Top 10 Best Fighting Styles

Fighting styles vary widely in their focus, techniques, and philosophies. Some emphasize striking and aggressive offense like Boxing or Muay Thai, while others prioritize defensive maneuvers and strategic approaches such as in Taekwondo. Then there are the more eclectic and adaptive styles like Jeet Kune Do or the self-defense-oriented Krav Maga.

When evaluating a fighting style, you might want to consider several factors:

- Effectiveness: How practical and efficient is the style in real combat situations? Is it geared towards self-defense, competitive sport, or perhaps a blend of both?

- Accessibility: Is it suitable for all ages and fitness levels? Some styles require significant physical prowess, while others are more about mental acuity and tactical thinking.

- Technique Diversity: Does it cover a broad range of skills, such as strikes, grapples, and ground work? A well-rounded style can offer adaptability in various scenarios.

- Philosophical Depth: Some martial arts are more than just fighting techniques; they include a way of life, emphasizing values like discipline, respect, and self-improvement.

Your preferences might lead you towards a style that's rooted in tradition, like Karate, or something more modern and dynamic. Regardless of what catches your eye, it's the personal connection and what resonates with your goals and values that truly matters.

Remember, there's no definitive "best" style as it often depends on individual needs and circumstances. Explore, experiment, and find what works for you. The rich world of martial arts has something to offer for everyone, from those seeking self-defense skills to those looking to engage in a fulfilling, physically demanding hobby.
The Top Ten
1 Boxing Boxing is a martial art and combat sport in which two people wearing protective gloves throw punches at each other for a predetermined set of time in a boxing ring..

Max Baer knocked out a bull.
Joe Louis broke a guy's back by punching him in the front.
Willie Pep won a round without throwing a single punch.
And several boxers have killed their opponents in the ring.
It's the best and most fundamental fighting style out there.

The most fun martial art without question. I box constantly, and being in the ring is the best and makes you feel so alive.

Nothing like a good old-fashioned punch-up followed by a Texas-style bar brawl. Bruce Lee can't bar brawl.

2 Close Quarters Defense (CQD)
3 Wrestling Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds.

Nothing like overpowering your guy to slam them, pin to win.

A good grappler always bests a good striker up close.

4 Judo Judo is a modern martial art and Olympic sport that originated in Japan. Created by Jigoro Kano in 1882, it focuses on throws, joint locks, and pins, emphasizing the efficient use of balance and leverage. Practitioners, known as judokas, wear special garments called "judogi," and they compete on a mat... read more

Judo can beat any of these styles since it takes one trip, and you're done. It can even finish a wrestler or jiu-jitsu practitioner that easily, simply because the trips can get even a person twice as big as you off balance, and then just throw him on the ground. Also, it has submissions and has a great ground game too.

This fighting style is more strong and effective to protect you from strangers.

5 Kick Boxing

Good system that combines the striking of western boxing with the power of kicks. The constant sparring prepares you for being hit with force. No forms or formality common with martial arts. It's boxing with four-wheel drive.

6 Systema

Although relatively unknown, and for a long time classified to the elite of the Russian government, it is a brutally effective and efficient style made up of natural movements that everyone does every day. So, in theory, everyone knows systema.

7 Krav Maga

Krav Maga is so unique and also takes less time to learn it. All I'm saying is if you want self-defense that is efficient and taught to many soldiers and is effective for women and kids to do, this is the style for you. Saved my friend's life twice!

New but effective in real-life situations. Developed for counterattacks and power attacks. Also good for fast movements and killer touches.

Krav Maga is a mix of attack AND defense. If you can do that, you can fight people triple times your size with ease.

8 Taekwondo

Taekwondo, I think it should be higher because of the deadly kicks. More bite than bark, or more kick than punch.

Yeah! But one has to be able to move everywhere quickly, not just a forward attack. And has to be able to have super wrestling strength.

One has to have strong muscles in every part of your legs to not get knocked out.

9 Karate

I have only seen karate in Cobra Kai. I think it is amazing.

Karate is a great sport, and I am a blue belt. It took two years, and it is much better than kung fu.

10 Wing Chun

Wing Chun is intensively used in MMA and UFC. I think that means something.

Best fighting technique. Bruce Lee used it and Ip Man. Fast and targets weak parts of the body.

The best in the world. It should be the second in the world.

The Contenders
11 Aikido

Aikido is the epitome of mind and body.

12 Kung Fu

I took kung fu for one year and got a white belt, and it is naturally the smartest fighting style, but they don't fight. It's called a martial art. Have to see what the word martial really means, and then you have to consider that they master all weapons and not a gun at all. So with kung fu, it's either you're totally for it, or you're going to get something in your life you really don't want if you hang around it and think it's free because it's a live art that rules what people wish they had, on TV, period. They don't really work. It's an all-out black belt competition with all weapons. Not found anywhere else, and they don't like when people move their stuff for unknown reasons. I wish I didn't leave it at all. I lost all my power and interest in life. #1 defense fighting style in organized fights.

13 Ninjutsu

I would have to say this is the most intellectual of the martial arts. By the time you know you're dealing with a ninjutsu opponent, it's just about the time you're dead.

14 Shaolin
15 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

How is this not number one? I'm a boxer, but I fully recognize this is the most effective martial art without any question!

16 LINE

Made for special forces, specialized in killing the opponent. Currently, it's banned, but you can still find courses online.

17 Silat

Every military army must train in this martial art.

18 MMA
19 Capoeira
20 Kalaripayattu

The oldest martial arts in the world.

21 Sambo

The combat version is a hybrid fighting style that has both grappling and striking techniques. It resembles MMA but was developed by KGB Russian special forces during the Soviet Union.

22 Submission Wrestling
23 Tai Chi
24 Snake Kung Fu
25 Muay Thai

Muay Thai is known as the art of eight limbs. It uses all your body parts, which makes it very useful, which is good.

I have done all of these for at least 2 years of each one, but Muay Thai is the best one out of all of these.

In my opinion, Muay Thai is a mix of Boxing and Taekwondo with elbow and knee strikes.

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