What is the most effective martial art?

Question

This does not include cross training styles, only original martial arts.

Answer 1

If your fighting multiple opponents, Jeet Kune Do

If your fighting one opponent, Ju Jitsu

Answer 2

Truly though what can you call an ORIGINAL Martial Art? most disciplines have intermixed and interspersed in and amongst the cultures that have added their own mindset or cultural DNA to the discipline at one point or another.

but on to my opinion to your question

Any of them can, if they are taught properly enough and with a mindset for practicality.

They all are effective in their own right, but they all have a weakness as well as a strength that can be capitalized on or exploited, as bushido put it: how effectively it is learned, meaning that the discipline is only as effective as the person who learned it.

Saint G also has a good point about finding the discipline that will work best for the INDIVIDUAL person and their personal benefit because a single Martial Arts discipline would be just like a one size fits all t-shirts: too small in place, too long in another, so it basically fits no one, so that's why there are so many varieties.

Somewhere along the line; the individual person will find a Martial Art that has that one jigsaw piece that will fit into their lives where others prob'ly won't

but training and using the techniques with a practical sensibility is the real key, and you really have to focus on that aspect to spotlight the strengths and weaknesses so that the individual person can find out for themselves what will or what won't work for them in a given situation..

Answer 3

Overall including weapons, Tai Chi Quan
Next Original Choy Lay Fut
Next Combat Newaza , Gum Do

Answer 4

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Kung Fu or Jeet Kun Do.

These teach effective real technique for a balanced function. Not only for looks, too much attack, or too much defense.

Jeet Kun Do is Bruce Lees concepts. It is rooted in Kung Fu but borrows from many martial arts. Bruce used simple movements that were effective and simple. Just because it wasn't Kung Fu did not make it ineffective. He used Ali's style of constant footwork movement and other boxing details. Also, grappling, muy tai, judo, as well as some of his own movements.

His idea was not to be limited to a strict single style. But use what works for you. Use what works for the moment. When practiced thoroughly, Jeet Kun Do is a most effective style of martial arts.

It is a form that has no form. It is free to use whatever works. It is not just for tournaments and breaking boards. As he put it, "Boards don't hit back."

So many of his concepts are achievable. They aren't limited to being useful 'if an attacker is coming at you in a lunging motion like this'. They are simple movements that work most every time. Flying roundhouse kicks are fancy but aren't very effective. A simple straight punch to the nose of an opponent is. It's low exertion and is an easily recovered from movement. Nothing fancy, but most people can do it.

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Answer 5

there is no most effective... they all have stregnth weaknesses and focuses.. and when u look at the grand scheem of it all martial arts are mixed martial arts.. even the "originals" and theres alot things u wanna decide if u want it 2 be confusing or straigt forward.... cool looking or simple brutal or gental... offensive or defensive.. if u wanna do thinkgs up close or from afar....

Answer 6

A good style that can be -effective in competitions, good for for protection, and devastating in dangerous situations- would be Muay Thai. It is an old form of martial arts developed in Thia land to protect foot soldiers when they have lost their weapons. It utilizes fast full force blows meant to stop one in their tracks. It has been the national sport of Thailand for years and was one of the parents of modern day kickboxing. Unlike other martial arts were you practice tapping our pulled punches and kick that supposedly will "daze your opponent and leave them in fear of you". Muay Thai teaches you to attack and be attacked so you are fully prepared for any fight you may encounter.

Answer 7

Tae Kwon Do, as others have mentioned, is a viable choice.

Frankly, it's not a self-defense art as much as it is a sport. It's about finess and speed. You learn to use your legs.

Though, if you're talking about effective in combat I can't say. They all have strengths and weaknesses. Anyone who tells you that their martial art is the best... is lieing.... Everyone usually thinks that. The best thing to do is talk to multiple masters of other arts and find which interests you the most.

Answer 8

the one you can use to defend yourself against unplanned situations. you have different characteristics than everyone else, so you have to find your equilibrium yourself. for me, it was the simple method of "once you attack, keep going and never stop till you or they drop, and keep going forward". so you see, its not a technique, or a martial art, but a philosophy. you will find many great fighters have less regard for a style but will tell you their philosophy on fighting. compare these and you will find a theme.

I was never a fan of teaching tit for tat fighting, then avoidance, then tit for tat. no one fights like that when you are determined to waste them fast. fight for too long and you lower your chances of winning. strike first, strike fast, and strike forward.

TKD is not better at tournaments. it just happened to beat inferior tournament fighters in that situation mentioned. back as a teenager in Kempo we were banned from entering the TKD open tourneys. other arts were allowed, but not us. they didnt like us taking their trophies. but see, that was because of the people I trained with, not the art as a whole.

TKD alone is not as effective as others, so why would you want something less, for the same price? once again I mention elbows and knees. TKD does not teach you to utilize these perfect weapons for close range. head kicks havent hit me in street fights, and that is because people come right in and overwhelm you at close range. tournament competitors do not equal street fighters.

so you need to find what works for your wants. one size does not fit all, and this is the obvious theme to what Bruce Lee was trying to educate us about. test the waters and find out what is best for you. dont listen to him though, or me, just to yourself in retrospect. people here will tell you to try "their" style, and this is bias. so I do not tell you to train like I did, but train for yourself.

always question your beliefs, and always doubt others. the truth isnt found by agreeing but through feeling.

Answer 9

A friend who knew martial arts told me that Tae Kwon Do students fare better in tournament settings against similarly trained (time-wise) "other" martial arts.

Answer 10

JUDO

its the style that bjj dont use and should! its take downs and submissions check it out on you tube... you can use this on the street ( the take downs) they use it in UFC and its an olypic sport for a reason!