What do you consider as the best martial art in the world?

I would also add it has been my experience that everyone thinks their particular from of martial art is the "best".

Humans are just like that.

Just remember, what we do is only the best compared to what we have experienced.

[Edit by afaik - I can't spell]

[edit on 10-10-2008 by afaik]

reply to post by afaik

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This is a good point.

After all the thread title is 'What do you consider the best martial art in the world'.

So, arguably, it's not up for, uh, argument.

Also, it's not a given what 'best' means.

In a way, the 'Best' is the martial art you will practice. If the best art is deemed to be 'Super Karate' and the person is not able to do that style, or if they are not motivated to practice, then what good is it?

In addition, 'best for what'? Best for relaxation? Best for self-defense? Best for making money fighting in a cage.

Now, if the word 'martial' is in the title, then one would think that 'effectiveness' is part of the equation.

We know what makes an art effective.

To give an analogy, let's look at Basketball.

You can learn to dribble, you can learn to shoot, you can do passing drills. But if you never take the ball and go play a game with other people in a competitive fashion, you'll never really know how good you are at playing Basketball.

Of course there are people who are not gifted with great height or speed (Earl Boykins was only 5'5), and they find a way to make their 'art' work.

So, that's got to be another key.

The 'best' martial art may be:
1. the one you will practice;
2. the one you can make work for you;
3. the one that satisfies your goals.

As long as people know that you have to have resistance and flow and footwork and timing, then it's all good.

Nice post.

reply to post by Badge01

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Hi Badge01,
This are important points.

Personally,
When I was still at high school I did a few years Goju kai Karate.
Around the time I left high school I then started training with mauy tai fighters.
Over these last few years I have found a small group I now train with.
Most of what we do is yang style tai chi (Earl montaigu) based.
We do however incorporate lots of idea's from Silat, Systema, Hsing (loose boxing), bagua etc.
I am in early 30's. The others I train with are all a couple of years older than me with more experience.

I was not training when I started again with my current group, and did so for mainly health and fitness reasons.
As I had not done anything healthy for a few years, and from living a lifestyle that wasn't the best for my body, I was attracted to Tai Chi.

We also don't charge money or grade, we just train.

I get the health benefits from the combat/fitness training, the skills and confidence from the more agressive drills etc, but, I think most importantly, I also get the yin aspect.

This is really where I keep my center and balance.
I get so much from just standing or practising Qi Gong, which is basically a standing meditation. The amount of sweat and "work" that can be produced is quite suprising, considering you are pretty much just standing still.

Some of the forms we do are a slow moving meditation.
This not only programs correct gross movement(s), but allow's one to achieve a way of slipping into a different "zone" when going into that mode.
This is the wavy type stuff you see groups doing in the park.

Although much public Tai Chi has been watered down and converted to more a "health sport", in it's original context, Tai Chi is very aggressive and final.
The applications encoded in the forms (even though many who teach Tai Chi can't tell you what their movements represent in application) really are a "hidden" code to very violent and precise strikes.

So I suppose, what I do now is the best form of martial art in the world, for me.


[edit on 10-10-2008 by afaik]

reply to post by afaik

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Are you familiar with CXW? (Chen style)

Do you know about 'pole shaking' (sending a wave through an oak or rattan staff).

My background is in Korean Karate/TKD, American boxing, Arnis/Escrima, '80s old school JKD, and some work with the local group of brazilian jiu-jitsu guys. My SO has taught Wu-style for about 20 years off and on, and studied directly with Robert W. Smith and Margaret Chang (a top Chinese mainland teacher visiting the US.). (Smith was a top student of Cheng Man-ch'ing)

Sounds like you're having fun.

Another key? Never stop. I've been doing something ever since I started though I had a hiatus in the mid 90s. Now I don't spar any more, but I keep my reflexes up in other ways. Though I thought I had reached my peak many years ago by continuing to keep my hand in I had another big improvement about 6-7 years ago.

Thanks for the reply!

you guys should check out bullshido.com you can learn about what styles work and which dont