Top 10 Martial Arts for Self Defense

[Hesperus]

I can really only think of three...

1. MMA/Daido Juku/Combat Sambo/Vale Tudo

2. Judo/Wrestling/Brazilian Jiu-jitsu/Sport Sambo

3. Boxing/Muay Thai/Sanda/Knockdown Karate

[devilboy7778]

that is beside the point. standing grappling skills are generally more useful in a self defence scenario.

the list should be

10. Being big
9. Lifting weights
8. Rugby/American Football
7. Full contact Karate
6. BJJ
5. Boxing/Muay Thai/Sanshou
4. Judo/Sambo/Wrestling
3. MMA
2. Gun-fu
1. STFU-fu

no knife? Ya know 0-6 and a gun is less dangerous then a knife would be...
:qleft6:

[Chado]

When you people say wrestling you mean like freestyle wrestling or submission (or both)? And boxing has prove itself that works even vs many opponents, but could wrestling do that?

I get that throws and the sweeps work and you can immobilize a person with sub. Also, I get the 'law' part of the grappling as you probably end up in jail if the other one is full of elbow cuts.

So why grappling > striking. No, I don't intend a style vs style thing but I wish to know the thinking behind it.

[Hesperus]

If someone's at striking range, you might still be able to run away.

If somebody grabs you, you're grappling whether you like it or not.

[Lu Tze]

Grapplers can train more realistically, they can spar at full speed/resistance with minimal risk. Strikers can't do that unfortunately, because the risk of injury is much greater for them.

It's much much better to combine them both though.

Edit: Yeah, and what Hesperus said. If someone is intent on grappling you, it's quite hard to maintain range on them for long (watch a boxing match). Not impossible though, so don't get cocky.

I'm just waiting for someone to spot where it says Muay Thai is an offshoot of Kickboxing.

Ooh, niiiice.

/grabs popcorn.

[Lindz]

The best martial art for self defense is and always will be playing half-back. The only problem is finding good people to practice with if you're not good enough to do it semi-pro or pro.

I'd take a back row or second rower over a half back and a front rower over both of those

[cuatro76]

here is a thing. I train judo and my ground game is not what it should be. therefore I think bjj would be better for me because I haven't built my ground game.

The only ground game you need for self defense is the ability to get back up quickly. If your dojo isn't giving you enough ne-waza, ask a black belt to work with you before or after class. Or ask the sensei for more.

In regards to the list, I was surprised no FMA's were included. The comments section for that list is full of fail, too.

[Conde Koma]

the list should be

10. Being big
9. Lifting weights
8. Rugby/American Football
7. Full contact Karate
6. BJJ
5. Boxing/Muay Thai/Sanshou
4. Judo/Sambo/Wrestling
3. MMA
2. Gun-fu
1. STFU-fu

SECONDED. although maybe knife-fu should go with gun-fu. in any case, STFU-fu will probably be the most important, but least trained.

[battlefields]

10. Salsa
9. Zumba
8. Waltz
7. Fox trot
6. Cha cha
5. Rumba
4. Jive
3. Nut bush
2. Kung fu fighting
1. The Macarena

I'm sure you are wondering why I put Jive at 4 instead of 2, but in a multiple attacker scenario it is virtually useless.

[Ka-Bar]

That list sucks, but at least it included boxing. Most people forget about boxing as a self-defense system, let alone as a martial art.

And while my Thai might be a little rusty, I'm pretty sure Muay Thai doesn't roughly translate to "the art of eight limbs." I'm sure it doesn't translate to that roughly or in any other fashion.

Most critics of this art point out that it is nearly impossible for the average black belt to catch a person’s punch and turn fast enough to perform this move, but that’s not true. It’s actually a very easy move to learn and perfect.

Really? Seriously