He used to let me play with his nun-chucks . . .

. . . which he knew how to swirl around his body at dizzying speeds. 

I remember two pairs: one that made of two pieces of dark wood with a simple rope between; and, another made of metal and a chain. On the second, the two halves could be screwed together to make a large metal baton. To a little boy, it was the coolest thing ever.