Hey, i know that a lot of people ask this question here but i wanted to pick a martial art that fits perfectly to my wants.
Ok, i want a martial art that is very good when it comes to self defence(quick moves and grapples)mainly to disable the attacker and disengage out of combat. I do not mind if it includes slow moves or tactics. oh i would also want one that is very precise and teaches you a fair amount about the human anatomy and where to strike etc….
Ive been looking around a bit and seem to be interested in:
Leopard kung fu
tai chi
ninjutsu
ju jutsu
and hapkido
Please guys tell me what u guys think would be best for me and dont just stick to whatever one you do.
Thanks 
Oh and i also want something that would improve agility and reaction times as i progress with the art.
i would choose jujistu or russian sambo
23 years as a practicing Martial Artist
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Just visit the schools and talk with the instructors. Then decide which u like the best. Just make sure u find a good instructor. I dont know much about the rest of the MAs but Taiji takes over 9 years to become proficient at practicing religiously every day even with a great instructor. Good luck
Chen Taiji Practitioner
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Look into Jeet Kune Do. That’s the one Bruce Lee developed. It’s not a traditional martial art. It is geared towards developing the practitioners abilities and strengths.
Chen Taiji Practitioner
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I will tell you about me , then you can think some more. I am turning 50- in august. . . i am a bit on the fat side , no matter how much i train, and diet i will probably will stay this way. I train 3-4 times a week. and i work on strength 3+ a week. 2hours a day per class! I feel great! and no problem keeping with classes! I study ” HUNG GAR ” THE-MOST HARDEST to learn of all the kung fu system’s. I have been in training for a few years now. It is the training that builds you! thighs get big, calves get strong, four arms like steel(popeye arms) I choose this system cause it is for smaller people like me to take on larger/heaver aponents…mameing/crippeling/killing— in 2-3 moves or less! It is the tiger/crane southern style.
Chen Taiji Practitioner
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Kung Fu is a pretty standard Martial Art style. Though the problem is that it gets mixed in with wushu a lot, which is NOT a standard martial art style. My rule of thumb is that if it’s Kung Fu and it’s in America, it’s probably not worth taking. It’s not that I don’t doubt that there are good Kung Fu gyms in America, its just that I don’t have the hassle of filtering out what’s Kung Fu and whats Wushu. Mostly striking I believe.
Tai Chi and Ninjutsu are pretty similar. So Tai Chi is incredibly slow, and it gets a lot of crap for it. This is true. But high level Tai Chi pretty much has Tai Chi but on 10x speed. Turns out that Tai Chi really emphasizes balance, accuracy, and state of mind. Which means that a high level Tai Chi black belt is impossible to push, aggravate, and will hit you in six nerve spots before you can punch. Ninjutsu also emphasizes nerve strikes, but does so in a less grueling manner than Tai Chi does. Ninjutsu also does more joint locks and grappling than Tai Chi.
JuJiutsu, whether its Brazillian or Judoka, is emphasis on mat work. A lot of grapplers will tell you to start on your knees and start grappling. These are almost all joint locks, though they mix in well with various striking, considering the motto is, “Position first.” Somewhere there though, they will teach you take downs. Works ridiculous wonders in one v one unarmed combat, not so much against multiple people. Remember that this generally emphasizes attacks on the ground.
Hapkido, I’ve heard mixed reviews of it. It’s another joint-locky-point-strike technique. As they tell me, it’s another all business fighting style. Between throat strikes, limb control, and so forth. There isn’t much nonsense, and supposedly it works reasonably well on the street. My impression though is that it’s one of those styles that doesn’t become actively useful until you get to a black belt level. Though I’ll admit that I have little experience in this matter.
Everything you’ve listed, with the exception of JuJitsu, takes a long time to learn to become effective. If you want to learn something quick that is very effective, your two options is Krav Maga or McNinja. There are various Krav Maga gyms across America. McNinja is harder to learn, because the only gym that officially teaches that is Quannaco (mcninja is the nickname for the martial art, I don’t know the full name. Quannaco is the marine officer training program). These you can learn in about 4 weeks to become effective.
Most martial art styles, with the exception of those that don’t have their roots in actual fighting (Wushu, Capoeira), are rather effective once you get up to a black belts level.
Though a note is that you cannot assume that you will be able to disable the other person in a fight. The point of a martial art is to maim and/or kill. And that’s the sad reality. The fact that disabling the other person without harming them, is pretty much a byproduct of getting them into a position where they cannot hurt you but you can still hurt them.
Chen Taiji Practitioner
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CTC has it right. No matter what the name of the art, the quality of instruction is so big of a variable that it has to be your primary concern.
So, don’t worry about the name on the door, just look at the following:
1) Is this a good instructor? (Does he have a verifiable lineage? Does he run his class well? Can you get along with him? Are there complaints against him with the BBB? What experience does he have? Does his school have McDojo qualities?)
2) Can you be a good student? (Can you make the classes on time? Can you afford them? Do you respect the instructor and his assistants? After observing classes, does the art interest you enough to practice outside of class?)
9 years MA, black belt, instructor
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Ok, from your list, I’d choose Hapkido. It does emphasize on locks and how to disarm your opponenet and then get the hell out of there. But if you want a martial art that enables you to kill someone quickly…that would be a different story. By the way, grappling isn’t a good street self-defense specially if the guy is armed. If he isn’t and is alone, ok, sure.
9 years MA, black belt, instructor
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a;right first see what you got in your area (google/go for a walk)
see what you are into if you like it or not.
make sure it isnt a mcdojo (google for info)
Grapple styles (jointlocks/throws/ground fighting etc)
Ju jitsu
judo
brazilian ju jitsu (judo/ BJJ derived from Ju jitsu they focus more on different aspects of The Ju jitsu course)
wrestling
Sambo
Aikido
taijutsu/ninjustu
Silat (my art rare but if you find i thought i would include eh its considered a striking art too)
Striking arts( punches and kicks)
Boxing
Kick boxing
taekwondo
wing tsun/chun
capoeira
savate
can’t think of many more off top my head.
as for well rounded they all eventually end up well rounded just at the start are very different (a fork in the road both roads lead into one road).
all involve fitness and speed, some may be done slower due to injury happening if done at fast pace but with a partner at home you can make up for it.
MMA is good but as i say a person who trains in 3 Trad styles VS MMA the trad style will win
why?
because he has learnt more advanced moves in each style and fully understands how to implement his body into 3 different weapons. whilst an MMA fighter learns all 3 and ends up sloppy in comparison to each art he represents with his moves.
Best of luck in your choice it will take time to get good but is worth it
old answer of mine
some those styles might not be in your area
take into account that it will take a few years to get good at it
so take time to get to class
etc into account god luck
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I suggest visiting SAS Martial Arts Consulting online. They offer free online guidance. They are not a message board and you can interact live with a real martial artist. The key is to first narrow down your personal wants/needs. Next, find a style that suits those. Finally, know what to look for and what questions to ask when you visit schools.
old answer of mine
some those styles might not be in your area
take into account that it will take a few years to get good at it
so take time to get to class
etc into account god luck
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