What Martial Arts Systems to Choose for Self-Defense and Health

When you decide to choose a martial arts system it is imperative to take into consideration few important elements. The first thing you need to consider is that most martial arts systems were created long ago under very primitive conditions and for the most part, majority of them are outdated in their training methods and approach in general—unless their instructors have updated and reformed their system. For example, most high kicks go back to a time when fighters had to sometimes kick a man off horse. Nowadays we don’t have people on horses coming at us. The second thing you need to consider is how long does it realistically take to become proficient with techniques taught in a particular system. For example, delivering a head-butt, takes only few days to get a hang of it, however a high kick takes months and years. The third element to consider is time needed to maintain the quality of a techniques. Some techniques such as a high spinning back kick takes an hour a day to maintain it throughout your old age, but head-butting may only need a few min a day to maintain the technique. The fourth thing to consider is, does the system you are trying to choose, cover all four ranges in a real street encounter. If it covers kicking, punching, clinching, and ground fighting, plus the weapons—-then that’s a lot better than a system that teaches only one or two ranges only. A fight in street is dangerous and dynamic, so if the system you are trying to choose, does not deal with the total reality of a fight, it is definitely something to consider.  The fifth and the last thing to consider is your age and physical limitations. If you are an older individual, I don’t recommend choosing an art that is physically abusive on the body. You don’t need to have the toughest body parts to be efficient in a street encounter. Even those who are young I tell them, to pick an art (system) that they can do even in an advanced age. Those who are younger and are careless of this important point, they will grow up to have all kinds of excessive wear and tear on their bodies, and will pay for it in later year of their lives. In short, you want to pick a system that is not outdated; that fits your lifestyle; that considers health and longevity; that shows you proper techniques; that you can feel comfortable with the techniques in few days or weeks at max; have short maintenance time; and covers all ranges of a street encounter–including weapons. Jeet Kune Do/Kali/Fangshi are just few practical systems that satisfy and cover all of the above criterion.