Best martial art?
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Fred Hansen
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Ching ching pow
You have to know how to defend yourself on your feet and on the ground.
BJJ or Judo teaches good ground skills. The untrained person on the ground will be at your mercy after you have had 6 months to a year of BJJ. BJJ emphasises groundwork more than Judo. However, Judo will give you enough ground skills to dominate an untrained person.
You can't always go to the ground. Multiple opponents would be suicide to go to the ground. Find a good striking art. Each individual school will be more important than the style. A punch is a punch. The way they train is more important.
That is my opinion after 15 years in Shotokan, BJJ, and Judo.
BJJ or Judo teaches good ground skills. The untrained person on the ground will be at your mercy after you have had 6 months to a year of BJJ. BJJ emphasises groundwork more than Judo. However, Judo will give you enough ground skills to dominate an untrained person.
You can't always go to the ground. Multiple opponents would be suicide to go to the ground. Find a good striking art. Each individual school will be more important than the style. A punch is a punch. The way they train is more important.
That is my opinion after 15 years in Shotokan, BJJ, and Judo.
Second most of what Glock40 said...
It's not the style, it's not the school (though that starts to matter)...it's the student and the instructor.
There are plenty of schools and instructors out there that aren't worth crap. If you get an instructor that's good and YOU (or whoever) are willing to learn and have the right attitude, then things will work out. You can take someone who has no aggression and teach them the physical skills and they won't be able or willing to use them (no "warrior spirit") when they are needed. You can take someone who does have the aggression within and teach them and they'll do great.
I am a big believer in the spiritual aspect of the martial arts but not in the way that most people think of it. Inner peace comes from no fear and no anxiety. The baddest MF on the block should, therefore, have plenty of inner peace.
It's not the style, it's not the school (though that starts to matter)...it's the student and the instructor.
There are plenty of schools and instructors out there that aren't worth crap. If you get an instructor that's good and YOU (or whoever) are willing to learn and have the right attitude, then things will work out. You can take someone who has no aggression and teach them the physical skills and they won't be able or willing to use them (no "warrior spirit") when they are needed. You can take someone who does have the aggression within and teach them and they'll do great.
I am a big believer in the spiritual aspect of the martial arts but not in the way that most people think of it. Inner peace comes from no fear and no anxiety. The baddest MF on the block should, therefore, have plenty of inner peace.
Some of the most dangerous individuals I have ever met in BJJ have been the nicest guys you will ever meet. It's funny, in BJJ, everyone knows who is tough and who is not. There is absolutely no reason to put on a show. It all is proven on the mat.
In karate, I did not notice the same thing. Perhaps, in the process of trying to develop the warrior spirit through endless repetitions with loud kiais, some people can fall into believing they are tougher than they really are. I don't know exactly why.
Just opinion and my experience. The most humbling day of my life was, after reaching black belt in Shotokan, I went to a BJJ studio. This little Brazilian guy said we could go on the mat and spar. I put some lightweight gloves on and he promised not to hurt me. I thought that he was being a little condescending? We started to spar. Within 5 minutes, he had taken me down a dozen times and my arms were bent in these strange ways. He was choking me gently and I couldn't get away. 10 years of kata meant nothing on the ground.
I am so glad he did those "mean" things to me. I have trained in BJJ for about 4 years ago and now have a game plan on the ground. Sometimes it is amazing that you don't know what you don't know.
In karate, I did not notice the same thing. Perhaps, in the process of trying to develop the warrior spirit through endless repetitions with loud kiais, some people can fall into believing they are tougher than they really are. I don't know exactly why.
Just opinion and my experience. The most humbling day of my life was, after reaching black belt in Shotokan, I went to a BJJ studio. This little Brazilian guy said we could go on the mat and spar. I put some lightweight gloves on and he promised not to hurt me. I thought that he was being a little condescending? We started to spar. Within 5 minutes, he had taken me down a dozen times and my arms were bent in these strange ways. He was choking me gently and I couldn't get away. 10 years of kata meant nothing on the ground.
I am so glad he did those "mean" things to me. I have trained in BJJ for about 4 years ago and now have a game plan on the ground. Sometimes it is amazing that you don't know what you don't know.
I've always found that someone willing to do harm to another has a distinct advantage over someone who is timid, whether trained or untrained.
