Martial arts are something that not only improves your fighting skills but can also be helpful in your personal life. Training in martial arts can be good for your physical health and self-defense. MMA continues to grow as a sport worldwide. One of the important components of martial arts and the reason for their creation is self-defense. With the rise of modern MMA tournaments like the UFC, we can see and know about their true effectiveness. In this article, we will tell you about some of the best martial arts for self-defense.
List of 10 Martial Arts :
Karate
Karate is a martial art that comes from Japan. It was developed as a defensive art without the use of weapons. Local fighting techniques were combined with Chinese kung fu styles to create this specific martial art. Karate is extensive, and the training often involves fighting and competition, so people have the chance to test their skills. However, as a sport, it has strict rules, and fighters compete while standing up.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
BJJ was developed when Julio Gracie brought Japanese jujutsu back to his country and made it more effective. Gracie defeated all the fighters in the early UFC and showed the world how effective it is . That’s when BJJ’s popularity increased worldwide, and now MMA fighters view it as a requirement for their skill set. BJJ focuses on ground combat and leaves the practitioners vulnerable when trading attacks on the feet. As a result, kicks, takedowns, and hand strikes are not practiced regularly in most jiu-jitsu schools today.
Judo
Judo was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1964 and is still one of the most popular martial arts of all time. It mainly focuses on throws and submissions instead of strikes. Judo is very popular, which is why players can compete regularly and test their skills through competitions. One thing that differentiates it a bit from other martial arts is that the potential for injuries is much lower because punches and kicks are not included in it. But that doesn’t mean judo cannot land terrific ending strikes; after being slammed or thrown, no one would want to continue the fight.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a martial art that was developed in Korea after World War II because they didn’t want to practice Japanese karate after being occupied by Japan during World War II. Koreans wanted something that was their own, and as a result, Taekwondo was developed. Today, this sport is practiced in various parts of the world and has also been named an Olympic sport. Kicks are primarily used in this, but this is ineffective in many street fighting situations. A taekwondo practitioner is vulnerable at close range because he cannot hit them with kicks.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing has many different styles, but all forms that have developed in the West since the 1970s have their roots in a mixture of karate and boxing. Punches and kicks are mainly used in boxing, and elbows, knees, and throws are not allowed in it. Kickboxing is combined with a focus on fighting and competition, which makes it a great choice for self-defense.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is especially known for its deadly leg kicks, knees, and elbows. It has everything you want, like strikes and kicks with knees and elbows; that includes throws and some clinch techniques as well. Its stance is also stable and capable of defensive movement, allowing it to move around or escape when possible. This technique can be very useful for self-defense.
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the oldest and most famous styles of Kung Fu and Chan Buddhism. It developed its balanced style of external strength with Zen Buddhism as well as its internal meditative practices. Shaolin is taught around the world in different ways. In Dengfeng, it is taught with a focus on traditional kung fu forms. This way, it preserves the ancient teachings and is still useful for combat sports.
Wrestling
Wrestling is something that controls the fight. You can control the distance and the fight that takes place. A wrestler decides whether to stay on his feet or go to the ground. With this control, you have the ability to defeat your opponent. For example, in taekwondo, you can’t have success unless someone catches you. Similarly, a Jiu-Jitsu fighter cannot defeat you unless he can pin you to the ground. Thus, wrestling is a practical martial art for self-defense.
Boxing
If you learn boxing, it will give you a strong skill that can be used in self-defense situations. However, the sport of boxing has major flaws. Boxers are vulnerable to leg kicks and grappling, and if the fight ends on the floor, most of the boxers are rendered completely helpless. But still, boxing is actually an excellent martial art for learning how to defend yourself in a street fight. It focuses on landing punches, evasion, and distance between you and your opponents, which is a great fundamental for self-defense.
Aikido
Aikido was split from Japanese jiu-jitsu in the 1920s to focus on self-defense without injuring the opponent. Most of its techniques are joint locks and throws, which are created to control the attacker without causing permanent damage. However, Aikido was heavily criticized by other martial artists, who stated that it was ineffective against unwilling opponents. But the creator of this martial art de-emphasized the martial aspects of the art in favor of more spiritual practices.
Also Read:- Israel Adesanya’s anime references that drove Weebs crazy
