What are some balanced fighting styles that you would recommend?

Question

I've been reading different descriptions of fighting styles but it doesn't seem to be as good as asking someone who knows about fighting. I'm just looking for a balanced style that doesn't base all it's moves on a certain principle (like using someone's own force to make them off balanced, or is all based on punches or kicks, even though both sound cool) but is still effective in self defense/fighting and whatnot. I'm pretty interested in mixed martial arts and practical self defense like striking pressure points or whatever but some of the martial arts kicks are still cool.. well I don't really know! Can you give some suggestions or advice? Thanks

I'm just looking for a balanced style that doesn't base all it's moves on a certain principle (like using someone's own force to make them off balanced, or is all based on punches or kicks, etc) but is still effective in self defense/fighting and whatnot. I'm sort of interested in mixed martial arts and practical self defense involving striking pressure points.... but I don't really know that much.

I would appreciate suggestions or advice
---
Kungfufight... thanks for the reply I agree with you that it must be annoying seeing a question that looks like "what is the best martial arts"
I think I speak for some other people too when I say I'm not looking for the "best" fighting style, only the one that best suits me (in my case I just want something balanced). I have researched a lot of different styles but it's still not as good as asking someone who actually knows something about martial arts.
I just want to do it right once, i'm willing to travel a bit to learn the right thing

oops it looks like I totally repeated what I just said in the first "details"

Answer 1

Kenpo Karate, I have been learning and teaching this Art for 10 years. Try an engine search to learn more about this devastating self defense system or go to youtube.com for kenpo demos. On the net you can check other information, history, Bios, etc. Enjoy and good luck.
(77)

Answer 2

A good well rounded style would be freestyle Karate.You will learn stand up,ground,grappling and weapons.What a lot of people don't understand is that freestyle Karate is about practical street defence not who can kick the highest or punch a pad the hardest.It's definitely not a sport martial art like TKD or BJJ.The motto of my style is the best of everything in progression.Basically that means we don't care where the technique comes from we improve it and integrate it into our style while still maintaining tradition as do most freestyle Karate's.
The hardest thing is finding a good experienced instructor.I would recommend Bushi Kai or Zen Do Kai, but if your not in Australia or New Zealand you may have some difficulty finding some one who teaches these styles.These styles also usually have separate classes available to everyone in Muay Thai and BJJ/Submission/Shoot wrestling.If you can't find one of these i would suggest Kempo or Enshin or another freestyle Karate.

Answer 3

This question gets asked at least twice a day. Everyone will tell you that the style they study is the best and that the others are worthless. If I told you that Russian Sambo was the perfect fit for all the aspects you are looking for, would you travel to Moscow to study? You are limited to the schools that are available in your area. Even if there was a Russian Sambo school in your area doesn't mean that it is a quality school, or that you will like the class.

You need to research the schools in your area and observe their classes. Take an intro class as long as they don't make you sign any contracts. Then decide which school offers what you are looking for.

By the way, I wasn't advocating Russian Sambo. It was just an example.

Answer 4

the best thing to do is find a good teacher, if you find a good teacher then you will know you have good training regardless of the style- more often than not, if you look for a particular style then you will be more likely to fall for a bad teacher's scam.

of course certain sportative styles have less of a chance of this happening as thier focus is training for MMA or full-contact competitions of some sort.

what to AVOID:

If you value your LIFE avoid ATA like the plague.

http://www.bullshido.net/modules.php?name=Reviews&file=viewarticle&id=3

this is the kind of school ata is.

Pressure points are also a load of crap. truth is that what works on one person, might not work on another and also they will not be trained nor as effective against someone who has thier adrenalin up as in a fighting situation- in short, pressure points only work in practice the only exception being with weapons.

Answer 5

If there's one thing that we've learned in the past 10 years of martial arts history, is that the thing that most styles lack is a ground game. So if your definition of "balanced" is to cover every aspect of combat (kicking range, punching range, close-range, and ground) I would suggest a combo of Jeet Kune Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. JKD is no nonsense, and covers all standing tactical distances. BJJ will allow you to be comfortable on the ground.

Another good option is Muay Thai/BJJ.

In my opinion, the real answer to the "which is the best" debate is always a mixture of 2 or more arts each complimenting where the other lacks.

Answer 6

You may wish to look into Kajukenbo, CHA 3 kenpo, San shou, or freestyle karate.

Answer 7

if you want all aspects you need to cross train different syles because most styles are incomplete arts, but if you look at the self defense aspect a hybrid martial art is good

jeet kune do, krav maga, san soo etc... are good for those

Answer 8

ATA TaeKwonDo is a good fighting style. You do self defense, you fight (sparring), you still have to punch and kick to fight, though. I have 4 belts to go before I get to black belt in ATA. There are 11 belts altogether.

Answer 9

silat