The five circles

The five circles

1. Maximum Reach 2. Control & Recovery 3. Body · Mind · Weapon 4. Mastery as the Measure 5. Noble Discipline

1. Maximum Reach

The nunchaku is used to its full length and potential. Proper extension, timing, body alignment, and coordinated movement increase effective reach and create clear tactical advantage. Speed and power are not forced but arise naturally from correct structure and relaxed acceleration. True reach is not only distance, but control over distance.

2. Control & Recovery

Every movement has intent. Striking the target is only one aspect; controlled recovery of the nunchaku is essential to maintain continuity and flow. Efficient recovery preserves rhythm, balance, and readiness, allowing immediate transition into the next action. Control over recovery governs speed, safety, and sustainability.3. Body · Mind · Weapon — Unity as PowerBody, mind, and nunchaku form a single integrated system. When these three act as one, power becomes natural, precise, and efficient rather than forced.Stability, timing, speed, and accuracy emerge from unity. When one element is disconnected, control is lost and vulnerability appears. Cooperation creates strength; separation leads to breakdown.

4. Mastery as a Measure of Level

A practitioner’s level is defined by the degree of mastery: accuracy, efficiency of recovery, clarity of strikes, material awareness, and full-body integration.Each level introduces new challenges in which precision, speed control, power management, and movement quality become increasingly important.Different materials (foam, wood, inox) demand deeper understanding, both in training and in applied contexts.

5. Noble Discipline

The power and skill developed through training must never turn against the practitioner or others. Guided by etiquette, discipline, and self-control—aligned with the spirit of Bushido and its moral values—ability is governed by character.The nunchaku is handled with respect and responsibility. Power follows morality, neverthe other way around.

Deepening and Study of the Circles

In line with the principle “to educate a man or woman is to learn to educate oneself”, the focus is not on receiving fixed answers, but on developing self-study, awareness, and personal responsibility. The circles are not obligations, ranks, or closed systems. They function as fields of exploration—inviting the practitioner to observe, practice, test, and reflect.
Through studying the circles, working with challenges, and revisiting them at different stages of development, insight grows through experience. Each return is different, shaped by new skill, understanding, and perspective. In this way, NC5 does not impose direction but offers orientation: a compass rather than a path.
The deeper layers of each circle—challenges, comparative studies, philosophy, and cross-weapon perspectives—are explored further on the NC5 platform. They exist for those who wish to go beyond technique and use practice as a means of self-development, guided by freedom, curiosity, and discipline.