Martial Arts: 3 Great Fighting Styles

When people consider taking a Martial Art for the first time, they usually ask themselves "Which one?" There are so many gyms, dojos and studios out there, it becomes incredibly confusing. Some people choose their style by their nationality, by their reputation or by what's available. I am providing a list of five of my favorite fighting styles and hopefully that will help you make up your mind depending on your needs.

Modern Army Combatives
If you're lucky enough to have some type of Army Combatives class open to you, I would thoroughly recommend it. Mixed Martial Arts and Modern Army Combatives are designed as a form of "street fighting", they're made to be the most practical style because their purpose is to help soldiers during times of combat. They also have no point system where a hit to the head is worth so many points. It's all about creating space to escape, or incapacitating your opponent. If your purpose is to try and get into the UFC, this might be the way to go. If you're looking for something to make you feel more secure when it comes to self-defense, this would also be a great way to go!

Muay Thai
Also known as "Thai Boxing". This is the favorite fighting style of female MMA champion, Gina Curano. This style emphasizes hands, knees, elbows and shins so that you can land the most terrifying strikes. This makes it more versatile than boxing because it isn't limited to just punching one another in the head. This Martial Art is specifically created for the sake inflicting a lot of pain. You will definitely do damage if you decide to take up this deadly art. Many people consider Muay Thai to be a very offensive sport, as opposed to other Martial Art forms that emphasize the strength of a defensive position.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Another favorite among those in the military is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Unlike Muay Thai, this art form emphasizes grappling and ground fighting. It was derived from Kodokan Judo, which was based on the Japanese Jujutsu. I would personally recommend this art if you have a smaller frame! Most of the techniques work better for the smaller individual because they can use their opponents weight against them. They also emphasize choke holds and joint locks. This is also often the Fighting Style used during Self Defense classes.

As with any other fighting style it is good to practice self-discipline and controlled aggression. At no point should someone with an overly aggressive attitude be allowed to take these classes because they would pose a great danger to themselves and others.