There’s no single answer to the question “what martial art should I learn”.
If you’re asking this question, you’ve probably wondered about martial arts for some time, without really knowing where to start. Maybe you love watching kung fu movies and the UFC, or maybe you’re just looking to try something new.
When I started training martial arts at six years old, I didn’t even know there were different styles. I was watching a Bruce Lee movie on VHS at someone’s house, mouth agape, when my mom asked me if I wanted to learn how to do the thing I was seeing on TV.
“I can learn to do that??” I asked, pointing to the footage of Bruce Lee absolutely driving a flying side kick through a bad guy’s chest.
Next thing I knew, I was signed up for Taekwondo. In the years that followed, I would get my black belts in Taekwondo and Shaolin Kung Fu. I would also join my high school’s wrestling team, start training in MMA very seriously, and even travel to study at the Shaolin Temple in China’s Henan province. In fact, I even authored this martial arts guide on Maxim — so I know how wide the world of martial arts can seem.
If you’re wondering what martial art to learn, you should start with asking yourself why. It’s important to understand what you’re looking for, even before you jump into researching different styles.
So, the first part of this guide will be four things to consider about why you want to learn martial arts, and the second part will break down a few popular styles to choose from.
What Martial Art Should I Learn? Things to Consider
Identify your goals: Ask yourself why you want to learn martial arts. Is it for self-defense, fitness, competition, stress relief, or cultural enrichment? Understanding your objectives can help you choose a martial art that aligns with your goals.
If you love the beautiful weapons techniques of kung fu, go for it! But if you want something to protect you in a street fight, those sword moves may be as helpful.
Consider your physical abilities: Some martial arts require more physical fitness than others. For example, if you have joint problems, you may want to avoid high-impact styles like Muay Thai. Conversely, if you have a lot of energy and enjoy aerobic exercise, these may be perfect for you.
The high schooler learning to box, and the grandfather practicing tai chi in the park, are each students on their own martial paths.
Find a reputable school or instructor: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, look for a reputable school or instructor in your area. Read reviews, check their credentials, and learn a little about their background in martial arts. It’s also a good idea to talk to the instructor and ask questions about their teaching style, experience, and training philosophy.
Try a class or two: Many schools offer a free trial class or two. And even if they don’t outwardly offer that, most schools will let you try a class, especially if you’ve never done martial arts before. Take advantage of this opportunity to see if the style is right for you and if you feel comfortable with the instructor and fellow students.
Remember, the most important thing is to find a martial art that you enjoy and that fits your lifestyle and goals. With time, patience, and practice, you’ll look back on your achievements with a sense of success, and enjoy all the benefits of martial arts training.
What Martial Art Should I Learn? Styles to Choose From
Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here are some basic martial arts styles as you set out on the journey of your own warrior path.
Karate: Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art whose name means “way of the empty hand.” It focuses on striking techniques such as punches, kicks, and knee strikes, but some styles also include techniques like joint locks and throws.
Karate is great for developing strength, flexibility, and balance, and it’s an excellent choice for self-defense. However, be aware that there’s a lot of variation between styles of karate — for example, Kyokushin Karate, which emphasizes unarmored, full-contact combat as its central feature, is different from American Sport Karate, which focuses on high-energy demonstrations of sequences called katas.
Pros: Karate can be a great system if you want to learn self-defense or enter competitions
Cons: Big variations in quality. High risk of “McDojos” — American-born, factory-style martial arts schools that focus on cranking out black belts instead of prioritizing students’ development.
Taekwondo: Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that primarily uses kicking techniques. It also includes punching, blocking, and grappling techniques. Taekwondo is an Olympic sport and is known for its flashy and acrobatic kicks. It’s a great choice for people who want to improve their flexibility, agility, and cardio fitness.
Pros: Very accessible martial arts style. You can find taekwondo schools almost anywhere, with students of all skill levels.
Cons: Taekwondo is not a very effective martial art for self-defense. The training and techniques are not realistic, and taekwondo fighters on YouTube are nearly always defeated by full-contact fighters, and often even by street fighters with no formal training.
