comparing and contrasting different martial arts?

Question

Where can I find a web site that will compare and contrast strengths and weaknessess of different martial arts? (i.e.-Kickboxing is weak when on the ground) I am debating which one to take and would like to have some help sifting my options.

Answer 1

If you want a no nonsense forum that deals with the practicality of various martial arts then this is the place to go.
These are the people who have done all sorts of martial arts, traditional martial arts included.
Many of the moderators have competed in various arts such as MMA, Karate, Judo, BJJ, Muay thai, Taekwondo etc.

However the most common advice you will get is to make sure you mix it up. If you do kickboxing, do a something thats has a focus on the ground, e.g Sambo, BJJ, Judo.
If you already know how to fight on the ground, Pick a striking art, Muay Thai, boxing, etc, etc.

The key is to understand all ranges of unarmed combat. From Striking to Clinch to Ground. Even if you favour one above the rest, if would do you good to have at least the basics to ensure that you are not pulled into a game you do not favour.

Answer 2

I would check out the schools in the area and then start comparing and contrasting from there. You may find the art you like, but if there is no school in the area, there is no point. The school also might not be doing a good job teaching the art, so there is the school and teacher as well as students to consider.
best of luck in your search...
Oh yea, good martial forum sites like the above poster may be helpful.

Answer 3

To my knowledge, there are none that do a good job. This is because a lot of Martial Artists get so ingrained in their own, personal art that they think everything else is bad in comparison. While most Martial Artists SHOULD be respectful of other styles and especially other practicioners, many just throw insults and generalizations. On the other hand, many people will aggrandize their own style above others- not being honest about any weaknesses and over glorifying the strengths. Like most things, it's best to study everything yourself, figure out what is propaganda and what is just style-on-style insults. Then make an educated choice according to your own tastes.
Hope this helps...
Sensei Cox

Answer 4

This question comes up a lot and as always, there is no right or wrong answer. Of course, every martial art has strengths and weaknesses, but instead of getting a list of every art's pros and cons, what you need to consider is:

A: What specifically do you want to get from your training?
- Strength, conditioning, fitness.
- Self-defense for real life situations (do you really feel like you are in danger?)
- Sport competition.
- Impress your friends.

B: What martial arts are available in your area?
- There is no point in viewing a list and determining that Shotokan is the best art for you if there is no dojo in your area.

Once you can answer the above questions, it will be far easier to narrow down your choices. Otherwise you are going to get bombarded with information that is more or less worthless to you.

Good luck.

Answer 5

If you are looking for an art that is well rounded, that includes striking and submission grappling. The closest would be Judo.
It teaches a ton of throws and take downs as well as grappling and submissions. It is great for self defence as all of it is practical. It teaches weopons defence as well. Most people will say BJJ because they here it all the time on UFC. BJJ doesn't have strikes. Those guys are trained in boxing or kick boxing as well.
Some will tell you MMA. This is not a art. IT is basically a striker who has some grappling training teaching you how to do simple take downs and ground and pound. Then you learn 1 or 2 easy arm lock and chokes.
A good idea would be to find a dojo tha teaches multiple arts. Like Ju Jitsu and Muay Thai. Or Judo and Kempo. Then you can learn one style on 2 nights and the other the other 2 nights... And both wil be tought by black belts not just a guy who is a black belt in one and a orange belt in the other, or not trained at all in it.

The link lists al the known styles in the world by country. Check them out and see. Theres about 250 recognized styles but many of them are pretty much the same thing.

Answer 6

Okay this might not be the smartest answer you will get but I chose my martial art because it fell on an evening I had free and after a while I really enjoyed the club spirit. Have gone to other schools to check out what they are doing but 'money' has reared it head and joining/ affiliation fees ... looking for a weapons teacher in my area at moment. What suits the individual time, cost and personality wise is more important to me, but hey I am not even a black belt yet so keep an open mind. Good luck with your search

Answer 7

I am a Tae Kwon Do Instructor who believes in giving his students options. I regularly bring in instructors from other martial arts to make my students more rounded for self defense. I still teach WTF tae kwon Do as my clubs main curriculaum.

Tae Kwon Do is a stiking art , but does not always go with high kicks , contrary to what some other people on here say. You need effective kicking if you are fighting from that range , but you need grappling if you are in closer. This is why we do a variety of things at my school.

Find a certified instructor that is open to other ideas , and not just interested in money. If you can find a club that does train in a variety of martial arts like mine , then that will make you a well rounded fighter. Don't listen to anyone that says "My martial art is the best" , a good fighter will be a good fighter no matter what martial art they practice.

Answer 8

You could try bullshido.net, but I think that it's mostly people being ignorant to other disciplines by poppin off at the mouth about how their discipline is the "best" in the world and all the others are crap so you can't really get an honest no BS, and unbiased opinion assesment of ANY discipline throught that website.

but it's fun to read some of the postings there as people try taking potshots at each other.

ther're two main catagories that Martial Arts really fall under Ground Game and Standing Game about 90% of the disciplines fall under the Standing game column and only a handful fall under the Ground game column

While a few others can cross back and fourth between the two depending on the nature of their techniques.

What we as Martial Artists must do is address OUR OWN weaknesses and discrepencies by training and continually striving to improve ourselves.

Because it's not the art that can change itself, but we can do so by cross training and learning from other disciplines that can help fill the gaps of these discrepencies, and again; that can only be done through continually training and improving our techniques.

Answer 9

Martial arts are a noble class of sport, evolving over centuries and segregating to a variety of styles, however almost all have one original source, the oldest and most beautiful. While it may be the easiest to learn physically, it can take many lifetimes to master mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially. It is the true essence of health and well being, and is entirely non-combative, yet someone who fights using this art form correctly will win regardless of their opponent's skill level or format. When you find a comparative website on martial arts, you will see exactly which one on the list I am referring to, no doubt! It has only one weakness, that which is believed to be the defining characteristic of humanity: Compassion.

Answer 10

When asked this question, I invariably suggest Shaolin. It is the oldest martial art on record. It teaches all aspects of the martial arts--the five animal system (tiger, leopard, dragon, snake and crane), the wushu animal system (eagle, scorpion, monkey), weapons of limitless type, and for groundfighting, Shaolin dog. It's best to find a monk, but there are also many Americanized schools that do just as well.