Most practical fighting style/martial art?

[atv_chic_18]

I took Tae Kwon Doe/Karate as a kid growing up and I personally think that all forms of martial arts are practical and useful. I don't think anyone is specifically better than the other, there's just different ways that each of them approach each situation.

 

[Seldon2639]

Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do, just by it's very nature.
What Bruce did was take all of the practical stuff from every martial art he studied and put it all together. Now as it's passed down (only only one or two generations so far) a little more gets added from here and there.

The issue with this is it's not something you can really learn. Lee's Jeet Kun Do was an intensely personal style, based on his own talents and limitations. He had one leg shorter than the other (a growth defect), and suited much of the style around that handicap. So, true Jeet Kun Do would require learning ones own handicaps, and crafting a style around those. No one-size-fits-all style would accomplish that (not even Jeet Kun Do).

But you can learn it. That's the idea.
That's what I learned with Jeet Kun Do lessons. That's what make it the most evolved and practical martial art: it does force you to learn your own strengths and weaknesses and adapt what you can use from all styles you can learn from. It's by nature a one-size-fits-all martial art but each practitioner practices it in a slightly different way depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Even my friend who is the same build and studied with the same teachers, has a slightly different style than me because I'm a bit faster. Bruce intended each practitioner to approach Jeet Kun Do in their own personal way and you can even see this illustrated in his last movie.

You should read the Tao of Jeet Kun Do. Lee explains it much more eloquently than I.

I agree that you can learn the basic concept, and even get a background in mixed martial arts, but that's not really Jeet Kun Do. It's the same concept, but unless you're willing to spend the time to formulate your own complete style (which is usually more trouble than it's worth), you're just getting cross-training. And, the cross-training can actually be less useful if you don't gain some expertise in one style before branching out. Remember that Lee was well-versed in Wing Chun Gung Fu.

But, even beyond that, the influence that Lee had on other forms means that even if you train in a more rigid style, you're likely to be trained in how to deal with more chaotic circumstances. Even my sensei (in Shotokan Karate) notes that what we learn in the dojo is meant as exercise and learning, and then teaches us how to apply those concepts and movements to real-world situations.

It all comes down to personal choice, and accessibility. Anyone who takes any style seriously will be able to learn enough self-defense to protect from most (if not all) threats. And a well-trained student from any style has as good a chance of winning against a trained opponent as a student from any other style. There's no silver bullet of walking into a dojo and being a badass a week later. A crappy Krav Maga student is not less capable than a crappy Aikido student, and a good student is no more capable than a good student of another style.

Pick a style, and put in the effort. I promise you, if you do that you'll be able to protect yourself against all but the most impossible of situations. In fairness, I wouldn't bet on my sensei against ten guys with guns and knives, but I wouldn't bet on anyone under those circumstances (except Liam Neeson, obviously)

 

[sokka14]

This has already been tested hasn't it?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Just a whole bunch of submissions.

submissions that can result in broken limbs if applied correctly. trust me, it works very well. they also do ALOT of floor grappling i.e. getting yourself into a superior position. it's more technical than people give it credit for.

yeah, it looks absolutely vicious. i know i'd rather get punched in the face than twisted into an insanely painful and damaging submission.

 

[DragonChi]

Aikido. its all about manipulating the enemy so you gain the advantage regardless of his size, strength or carrying a weapon and put them in a position that's inescapable unless they want to inflict a substantial amount of pain upon themselves. it also teaches you pressure points and how to easily brake bones.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do, just by it's very nature.
What Bruce did was take all of the practical stuff from every martial art he studied and put it all together. Now as it's passed down (only only one or two generations so far) a little more gets added from here and there.

The issue with this is it's not something you can really learn. Lee's Jeet Kun Do was an intensely personal style, based on his own talents and limitations. He had one leg shorter than the other (a growth defect), and suited much of the style around that handicap. So, true Jeet Kun Do would require learning ones own handicaps, and crafting a style around those. No one-size-fits-all style would accomplish that (not even Jeet Kun Do).

But you can learn it. That's the idea.
That's what I learned with Jeet Kun Do lessons. That's what make it the most evolved and practical martial art: it does force you to learn your own strengths and weaknesses and adapt what you can use from all styles you can learn from. It's by nature a one-size-fits-all martial art but each practitioner practices it in a slightly different way depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Even my friend who is the same build and studied with the same teachers, has a slightly different style than me because I'm a bit faster. Bruce intended each practitioner to approach Jeet Kun Do in their own personal way and you can even see this illustrated in his last movie.

