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Top-8 Best Martial Arts For Self-Defense

Looking for some of the best martial arts for self-defense? We’re about to show you.

Combat has always been part of the human race since way back, even during the stone age. It may not have been termed ‘martial arts’ then, but archeological evidence shows that fighting has been part and parcel of humanity.

Martial arts isn’t ‘all about violence’ like some religions believe. It is a very cool way of living. It ensures the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental development of those who engage in it.

It is also a means to compete favorably and entertain an audience while sustaining the culture of social interaction among a group of people.

On a more serious note, though, martial arts serve as self-defense for those ‘schooled’ in the art. This is why the police, military, and other similar agencies incorporate the art into their training.

Having said that, don’t you think it would be awesome if you took up one of these arts to at least be able to protect yourself and even a loved one from harm? It’s a fantastic idea, and you would be glad you took the step eventually.

Now bringing us to ‘the crux of the matter,’ we are moving on to the list of the top-eight best martial arts styles for self-defense. Any of these will be just great for you.

The Best Martial Arts for Self-Defense

1. Kung Fu

Best Martial Art for Self Defense – Kung Fu
Thao Le Hoang / Unsplash

This martial art is of Chinese origin and was brought into practice by the Yellow Emperor Huang-ti. The Chinese words Kung Fu means ‘ martial technique.’ Kung Fu is one of the oldest martial arts.

Kung Fu is also one of the most lethal martial arts because it makes use of blows, joint manipulation, throws, pressure point attacks e.t.c

The name Kung Fu covers all the hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts. It includes the following styles: drunken boxing, white crane, Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Monkey, Eagle Claw.

Kung Fu served the purpose of defending the Chinese nation in times of war. It is needless to say, but the military of China was mandated to learn this skill. Kung Fu was also used by the citizens during local hunting.

2. Taekwondo

Best Martial Art for Self Defense – Taekwondo
Wikimedia Commons

This second martial art on our list is of Korean origin. Taekwondo means ‘the way of the fist and the foot.’ This sport was added to the Summer Olympic Games in 2000.

This art was created by General Choi Hong in 1941 and became famous after the end of world war 2. The impactful kicks that characterize this sport make it quite brutal. The artist of this art combines both their physical strength and their mental alertness to win an opponent.

Taekwondo includes techniques such as blocking, head kick, back kick, dodging, neck kick, footwork e.t.c. All these aim to harden the body of the artist.

The five tenants you can learn from practicing this art are integrity, an indomitable spirit, Courtesy, perseverance, and self-control. Simply beautiful, aren’t they?

3. Krav Maga

Krav Maga Martial Art for Self Defense
pedjasayeret1 / Pixabay

This third martial art is of Israeli origin, and it was created by Lmi Lichtenfeld. It literally means ‘hand to hand.’

The goal of this art is to neutralize opposition, making it effective in life-threatening situations. Krav Maga is one of the most deadly martial art around because there are no rules. It combines skills from Judo, Karate, boxing, wrestling, and so on.

Weapons could be used too and the artist tries to get at very vital organs of his opponent’s body. The heart, eyes, neck, head e.t.c are the primary ‘sufferers’ in such a combat.

The nature of this art makes it a ‘ must ‘ for special defense agencies like the FBI, British SAS, and Israel Mossad.

4. Muay Thai

Muay Thai Martial Arts for Self-Defense
Pablo Rebolledo / Unsplash

This martial art has its ‘roots’ in Thailand. It became popular in most of the world during the 1880s and has been the fastest-growing martial art in the world for the past eighty years. It was recognized as an Olympic sport in 2016.

Muay Thai simply means ‘ The Art of Eight Limbs.’ This is because it uses the two elbows, two knees, two fists, and two feet. This art is very similar to kickboxing, but unlike kickboxing, it uses more body parts during combat.

In the way of Muay Thai, the artist uses his body as his weapon. In times past, some individuals have been ‘delivered’ from death by this art. Nai Khanom Tom, the father of Muay Thai, was one such person.

This art is also very suitable for exercising the heart muscles and toning the muscles of the body.

5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Martial Art for Self Defense
Nathan Rupert / Flickr

This martial art is also known as BBJ or Submission grappling. It originated from Brazil and was taught by Gastao Junior, Carlos, George, and Oswaldo.

This art uses a short distance between the two fighters. The artist skilled in this art then uses sparring, live drilling, and many different techniques to get his opponent to the floor and make him surrender.

This art is also crucial in the MMA( Mixed Martial Art) because wrestling will always end on the floor. Thus, it is only those wrestlers, who are good in BBJ’s art of manipulating their opponent to submission on the floor, that would win easily.

As good as this art is, it is yet to become a part of the Olympic games.

6. Judo

Judo Martial Art for Self Defense
Judo Throw / Wikimedia Commons

Judo, meaning ‘ the gentle way,’ was created by a Japanese man, Jigoro Kano, in 1882. Judo artists are called Judoka, and they wear the judogi. Judo became an Olympic sport in 1960.

Judo uses grappling and wrestling skills. It focuses on self-defense because a skilled Judoka, however small, doesn’t get scared of his ‘massive’ attacker. He only reverses the attack of the opponent back to him.

However, ‘gentle’ this may sound, very acute injuries could result from the paralyzing pins and joint locks that characterizes this combat.

7. Karate

Best Martial Art for Self-Defense – Karate
Wikimedia Commons

This martial art is one of the most popular worldwide for several reasons: Karate is safe and not so difficult to learn; when done correctly, it can be very deadly.

It has its origin in Japan, and it was invented by Gichin Funakoshi. Karate means ’empty-handed.’ This clearly shows that it doesn’t use weapons.

Karate makes use of grappling, locks, and striking skills. These focus on defending oneself from criminals.

There are six belts in this art and whichever you possess tells karatekas ( practitioners of karate) how good you are. There are White, Orange, Yellow, Green,  Brown, and Black belts.

Karate is not an Olympic game due to disunity among members of the karate community.

8. Ninjutsu

Video of Ninjutsu for self-defense in streets compilation

If you have been following by now, you would know that this art is the third on the list to have a Japanese origin. Yay Japan! Right?

The Samurai of the Nanboku-Cho era created Ninjutsu, and ever since the coming of modern-day Olympics, Ninjutsu is yet to be accepted by the international Olympic committee as an Olympic sport.

Well, your most adored Ninja’s from the movies are practitioners of this art. In Ancient times the aim of this art was to kill. Ninja’s usually used the element of surprise and stealth to get their victims, and this earned them the name ‘non-humans.’

Modern-day Ninjutsu is, however, made to the specification of day to day needs for self-defense.

Want to Get Into Martial Arts?

There you have it, some of the best martial arts for self-defense you can choose from. It’s not just enough to watch your favorite stars battle it out on TV.

If you are truly interested in martial arts, then you should take a course right away. It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young as long as you can easily move around, then you can earn your first belt in no time.

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