Best practical martial arts?

If your purpose is to keep yourself safe from would be muggers/rapist/cuthroats, what martial arts should you study? I'm thinking that probably not one but a combination of different styles would be best suited. What styles would they be?

Best practical martial arts?
There is a subset of martial arts called "reality-based self defense" systems. These systems are designed specifically for real life altercations. Most martial arts, especially traditional martial arts like karate and tae kwon do, are very impractical for self-defense against a 250 pound street thug. They're designed for use in sparring and tournaments against other martial artists under controlled circumstances. Real life and the streets are the antithesis of a controlled environment.





RBSDs, like the one I study, called Contemporary Fighting Arts (CFA), teach skills that prepare you for any situation. In CFA we study awareness and de-escalation skills, varying levels of force, defending against multiple attackers, defending against larger attackers, groundfighting, makeshift weapons, knife defense, gun disarms, fighting in inclement conditions and much more. Check out my source for more information on how to find a good self-defense school.
Reply:I would just study boxing, because most street fights, muggins, ect. Go to punches never kicks or any of that technique stuff. It goes out the window
Reply:realistically I'd love to say all of them. But in all of them when you first start out you only learn enough to get your butt kicked.


If your more worried about instant self defense. take a self defense course then take martial arts.
Reply:Aikido: it is what most of the law enforcement depts. use to train their people. It is very simple to use and a 120 lbs woman can make a 250 man do flips (that is if she in trained and knows proper technique).
Reply:the most practicle style for self defence would be freestyle karate,but if you do any 1 style you will have weaknesses.to be able to defend yourself to the best of your ability you need to cross train in different styles .there is no best style but freestyle karate would be the most practicle single style.
Reply:I voted a thumbs up for cfanico and his answer.





traditional arts are not self defense arts, but sport arts or arts that follow a dogma from the old times. Close Quarter Combat and RBSD is the key.





and the knowledge of adrenaline response and the physiological changes.
Reply:I agree with some of the answers to a point. Boxing is good, until you get knocked to the ground, and I don't know if boxing teaches you what to do if a knife gets pulled. Let's not confuse traditional martial arts with sport martial arts, there is a difference. The traditional arts were battlefield tested, and have been around for centuries. Sport martial arts can be traced back to the 1940's and 50's. I have done reality-based training, and imagine my surprise when we were doing techniques from TRADITIONAL martial arts. So my best answer is only you know what's right for you. Go around to different seminars of different styles, practice what you like and works for you and forget the rest. I will add that you what the technique to come naturally, so that you don't have to stop and think about it.
Reply:You can do the styles that people here suggested earlier like CQC but they also forgot to list Krav Maga, the Israeli combat system where the main principle is to inflict the most damage as possible.
Reply:I'd have to tell you "to-shin do". Go to www.skhquest.com to check it out. It's designed for everyday real-life situations such as what you want it for. Based on a 900 year old proven art. Not a sporty competition art. :-)
Reply:first answer is wrong. I recomend muay thai kick boxing or freestyle karate ( I personally dont no much about freestyle karate but it seems really good as they basicly absorb stuff they like) also eagle claw kung fu will teach you to control your oponent.
Reply:I would go with Tae Kwon Do. It doesn't show you how to kill anybody, but it shows you a lot of moves that you can actually use it real life.


Plus, it's really fun. :]
Reply:There is no best art. The practicality of an art happens in the training methods. Make sure realistic contact drills are being done often. The people attacking must not fall down at the blink of an eye either.


Try to find a martial art instead some fly by night "self-defense" place.


Traditional arts are complete systems that have withstood the test of time while "Joe's Karate/Tae Kwon Do/ Defense Palace" may not have quality techniques.





As far as mixing martial arts, yes that can be effective if you study two complimentary styles in depth. But haphazardly throwing styles together may may not be very helpful.


A martial arts, in it's truest form should really be all encompassing. It should not need any supplemental training. It should be a complete system.


I hesitate to give you names of styles. Just because one style is effective does not mean that every school that teaches it does so effectively.
Reply:I feel that Krav Maga seems like a good close contact system to use. It uses more dirty techniques like groin strikes and eyes gouges but hey, it's either you or him.
Reply:aikido, best martial art full stop allows an individual to overpower several large men. search ueshiba on youtube if you don't believe me by the way he's only 5ft.
Reply:for me i think a taekwondo because they teach u how to punch and kick right and they do self defence and ground fightin atleast where i go we do so thats the most practical for me
Reply:I think Aikido.only


but it use time so much.