Which Martial Art is the most usefull for self defence ?

Question

I would like to start learning a martial art, so i feel more confident, and can protect myself and family if needed. Should i start Judo, or karate, or any other?

Answer 1

Hey.....Clare lots of advice given already, martial arts unlike other "sports" has got a spiritual aspect to it that revolves around values, respect and other principles. it is not about fighting like some have suggested, is is about defending yourself if you are attack. learning to defend yourself will enhance your confidence, but if you are not taught the values in encompasses, you would be just another angry person walking down the road, but now with the knowledge to do harm with the skills you have acquired.

Choose a style that compliments your ability, do not be enticed into a club whose instructors have not been Police Checked, have no insurance, no 1st aid qualification, and no obvious ability as an instructor, they promote themselves with gimmicks.

Judo has been around for years, but can only be applied in close contact, which could work against you in a street fight. Karate, if you are lucky, you might find a style that is effective as there are so many out there. Karate is more traditional, with lots of rigid movements, you need something that would teach you all you need to know about yourself and martial art, have you heard of Seloundo? google it for some very good info and then make up your mind. Good luck with your search

Answer 2

Claire, there is one martial art out there designed around pure leverage and not strength. It is brazilian jiu jitsu.

If you get into any kind of striking match with someone who outweighs you, you are at a serious disadvantage. If they are bigger than you, you are likely to lose regardless of how much karate or tae kwon do you know.

Brazilian jiu jitsu is the favored art of women who want to learn self defense because it is so successful against larget opponents. They say in bjj that if you're fighting with someone and going strength vs strength, you're doing something wrong.

Secondly, a martial art is only good when you actually practice fighting with other students at your lesson. That's the only way you get better.

Would you go to a math class where all the teacher shows you is the steps to the math problems but you never get to do the actual problems?

It's the same in martial arts. Don't waste your time with kung fu, karate, or tae kwon do.

Check out a local BJJ school and you'll see why it's the best in your situation.

Answer 3

All martial arts are effective if practiced enough.The styles that contain less techniques that you can practice more are better for a quick fix.You can get pretty good at fighting quite quickly with kickboxing or some techs from thai boxing(thai has loads more to it than some people imagine).Krav maja is purely no-nonsense self defence.Kung fu is excellent but takes time and your teacher should offer simple self defence that you can learn quickly within the syllabus,while you are getting good at the rest of it.If you chose judo,you may need to learn to 'strikes' as well as throws.Try Aikido too.Look at as many as possible then consider which feels best for you.Good luck.Hope you never need to defend your family,but it's great learning how.

Answer 4

I believe there is a not martial art better then any other its all down to the individual, its what suits you and the way your body moves don't forget we are not all built the same way.. So try out a few different styles or go to different clubs and then decide if its right for you or not remember its all about you not which style you do because you will gain more confidence no matter which style you choose.... For me it was Ju-Jitsu and Krav Maga that i loved but I'm not saying there the best,,,,,Good luck....JK ..I would like to add I totally agree with the previous answer he has got it bang on.....Well done The Avenger

Answer 5

All Martial arts have their strengths, but depending on your age, height, weight and temperment. there is no obvious answer.

Brazillian Ju Jitsu is good against bigger enemies but won't help you against weapons, karate is good but will not help you much if your attacker is stronger and wants to get up close and personal. Muay Thai is a good all rounder with knees, elbows, clinching, punching and kicking. The best i would say for pure self defense is fitness, get fit, and do some research at the same time, there are some good all round self defence classes and books out there. But i would do a full contact class otherwise in a real situiation everything is likely to go out the window, if you get hit, you won't like it and will try and be missed next time! and also, if someone hits you and you're not used to it, you will freeze, if you are used to it you will naturally counter without thinking!

Answer 6

I would Highy Recamend frist joining Taekwondo for beginning Trainers if indeed you want to become a very good Martial Artist. You will gain a feel for Martial Arts, At the beginning of your Taekwondo Training and your confidentence, foucs, awareness, and power will increase a little later in your training if you a serious about it. Then you should move on to judisitu so you can defend yourself on the gound. 80% of most figths end up on the ground so its important to leard how to defend yourself in that postion. Next should be Kung Fu. Kung Fu is a lot harder than many other martial arts but well worth it. Follow this plan and you will be the prefect well rounded Figther in any sence. You will gain powerful legs engoun to kick out a grow man from Taekwondo. You will be a great grappler from Judistu. And your body will move as sift as the wind and hand attacks will flow as soft as water but deady as a sword with Kung Fu.

Answer 7

Gary R is right!

You need to train at a gym that is realistic. You need to train at gym that compete alot in reputatable event. So you would want gym that spar full contact often, do lot of pads work, bag work, train 4 to 6 days a week (you need to show up at least 3 days a week unless you want to compete) That would usually (NOT always) be Muay Thai, Kyokushin karate, Seido karate, few other karate, San Shou/San Da, and boxing

Also you can try grappling gym that compete as well. They doesn't really do pad works or bag work because their goal is to take person down and put locks or choke on them to end the fight. If the gym is serious they would grapple/spar at least 2 or 3 time a week. That gym usually would be Judo, brazil Jiu Jitsu, sambo, and even high school or college wrestling is effective.

You should avoid gym that doesn't spar, claim to teach only spiritual stuff (church is for this!), claim that they train person to be so deadly that they cannot spar, seems to have very cultish feeling/mental to it (students totally worshipping the instructor as the instructor belittle them), only do role play scene, and other things similar to that.

Hope this help you some.

Answer 8

ju-jitsu and street fighting is quite good but the main thing is not being scared of getting hurt. it is a contact sport and you will get hit and bruised. this is necessary to condition your body to take a hit. self-defence can be learnt without doing martial arts. the best thing to do is first get away, then try to talk your way out of a situation only when you have to should you get physical with another person. the attacker may do martial arts too!

Answer 9

Wing Chun is a very effective martial art. Women have a natural advantage at Wing Chun because they don't have as many muscles getting in the way. But it's effective for both men and women. It's also the foundation for Bruce Lee's martial arts.

Answer 10

I learn from a master in 3 styles taught separately, but used together - Shotokan Karate, Hakko Ryu Ju Jitsu, and Kodokan Judo. It is an extremely well rounded curriculum that teaches you how to handle any kind of attack and focuses on your strengths so you are not limited in what you can do.