What martial art do you recommend?

[12341234]

Hi
I have no interest in training to fight in a conyest or something, I just want to learn how to fight, to be able to defend myself. I have trained 2 years in muay thai. Right now I only train kali once a week since a couple of months, so I really can't fight very well. My question is wether martial ARTS are actually good for self defense. My school even seems to make a difference since they offer private instruction on grappling, striking, weapons(filipino) and self defence. Does this mean self defence is so different from martial arts or not.

My school promotes crosstraining, but I don't have time so what should I choose:
Aikibudo
Brazilian Jiu jitsu
Jeet Kun DO(=>trapping and kickboxing)
Kali-Escrima
Muay Thai
Self defence
http://www.defcross.be

[Deadpan Scientist]

Self defense is 99.99% avoidance. Otherwise, buy a gun with consealed carry permit.

[Reikon]

Hi
I have no interest in training to fight in a conyest or something, I just want to learn how to fight, to be able to defend myself. I have trained 2 years in muay thai. Right now I only train kali once a week since a couple of months, so I really can't fight very well. My question is wether martial ARTS are actually good for self defense. My school even seems to make a difference since they offer private instruction on grappling, striking, weapons(filipino) and self defence. Does this mean self defence is so different from martial arts or not.

My school promotes crosstraining, but I don't have time so what should I choose:
Aikibudo
Brazilian Jiu jitsu
Jeet Kun DO(=>trapping and kickboxing)
Kali-Escrima
Muay Thai
Self defence
http://www.defcross.be

For overall I'd point to Kali if it's a good system, because it has weapons, striking, sweeps, throws, joint locks and possibly some ground fighting. Otherwise most people here will point you to BJJ or MT..

[Gypsy Jazz]

Why not inquire within your school? From just browsing your school's site some it seems like a pretty solid place. Ask an instructor what they might choose if in your posistion.

Maybe watch a few of each class or see if you can get a trial. My guess is that the self defense class is something they have for those who want to get a little bit of everything without spending too much time invested.

[12341234]

Why not inquire within your school? From just browsing your school's site some it seems like a pretty solid place. Ask an instructor what they might choose if in your posistion.

Thanks, I will do that. By the way I would say the kali class is a mixture of lameco, modern arnis and maphilindo silat.

[EternalRage]

Hi
I have no interest in training to fight in a conyest or something, I just want to learn how to fight, to be able to defend myself. I have trained 2 years in muay thai. Right now I only train kali once a week since a couple of months, so I really can't fight very well. My question is wether martial ARTS are actually good for self defense. My school even seems to make a difference since they offer private instruction on grappling, striking, weapons(filipino) and self defence. Does this mean self defence is so different from martial arts or not.

My school promotes crosstraining, but I don't have time so what should I choose:
Aikibudo
Brazilian Jiu jitsu
Jeet Kun DO(=>trapping and kickboxing)
Kali-Escrima
Muay Thai
Self defence
http://www.defcross.be

there is no such thing as an effective empty handed self defense. You will get shot or stabbed on the street if you try.

[punchingdummy]

Self defense is 99.99% avoidance.

Agreed. If the interest is purely self-defense, nothing beats some common sense and de-escalation skills.

[chaosexmachina]

2 years of muay thai and you have no confidence in your fighting abilility? I say, continue with MT and get some BJJ going.

[PO9]

Wing Chun for your stanup and combat yoga for your groundwork.

[Olorin]

2 years of muay thai and you have no confidence in your fighting abilility? I say, continue with MT and get some BJJ going.

I agree you have a good thing going with MT, all you need is some grappling to round yourself out.

[Lampa]

there is no such thing as an effective empty handed self defense. You will get shot or stabbed on the street if you try.

I call bullshit.

I, like every other sane human being, do agree with the fact that avoidance is the vast majority of self defense. I also think that most unarmed defenses against weapons I've been taught kind of suck.
However, I'd much rather have hand techniques I have practiced against people and know I can use than gun techniques I've only used against targets and might not be psychologically prepared to end a mother fucker with.
Unfamiliarity leads to higher brain analysis of a high stress situation which leads to freezing up which leads to being dead. I have said this before, there are military special forces guys who have gotten the best firearms use training in the world who STILL freeze up the first time they have to fire back at somebody. And if that can happen after months of training with guns and screening out those not prepared to use them it can happen to your ass.

[FighterJones]

Muay Thai + BJJ.

[pazman]

Lampa, your theoretical emtpy hand-defense against a guy using a gun or a knife on you relies on him freezing up.

No, sorry, if the guy has a knife or a gun, you're fucked. Whatever martial arts training you have might make the situation a little less fucked, but fucked nonetheless.

[RobG]

"there is no such thing as an effective empty handed self defense. You will get shot or stabbed on the street if you try."
I also call bullshit--or 'shenanigans' - for the south park junkies like myself.
I live in NYC -- and I have been accosted numerous times, more from profession than civilain life...but have endured more than my share of street shit over my 50 years of life also.

I am also a 19 year vet of service in NYC Dept of Corrections -- work in Rikers Island now...and I do see, professionally; a hell of alot of shit that NEVER makes the newspapers.
My present assignment includes my work as a first responder to every violent incident in my jail during my tour -- I get my fair share of real exercise in dealing wrth very violent situations from this.

Seen alot of real world shit...been involved in it also -- and even faced both gun and blade in the city. Its very simple to me, to write from my experience - I do have a sweet personal protection firearm, and a very well designed folder -- the maker knew his stuff. Neither have seen deployment in street defence.

Still, when Iwas confronted with a couple of life or death street situations -- it was not the blade, nor my .38; that got me home safe and un-indited. It WAS whatever martial gumbo that saw me through. Unarmed might be a lesser position to defend from, but it sure as hell is NOT the deciding factor! Unless you accept the fate as a victim doomed to die - and if you do, even a full auto UZI will not save you.

I have not studied BJJ --- it is very interesting, but I just dont have the free time to do so-- but did alot of MT...and even trained with Arjan Chai Surisite...a well experienced MT icon.

The effecitve range of martial arts is vast...sometimes even a less well known system, taught by some one with street cred -- can get ya home safely. Oftentimes, it is more a psychological thing - and the guide that you work with -- that is much more important than the name of any 'style'.

You have to find the method to your madness -- and do the work, realistically. You sweat, you bleed at times - but you will learn, with eyes wide open - accept none as your guide if you can wax his ass!

If real world skills were easy to find -- then 'Bullshido' would be a forum consisting of nut-huggingn syncophants, teens with yuki-o martial knowledge experince only. Wanna be kill'ahs..and assholes uncontrolled.

Just see what is available where you are -- hell, even a McDojo might be able to show you some real world protective movement - even acidentally.

If you keep your eyes open - you might find the guide you seek is closer that you imagined!


FIND the best REAL DEALERS that are near you!

[12341234]

2 years of muay thai and you have no confidence in your fighting abilility?

Not really, I have confidence for sparring situations, but in real life I get easily intimidated by larger, stronger people. I have been in a couple of fights(note that they were trying to kill me, just beat me up) and I was so intimidated by verbal violence etc that I froze and before being able to kick or punch I was on the ground getting my face beaten to pulp