Best Martial art to learn?
Discussion
What is the best martial art to learn?
I don't want anything that involves getting punched on the head!
BJJ keeps coming up when I look up the question on Google.
Any other recommendations? I'd like something to help with overall fitness, being able to hold my own in the unlikely event I get involved in a one on one with someone during a road rage incident
I don't want anything that involves getting punched on the head!
BJJ keeps coming up when I look up the question on Google.
Any other recommendations? I'd like something to help with overall fitness, being able to hold my own in the unlikely event I get involved in a one on one with someone during a road rage incident
In a real world scenario I’d say BJJ. If you’re ever unlucky enough to be involved in an altercation, apart from walking away, BJJ is going to be the most useful.
Street altercation are usually scrappy affairs with an unskilled or low skilled opponent. Even if they have the ability to throw a decent punch, I bet 9/10 times it goes to ground.
Having the ability to close the distance and reduce punch or kick effectiveness is important. Even if it’s just taking your opponent to ground, pulling guard or taking mount or their back puts you in a comfortable strong position.
With some BJJ training you’d hopefully be able to look after yourself and neutralise a threat until help came along without having to resort to violence which could land you in bother.
Street altercation are usually scrappy affairs with an unskilled or low skilled opponent. Even if they have the ability to throw a decent punch, I bet 9/10 times it goes to ground.
Having the ability to close the distance and reduce punch or kick effectiveness is important. Even if it’s just taking your opponent to ground, pulling guard or taking mount or their back puts you in a comfortable strong position.
With some BJJ training you’d hopefully be able to look after yourself and neutralise a threat until help came along without having to resort to violence which could land you in bother.
Krav Maga, if you count it as a martial art - many don't due to the lack of rules or competitions. A bit brutal for sparring though, and some nasty ways to hurt people. Not a 'nice' way of fighting, but very effective.
Both my kids do Judo, and love it. Don't discount good old fashioned boxing, it's an excellent tool for building confidence and fitness.
Both my kids do Judo, and love it. Don't discount good old fashioned boxing, it's an excellent tool for building confidence and fitness.
BJJ hands down for me.
For both mental, physical and social benefits I can’t think of a better pass time. It’s got its own ‘sub culture’ that is an extremely positive environment to spend time in.
Search YouTube for ‘BJJ versus the world’ and have a watch.
Best martial art for Self defence is also a tiresome tedious argument that never goes well, fan boys on all sides spouting crap. In truth probably boxing or better still Muay Thai Combined with your common sense and a pair of fast trainers is your best bet.
For both mental, physical and social benefits I can’t think of a better pass time. It’s got its own ‘sub culture’ that is an extremely positive environment to spend time in.
Search YouTube for ‘BJJ versus the world’ and have a watch.
Best martial art for Self defence is also a tiresome tedious argument that never goes well, fan boys on all sides spouting crap. In truth probably boxing or better still Muay Thai Combined with your common sense and a pair of fast trainers is your best bet.
LimaDelta said:
Krav Maga, if you count it as a martial art - many don't due to the lack of rules or competitions. A bit brutal for sparring though, and some nasty ways to hurt people. Not a 'nice' way of fighting, but very effective.
Both my kids do Judo, and love it. Don't discount good old fashioned boxing, it's an excellent tool for building confidence and fitness.
I'd agree with the Krag Mag comment and suggest Wudang Tai Chi Chuan as another option. All the nasty moves can be found there to but with some finesse and you don't have to inflict to much pain if you don't want to. It has sparring, throws, locks, push hands and close quarter applications. Obviously the serious stuff never gets used in competitions.Both my kids do Judo, and love it. Don't discount good old fashioned boxing, it's an excellent tool for building confidence and fitness.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Saturday 6th November 09:29
I was once in a queue of traffic and the usual bellend tried to drive up the outside and nip in at the end, a lot of beeping up ahead then he got out of his car and stormed over to the beeping guy in the car behind, he threw open his door and promptly got a kitchen knife stuck in his guts.
Man that was a lot of blood, like I didn't even know that much blood could come out of a person and still be alive.
Sorry what was the question?