I have gotten to the point where I dislike practicing any very "traditional" martial art because the majority of instructors in such schools aren't up to a true test of their abilities. There ARE notable exceptions, of course.
I have trained in hapkido, tang soo do, shorin-ryu, silat, escrima, and muay thai (and bastardized versions of most of the above). In the 15 years or so that I've been involved in the martial arts, I've yet to see anyone do well in a real fight or in full-contact sparring without having that "something" that denotes what I assume most would call "warrior spirit". Loud yells sure don't matter.
I, too, have had the experience that some of the best martial artists ("best" meaning most effective) are some of the nicest guys around. I feel that it just goes to show that, if you are able to stand up for yourself and know it, you don't have a problem with anyone else unless they're messing with you.
I have been wanting to study BJJ but haven't been around much of it. I moved away from Indiana right when someone started teaching near my home. Where I live now there is a guy who is supposed to be very good but doesn't currently teach. I'm sort of hoping to buy him into taking a new student.
I have gotten to the point where I dislike practicing any very "traditional" martial art because the majority of instructors in such schools aren't up to a true test of their abilities. There ARE notable exceptions, of course.
I have trained in hapkido, tang soo do, shorin-ryu, silat, escrima, and muay thai (and bastardized versions of most of the above). In the 15 years or so that I've been involved in the martial arts, I've yet to see anyone do well in a real fight or in full-contact sparring without having that "something" that denotes what I assume most would call "warrior spirit". Loud yells sure don't matter.
I, too, have had the experience that some of the best martial artists ("best" meaning most effective) are some of the nicest guys around. I feel that it just goes to show that, if you are able to stand up for yourself and know it, you don't have a problem with anyone else unless they're messing with you.
I have been wanting to study BJJ but haven't been around much of it. I moved away from Indiana right when someone started teaching near my home. Where I live now there is a guy who is supposed to be very good but doesn't currently teach. I'm sort of hoping to buy him into taking a new student.
Best for defense... for a moment skip the hang-ups on a style's name and focus on what happens in the training session. For defensive purposes you should be training with appropriate simple, gross motor skills and cover the full contact range. The pratice needs to be with less than cooperative partners. Full force work on bags and pads as opposed to fighting the air. Hopefully Red Man, Bullet Man or High Gear suits for "full contact" on a regular basis. Inclusion of improvised weapons.
Back to names...though it depends on the instructor, from observation some that meet this criteria would be Krav Maga, JKD, and Muay Thai. I would also like to supplement with some sessions with instructors like Tony Blauer and Steve Tarini.
Back to names...though it depends on the instructor, from observation some that meet this criteria would be Krav Maga, JKD, and Muay Thai. I would also like to supplement with some sessions with instructors like Tony Blauer and Steve Tarini.
http://www.russianmartialart.com/html/thesystema.html
i plan on staring that. Any thoughts? i mean i can do it for free, so...but it better not be a bunch of bull****
i plan on staring that. Any thoughts? i mean i can do it for free, so...but it better not be a bunch of bull****
I agree with Glock 40 on BJJ. I trained in BJJ, this was the only style I ever trained in where, I knew the moves would work for real. I mean, if I punched the air, or heavy bag, I dont know if it will hurt someone. But, if I put someone in an arm bar, I know I what its doing. The only thing I didnt like was, it was impossible for me to beat another BJJ fighter with more experience.
I really think that the biggest reason BBJ fighters have such a good reputation is that the techniques DO get practiced in a more realistic environment. You can grapple and do locks and chokes more "for real" than you can with full-power strikes to vital areas. It's all in the training and the attitude. The Gracies have done an excellent job over the decades making sure that their stuff works and making sure that the training reflects reality. The VAST majority of other arts can't make that claim.
Another poster mentioned protective suits...a great idea for strikers but it still doesn't give them everything that they need. It's basically impossible for someone to train in open-handed striking arts to the level that grapplers can train. You can't just gouge eyes, punch throats, kick knees and unprotected groins, etc. in a martial arts class. A striker ends up learning, at best, how to throw punches and kicks to areas which are actually NOT the best areas to attack.
