Which self defense method you think kick @$$?

Question

kung fu
tae kwon do
muay thai
etc.

Answer 1

The honest answer? If you're just interested in something to "kick @$$", then none of them. The ability to engage in armed or unarmed combat is just one of the facets of martial arts. Most of the people that end up getting hurt (in street fights, brawls, etc...) are those that simply focus on how "tough" they are.

However, two of the best defensive systems are often least looked upon for their "coolness" or "bad a**" factor: t'ai-chi & aikido. Their fluid motions and relaxed systems can either stop or counter most any attack. You can find out more about them here:

T'ai-chi:
http://taoist.org/english/index.php

Aikido:
http://www.aikidofaq.com/

Answer 2

Anything that can be practiced against a "live" opponent, where your opponent doesnt go with the technique just because it tells him to in the lesson plan, will be of greater help should you get into a fight. Kung fu has certain styles that can be helpful, tae kwon do is too commercialized and some things in it, such as point sparring which teach you to pull punches, can make you a worse fighter than if you never learned to fight to begin with. Muay thai is great example of a martial art with a live opponent. So is BJJ and any other kind of wrestling, although you wont want to be on the ground too long in a real street fight. Aikido is too technical, which leaves more room for error, if you dont get the technique just right you can be in a world of pain. Keep it simple, because in a fight for your life you dont want fancy, you will want quick, simple, and brutal.

Answer 3

Of that list ETC. would be my first choice. Muay Thai is the only real shot you got from that list. For me a mix or MMA system is the better. I have been around Kung Fu schools for the better part of my martial arts (I can't understand where these people get that it is effective in a real fight) As for TKD, I won't even spend the time typing the name let alone spending time with the art itself. Anything that allows you skill in all ranges of combat #1. Punching, Kicking, Trapping and Ground. For me the only true art that does that isn't an art at all it is a way of looking at all martial arts it is MMA. Nothing is more complete than all the arts as one. Anyway all martial arts, at one time, were one great art. Over time this person or that took from the one great art and focuced on a paticular part. That is were styles developed. Once all the arts were one, we are now forming the great circle and once again putting it back together. MMA is the first real step in bring the Great Style back to its whole form again. At least that is how I like to look at it.

Answer 4

Adaptivity is the only way, cross train in several styles. Choose what works for you. I learn Karate, Kobu-Jitsu. Also self train in certain aspects of other styles ie Filipino Martial Arts Knife Defense, Krav Maga is good against armed assault, military and police train with this.

Books are available on Krav Maga, but you should already have an understanding of Martial Arts ie Karate to get the best from the books etc.

The best of all though is your mouth. Being able to talk your way out of a situation is always the best option.

Answer 5

It is not the art but the person that is the true focus of your question.

A true black belt in tkd might beat a shaolin kung fu guy of the same level.....but that shaolin guy might be a muay thai of the same level....and that muay thai guy might beat the original tkd'ist.

It is not the art, but the martial talent of the person that is the answer.

Answer 6

for striking, you'll get little argument from real competitive fighters that muay thai's pretty much where it's at. boxing, obviously is an important component in a strikers arsenal...

for takedowns and takedown defense, wrestling and to a lesser extent judo (see Karo Parisyan and Thierry Sokodjou)...

for positioning, submissions, ground and pound, and submission defense, there are several arts like BJJ, judo and catch wrestling, with BJJ being the premier form...

if you want to relax and be philosophical, do yoga. there's a reason why martial arts are called MARTIAL arts, the goal is to fight and inflict damage on an opponent and to protect oneself from such damage.

Answer 7

Taking a military close combat class will teach you how to beat people up the most. You don't need to be in the military to take such a class.

Answer 8

Anyone of those can, if the practitioner is quick enough to get behind his opponent and set up a kick to the guy's @$$.

Answer 9

1.boxing
2.thai boxing
3. MMA

Answer 10

any style can be good; what is important is that you find a good instructor that you like and you like his/her approach and philosophy. There are a lot (maybe 80%) of brain-dead morons that teach martial arts.