Ahh yes, you want to fight, well can you take a punch, have you ever been punched? I used to train in Muay Thai many years ago, even had some big fights and the odd inter-gym competition. Anyway this film came out and everyone and their dog turned up to train because of it, many had done Karate or Wing chun for years (as I has previously to MT) and they'd swagger in and proclaim they were there to train. We'd say are you sure and they'd say yeah man I'm the man I've trained for years in wing chun so we'd put the gloves on and get them in the ring (only if they wanted to, no one was ever forced in the ring) Most quit 5 minutes later.
You can waste your life learning airy fairy dance routines, they might tell you you'll be chuck norris in no time but in my experience most people fall apart when punched, especially when they've never been punched and believe me I've seen a lot of Karate black belts that had never been slapped.
So my advice is this, firstly don't get in to road rage, it's pointless, take the moral high ground but if you do want to learn to fight, go fight, go get punched in the face.
Man that was a lot of blood, like I didn't even know that much blood could come out of a person and still be alive.
Sorry what was the question?
Ahh yes, you want to fight, well can you take a punch, have you ever been punched? I used to train in Muay Thai many years ago, even had some big fights and the odd inter-gym competition. Anyway this film came out and everyone and their dog turned up to train because of it, many had done Karate or Wing chun for years (as I has previously to MT) and they'd swagger in and proclaim they were there to train. We'd say are you sure and they'd say yeah man I'm the man I've trained for years in wing chun so we'd put the gloves on and get them in the ring (only if they wanted to, no one was ever forced in the ring) Most quit 5 minutes later.
You can waste your life learning airy fairy dance routines, they might tell you you'll be chuck norris in no time but in my experience most people fall apart when punched, especially when they've never been punched and believe me I've seen a lot of Karate black belts that had never been slapped.
So my advice is this, firstly don't get in to road rage, it's pointless, take the moral high ground but if you do want to learn to fight, go fight, go get punched in the face.
As above
First you need to learn to take a punch or being attacked , you need to learn the adrenaline kick and that fear is ok
Second is try to diffuse the situation before it escalates
Any good instructor in my view will tell you that you will be hit if you get in a fight
As Sheets said Muay Thai is a good option , it teaches you long range , how to defend or fight in a phone box if needed
In my view bjj is good for one on one but you are very exposed if you intentional go to ground to control or choke your opponent from a secondary attack
All in my view of course
First you need to learn to take a punch or being attacked , you need to learn the adrenaline kick and that fear is ok
Second is try to diffuse the situation before it escalates
Any good instructor in my view will tell you that you will be hit if you get in a fight
As Sheets said Muay Thai is a good option , it teaches you long range , how to defend or fight in a phone box if needed
In my view bjj is good for one on one but you are very exposed if you intentional go to ground to control or choke your opponent from a secondary attack
All in my view of course
For real defence?
A psychotic mindset because you don't give up and when faced with the fight of your life you act differently to someone who thinks 'oh f
k I'm a black belt but I need to fight for real now'.
For everyone else? A mix of boxing/Judo/BJJ
For fun and fitness you can not beat Judo mat fitness.
I've been in real road rage incidents and walked away.
Just enjoy martial arts for fun.
A psychotic mindset because you don't give up and when faced with the fight of your life you act differently to someone who thinks 'oh f
k I'm a black belt but I need to fight for real now'.For everyone else? A mix of boxing/Judo/BJJ
For fun and fitness you can not beat Judo mat fitness.
I've been in real road rage incidents and walked away.
Just enjoy martial arts for fun.
pitchfork said:
If that Twitter video teaches us anything, it's that not all confrontations are on a flat, stable surface.
Personally, I think that the martial art is secondary to the instructor.
Speak to them, go and see the facilities, watch a class.
This.Personally, I think that the martial art is secondary to the instructor.
Speak to them, go and see the facilities, watch a class.
The best one is the one you enjoy and with the best teacher. You'll learn more. I studied Krav Maga for 18 months many years ago, before a shoulder injury and 'life' got in the way, but I'm still in touch with some of my fellow students and I think about what I learned every day. That's a good teacher; I was not a great student!
As has been said above, many experienced martial artists haven't been hit in the face and are unprepared. You've said you want to avoid being hit in the face; I'd suggest that experiencing being hit in a controlled environment with a friendly 'aggressor' is a really good thing, weird as that sounds!
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