What matters more than the martial arts you choose is the gym you'll be joining... No point setting your mind on BJJ if you have a 2 hours journey to the nearest gym.

Equally, you will need to get on with and respect your instructor if you are to stick with what you're doing...

All martial arts have at least something to offer... I've seen some really shit judo coaching, and a friend of mine is an awesome taekwondo fighter and instructor (I had no respect for the art before I met him).

But, generally, for the skills you'll be gaining and for the fitness the training will give you, I'd go with boxing or thai boxing (though if you happened to have a sanshou school in the vicinity, I'd highly recommend you check it out).
For ground game and throws: BJJ (my favorite), judo or wrestling.

Once you get a good background in these, look into Krav Maga for some self-defense applications.

Can't post links since I am new member.

If you are looking for self defense put in google "martial-myths-what-works-what-doesnt-in-self-defense". It should take you to attack proof dot com. Imho this is as good as it gets when self defense goes.

Take a good look at the knife video. You will be surprised.

No martial arts is better than any other. But I recommend Muay Thai and Krav Maga

_________________
Impossible is Nothing!

I'm still reading through this thread, but I'd like to add some input.

Some background information, I've trained in Brazilian Juijitsu, kickboxing, mma for 3 years, dabbled in capoiera, tae kwon do, karata, muay thai and judo.
In regards to brazilian juijitsu I am rather proficient at brazilian juijitsu.

Now in regards to fighting on the street/bar/club, I've been in 3 street brawls with me fighting 2 people or 3 people.
I've also been in 2 with a single opponent.
In regards to me, I've not started any of these fights, wrong place at the wrong time, or a friend of mine being drunk etc.

The first 2 pages states that BJJ is relatively ineffective in the street/club, especially against multiple people. In all fights, I've used my and not once been stomped on the head etc... I've double legged guys, gone to knee ride, choked people out when necessary and what not. It's all about knowing your surroundings though, if you're going to choke a guy, make sure no one can come up behind you, eg when I had to do it, I arm dragged the guy after he threw a punch, then took his back, stayed standing and backed up to the wall and then choked the guy with a rear naked. That took maybe 15 seconds total, and used the guy as a body shield to protect me.

How ever I don't condone the actions, I just did what I felt was necessary in the situation I was given.


It's late and don't feel like editting what I said above, just finished reading through this thread. Some great opinions in here, but I get the feeling a lot of you here, haven't been in a street fight, or club fights.
In BJJ, knee ride works perfectly on the street, quick trip or single leg, pass his legs, knee ride, you can spot people coming at you and see him etc..

*sigh* sleep beckons me.
My basic opinion is
BJJ + wrestling or judo, both are really good and offer different things.

One thing that has been missed is that martial arts isn't about fighting rather defending yourself. Most forms or Sifus would advocate legging it rather then standing your ground.

Is not the martial arts is the practitioner that makes the difference, for mma, the best martial art would be bjj, mua thai second, for street fighting the best one is Capoeira(the real one no the water down bs), is the closest to jail teachings but it takes too long to get good at it(most capoeristas are from the slumps of brazil and been in jail, since it was illegal etc..).. The problem with bjj is once you are on the floor lets' say in a club is not gonna do you any good.. But bottom line is the person not the martial art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UPgxdZW6CU

_________________
Learn the proper way to maximize your results in a dancefloor/club environment, check out my blog and youtube channel:
http://www.dancefloorseduction.com

Dancefloor/Club game youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/dancefloorseduction

If you have a lot of dedication, karate will give you more than just the ability to defend himself. Believe me, karate is not what it does, it can be as effective as any other martial art, if used correctly, we do not practice to defend their own case in the streets, from weapons and multiple attackers.

Every martial art has it charmes and can be useful.I would recommend muay thai(kicks,punches,elbows,but especially the knees in the clinch),bjj(groundfighting),wrestling(takedown,takedowndefense,head locks) and you can't pull guard in a street fight

_________________
“The only reason to wait a month for sex is if she's 17 years, 11 months old.”-Barney Stinson

Id love to try MMA theres a couple of places up here in Liverpool that do it and I know a couple of people who train in it who dont come across as fighters, it seems a good thing to learn, keeps you in shape and the people who do it seem to be friendly and reserved and not thugs like the media sometimes make them out

I'd recommend a dojo that teaches BJJ for grappling and take down techniques, and Muay Tai for standing combat. I took it for a few years, and unfortunately got into a situation in which I had to use it, it works.

_________________
The only thing holding you back is you.

Hands Dow, Krav Maga but if you live no where near anywhere this is taught then I recommend KickBoxing

_________________
The 3Qualities needed: Confidence, Abundance & The Ability to sexually escalate. These are pretty much what every efficient PUA has.

try eskrima/arnis. with or without a weapon you can use this using your hands. you can disarm your opponent and it uses minimal strength in moving and attacking. or you show them your super saiyan kame hame wave. lol.

_________________
http://www.relationshipdatingblog.com

This is crazy. There is no best style. Its about the practitioner. Plain and simple.

Personally i train in muay thai, taekwondo, aikido, and karate. They are all drastically different and one is not better than the other. Karate teaches you to attack multiple opponents, muay thai is using 8 limbs to inflict maximum damage to your opponent, taekwondo focuses on kicking your opponent forcing them to fight at your distance avoiding their punches / kicks while aikido focuses on the transfer of momentum to pin your opponent.

Each have their pros and cons. Taekwondo doesn't really teach u how to effectively throw a punch and kicks can easily be grabbed. Muay Thai doesn't have a ground game, karate is pretty well rounded but im not a fan of the stance nor alot of the striking components. Aikido is very situational. You basically have to know X akido move for Y attack and X and Y have to be matched perfectly together or else your technique will not work.

So basically my advice is to pick a combination that compliment each other. I know there are styles of karate that offer striking and ground components.

Another note the key to BJJ is not necessarily working your ground game rather knowing how to put your opponents in submissions asap when you are in an advantageous position or on your back. If your opponent has never been in a kimoura i guarantee you they will not know how to get out of it.

I'm no expert, but it seems to be that there is no 'best' martial art, and it is the individual skill and fitness of the practitioner that matters.

Personally, I practice kendo and aikido - but mainly because I fit into my cousin's old armor set and its something to keep myself active.

I did Wing Tsun for 3 years. Its hard as hell, but it gave me a good inner game during some stressful situations. Its good for the game to walk around knowing noone will kick your ass or mess around with ya.

Basicaly krav magan is Wing Tsun without some forms and more applied.