You should read the Tao of Jeet Kun Do. Lee explains it much more eloquently than I.

I agree that you can learn the basic concept, and even get a background in mixed martial arts, but that's not really Jeet Kun Do. It's the same concept, but unless you're willing to spend the time to formulate your own complete style (which is usually more trouble than it's worth), you're just getting cross-training. And, the cross-training can actually be less useful if you don't gain some expertise in one style before branching out. Remember that Lee was well-versed in Wing Chun Gung Fu.

But, even beyond that, the influence that Lee had on other forms means that even if you train in a more rigid style, you're likely to be trained in how to deal with more chaotic circumstances. Even my sensei (in Shotokan Karate) notes that what we learn in the dojo is meant as exercise and learning, and then teaches us how to apply those concepts and movements to real-world situations.

It all comes down to personal choice, and accessibility. Anyone who takes any style seriously will be able to learn enough self-defense to protect from most (if not all) threats. And a well-trained student from any style has as good a chance of winning against a trained opponent as a student from any other style. There's no silver bullet of walking into a dojo and being a badass a week later. A crappy Krav Maga student is not less capable than a crappy Aikido student, and a good student is no more capable than a good student of another style.

Pick a style, and put in the effort. I promise you, if you do that you'll be able to protect yourself against all but the most impossible of situations.

What makes you think I haven't already.

I know what you mean but Jeet Kun Do is only the most recent martial art I've trained extensively in (that includes aggressive things like Karate and defensive things like Iron Shirt: and I still look for new things to learn in those disciplines) and I think for most people's needs (I don't think most people who train for practical reasons enjoy martial arts as much as you or I do) it's probably (by it's nature) the most practical method, especially if you study the philosophy behind it and have a good teacher who will help you find your strengths and adapts Jeet Kun Do to your needs.

I'm not saying Jeet Kun Do is the perfect martial art (just practical) because it can't be; it's meant to be constantly imperfect and constantly growing as more practitioners bring more disciplines and techniques in a futile but necessary attempt to perfect it.

 

[Romaru]

Most practical fighting style/martial art?

Probably something that doesn't emphasise on killing your opponent, or you have problems on your hands should you ever get into a fight.

In practical terms you don't tackle someone with a gun at all, even a trained martial artist would think twice. The only time you would is if it was that or get shot.

I practice aikido myself and that has emphasis on throws and locks without being lethal. You'll never learn it in the short term though. I have been practicing almost 4 years for 6 hours a week and I could deal with 2-3 people, assuming they had no experience in martial arts.

 

[Lexodus]

Definitely Krav-Maga or Gun Kata from Equilibrium. That film ROCKED.

 

[Sovvolf]

Ive seen alot of people Mention Jeet Kwon do and Krav Maga as fighting styles, But like MMA, I dont concider them as fighting styles, but as fighting methods, there a way of fighting, no move is true or false in these styles only what works for you, Although this is quickly disapearing in MMA, and alot of Jeet kwon do teachers these days dont teach it as a method and only as a style and that is in my eyes why it fails, not the styles fualt though, Bruce Lee just didnt finish it before he died.

Anyways whats worked well for me so far in street fights is Muay Thai, Boxing and Brazilain Jui Jitsu. I do too Kyokushin Karate but I'm very Very new to it so I havent really needed to use it yet to get to full effectivness out of it.

Muay Thai and Boxing mixed together can make a mess of most trained and untrained fighters, BJJ also works well against group attacks, throwing a few to the ground with counter throws while you take on those who are standing with your stand up styles, just be quick about it becuase the people you throw on the floor will be up quickly depending on what shape there in, also I have no quarell with hit some one while his down if I'm defending my self.

Those styles worked for me very well but these styles might not work for you or another person though. It all goes on what your best with, never was into Teakwondo, it didnt look very effective along with a good few forms of kung fu, but thats just me, I'm pritty sure some one else out there could be a killer with those styles.

 

[Seldon2639]

I know what you mean but Jeet Kun Do is only the most recent martial art I've trained extensively in (that includes aggressive things like Karate and defensive things like Iron Shirt: and I still look for new things to learn in those disciplines) and I think for most people's needs (I don't think most people who train for practical reasons enjoy martial arts as much as you or I do) it's probably (by it's nature) the most practical method, especially if you study the philosophy behind it and have a good teacher who will help you find your strengths and adapts Jeet Kun Do to your needs.

