American Style Nunchaku Federation

Welcome to the American Style Nunchaku Federation

The ASN Federation welcomes martial artists, nunchaku practitioners and all people interested in the nunchaku world wide!

The ASN Federation was founded by Nunchaku-Grandmaster Michael L. Burke in March 2010. The headquarters is located in Virginia, USA. The purpose of the federation is to act as authority and main organization within the martial art of American Style Nunchaku. Grandmaster Burke founded the American Style Nunchaku in 1992 as a complete martial art with its own ranking system, making nunchaku training also available to those people who were not interested in traditional karate or kobudo. The ASN Federation’s mission is to regulate ranking procedures and instructor certification, and bring structure to the American Style Nunchaku.

The American Style Nunchaku Federation is THE ONLY authority in American Style Nunchaku in the world. Ranks not issued by the ASN Federation or by a ASN-Certified Instructor are not considered valid. We therefore invite all ASN Practitioners to have their ranks renewed and recognized by the ASN Federation.

Click here for an example of ASN’s basic techniques as preformed by Shihan Hawkins who is one of our certified instructors teaching at ASN Federation member school Baker’s Red Iron Dragon Fusion Kenpo Academy.

As Grandmaster Burke says: Keep Swinging

STUDENTS BEGIN WITH EASY TO LEARN
YELLOW BELT TECHNIQUES

Mission Statement

The mission of the American Style Nunchaku Federation is to promote and spread the complete marital art of American Style Nunchaku, nationally and internationally.

This means that the ASN Federation will act as authority and main organization for the American Style Nunchaku globally. All ASN-practicing martial arts schools, clubs and associations will be members of the ASN Federation. All ASN instructors will be certified through the ASN Federation and all belt ranks will be registered.

The goal is to bring structure to the American Style Nunchaku and to show professionalism and seriousness towards the martial arts community.

Membership

Personal

Personal Membership is for every practitioner of American Style Nunchaku that wishes to have a personal relationship to the ASN Federation. As personal member you have direct access to Grandmaster Burke and you can be a student directly under him. If you wish the ASN Federation can also put you in contact with the closest certified instructor if you wish instruction in person. All certified instructors must be personal members of the ASN Federation.

Become a Personal Member

School

School Membership is for martial arts schools, clubs and associations that teach American Style Nunchaku as a part of their curriculum. Students at member schools have the same status as personal members in the ASN Federation. Every school must have at least one personal member, usually the instructor.

Get your School Membership

Instructor Certification

The American Style Nunchaku Federation does not automatically recognize black belt practitioners as certified instructors with the right to promote other students. A black belt practitioner may not necessarily have the required knowledge about the standards of the ASN Federation.

Therefore the ASN Federation requires that instructors pass a written test to ensure that they have this knowledge before they can start to issue rank in American Style Nunchaku (ASN). This test may be done at the earliest after passing the 1st degree promotion. No colored belt practitioner can become a certified instructor. A practitioner is considered a Master upon the attainment of his or her 3rd Degree black belt.

It is very important to understand that the ASN Federation does not recognize any ranks in American Style Nunchaku awarded by a non-certified instructor. All black belt ranks are issued by the Federation headquarters on official paper. Any black belt practitioner with a non-official rank certificate will not be recognized and ranks issued by such person will not be valid. Please read the documents in the appropriate link below for more information about the regulations regarding instructor certification.

Finally, although ASN has black belts and colored belt students all over the world, only the most senior ranking masters are found below. They may be contacted directly for training or other purposes.

Certified Masters

of

The American Style Nunchaku Federation

GRAND MASTER MICHAEL BURKE, 9th Degree (ASN);

Over 45 years in the martial arts!
American Style Nunchaku Federation (ASNF), President (2010-Present)
American Style Nunchaku (ASN) – System Founder (1992)
Earned 9th Degree Black Belt in 2021 from the United States Martial Arts Federation
Awarded 6th Degree Black Belt in 2002 from the World Wide Martial Arts Association (founded by OSensei Philip S. Porter, 10th Dan)
Promoted to Black Belt in Okinawa Karate in 1976 under Instructor Alan Miller
Life Member United States Martial Arts Federation
Life Member World Wide Martial Arts Association

MASTER KIM GYLLING, 5th Degree (ASN);

VP of Overseas Operations, ASNF-Finland/Northern Europe
Life Member American Style Nunchaku Federation
1st Recipient of a 5th Degree Black Belt Issued by Grand Master Burke
Head Instructor at Nordic Budo & Sports Academy

MASTER ELDRIDGE HAWKINS, JR., 5th Degree (ASN);

Senior Rank Examiner, ASNF-International
Head Instructor of ASNF approved online program www.VirtualNunchaku.com
Founder of Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu, an ASNF sanctioned martial arts system
Senior Instructor at ASNF member school Baker’s Red Iron Dragon
Life Member of American Style Nunchaku Federation, United States Martial Arts Federation & United States Ju-Jitsu Federation
Holds additional 5th Degree Black Belts in US Ju-Jitsu under the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) and Fusion Kenpo as recognized by the American Karate Association (AKA)

MASTER LLAUGER CASTILLO, 4th Degree (ASN);

Director, ASNF-Puerto Rico
Director, Instituto Castillo Martial Arts School
Life Member of American Style Nunchaku Federation
Holds a 6th Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do

MASTER ADAM GERRALD, 4th Degree (ASN);

Representative, ASNF- Texas, United States
Life Member of American Style Nunchaku Federation
Instructor – GMAU
Holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and received training in several other martial arts disciplines.