BROKEN CLAM WOODWORKING

Why Broken Clam?

Every name has a story. Ours just happens to be a little more unusual than most.

The name Broken Clam Woodworking was born from an unexpected moment in our family's karate journey.

During the AAU Karate National Championships, our son Luke suffered a serious injury a the Nationals Tournament. Tough as nails, he fought on but the next day the injury sent us on an unexpected trip to the hospital.

It was one of those moments that reminds you how quickly things can change. But if you know Luke, you know that giving up isn't really his style. Even while recovering, his thoughts weren't about stepping away from karate. They were about how soon he could get back to training and competing. The doctor’s description of the injury was “imagine a clamshell”.

This turned into a nickname: Clamshell.

And as families sometimes do, we found a little humor in a situation that wasn't particularly funny at the time.

That nickname eventually inspired the name Broken Clam Woodworking.

What started as a family nickname became something more meaningful: a reminder of resilience, determination, and the ability to find a little laughter even when life throws an unexpected punch.

Today, every bo staff and pair of nunchaku we create carries a little piece of that story.

Broken Clam isn't just an unusual name.‍ ‍It's a reminder that even when life knocks you down, you can get back up, keep moving forward, and maybe even find a reason to smile along the way.