Does the style of fighting/martial art matter?

Question

I don't think it does as long as the fighter can strike and operate grappling and on the ground.

All these "Which style is more superior" is irrelevant, don't you think? I think it's the fighter that matters, and his knowledge.

OMG, I talking about styles which obviously emphasize REAL fighting, not meditation and relaxation like Tai Chi!

And yes, I know about ground fighting and Jiu-Jitsu!

My question is, if you can fight on the ground and standing up, why does the style matter?

Answer 1

Yep, I couldn't agree more. Not that I am a big-time black belt in anything, I've merely been in a few fights is all, got my tail kicked harshly as often as not, and have the lumpy jaw and skull to prove it.

My take on it is:

--74 percent of it is about physical conditioning. Really. If you look buff and in good shape, if you have the muscle, you *will not* present a weak target to those who are inclined to attack. It is that simple. Consider your average urban hoodlum/gangsta of today. They rely almost entirely on gunplay to get the job done, so *why* emphasize physical fitness, or being lean and hard, at all? Because looking weak means *being* a target, pure and simple.

This is one of the big-time dirty secrets of the early, first-years UFC in fact: that most of the "TMA/traditional" stylists were seriously out of shape and would have been tooled on in *ANY* sort of athletic competition.

--24 percent of it is about experience. Meaning, knowing what it means to be hit, to be grabbed, to have rough contact happen and to *not fall apart* when you encounter resistance. In this respect, you learn more, much more, from growing up and surviving domestic violence and abuse, like I did, than you will *ever* learn in an aikido dojo where the "partners" go full-speed but never resist and always comply and go out of their way to make your stuff work...in the former case, with the domestic violence, you learn what it means to be hit and function, and you learn what being overpowered *feels like* in your flesh.

This is not something I can ever see aikido preparing you for, due to the way at least mainstream, Aikikai Aikido trains.

And this is why people have such immense respect for Boxers and Thai Boxers, even though they don't by and large roll around on a mat and spoon-and-dry hump one another silly like a bunch of....**ahem**, but yeah, the respect is there because these people *beat the piss out of each other*, and people really see it and understand, nothing fake is going on here, the blows are for real, the pain is for real, and *they keep going* until their bodies quit. Until they get KTFO one too many times....

--and finally, the last 2 percent, is about technique. Half of it is your Plan A, your stand-up skills, which are necessary (why I got my tail kicked so often...I had no stand up, seriously) in places where you need to remain mobile (where your risk of being swarmed or dogpiled is high if you go to the ground). The other half is your Plan B, your sprawl-and-brawl, ground-and-pound, or roll-and-control methods.

And for most of us non-elite non-UFCers, having *a good solid* Plan A and a *good solid* Plan B is more than enough. Even if the Plan B is a knife, or the Plan A is a cell phone. :)

Of course the Bullies and Bullet-Heads would just as soon you not know this....but hey, somebody's got to speak the truth, we can't ALL be tatted-out, bald-headed spoon-and-dry-humpers, you know? *lol*

Answer 2

I admit, Martial Arts aren't made for street fighting... But they can sure as hell help. As stated earlier Krav Maga is the most practical if that's what you want but I'd have to say Muay Thai is just as effective. It may not prepare you for some tricky situations, but the striking of Muay Thai I find to be second to none. With either of these, you can with some difficulty control a few people at the same time, if you're fast and smart enough. Grappling arts are all well and good, until you get trampled on, then you'll regret even taking them. But yeah, street fighting isn't smart.

Answer 3

Every opponent and situation presents unique problems to be solved. The best fighter is the one that has the most options available and can respond to whatever is thrown at him.

Note that the "best fighter" may NOT be the best for a specific type of encounter. Some styles are better against multiple opponents or armed opponents or taller opponents or bigger opponents or whatever. Some styles "fit" the user better, based on body type and temperment.

In general, I think you're right. I've tried to learn a little bit of everything and develop a personal style that I'm comfortable with.

Answer 4

The style matters because with some (Karate) the fight won't get to the ground. Others (Tae-Kwon-Do, Kung-Fu) are notvery effective in real life situations, and lastly BJJ is by far the best if the fight goes to the ground.
They each have a different way of controling the bad situation.
Karate - Attacks and ends the fight while standing.
Judo - more for sport
Tae-Kwon-Do - kicks (never lift your feet in a real fight)
Kung-Fu - (to flashy and not effective in real life)
Aikido/Hapkido - (non aggressive art that ends things peacefully, very effective)
BJJ - Best for ground work!

Answer 5

Oh course the fighting style matters. Some styles are intended for self defense. Some intended to kill. While others are just intended to be a performance art.

Answer 6

Style is just a style. The important thing is train to win but you must accept defeats (if it happens) and try to survive from the fight.

Answer 7

style matters. some are for grappling, wrestling, killing, or self defending. also, if your a master/instructor in tai chi how the @#$! will it help you when you fight a shaolin sifu?

and yes the person's knowledge and skills count as well

Answer 8

i think style matters because some styles are stronger in different strikes and techniques....for example tae kwon do is usually more of a kicking art....theres also wushu for weapons...and shotokan karate is for solid strikes...but...well....it's kinda complicated..but..hmm...i would say each style or art specializes in some kind of area so sometimes the style matters and sometimes it doesn't..kinda depends if Ur in a competition or something...well that's my opinion

Answer 9

some styles are predisposed to others meaning some styles going against other styles are are disadvantage. but overall I'd agree. not how you fight but how you whip the opponents a*ss is what really matters

Answer 10

All u really need is a good stand up art, like kickboxing, and a ground art!!!