OK so you know this website is primarily about combat sports and muay thai in particular. And that I love all martial arts styles and have trained in muay thai, Judo, BJJ and Wing Chun, but just what are the best martial arts for street fighting?
In this post we look at the top 10 best martial arts for street fighting as well each of these martial arts’ strengths and weaknesses when it comes to combat outside the ring i.e the best martial arts for street fighting.
To be honest, in my opinion each of these martial arts can be used effectively for street fighting. Why? Because in street fighting there are no rules, no time limits and no weight classes.
And really if you become proficient in a few effective strikes, then anyone can end a street fight pretty quickly.
And this leads to the first in the list of the top 10 best martial arts for street fighting.
#1 Boxing
Boxing is as old as human civilisation itself. By this I am referring to the techniques of balling up your fists and trying to punch someone in the face and also the techniques to block and evade said punches.
In fact boxing was part of the ancient Greek martial art of Pankration.
Over time boxing has developed to become the most effective fighting style for fist fighting – which really is the most common form of street fighting there is.
And many argue that if a boxer gets taken down to the ground then his punches are pretty much useless. But a proficient boxer, or even someone who is more skilld and accuarte with their pucnhes and has good timing can take out multiple oponents fairly quickly.
Don’t believe me?
Check out this video below which shows just how quickly a street fight can end with a punch.
So the main reason why boxing is one of the top 10 best martial arts for street fighting for me is because:
Fist fighting i.e punching is the most common form of street fighting and boxing excels at this. Not only at proficient and accurate, powerful punches but also the best ways to avoid getting punched in the face.
#2 Judo
For those who aren’t aware Judo just seems like a couple of guys in kimonos trying to grab each other.
But in reality, Judo is a deadly art in the hands of a trained Judoka.
And in a street fight where there are no mats to cushion a fall, a Judo takedown can be a fight ending move.
Judo as a grappling art is excellent and tying an opponent up and manipulating their body weight in order to execute a throw and put an opponent on the ground.
And, not only does Judo train extensively to take opponents down but also, various ways to pin an opponent to the ground effectively making their attacks useless and suffocating the life out of them.
Judo also trained different chokes, strangles and arm bars which are fight ending submissions.
#3 Wing Chun
There is a reason why several special forces train Wing Chun or sometimes referred to as Ving Tsun. Becasue it is highly effective in close quarters combat which makes it ideal in a lot of street fighting situations.
Bruce Lee’s senior when he trained under Yip Man, and the person who instructed Bruce Lee was Wong Shun Leung and he was known for fighting and always winning in street no rules street fights with other kung fu styles.
These fights were known as beimo or tests of skill and Wong Shun Leung was pretty much never defeated thanks to his mastery of Wing Chun that was taught to him by Yip Man.
Ving Tsun is a martial art that values adaptability and practicality. Its focus on directness, simultaneous attack and defense, and economy of motion make it well-suited for self-defense and street fighting situations which is why it is one of the top 10 best martial arts for street fighting.
#4 Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that originated in the 1940s in Hawaii. The name “Kajukenbo” is a portmanteau of the various martial arts that contributed to its development:
- KA: Karate
- JU: Judo and Jujutsu
- KEN: Kenpo
- BO: Boxing
Kajukenbo was created as a practical and effective system for self-defense in real-world situations. The founders of Kajukenbo sought to combine the strengths of multiple martial arts to create a well-rounded and adaptable fighting style. The original intent was to develop a system that could effectively defend against various types of street attacks.
The development of Kajukenbo is credited to five martial artists who came together to create the system. These founders were:
- Adriano Emperado: A black belt in Kenpo Karate and Jujutsu.
- Peter Choo: A black belt in Tang Soo Do and Shotokan Karate.
- Joseph Holck: A black belt in Judo and Jujutsu.
- Frank Ordonez: A black belt in Sekeino Jujutsu and Boxing.
- Clarence Chang: A black belt in Kung Fu.
#5 Krav Maga
Krav Maga is often considered effective for street fighting due to its practical and no-nonsense approach to self-defense. Developed for the Israeli military, Krav Maga is designed to be learned quickly and applied efficiently in real-world situations.
One of the main reasons why Krav Maga is effective for street fighting is the emphasis on realistic training.
Krav Maga training includes scenarios that mimic real-world situations, such as surprise attacks, multiple attackers, and armed assailants. This helps practitioners develop practical skills for common street confrontations.
Krav Maga training often includes exposure to stress-inducing situations to simulate the adrenaline and fear that can accompany a real-life confrontation. This helps practitioners develop the mental fortitude to stay focused and make effective decisions under pressure.
#6 Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Gracie Jiu Jitsu distinguishes itself from sport BJJ. Sport BJJ is highly focused on training to win competition matches and tournaments fought under specific rules.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu is purely focused on street fighting and self defense.
GJJ proved its effectiveness against other styles in no holds barred matches in the first UFC in 1993 and since then GJJ and/or BJJ has become an indispensable part of MMA training.
There are several key reasons why GJJ is effective for street fighting. For one GJJ relies on leverage and technique, allowing a smaller person to effectively control or submit a larger and stronger opponent. This principle aligns with self-defense goals where physical strength may not be an advantage.
Also, GJJ places a strong emphasis on ground fighting, where many real-world altercations end up. Learning how to control and submit an opponent on the ground is crucial in self-defense situations where going to the ground is unavoidable.
#7 Muay Thai
As a long time muay thai practitioner I cannot leave this style out of the top 10 best martial arts for street fighting. And the Art of 8 limbs has proven to be one of the most effective overall striking styles.
But in addition to the excellent striking, muay thai places heavy emphasis on stand up grappling or clinch which can be used effectively to niulify an opponents striking and wear them down or knock them out with close range knees and elbows.
A well placed head kick is also an immediate fight ender when used with proper timing and accuracy apart from the other striking limbs of knees, punches and elbows.
#8 Combat Sambo
Combat Sambo, a Russian martial art developed for the military and later adapted for sport, has components that can be effective in street self-defense.
Combat Sambo incorporates elements of judo and wrestling for throws and takedowns, as well as striking techniques, ground fighting, and submissions. This versatility allows practitioners to adapt to different situations they might encounter in a street fight.
Like many effective martial arts, Combat Sambo training may include stress-inoculation methods to help practitioners become accustomed to the physiological and psychological effects of high-stress situations.
#9 Mixed Martial Arts
MMA combines techniques from various martial arts, including striking (such as boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai), grappling (wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), and clinch work. This versatility allows MMA practitioners to be well-rounded in different ranges of combat, making them adaptable in various street-fighting scenarios.
MMA also places heavy emphasis on sparring and being able to execute techniques under high stress combat situations.
Also, MMA fighters are accustomed to adapting their strategies based on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. This adaptability is crucial in self-defense situations, where opponents may have different sizes, strengths, and fighting styles.
#10 Catch Wrestling
Catch wrestling is a form of folk wrestling that originated in the United Kingdom and later gained popularity in the United States.
Catch wrestling has its roots in various traditional wrestling styles, and catch wrestlers historically engaged in a style of submission grappling that allowed for a broad range of techniques, including joint locks and strangles.
Catch wrestling’s emphasis on submissions can be valuable in street fights, where the ability to control and neutralize an opponent without causing severe injury is important.
Since catch wrestling is often practiced without a gi, the techniques are more transferable to real-world situations where opponents may not be wearing a uniform.
