Tabak-toyok
A Filipino flail-type weapon of two short sticks joined by a chain or cord, with shorter handles and a longer link than the Okinawan nunchaku.
Quick Facts
PhilippinesAbout the weapon
Tabak-toyok is a Filipino flail-type weapon: two short sticks joined by a chain or cord. We have not been able to establish its origin or dating in the sources. Each handle measures roughly 20 to 23 centimetres, the connecting cord or chain 10 to 19 centimetres; the dimensions vary according to the owner's needs. Compared to the Okinawan nunchaku, the tabak-toyok has shorter handles and a longer connecting link, which suits it better for fighting at longer range. The small tabak-toyok is easy to conceal, so it appears in street fights in the Philippines. Dan Inosanto teaches techniques with this weapon in the curriculum of his Filipino martial arts. He also introduced Bruce Lee to the tabak-toyok, who then became famous in films with a similar nunchaku.
Related weapons
- Equivalent in another culture: Nunchaku
People
- Dan Inosanto — Popularizer