So as the title says. I used to do karate until I was around 18 and had to buy nunchucks and a nightstick (dont remember the name used at the time – tonfa came up on google) for use in training and for katas etc.
I’m now much older, and though we were licensed to use them as part of the lessons (I think) I’m no longer doing any karate and basicaly have these deadly weapons under my bed.
Are they illegal to possess?
9 comments
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I don’t believe they’re illegal to own. However, you could get in trouble if you start walking around with them without a good reason.
perfectly legal to own, perfectly legal to practice with in your own home and garden, dojo’s etc. You were never ‘licensed’ to use them or anything of that nature, just in a private setting this nothing to do with the law.
I don’t especially think they are any more deadly than the next blunt object to be honest. I wouldn’t worry about it.
“A straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheon (sometimes known as a baton” is illegal to possess (unless an exception applies) under section 1 (q) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988 and I would think that a tonfa would fall under that rule. I suppose nunchaku are just a pair of batons joined together so they might qualify too but I’m not sure.
There have been a new set of offensive weapons laws (offensive weapons act 2019) that criminalise the possession of certain offensive weapons in the home, such as expandable batons, knuckledusters and zombie knives (previously these weapons could be possessed in the home, but not out on the street).
However, I don’t think your weapons are covered by the act, so I think you’re good.
The list of prohibited weapons. Weapons over 100 years old are considered antiques and are exempt from the prohibition. Otherwise, nightsticks were prohibited in 2004 (item q), you should safely dispose of yours or surrender them in a weapons amnesty. Nunchucks are not prohibited but the similar manrikigusari are.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/2019
Under your bed, where no-one knows, who cares?
Carrying them around might be illegal
Using them to attack someone would definitely be illegal… even using them in self defense might be illegal
The only person ever hurt by nunchucks, is the person using them!