Martial arts for self-defense

The concept of martial arts as a self-defense option is commonly understood amongst enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. We can all remember Daniel using the infamous “crane kick” in the Karate Kid to finally conquer his bully…well at least until Cobra Kai started a few years ago. That though is another story! While Karate was thought of as a self-defense “go to” in pop culture over the decades due to the popularity of the name, many other martial arts have been debated as better suited for self-defense practicality. So, the question is commonly presented; which is the best martial art for self-defense? The answer truly is it depends. Many practitioners, teachers, and watchers have their own opinion and make great points in their analysis.

A few examples to examine are Taekwondo, Boxing, and Jiu Jitsu. Traditional Taekwondo builds powerful kicks though many rely on speed for increased power. This potentially creates conflict in close-quarters situations. Boxing has a “natural and instinctive” (wayofmartialarts.com) fighting methodology. It is more adaptable to different-sized people and learning styles. The challenge is that its application can be one-dimensional with the use of hand strikes. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, whose popularity has increased recently is a highly technical system that focuses on ground combat, chokes, and submission maneuvers. While it can take time to become comfortable with, and a lifetime to master, many self-defense aspects can be learned quickly by an induvial.

The situation, the attacker, and the practitioners are all factors in what technique to use and the discipline that it can be learned from. Some schools will blend different aspects in their content. Fuzion Martial Arts has pioneered the concept of applying traditional techniques to modern situations.  Our belief is that there is wisdom in many arts. By carefully extracting and mastering different aspects of them (i.e., the Fuzion System ©), a more robust and second-natured skillset will be built in the individual for a variety of situations. As always, if you have any questions on how Fuzion Martial Arts can help you in your self-defense journey, please feel free to contact us at any time.