is one martial art better than others?

Question

i am interested in taking a martial arts class. however, i'm not sure which i should look into. aside from the traditional self-confidence and discipline goals, i am also looking to find one that will help me get into better shape and be overall healthier. any suggestions? i'm open to some of the non-traditional martial arts as well. thanks!

Answer 1

Wow... some good answers and some total crap answers.

First off the first answerer (who goes by many names and spouts the same garbage) is obviously not an authority.

The fact they call Jujitsu, Aikido, and Judo forms of Karate for example (when they are in fact not), and having spent less than a few months in that if any, (I highly doubt they spend ANY time in that) they decided that Chinese Kung Fu was the ultimate? What was their proving ground? In other question they mentioned co owning their own dojo (after a grand 4 years of study hmmm)

Anyway, the truth is there are no arts that are the ultimate, the best is a blend of each one. Studying them individually and finding out what techniques from those styles works for you.

However that being said, there are differences in styles of training that are fundamentally different and make some styles more effective in combat than others. I think you can gain any of those things you mentioned from any place you go. Just the best thing to do is check out your area, and the dojos around, find one you like and use a good guide to help you sort out the Bullshido and McDojos from a good school..

This link will help, it is a long read by very good.

http://www.bullshido.com/articles/finding-a-good-martial-arts-school.html


Long story short, a good Martial Art or school will train with resistance. Without sparring, hard contact, and the ability to test your skills against a resisting opponent you will basically not have any sort of effective technique.

Stay away from places that say that what they do is "too deadly" to spar. Those sort of techniques are in actuality worthless. They are being taught by someone who has never executed those techniques against a living person, and who his/herself learned them from someone who also has never done it.

Throat chops, eye gouges, knee kicks, groin manipulation, you essentially already know, at least to the same proficiency as any "master" because no matter how many times you do a movement in the air, it does translate well into doing the movement against another human being who is moving and attempting to hurt you.

Anyway, my suggestion is to read the link above, check out things in your area, and take everything with a grain of salt. Don't buy into mysticism, or anything that can't be substantiated.

Best of luck to you in your search, I think no matter what you will find something you enjoy.,

Answer 2

No, one martial art is not "better" than another, it's largely a matter of what you feel comfortable with and what clicks with you. Karate and taekwondo focus more on kicking and striking, jujitsu works more with grappling and take-downs, judo is a bit like wrestling, and aikdio/hapkido focus on arm bars/wrist locks and take-downs. There will always be some variation in terminology, spelling and technique due to country of origin and modern adaptation. You should research all your options on the internet and in books to get a better idea of each, and you should also go to a couple of different martial arts studios to get a feel for the instruction and teachers, and ask questions. Have fun and good luck.

Answer 3

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.
http://www.zendokai.com.au/countries2/USA/index.htm

Answer 4

There is no best martial art, there are some that are more applicable to real world situations than others. Here is a list of some very good styles. It would be a good idea to do research on any style you may consider, not just these few.
Kajukenbo
CHA 3 kenpo
Hun gar
Choy lay fut
Eskrima
Muay thai
Jujitsu
Tang soo do
San shou
Freestyle karate


Good luck !!!

Answer 5

that is a very good question, the proper answer can only really be given by an informed mind. Someone who has had experience in multiple arts. I don't claim to be the best martial artist but i have been studying 4 many years. in the beginning i started with a year of Korean ta kwon do(unfortunately) I then moved to Japanese karate such as Judo, Jujitsu and akido. it wasn't until I had gone through all the years of what was said to be great until I discovered what was truly grand ultimate,KUNG FU, Chinese Martial arts. it is the original. The most applicable and will have the most profound affect on your life in general. its more then kicking and striking its a pathway to self mastery. All of the great masters have been kung fu practitioners, even Bruce lee.the most prominent styles of kung fu though are Northern kung fu. preferably shaolyn or eagle claw as well as mi zong lo han and if you are really serious ti chi or even xing yi. this is just some of what Ive come up with after searching 4 the best arts since i was a child. good luck to you I hope that no matter what you find that u have fun and stay strong.

Answer 6

NO! There is no BEST Martial Art!!!!

What is the problem with choosing an Art to study?

What other areas of life do you have this problem with?
Does someone choose for you what clothes you are going to wear each day?
Does someone else choose for you when you should go to the bathroom and whether you should do #1 or #2?

Come on! Step up to the plate and make your own decision.

Answer 7

You've kept yourself pretty open-ended, but I'm sure that self-defense is one of your goals (Though it seems to be less of a goal to you than the other things you've listed).
There are two things to consider:
A. There aren't any styles that are better than another. Each style has a different balance as to what parts of the seven elements of fitness are emphasized, training style (Which is what really determines what can be better than another), fighting range (leg range, arm range, throwing, and grappling), et cetera...
B. For self defense purposes: It's advised that a person cross trains in both striking and grappling arts (Or a style that works multiple ranges [Like Chun Kuk Do or Hwar Do]). The styles aren't what matter, but what you intend to do, and what range(s) seem comfortable.
Healthwise: All the arts can give you health benefits. It really depends on what you want.
Some are better than others when it comes to XYZ element of fitness/discipline/confidence, but I don't know of any that are completely lacking in something. It also depends on you as well.
For example:
A graduado in Capoeira Regional is bound to be strong, quick, tireless (Listen to what Moon Dragon said: "You will burn a 1000 calories in a Capoeira class." ^_^), confident, and more. Most of the Capoeira schools today that aren't in the traditional areas aren't highly "Disciplined," but that graduado it's also inaccurate to say a student in Capoeira is undisciplined. You don't get the whip, but you don't get away with doing wrong as well. :P
An advanced Aikido student? They are bound to be fit, there is some discpline in it as well. The confidence thing is subjective (The same thing goes with the Capoeira example). The level of fitness will not, however, be through the roof like that of someone who has practiced Capoeira regularly for a period of time.
That doesn't make Capoeira any better than Aikido because Aikido is centered around throwing. You can get strength and speed from that, you are also bound to live a long life if you continue to practice it for a long time, but the roda of Capoeira and the sparring sense of Aikido are much different from each other. Capoeira has striking and some grappling, but Aikido is mostly throwing.
Muay Thai? It has really intense training, your fitness is bound to rise greatly, and there tends to be a lot of discipline in the schools that teach it. In regards to the seven elements of fitness: It's great on multiple levels (Same things goes for Aikido and Capoeira), but we all have preferences.
So again...
If you are looking for self-defense in mind: Take striking and grappling (Whether you take them in that order, vice versa, or together in a hybrid art), or get REALLY good at one or two fighting ranges.
If you are looking for health/confidence benefits: Find a good school. The style isn't what matters. Do you want to throw people like potatoes, break them open with a clinch combo, or do you want to kick someone from a handstand position after you've already roundhouse kicked them in the head? :P

To the person that gave me thumbs down: Are you mad because I didn't mention the style you practice, or are you mad because I'm smart enough to realize that no style is better than another?

Answer 8

No. 1) Grappling is fighting. 2) Boxers are among the hardest PUNCHERS, but not the hardest hitters (hint: kicks are harder than punches). 3) Boxers are masters are using fists, but not arms, elbowing is a different game. 4) Boxers don't learn to block, deflect or avoid elbows, kicks and knees. 5) Kicking is fighting. 6) The reason why boxers have done poorly in kickboxing and MMA competition shows that your standpoint is not accurate.

Answer 9

All martial arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Try the Y or a rec center.

Answer 10

Check out the individual dojos. A sensei can make or break a dojo.