Kung Fu: Kung fu is a broad term used to refer to almost any traditional Chinese martial art.
Kung fu is a personal favorite martial art of mine, probably because it has something for everyone. “Contemporary wushu” has beautiful techniques, if you want to fly gracefully through the air. Shaolin training methods and qigong forms provide ancient systems of mind-body development, if that’s what you’re into. And there are even a few more combat-oriented styles of kung fu, such as Wing Chun and Sanda (the latter originates from the Chinese military).
Pros: Something for everyone, from swords and flying spin kicks, to realistic self-defense and sport combat.
Cons: Quality of kung fu schools vary a lot. Part of this is due to China’s Cultural Revolution, a period of time in the 20th century when traditional culture was outlawed, which affected the transmission of quality kung fu inside and outside of China.
A video of martial artists of various styles in real-life self-defense scenarios (warning: violence)
Judo: Judo is a Japanese martial art that focuses on throwing and grappling techniques. With a name meaning “the gentle way,” Judo emphasizes leverage and body positioning over strength and power.
It’s an excellent choice for people who want to improve their balance, coordination, and overall fitness. It’s also a great option for self-defense, as it teaches you how to use an opponent’s momentum against them.
Pros: Great for sport, and also for self-defense. Seriously, if you pick someone up and drop them down six feet onto the concrete, the fight’s probably over.
Cons: Not a ton of cons for judo. It’s an all-around great martial art that’s respected all over the world. One possible downside could be the total lack of striking techniques, but only if that’s something you’re looking forward to learning.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: While Jiu-Jitsu is traditionally a Japanese martial art, today the term mostly refers to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art created by Brazil’s Gracie family that focuses on grappling and ground fighting techniques.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) emphasizes joint locks and chokes to immobilize and subdue opponents (after all, it was invented by Helio Gracie, a smaller fighter who needed a way to defeat bigger opponents). BJJ is one of the fastest-growing and most relevant martial arts on the planet today, and you can see it being used in almost any UFC fight.
Pros: BJJ is the single greatest martial art in the world today to help one smaller person defeat one bigger person in unarmed combat. It also has a thriving competitive scene and a fun, warm community of practitioners.
Cons: In a self-defense scenario, BJJ falls from a huge win rate to a very low one if you add the variable of multiple attackers or a weapon. In a street fight, going to the ground should be your very last option.
Muay Thai: Muay Thai is a Thai martial art that’s also been called “the science of eight limbs,” since practitioners are known for delivering powerful strikes with the fists, feet, knees, and elbows.
Muay Thai is another martial art you’ll see consistently in MMA fights. There are no memorized forms or complicated submission techniques — this is good, old-fashioned striking at its best.
Pros: Muay Thai is fantastic for self-defense, since it trains you to deliver fast and effective strikes and remain standing. It’s a popular martial art, and not hard to find in gyms around the world.
Cons: If you want to do Muay Thai, you have to be ready to fight. A good teacher will bring you in slowly and steadily, but there’s no gold medal for doing memorized forms in Muay Thai.
Krav Maga: Krav Maga is a martial art with origins in the Israeli military. Its goal was to combine the most practical and effective components from other martial arts, in a system that could be learned quickly by soldiers.
Today, Krav Maga is one of the most effective martial arts for self-defense. This is a martial art more characterized by its philosophy and training style than by specific techniques.
Pros: Krav Maga is one of the most effective martial arts for self-defense. In addition to practical, real-world techniques, students are trained in scenarios that recreate the conditions of a real confrontation, such as defending against multiple attackers or disarming weapons.
Cons: Krav Maga can be intense, but practitioners aren’t as suited for competition environments, or real fights against trained fighters.
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Whether you’re looking for self-defense, new fitness challenges, or competition in tournaments, there’s a martial art out there that’s perfect for you. Remember to do your research, visit different schools, and try a class or two before making a decision.
I hope you found this guide useful, and feel free to reach out on Instagram if you’d like to chat more about what martial art you should learn. Ultimately, you should pick the one that feels right to you, and remember, the journey doesn’t have to end there!
