Best striking art for practical self-defense?

[tysnw]

Hi all,

I'm 16 years this year, and looking for a striking art.

I've been doing BJJ for half a year, no previous experience in MAs.

Looking to start training my stand up in two months, as my exams end then.

I do not plan to compete, just for all-around self defense as my area has LOTS of teenagers who try to be gangster. But in my country NOBODY uses guns, and rarely carry knives. But they somehow have an innate need to stoke their ego by challenging anyone (that look weak) to a one-on-one fight. Basically, they need to prove themselves and will attack anyone that doesn't look strong.

The thing is, I'm rather short, and don't look scary at all TBH. I've already had a few guys attacking me. BJJ has been a huge help, but I'm more interested with stand-up as I think that my self-defense will have a huge hole w/o striking.


I'm very flexible (ex-gymnast) , but am short - 165cm - 5'4
I weigh around 60kg - 130 pounds.
(So i'm worried about the reach disadvantage factor.)

Also, my cardio is shit, and my core muscles used to be, but is much better due to BJJ training.

Thing is, my gym offers boxing and MT at no extra cost.
I need a practical one - that is hopefully the most brutal, and applicable "on the streets." (sounds stupidly cliche but yeah, haha.)

Or would it be better if i went with Judo to complement my BJJ?

I also plan to trim my excess fat (a lot! :icon_lol, and improve my cardio.

Can anyone help me decide which striking art i should go for?

Thanks!

 

[a L w a y s**]

boxing or muay thai is just finee. i think youll realize the difference between someone that trains ANY striking martial art, and just some "gangsta". i think elbows and knees (especially in clinch) are an asset to the street as well. MT should be picture perfect, boxing is great too.

uh, that said, just say no to a street fight you dont have to prove yourself man.

WAR IN THE RING, PEACE ON EARTH!

 

[IMAF#1]

FMAs and silat are perfect for practical self defence.

 

[Jaxx]

Thing is, my gym offers boxing and MT at no extra cost.

Answered your own question.

Do both.

If you have to pick one go with whatever you prefer/has better instruction/has better sparring partners.

The class that kicks your ass more will always prepare you best for self defence.

 

[ghost scribble]

if you want a stand up martial art to defend yourself with, boxing or muay thai are the way to go

 

[thirteen]

+ Juan, Try the boxing & MT lessons.

Also, my cardio is shit

that's just something you'll need to work on.
I thought I had reasonable cardio until I started kick boxing, damn was I wrong!
But after a lot of breathless gasping my cardio is starting to come good.
When you got no air left you got no fight left.

 

[fissionfusion]

Boxing. Muay Thai in a close second (reliance on kicks is not good in most self defense situations).

It's simply the most practical form of self-defense that doesn't require years & years & years of training to perfect. Self-defense is not one-on-one combat. Half a second in a confrontation can mean life or death, and kicks, shoots, throws, grapples are not very feasible, as they are simply too slow and require too much work to be able to keep yourself out of the kill zone.

 

[CaptainTeague]

Fuck that pussy Muay Thai and Boxing bullshit!

Just watch Taebo fitness tapes, thats all you'll ever need to know.

 

[Farouche]

Boxing. Muay Thai in a close second (reliance on kicks is not good in most self defense situations).

It's simply the most practical form of self-defense that doesn't require years & years & years of training to perfect. Self-defense is not one-on-one combat. Half a second in a confrontation can mean life or death, and kicks, shoots, throws, grapples are not very feasible, as they are simply too slow and require too much work to be able to keep yourself out of the kill zone.

Listen, man, I'm a boxer and I agree that it's a great self defense art. I also agree that kicks and shoots are not very feasible in many self defense situations - but throws are even more effective in self defense than in the gym, given that people are not landing on mats out in the real world, and grappling may happen whether you want it to or not.

I don't think you can go wrong with Boxing or Muay Thai. Personally, I decided on Boxing, but added some practice in the clinch and low kicks from Muay Thai. That gives you all the striking weapons you'll ever need. I love watching people throw high kicks in fights, but they generally are not necessary in self defense situations.

 

[sambam]

both are good. if your looking for something for street fighting , i love bjj but i think judo is way better. muay thai and boxing are both good. i prefer boxing simply b/c it is much easier to throw alot of haymakers if there are multiple attackers rather than head kicks, especially if that adrenaline is flowing.

 

[Jungroth]

I'd just stick with BJJ and a striking art, rather than try to throw another art like Judo in too soon.

I also plan to trim my excess fat (a lot! :icon_lol, and improve my cardio.

You're 5'4" and 130, how much extra fat could you be carrying? You're 16, focus on growing with large amounts of quality food.

 

[jk.rock]

do both boxing and mauy thai, it is valuable to use low kicks and clinch work can help on the street but your main weapons will be your punching. don

 

[Payak]

muay thai,boxing,silat

 

[Daido_Juku]

Kali !!

