Legal InfoAfricaAmericaAsiaEuropeOceania
Here are the legal state of nunchakus in the world, separated by continent and then by country. Please comment if you can expand this information, or if there’s a mistake.
Be always careful and avoid getting in legal troubles. If you have further questions visit your local police station, or law agent, so you can practice with no problems.
No info
- Brazil: Nuchakus are legal
- Canada: You cannot have to pieces of hard material (wood, metal) attached by either a string or chain. It is perfectly legal to have foam/practice nunchakus that are attached by a string or even with the metal chain and ball bearing, as long as they are foam.
- Chile: You can buy Nunchakus only for use in your home or in a dojo. You can only transport them with a Martial Arts certificate.
- USA: Personal possession is illegal in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New York. The rest of the states is legal to posses them.
- China: Nunchakus are legal
- India: Nunchakus are legal
- Indonesia: Nunchakus are legal
- Israel: Nunchakus are legal
- Korea: Nunchakus are legal
- Philippines: Nunchakus are legal
- Vietnam: Nunchakus are legal
- Austria: Nunchakus are legal
- Belgium: Nunchakus are illegal
- Czech Republic: Nunchakus are legal
- France: You can buy and own, but you can’t carry them in public
- Germany: The possession of a nunchaku is illegal.
- Great Britain: You may not use nunchaku in public, period, except for demos. They are considered an offensive weapon. However, they are legal to own, and provided you have a legal reason for carrying them, they are legal to carry. Self defence is NOT a reason!Like most martial arts weapons, in Britain, you are unlikely to get in trouble if you carry them in a case or bag, on the way to training at a dojo, freestyle club, or a friend’s house. They are absolutely legal for use on your own property.
- Hungary: Illegal, but you can use them in a dojo.
- Italy: Legal, but to carry it in public is just to go to a dojo
- Lithuania: Nunchakus are illegal
- Netherlands: Nunchakus are illegal, but foam nunchakus are legal
- Norway: The possession of a nunchaku is illegal.
- Poland: Nunchakus are illegal, but foam nunchakus are legal
- Romania: Nunchakus are illegal
- Russia: The possession of a nunchaku is illegal.
- Slovakia: Nunchakus are legal
- Spain: The possession of a nunchaku is illegal.
- Sweden: Nunchakus are illegal
- Switzerland: Nunchakus are illegal, but foam nunchakus are legal
- Ukraine: Nunchakus are illegal
- Australia: New South Whales can only be owned with a permit. The other zones it seems okay.[/wptabcontent]
What about Belarus?
I have no info about Belarus. If you have, please let me know!
The thing about Britain is not completely accurate. You may not use nunchaku in public, period, except for demos. They are considered an offensive weapon. However, they are legal to own, and provided you have a legal reason for carrying them, they are legal to carry. Self defence is NOT a reason!Like most martial arts weapons, in Britain, you are unlikely to get in trouble if you carry them in a case or bag, on the way to training at a dojo, freestyle club, or a friend’s house. They are absolutely legal for use on your own property.
Cool, thanks a lot. I updated the info in the page! Thanks
Is nunchakus legal in Malaysia ?
I don’t know, and couldn’t find any info. If you got any info about it, please let me know so I can add it to this list.
Its illegal to port nunchakus in Chile, if you didn’t know, unless you can prove to the police that you were training. But you cant carry them for self defense on the street.
Yes, it’s illegal. That is way I put that you can only transport them with a martial arts certificate, that allows you to transport between your house and your dojo. If you are caught with one, there are special laws involving martial arts weapons, and you will have a horrible time, because nunchakus are related with extremists.
What about Vladivostok ??
I don’t have any info about nunchakus there =/ If you have anything, please share with me
Hi, I’m from Canada and noticed that your comment for the legality of nunchakus was innaccurate. The law states that you cannot have to pieces of hard material (wood, metal) attached by either a string or chain, so the traditional nunchakus (wooden) and the XMA (metal) ones are included in this categorie. It is perfectly legal to have foam/practice nunchakus that are attached by a string or even with the metal chain and ball bearing, and you can find both style at most martial arts suppliers. Thank you!
Thanks a lot Vince, I updated the info.
i’m from Lithuania and i see you wrote that they’re illegal in my country. i recently purchased the foam ones from ebay, so that means i won’t receive them?
It depends on your customs office, maybe they can confiscate them, or they can pass… is really variable. I wish you luck!
Great , Possession Of nunchuck is Legal in India.
It’s a better selfdefensive and protective tool and art.
Bravo.
Hi,
you forget some countries and unfortunatelly i need them for my holiday journey to Croatia 🙂 I didn’t found much information about Croatia nunchaku, but i saw some photos from there witch chucks, so there is not probably totally banned. Next country is Slovenia, I found nothing, maybe you will be more lucky. Third country is Czech republic, which I live in, here it is totally allowed. Slovakia(yes, it is different country than Slovenia) has allowed chucks too. Israel is not in Europe, but in Africa 🙂
Thanks a lot!! I added them!
israel ain’t europe 😉
Thanks!
Updated! Thanks!
In Poland they are illegal unless you have a license. Easier to get than one for firearms – I’ve heard of people getting license because they were training martial arts. If you have license you can own, carry it and use for self defense.