Which martial art is the best? This seemingly naive question is actually not so simple and meaningless. It is often asked by beginners choosing which martial art to take up, among whom there is a category of particularly picky citizens who intend to choose for themselves the “best”. But how to choose?
Firstly, read, trying to understand what is what in the world of martial arts. And secondly, you can simply ask those who understand the issue.
Then similar questions appear on the Internet, which the “locals” usually meet with their own question: “What do you need it for?” And indeed, what is the best for?
Here, under another formulation – “Which martial art (hereinafter for brevity – BA) is the most effective?” – usually means applied effectiveness. For a fight or self-defense.
The world of martial arts is diverse. If you want, you can find anything in it. Including martial arts created for real combat and, as is believed, retaining their traditional form to this day. We will talk about them in general, without specific names and descriptions.
Any martial art arose in the context of a place and time. That is, in certain conditions – for use by certain “users” against a certain, relevant opponent. And if a martial art has survived to our time, we can consider its effectiveness confirmed.
But efficiency in these, specific conditions, with the corresponding enemy: with specific weapons, protective gear, equipment and tactics. Which does not mean the efficiency of this combat system in modern conditions. Even if it was once purely applied.
For example, a certain hypothetical martial art developed in the conditional Middle Ages. And since then it has been preserved in approximately the same form. Together with the idea of it as a genuine martial art, used not for fighting, but for killing. It is believed that martial arts were historically used for killing
For those who are far from martial arts, I will say that this is not uncommon. And if you perceive such martial arts as a cultural, ethnographic phenomenon, as a specific physical culture, as “just a hobby” – everything is fine. It is possible that if the need arises, the acquired skills will help to defend themselves. Perhaps they will help. Both situations and opponents are different.
But it is not always reasonable to specifically study such a martial art as a self-defense one.
First of all, the enemy has changed. As a rule, any progressive changes in society, technology, science are quickly “applied” to military affairs in general and martial arts in particular. And what is preserved in its previous form ceases to correspond to the requirements of reality.
How can a combat system not change? For example, over time, the main opponent ceased to be one. But the martial art remained as part of the tradition. They have not fought with it for a long time, except perhaps between individual masters. And there are fewer and fewer people studying this martial art. There is no need!
People are lazy, and if external conditions do not require changes, most of us are not inclined to invent them. Add to this the respect for the past, ancestors and traditions, plus a certain isolation of the culture as a whole – and we get traditional BI, capable of almost not changing for centuries. In addition, its effectiveness has been tested in real battles. Over the years, opponents have changed
Only that enemy is long gone. And the new potential opponent has completely different technology, tactics, weapons, against which “traditional BI” may not be so effective.
Secondly, the situation is changing. Where previously it was necessary to disable the enemy as quickly and reliably as possible, least of all worrying about his health, now it is necessary to stop him without causing much harm. And the old “applied” BI are mostly designed to kill or seriously injure, and all their equipment is “sharpened” for this.
Just imagine: do you want to maim (or worse) a street bully or even a robber? Not intentionally, but simply acting “automatically”, according to an algorithm of actions “hammered” into your psyche and body? In a real combat situation, for which the system you are studying is “sharpened”, there is no time to think!
Of course, a lot can be adapted to modern conditions… But that would no longer be the same “true martial art”!
And the third factor: the “user” has changed. Most modern city dwellers (who, for the most part, practice martial arts) are different from their pre-industrial ancestors. And even from those closer to us in time.
Physical training was different – thanks to the very way of life of our ancestors, which assumed much greater physical exertion. The psychological attitude was different: martial arts were studied not just like that, but with the aim of protecting themselves from a very specific danger. Or for use in war or a duel. In any case, we are talking about a very specific threat to life, which most modern civilian users lack along with serious motivation for training.
In addition, many traditional teaching methods are ineffective compared to modern ones. Or they are too tough for us. Or they involve individual training, and perhaps even significant changes in the way of life itself.
For example, in a traditional system there may not be such an element as sparring. Which was justified when the technique and tactics were calculated to quickly deprive the opponent of combat capability, and the corresponding protective equipment was absent.
And dangerous techniques were developed in the most rigid and realistic way. Sometimes to the detriment of one's own health.
Figuratively speaking: if you want to fight like your ancestors, live and train like them.
Well, those who have such motivation and are ready to spend time on the appropriate training – of course, have every chance to learn. And they will find opportunities to apply the acquired skills.
However, such people will become formidable fighters, no matter what they do. The practice of ancient and “real” martial arts is not contraindicated for an ordinary person. The only question is understanding what to do and why.
P.S. And for the ability to “stand up for yourself,” a modern person would be best off going to a section of one of the modern contact martial arts, where you will learn how to fight simply and without fuss.