 

[fissionfusion]

Listen, man, I'm a boxer and I agree that it's a great self defense art. I also agree that kicks and shoots are not very feasible in many self defense situations - but throws are even more effective in self defense than in the gym, given that people are not landing on mats out in the real world, and grappling may happen whether you want it to or not.

I don't think you can go wrong with Boxing or Muay Thai. Personally, I decided on Boxing, but added some practice in the clinch and low kicks from Muay Thai. That gives you all the striking weapons you'll ever need. I love watching people throw high kicks in fights, but they generally are not necessary in self defense situations.

Fact is no street fight I've seen consists of a one-on-one or hand vs hand. Human predators typically travel in packs to commit their crimes, and trying to deal with them one on one will get you either drilled, robbed or dead. Are you going to try to shoot on someone with a knife or a gun? How about kick him? You train for best practicality. Outside of the self defense arts of sambo, krav maga and their international relatives, boxing simply offers you the best overall control of any situation.

If the question was "What's the best striking art for kicking the schoolyard bully's ass", I'd without a doubt suggest Muay Thai.

Not to mention he is 5'4" and tiny. He doesn't have a lot going for him, and I'm pretty sure his kick reach is far under subpar.

 

[sambam]

now that i see your 5'4 i would for sure say boxing. it will be more practical in selfdefense with your body type. you would be better suited learning some nasting upper body movt peekabo tyson style.

 

[MarvinJefferson]

I'm 34 and started boxing when I was your age.I've been in alot of street issues throughout my teens and twenties and honestly all I've ever needed was boxing.If you take it seriously and train hard you will simply overwhelm someone with fast combo's and footwork to at the very least stun them to get away.

 

[singdawg]

for self defense practicality

take up running, carry a knife or gun, and don't talk shit to strangers, this will keep you out of 9/10 self defense conflicts

of the 1/10, 9/10 times of that will be against an untrained opponent. of those untrained opponents, 1 year of any type of training will beat them.

ten you got that 1/100 time of any conflict where you fight against someone trained. this is the tricky part. you gotta make sure you play either your strenght or their weakness. if they have more skill than you, they will win. if you have more skill then them, you will win. if you are equal, then the fight can go eitherway, and you'll strive to take quick and easy way out. just survive. choose the art that interests you, chances are it'll work 99/100 times.

this is 1 on 1 unarmed combat only by the way, your odds go wayy down of surviving more than 1 on 1.

 

[random shot:]

OK i know i might get flamed for this but i would not do Boxing or MT because there sport's. Now im not saying there not martial art's because they are but they train for the ring first and the streets second. your gonna want a style that trains for the streets.

Because of u being a relatively small guy (i only weigh 64kg so i very small aswell) your not gonna want to use strength because 10/10 times when ur attacked your attacker will be bigger then u and standing toe to toe and exchanging strikes and trying to walk through your attacker like a MT fighter will get u bashed theres no weight divisions on the street like there is in MMA so that wont work.

I suggest something like Karate which works great for me cause it allows me to get in land a strike and get out before they hit back its all about being elusive hitting them but them not hitting u in traditional karate teachings u can KO a guy in 1 punch but that obviously don't work for smaller guy's like us but if u can land 20 punches and he cant land 1 u will KO him adventually.

Also Wing Chun is great cause it has no reliance on brute strength and is a close quarters fighting system so being short and weak wont effect u at all when fighting.

Finally a army based style like Krav Maga or a weapons based style like Kali are also really good for the streets.

I would also recomend TKD which is great for me cause of my long legs but since u got no reach in your legs it probz wont help u at all.

 

[singdawg]

OK i know i might get flamed for this but i would not do Boxing or MT because there sport's. Now im not saying there not martial art's because they are but they train for the ring first and the streets second. your gonna want a style that trains for the streets.

Because of u being a relatively small guy (i only weigh 64kg so i very small aswell) your not gonna want to use strength because 10/10 times when ur attacked your attacker will be bigger then u and standing toe to toe and exchanging strikes and trying to walk through your attacker like a MT fighter will get u bashed theres no weight divisions on the street like there is in MMA so that wont work.

I suggest something like Karate which works great for me cause it allows me to get in land a strike and get out before they hit back its all about being elusive hitting them but them not hitting u in traditional karate teachings u can KO a guy in 1 punch but that obviously don't work for smaller guy's like us but if u can land 20 punches and he cant land 1 u will KO him adventually.

Also Wing Chun is great cause it has no reliance on brute strength and is a close quarters fighting system so being short and weak wont effect u at all when fighting.

Finally a army based style like Krav Maga or a weapons based style like Kali are also really good for the streets.

I would also recomend TKD which is great for me cause of my long legs but since u got no reach in your legs it probz wont help u at all.

ahhahahhahahaha your suggestions are tma. lol. karate, kung fu and tkd ahaha.
altho krav maga and kali have merrit.