It’s the age old question of which martial art is the best. The quick answer is this, the practitioner is more important than the art. The long answer involves asking, “What is the purpose of the martial art?” and “what are MY goals for training in the martial arts?” Another question might be, “Is this instructor going to teach me what I want to learn?” As I’ve mentioned in the “Martial arts are all about fighting”, misconception, the martial arts are about self improvement and everybody has different paths and goals they attain through martial arts therefore no one art will ever be better than another, only better for that one person.

Let’s pick one specific attribute of many martial arts, self defense. Is one better than another? Taking a look at the techniques themselves, then yes, some arts have a better set of techniques than others, but that still doesn’t determine whether or not the style is better another. For one, you must look at the system in which the techniques are taught. Second, you must look at the instructor teaching the techniques through that system. And third, you have to find what fits best for the practitioner. If the practitioner’s natural ability leans toward keeping people at a distance and their first instinct is to strike rather than grapple, then a grappling art isn’t going to be in their best interest other than to round out their training. The same is true with someone who feels much more comfortable grabbing someone, entering an art that only caters to striking isn’t going to be the best choice. An art that has both grappling and striking would be great; however, one must understand that this will also be a slower learning experience since you now are learning twice as much.

As you can see, stating that one art is better than another is just not possible. It’s the equivalent to stating that brown hair is better than blonde hair, or long sleeve shirts are better than short sleeve shirts. There are just too many variables and the answer changes from person to person, and possibly from moment to moment or year to year.

More Myths and Misconceptions about Martial Arts

Part I – Martial Arts are all about Fighting

Part II – Sport vs. self-Defense

Part III – Size and Strength are of no importance in Martial Arts

Part IV – Horizontal Punch vs. Vertical Punch

Part V – Dim Mak (pressure points)

Part VI – Military fighting systems, such as Krav Maga, are the best self defense systems to be learned for self defense.

Part VII – My martial art is better than your martial art

Part VIII – The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw