What’s the best kind of martial arts for a female who wants to learn self-defense?
kiki asked:
I am 24 and petite (about 5′1 and 115 lbs). I want to start learning martial arts mainly for self-defense. Which style of martial arts is best suited for this purpose?
Related posts:
- Is it too late to learn martial arts? Lucy D asked: I’ve always sort of wanted to learn...
- I want to learn martial arts but what would be the best style? davls416 asked: Im looking to learn a well rounded form...
- Is it difficult to learn martial arts? yellow smile,red lips,blue eyes asked: Since I was still in...
- is it possible to learn martial arts from the net? May asked: it’s not like i don’t want go to...
- Why did you decide to learn martial arts? Closed asked: For what purpose or values? I just started...
Filed Under Martial Arts |
Tagged With Learning Martial Arts, Self Defense
Comments
7 Responses to “What’s the best kind of martial arts for a female who wants to learn self-defense?”
It varies from person to person. Which suits you. Collect info and study then decide.
Do some homework will you please?
You should definitely do some kind of MMA training. Krav Maga can be OK, but others as well. The training should be realistic. Check out the link as a good example.
I am 5′2″ and 116 lbs so we’re about the same size and age. I have taken many martial arts including tae kwon do, aikido, issynryu, shotokan karate and now American freestyle karate. Out of all the martial arts, I am totally loving American freestyle karate. They don’t just teach one traditional style but combine many styles including the ones I mentioned above as well as kickboxing/boxing and fitness. They also don’t focus on the Japanese or Korean terminology. There is a huge emphasis on self-defense and almost every technique we learn is explained on how it will work in a street fight and how high you kick is not as important as making sure you can do the technique correctly. A kick to the groin can be as effective as a kick to the head! They do teach forms (or katas) and still have points and free sparring but usually only after you master the basics and learn control. If you are looking to learn self-defense then look for a school that teaches free sparring so you can get used to getting hit so if heaven forbid you get attacked, you’re used to getting hit and don’t freeze up if it happens. You can practice self-defense drills all you want but you know what to expect. In free style, you have to stay focused and keep your guard up so it’s the closest and safest way to prepare for a real-life encounter at real speed on the streets.
I would recommend a grappling art like Brazilian Jujitsu. Reason being is that most woman don’t stand toe to toe and duke it out. Most likly if you get into an altercation you’ll be grabbed by some guy much bigger then you, to either be raped or robbed. You’ll want to break whatever hold he has on you (maybe break one of his limbs in the process), and get the hell out of there. Forget the movies where the woman karate fighter takes out the 6′2” 230lb guy with a kick to the groin. Doesn’t happen that way in real life. If you want practical then think practical.
krap maggot is just like bjj everyone wants to bignote themselves and jump on the bandwagon just ignore them and they’ll go away.a guns ok i suppose until you wind up in jail or someone takes it of you and uses it on you.and as for a knife forget it because chances are it will be taken off you,and just remember it’s the weapon of choice for most rapists,im sure you dont want to help them rape you?do you?the same with ground fighting.do you really want to be on the ground with an attacker?espescially if there trying to rape you?
find a good freestyle karate instructer(if you can,which you’ll be lucky)you’ll learn stand up,ground,weapons and any other fighting you want.as well as how to take weapons of ppl and determine which weapon suits you best to use and or carry.to many answerers and ma instructors give bad advice that can lead to someone like yourself getting seriosly hurt,or killed.
Check out the many video clips on the net and you will soon see that krav maga will be an effective form of self defence for you. In its tactical form you are trained to respond with your natural instinct to fight or flee. If your reaction is to fight, you disable your opponent as quickly and agressively as possible, then flee. Running away is a good instinct to have ! As krav maga plays to your instincts it will be quicker to learn, but it does mean you will be trained to hurt people. Real world street-style Karate modified for women would also be good.
As women are stronger from the hips, a method based on you being on the ground and kicking out is also very effective, but really only against one assailant. There are women-specific self defence classes based on this principle.
Whichever way you go, chose a school that does classes specifically for women. Running away (if you can) will still be your best option, so take up jogging & don’t wear high heels !
If you want to learn self-defense, make sure that you actually practice some type of sparring and/or fighting and not just self-defense techniques — even if you learn all of the techniques in the world, self-defense involves MOSTLY avoiding getting hit or stabbed or shot. If you get hit in a fight, and get wobbly or pass out, all of the techniques in the world will be useless, in my opinion.
Personally, from your description, I would recommend strarting with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a base, learning to control your opponent and position yourself in a live fight situation, and adding to that a more self-defense art like Japanese jiu-jitsu, vee-jitsu, or Krav Maga that will teach you where to hit your opponent to do the most damage. Some Jeet Kun Do or mixed martial arts schools will teach you a combination of martial arts, and that might be an option also. Good luck and whatever you train, have fun. That will affect your life much more than any system of martial arts.