EXN Nunchaku, Type 1, Purpleheart

These nunchaku are crafted from solid purpleheart wood—a dense, exotic hardwood known for its natural deep violet color that intensifies with exposure to light. The wood’s fine, tight grain gives it a smooth, polished surface while maintaining excellent strength and durability.

Each handle is precisely turned and balanced, offering a solid, weighty feel ideal for traditional martial arts training or display. Purpleheart’s dry weight density of 58 lbs/ft³ (930 kg/m³), specific gravity of 0.86, and Janka hardness of 2520lb_f (11210 N) makes the nunchaku about 20% heavier than our hard maple nunchaku, enhancing momentum and control for advanced practitioners. Over time, the wood’s color may shift from bright purple to a rich, dark plum or brownish violet, especially if exposed to sunlight—adding to its character and uniqueness.

Damien Romero’s Type 1 EXN Nunchaku has innovative features beyond our standard nunchaku. Each handle is handmade on a lathe and matched in diameter and weight. The distinctive divot in the ends of the handles are a trademark of the weapons master, and allows for fine tuning the end weight of each handle. Damien Romero’s EXN Nunchaku are exclusive to Ryukyu Woodworks. 

These purpleheart nunchaku combine beauty, resilience, and precision in one elegant weapon and is perfect for collectors and serious martial artists alike,