Traditional nunchaku is usually practiced in traditional okinawan/japanese martial arts schools, sometimes as a unique discipline, but most often as part of kobudo.

Students start by learning the basic techniques (kihon). Then they begin to learn katas. At the same time students develop power in their strikes and accuracy of moves.

When a student shows good knowledge of katas (and that may take a few years), they are allowed to start the practice of renzoku-bunkai - a pre-arranged, continuous sequense of blocks & attacks, extracted from kata, but practiced with a real partner who attacks with some weapon, usually a staff (bo).

The next step for advanced students is kumite - sparring against an armed apponent. The opponent's weapon may vary from time to time (but, again, usually it's bo). The only students who are allowed to practice kumite are those who have very good control of their weapon, because even a mistake of half an inch can be lethal. In some schools students are also taught how to throw the nunchaku.

Nunchakus are so popular today, that almost any new martial arts include this weapon into its training. Because of its simplicity of manufacture, its high effectiveness in street combat, and its soaring popularity due to Bruce Lee's films, the nunchaku has had a new birth in our time. Today the nunchaku is one of the most popular weapons after the knife and the baton.