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The nunchaku (katakana: ヌンチャク) is a weapon that consists of two sticks connected at their ends by a short chain or a length of rope. The word itself comes from nun (katakana: ヌン), meaning "twin" and shaku (kanji: 尺), the approximate length of each arm of the nunchaku. It is also called the dual section stick, chuka sticks, nunchucks, or karate sticks. Nunchaku were originally an ancient farming tool used to thrash grain before being weaponized. Nunchaku are used to lock joints and disarm weapons. In Japanese, a wielder of nunchaku is called nunchakuka (Japanese: ヌンチャク家, "nunchaku expert").
In TMNT[]
The nunchaku is Michelangelo's signature weapon in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise in almost every series, although a few characters throughout the franchise have been seen wielding them as well. Popular culture has shown nunchaku as a striking flail, which is how the weapon is often portrayed in TMNT media.
Broadcasts of characters wielding nunchaku were censored on United Kingdom television during the 1990s, often causing Michelangelo to either go bare-fisted during fights or wield alternative weapons. Eventually, this led to him using a new grappling-hook like weapon called the Turtle Line later on in the 1987 TV series.
Rise of the TMNT[]
In Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the nunchaku is first depicted in "Mystic Mayhem". Michelangelo tries to use it against the Guardsmen, but only accidentally strikes himself. One of the Guardsmen then breaks his nunchaku. Mikey later finds another pair in Baron Draxum's laboratory, but chooses to instead wield a mystic kusari-fundō. Lou Jitsu wields nunchaku in the film 1 Fish, Blue Fish, Red Fish - Dead Fish in "The Evil League of Mutants". Mikey returns to wielding nunchaku in "Finale Part 4: Rise" following the destruction of his kusari-fundō. Lou Jitsu nunchaku appear on an auction house website in "Hot Soup: The Game".