What is the best self defense for the street ? Experienced help wanted. I don't want to be a victim again.

Question

I've been looking into this for about four months now, i don't make that much money so i would like to find the right fighting style or martial art the first time with someone who has the experience of reality based tactics and applications to teach. I would hate to spend all this money and time and find out i joined the wrong style,art or teacher. I'm 39 years old ,weigh 170pnds , I'm 5' 7" tall, not flexable and have 6 broken bones from riding dirt bikes so i can't run from an attacker. So-i have read and asked a lot of questions ,but i tend to get a little bit of the run around from the sinsa or masters of studios and dojos becouse i feel some just want my money . The style that i have heard that works well on the street is kempo with jujitsu. The others for my body type that are an all around arsenal for the street is combat judo or hopkido with muay thia, but i know you have to have some kind of weapons training in there some where. I live in San Diego,Ca - Can you help? Thanks

Answer 1

Krav Maga.

Its designed for street danger. It also has tactics that one might consider "dirty", but also extremely effective.

Answer 2

one word

GLOCK

Answer 3

You are right about them wanting your money.

Any kind of MA is better than nothing. Krav Maga is fro street danger like the guy above said, Tae Kwon Do is based on speed, control, accuracy with massive stamina, good for dodging. Boxing could easily take someone out. If your broken bones aren't impeding you, I suggest excercising and working out 3 days a week or something. Be with another person, or carry an inconspicous weapon.

Answer 4

Keith- I would take Katana up on his offer. I would also ask Judomofo about Krav Maga.

Aside from that good advice I would say only this. Any martial art will work in self defense if you train it hard enough. It sounds like you want to, bravo for making that decision.

2nd, If you aren't comfortable and confident in that type of martial art it will be harder to use in real life...... meaning. Let's say everyone tells you to take Brazilian JuJitsu saying it's the best around in self defense and nothing can beat it. It may be true and it may not, but if you feel comfortable and confident in a striking art and feel some reservation about rolling around with someone then grappling art isn't for you. I'm not saying don't learn how to defend yourself on the ground, I'm saying start off with the striking art because that's where you are most confident and then train the ground work later. It's opposite if you feel the ground is where you want to be and can't stand striking. Then by all means pick up a ground art and learn that first.

There is no "best" only what's best for you. And confidence in the techniques you have to perform is half the battle.

Answer 5

napolean- It is a good idea to actually know how to spell the style correctly (Maga not Manga) before recomending it.

That being said if all you are looking for is self defense, Krav Maga can be an exceptional style, however many places in the US teach a very watered down version of it.

My suggestion would be if this is your choice to contact Judomofo, a top contributer in answers. i do not know a whole lot about the style, but he is a Brown belt that actually trained it in Israel.

Other then that you might want to look into a reality based system, but many of them are not worth your time or money.

One big factor will be what is available in your area. If you would like you cna E-mail me a list of schools in your area, and their websites, and I will do my best to pick out the ones that look like they actually have a clue.

Without knowing what is availible in your area, it will be very hard for people on here to recomend styles.

Answer 6

I agree with Karlo, Krav Maga was designed for citizen soldiers in the Israeli military(everyone has to serve upon 18th birthday) dirty, brutal, effective.  If you can't find that try Okinawan karate (isshinryu, gojuryu, shorin-ryu, etc.) linear simple techniques, nothing flashy, but deadly in thier own right,

Answer 7

Krav Manga, a Jewish martial art is weak in professional combat but most effective in street fighting.

Answer 8

All martial-arts are good for self defense it depends on how you apply what you've learned.  Always presence of mind.

Answer 9

DON'T GO OUT ALONE. TRY TO HAVE ONE OR MORE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.