What is the least practical martial art (for seld-defense purposes)?

[Vuk]

You tell me what you think (with your country in parenthesis beside it), and then I will put up a poll with all the answers for people to vote on. I am simply trying to gauge public perception. I have a good idea that I know what it will be (at least for the US), but I am curious as to know what others think.

EDIT: Oh, and please do not bash people for their opinion. It would be nice if this could be free from the discussion of the relative strengths and weakness of all martial arts (even the ones that suck, like Judo ).

[Beefy187]

Judo has the strangling. Its not just what you see in those pesky competition. I think its one of the best.

Visually it looks cool, but the least practical might be Capoeira

[Togakure]

I'm of the opinion that there is no "least," no "best" (USA). All martial arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Practicality lies more in the nature of the practitioner. A martial art is least effective as a form of self-defense when a practitioner clings to beliefs, habits, and expectations which work contrary to achieving what an art offers.

A related discipline in this context: I have known many musicians who are technically competent, who possess degrees from elite music schools. They are walking music theory, harmony and history computers, they play their notes to near-perfection, yet, they don't understand why judges and other established musicians rate them poorly. Mechanics are only the beginning, a foundation; the art is in making music, and some simply don't understand this or how to go about developing their true musicianship. Aside from those who simply lack that golden spark of true talent, usually it's because egos and self-justifications prevent. There's no room for more water in a glass that's already full.

[Hax]

Kyudou. Coming from someone that has practiced it. Although it's less of a martial art and more a form of meditation.

[Vuk]

I'm of the opinion that there is no "least," no "best" (USA). All martial arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Practicality lies more in the nature of the practitioner. A martial art is least effective as a form of self-defense when a practitioner clings to beliefs, habits, and expectations which work contrary to achieving what an art offers.

A related discipline in this context: I have known many musicians who are technically competent, who possess degrees from elite music schools. They are walking music theory, harmony and history computers, they play their notes to near-perfection, yet, they don't understand why judges and other established musicians rate them poorly. Mechanics are only the beginning, a foundation; the art is in making music, and some simply don't understand this or how to go about developing their true musicianship. Aside from those who simply lack that golden spark of true talent, usually it's because egos and self-justifications prevent. There's no room for more water in a glass that's already full.

That is a very interesting take on it Togakure. I will agree with you to a degree, but not completely. You are right that the martial art itself is only part of it, but I do not believe that that makes them irrelevant. Definitely the way that you train will determine how good you can do with the tool that you have, but it is also true that some tools are better than others for their purpose.

[Samurai Waki]

The least practical? Kung-Fu. Unless you plan on devoting your life to it, it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that you'll only be mediocre at best. Effective? Most definitely.

[Fragony]

Jiu Jitsu. If you want to be positively sure you are going to get beat up try using it. Best are kickboxing and judo. Period

[Vuk]

The least practical? Kung-Fu. Unless you plan on devoting your life to it, it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that you'll only be mediocre at best. Effective? Most definitely.

lol, can you please be more specific than that? Gong-Fu simply means Chinese martial arts (hard work literally), and there are thousands of highly diverse Chinese martial arts. Many of them are very similar to Japanese and Korean martial arts, and some to Western; others are completely different. Could you specify what types of Gong-Fu you think are useless?

[The Stranger]

Judo has the strangling. Its not just what you see in those pesky competition. I think its one of the best.

Visually it looks cool, but the least practical might be Capoeira

ye... but one can argue its really a martial arts :P its more dancing tbh.

[Samurai Waki]

I think the big mistake Americans make is thinking that martial arts are meant to be used as a way to disarm an opponent. Which is certainly not what most martial arts (in their original form) were all about. Most were plain and simple in the idea that you must disarm and then kill/neutralize that opponent as quickly and effectively as possible, honor be damned. The training is not really up to par with say Shaolin standards because for one, no American would take the kind of abuse that Shaolin monks willingly put themselves through, and second it would probably be illegal to train with traditional means. This was certainly not meant for some average joe-blow to learn in any sort of serious detail, it was something people devoted their entire lives to, and only the best of the best need apply. American "martial arts" trying to mimic eastern styles are a complete sham, better to go with some sort of Mixed Martial art than Karate.

[Vuk]

I think the big mistake Americans make is thinking that martial arts are meant to be used as a way to disarm an opponent. Which is certainly not what most martial arts (in their original form) were all about. Most were plain and simple in the idea that you must disarm and then kill/neutralize that opponent as quickly and effectively as possible, honor be damned. The training is not really up to par with say Shaolin standards because for one, no American would take the kind of abuse that Shaolin monks willingly put themselves through, and second it would probably be illegal to train with traditional means. This was certainly not meant for some average joe-blow to learn in any sort of serious detail, it was something people devoted their entire lives to, and only the best of the best need apply. American "martial arts" trying to mimic eastern styles are a complete sham, better to go with some sort of Mixed Martial art than Karate.

I am asking here about martial arts, and not the way that they are practiced in one country or another. Any (or at least most any) martial art if practiced correctly can be effective, and if practiced poorly or without the proper amount of effort will be useless at best or dangerous to your health at worst. What I am asking about is which martial art do you think is the least effective for self-defense judged solely on its principles and technical aspects.

[Vuk]

Ok, here it is!

EDIT: And yes, I know that some of these are considered sports, but they have martial roots and are still some times practiced for martial purposes.

[Vuk]

lol, Eskrima? Why would you pick that Moros?

[Zim]

If the couple people I know who practiced it were indicative of the art, then Capoeira.

I trained in a couple martial arts when younger for about two years. The teacher emphasized what he considered the practical portions of the arts. I became faster, stronger, and more confident. I'm not quite sure how much they prepared me for a fight beyond the direct advantaged from those changes.

Preparing for my current job I was trained in a rather small number of moves in a small number of techniques, backed up by practice and theory based on what worked in the field. We also knew going into those classes that we stood a good chance of having to use what we learned.

The latter has served me much better. In the end I imagine it's a combination of how you're trained and your own beliefs and expectations about what you'll need to do with that training.

[Major Robert Dump]

I don't know many of those arts, but I chose other for SUMO.

I respectfully disagree about Judo and especially Jujistus. Most fights end up on the ground if the first strikes are not KO-inducing sucker punches.

[Vuk]

I don't know many of those arts, but I chose other for SUMO.

I respectfully disagree about Judo and especially Jujistus. Most fights end up on the ground if the first strikes are not KO-inducing sucker punches.

I will admit that jujitsu is a lot more practical than Judo, but honestly, I don't think that either of them are especially practical against someone who knows what he is doing. (or against someone a lot bigger than you...and esp against someone a lot bigger than you who also knows what he is doing. )

[Moros]

lol, Eskrima? Why would you pick that Moros?

Actually I misread. I was going for the most practical. Though of course it depends on the situation you are in: who you are up against, how many and if and what they are armed with. But eskrima looks in my eyes to be one of the more effective.

If least effective Judo would also come to my mind.

[Vuk]

Actually I misread. I was going for the most practical. Though of course it depends on the situation you are in: who you are up against, how many and if and what they are armed with. But eskrima looks in my eyes to be one of the more effective.

If least effective Judo would also come to my mind.

Ok, I was wondering why you picked it! lol. Yeah, a lot of people don't have a high opinion of eskrima, but I have trained with some guys who knew eskrima who could totally kick arse. I have never practiced it myself, but I have a really high opinion of it.