Like mentioned before, there is a big difference in defending your self on an ancient battlefield, and defending your self in a modern taekwondo tournament for example. Taekwondo has elements of self defense but it is not the exact same elements as in the competition of taekwondo. The rules of taekwondo don’t allow you to hit below the waist or at the strobe. In self defense this rule doesn't apply. In a taekwondo competition you are rewarded for making a lot of high kicks, but in self defense you are properly better of by making some low kicks because it is more efficient and simple.
In the early days of nunchaku the weapon was used for self defense, but in our modern world this is not an option because of legal issues (which propaly is for the best). But it is still possible to train selfdefense techniques with nunchakus as a part of your martial art.

Martial art

Now we have given our definition on what combat sport and self defense is, but what is martial art then? Martial art is the art of fighting and thereby combat sport and self defense are also part of it….. But martial art is so much more!

It is bound with traditions and rituals that you only can experience by visiting a martial arts school or club. The word art applies something extra than just practicing a sport or learning self defense. When you practice martial art you don’t only learn how to defend your self ore how to fight under a given set of rules, you also have a path of perfection you can follow. You can always try to perfect your style, to become better. Some people focus their path on the sports element for example but you can also practice martial art to perfect the more arteristic elements. For example is nunchaku freestyle properly not very efficient in a self defense situation, but you can practice it to perfect your martial art and thereby achieve some personal goals.