The best instructors that I know teach thusly:
The first used to run classes in which several things were taught (no katas or anything "traditional"...this was a hard-core class). Physical conditioning was foremost followed by mastering the basic punching, kicking, and blocking techniques. Other things (knives, firearms, sticks, various "one-steps" or "street defenses") were after you had the basics down WELL. Full-contact sparring was done once a month. There was no protective gear other than cups, gloves, and mouthpieces. Other than that, it was about as close to a "street fight" as you could get. Cups were used more to cushion blows that were thrown to your groin than as protection in case someone accidentally hit you there (more than one cup was broken by groin kicks...ouch). Fights would go until one of the combatants couldn't go anymore. Bones were broken and blood was shed in this class. Needless to say, the school was not a commerical success, but it produced students who were TOUGH. As brutal as this training was, it still didn't allow a striker to learn and practice everything that might be done.
The second is/was a student of the first. He has broken things down even further and really teaches nothing but physical conditioning and basics (plus firearms). He sees no use for complicated aspects of the martial arts because he is a "no-nonsense" kind of guy. He doesn't feel that there is a NEED for anything but being able to land the hardest kick, punch, elbow, or knee possible to a moving, resisting, and/or evading target.
Neither of these men is anyone to mess with but the potential of what they practice is STILL not fully realized because you just can't cripple and kill people in practice. Both have fought BJJ and other grapplers and won and lost. In the losing cases that I have seen, the men have had the OPPORTUNITY to land blows on the grapplers which would have ended the fight but they could not due to the rules and just sheerly for the fact that the fights were friendly. You just don't shin a guy in the throat in a friendly fight.
I don't really believe in fighting multiple attackers unarmed. More than one guy and you're very liable to be beaten. Better to fight your way OUT of the situation. One on one, you would be better served to go with a grappling art because of the reasons that I cited above...the training is just FAR more realistic. Striking is fine but, one on one, you can always take the fight to the ground.
I'm sure that I'll getting flamed a little on this, but it's my experience and my belief. I love the martial arts, but learning anything complicated or anything that you can't train at 100% (or nearly) is just exercise for mind and body and not necessarily what you want if you want the best fighting art around.
My only complaint is that I can't find anything in my area where they train in grappling. Everything is traditional martial arts and people not fighting full-contact. If anyone can point me to someone in the northeastern Arkansas area who trains realistically, please do so.
Another poster mentioned protective suits...a great idea for strikers but it still doesn't give them everything that they need. It's basically impossible for someone to train in open-handed striking arts to the level that grapplers can train. You can't just gouge eyes, punch throats, kick knees and unprotected groins, etc. in a martial arts class. A striker ends up learning, at best, how to throw punches and kicks to areas which are actually NOT the best areas to attack.
The best instructors that I know teach thusly:
The first used to run classes in which several things were taught (no katas or anything "traditional"...this was a hard-core class). Physical conditioning was foremost followed by mastering the basic punching, kicking, and blocking techniques. Other things (knives, firearms, sticks, various "one-steps" or "street defenses") were after you had the basics down WELL. Full-contact sparring was done once a month. There was no protective gear other than cups, gloves, and mouthpieces. Other than that, it was about as close to a "street fight" as you could get. Cups were used more to cushion blows that were thrown to your groin than as protection in case someone accidentally hit you there (more than one cup was broken by groin kicks...ouch). Fights would go until one of the combatants couldn't go anymore. Bones were broken and blood was shed in this class. Needless to say, the school was not a commerical success, but it produced students who were TOUGH. As brutal as this training was, it still didn't allow a striker to learn and practice everything that might be done.
The second is/was a student of the first. He has broken things down even further and really teaches nothing but physical conditioning and basics (plus firearms). He sees no use for complicated aspects of the martial arts because he is a "no-nonsense" kind of guy. He doesn't feel that there is a NEED for anything but being able to land the hardest kick, punch, elbow, or knee possible to a moving, resisting, and/or evading target.
Neither of these men is anyone to mess with but the potential of what they practice is STILL not fully realized because you just can't cripple and kill people in practice. Both have fought BJJ and other grapplers and won and lost. In the losing cases that I have seen, the men have had the OPPORTUNITY to land blows on the grapplers which would have ended the fight but they could not due to the rules and just sheerly for the fact that the fights were friendly. You just don't shin a guy in the throat in a friendly fight.
I don't really believe in fighting multiple attackers unarmed. More than one guy and you're very liable to be beaten. Better to fight your way OUT of the situation. One on one, you would be better served to go with a grappling art because of the reasons that I cited above...the training is just FAR more realistic. Striking is fine but, one on one, you can always take the fight to the ground.
