10 and 6'4 arn't that big of a difference. Good job knockign out a big bully any how!

Answer 4

No. Nunchucks are usually not even legal to carry. Depending on your martial arts experience you could have to deal with issues revolving around use of excessive or deadly force.
Most experienced Marial artists will not act on mere "threats". Legally you are only allowed to defend or stop the attack.
Btw .. Many top rank fighters & martial arts are 5'10" to 6 Ft
Size is only one element of the equation.

Answer 5

For any person that has taken any form of self defense the first rule is to avoid conflict and/or run, so I think you are full of it. And do you honestly expect people to believe you walk around with nunchucks? Come on, give people a little bit of credit.

Answer 6

If you are small i say weapons are ok. I guess. Personally, I won't even Thai kick someone who attacks me because i'm afraid they will hit their head on the ground or a wall and die and i go to prison. Even though i love muay thai and in competition use it first before anything. At Frat parties when people are a little too drunk and get angry and start some **** with me.. is just subdue them with jiu jitsu, it's much more gentle and the odds are they won't even have a mark in the morning while the domination will make them stop ******* around. If some guy mugs me though.. like in a dark alley.. thai kicks .. to his liver.. and kicks to his dome.. ova and ova until the deed is done.

Answer 7

So you're a big man now.
Give me a break. You should be arrested for using a weapon. Unless you were really defending yourself (actual physical danger not just spoken threats/insults), you shouldn't be so proud and actually be ashamed at such a lack of self-control. If I were your teacher in a martial arts school, I'd throw you out. In the old days, the master would kick your @$$ first , then throw you out.

Answer 8

I would say if he really was gonna do something to you and you didn't think that regular combat would cut it then I say yeah to the nunchucks.

Answer 9

Dumbass. You watch too many bruce Lee movie plus I really doubt very many people can effectively use a nunchuck. Plus it's illegal. So you're full of it.

Answer 10

Depends, do you normally carry a weapon that is illegal?

If the guy attacked you in your own property, then no prob. If you were carrying that around in public, than you will be arrested for carrying a concealed weapon (unless you have a permit, and for nunchuks I highly doubt it).
Now if you were defending yourself, which it sounds like it, at least you won't be charged with assault.