I'm not saying Jeet Kun Do is the perfect martial art (just practical) because it can't be; it's meant to be constantly imperfect and constantly growing as more practitioners bring more disciplines and techniques in a futile but necessary attempt to perfect it.

I misunderstood. We're in a thread about the most "practical" martial art, which usually implies "what should I take up today, so I can kick ass the quickest", that was what I was responding to, so my assumption was that you were talking JKD as your first training, which somewhat weakens the concepts (in my understanding, I don't train in it).

My point is that in terms of practical applications, it would all basically be equivalent. If we assume practical means "would stand up in a bar/street fight", then any martial art would be sufficient, with different styles good at different things. Any of the hybrid styles (Silat, Jeet Kun Do, Krav Maga, Brazillian Juijutsu) are going to be more balanced, but have the deficiency of less specialization.

Unless we're assuming we're gonna get into a fight against fifteen armed, well-trained, assassins, most of the specializations are pretty moot. Aikido is focused on grappling, but has enough training in distanced combat that unless you're fighting a trained opponent, you won't notice a difference. My entire point was that someone should pick a style with a specialization they're comfortable with. If you want to grapple, go with Sambo, Aikido, or Silat). For mid-range combat (close enough for fists/elbows/knees, but not grappling) go with Krav Maga, Muay Thai, or Shotokan. For long-range (mostly defensive "wait for them to attack and roll with it"), go with Judo, Jui-Jutsu, BJJ, or Jeet Kun Do.

Obviously that's not a full list of all possible styles, but you get the idea. Most street fights won't last at all long if you're at all trained. If you're fighting a trained opponent, it's about who makes a mistake first, and whether the other guy can capitalize on it.

Edit: can we please stop talking about the "viciousness" of a style as a point in its favor? Just because a style isn't trained in terms of breaking people at all opportunities doesn't mean it lacks the capability, or that people would restrain themselves in a life-or-death combat situation. I've trained in Shotokan, and a little in Aikido, and in both cases I've been told "if it comes down to it, here's how to use what you've learned to break someone if necessary".

 

[BlueMage]

i would say body flow over body type. each style of martial art has a certain flow of the body, and i think if this fits with your natural way of doing things, you'll become naturally adept at it.

Sorry, that's what I meant, just a different wording.

 

[megapenguinx]

Being a student of Kung Fu, I would have to say anything in that discipline because it really is a flexible one

 

[darkless]

THe one that works, but in my experience martial arts are far to rigid for street fights.

 

[Nutcase]

Why are a ton of people drooling specifically on Krav here? From what I've seen (friend went to civilian courses; another friend was taught it as an Army commando) it's not anything special, just one of the many "reality-based" systems which are mostly interchangeable. Find a good instructor and you get taught something solid, find a bad instructor and you get taught crap.

 

[Sifu Lazaro Bueno]

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[TheRightToArmBears]

Drunken Boxing, as most fights happen when drunk.

 

[Zacharine]

Anything really that teaches the basics: How to kick and punch properly, how to take a fall, how to block and evade, how to disarm, how to control your opponent.

The rest is just fluff (not much of this in any decent martial arts, though personally I count most of weapons training into this. How often will you have a bokken, nunchakus or a bo-staff with you while out on town?) and different methods of achieving some of the above, with or without tools.

Really, what is the difference between disarming someone with a wrist-lock or breaking his wrist by bashing it against a block of concrete? The answer: Method. The goal is the same, the result is almost identical, the path you took to it simply varies. And that is the key difference between most of the variety of martial arts out there: Different methods to do the same thing.

You simply choose what sounds nice, what fits your personality and level of acceptable violence. Really, only against other well-trained opponents are you going to have any real differences or advantages/disadvatages that matter.

On a side note, police tends to like you more if you use the more non-violent methods (They also tend to be slightly harder to perform against your opponents). Breaking someones hand might get you into trouble for excessive force, while a wrist-lock most certainly won't.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Drunken Brawling.

No one's going to get into afight when they're sober.

 

[Hookman]

The fighting style of grabbing the heaviest object in the room and bashing your opponents skull in!

 

[elbryan108]

Krav Maga