Stars like Orlando Bloom (who played elf archer Legolas) and Billy Boyd (who played the hobbit Pippin) often turned up for training looking the worse for wear.
Nuku recalled: 'You could tell some had had a rough night. Orlando and Billy partied as hard as they worked.
'I also had to remind them not to come in bermudas and sandals, which they constantly did.'
Nuku focused on strengthening Bloom's back which he had injured with core and abdominal training. The actor also did resistance training to toughen up for the trilogy's battle scenes.