I'm sure that I'll getting flamed a little on this, but it's my experience and my belief. I love the martial arts, but learning anything complicated or anything that you can't train at 100% (or nearly) is just exercise for mind and body and not necessarily what you want if you want the best fighting art around.
My only complaint is that I can't find anything in my area where they train in grappling. Everything is traditional martial arts and people not fighting full-contact. If anyone can point me to someone in the northeastern Arkansas area who trains realistically, please do so.
I studied Kenpo (Connors/Parker) and western boxing for about 3 years, and now Krav Maga.
I learned a lot about the mechanics of striking and balance from kenpo, but it didn't do me a whole lot of good when I really needed to learn to defend myself. I supplimented it with boxing, which did wonders towards conditioning me to be able to stand up in a fight, take a punch, and aggressively fight back.
15 years later I am learning krav maga. It is perfect for my needs, and I wish I had been able to do this from the outset. What a previous poster said about full impact, aggression, and gross motor skill development is right on the money.
If someone is already a competent and aggressive striker, go take some bjj. If you haven't done much in the way of actual fighting, choose training where you will have to actually trade blows, i.e. krav maga, muai thai, boxing. If you can't take a punch, your skills may fail you, whatever they are. Flinching has cost me many an asskicking, once upon a time.
Fighting against a "bullet-man" suit is a great training tool to help you master your own adrenaline. I would suggest IMPACT type adrenaline-stress training to anyone studying any technique.
Responding to the comment about k.m. being a business, hell yes it is, as are muai thai and bjj. It is also very effective. How many people here own firearms made by a non-profit organization?
The best martial art is the one that works for me.
I learned a lot about the mechanics of striking and balance from kenpo, but it didn't do me a whole lot of good when I really needed to learn to defend myself. I supplimented it with boxing, which did wonders towards conditioning me to be able to stand up in a fight, take a punch, and aggressively fight back.
15 years later I am learning krav maga. It is perfect for my needs, and I wish I had been able to do this from the outset. What a previous poster said about full impact, aggression, and gross motor skill development is right on the money.
If someone is already a competent and aggressive striker, go take some bjj. If you haven't done much in the way of actual fighting, choose training where you will have to actually trade blows, i.e. krav maga, muai thai, boxing. If you can't take a punch, your skills may fail you, whatever they are. Flinching has cost me many an asskicking, once upon a time.
Fighting against a "bullet-man" suit is a great training tool to help you master your own adrenaline. I would suggest IMPACT type adrenaline-stress training to anyone studying any technique.
Responding to the comment about k.m. being a business, hell yes it is, as are muai thai and bjj. It is also very effective. How many people here own firearms made by a non-profit organization?
The best martial art is the one that works for me.
Christopher II
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The best martial art? Good physical condition, constant situational awareness, proper mindset. Asking which MA is the best is like asking which gun is the best.
- Chris
- Chris
Christopher, you are partially right. Comparing various striking arts vs. each other is pointless. Comparing a striking art vs. a grappling art is a different thing. The average grappler with 1 year of BJJ will dominate a striker with 10 years of experience in a one on one situation.
However, not all situations are one on one. Sometimes going to the ground would be suicide. Sometimes people have weapons. The value of my Karate training would multiply ten fold if I had a 6 Cell mag light in my hands.
Learn to strike and learn to grapple. They are both required to be a complete martial artist. Two sides of the same coin.
However, not all situations are one on one. Sometimes going to the ground would be suicide. Sometimes people have weapons. The value of my Karate training would multiply ten fold if I had a 6 Cell mag light in my hands.
Learn to strike and learn to grapple. They are both required to be a complete martial artist. Two sides of the same coin.
I agree with ChrisII. I believe that you have to have a well-rounded skill set, but you have to know when to grapple, strike, run away, shoot, use da ASP, do verbal judo, etc. You can't respond to every attack/situation in the same manner. Therefore, I believe that building your defensive strategy around a single martial art is folly.
Christopher II
New member
Agreed re. being well-rounded.
Now my personal favorite MA is still The Way of the Receeding Foot...
- Chris
Now my personal favorite MA is still The Way of the Receeding Foot...
- Chris
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