Best Martial Arts Ranked By PRO MMA Fighter
Martial Arts Journey with Rokas・2 minutes read
Jeff Chan evaluates various martial arts based on their effectiveness for street fighting and MMA, giving high ratings to boxing, wrestling, and Muay Thai for their practicality and dominance, while expressing skepticism about Aikido and Tai Chi. His analysis highlights that while certain martial arts excel in specific scenarios, the overall effectiveness can be compromised if practitioners lack grappling skills or tactical awareness.
Insights
- Jeff Chan evaluates martial arts based on their effectiveness in street fighting and MMA, highlighting that while Aikido may be useful for untrained individuals in street scenarios, its utility decreases significantly in MMA due to trained fighters' ability to avoid overcommitting, demonstrating the importance of context in martial arts effectiveness.
- Chan emphasizes the dominance of wrestling and Muay Thai in both street fighting and MMA, rating them as S for their practical techniques and adaptability, while also recognizing that practitioners must have a well-rounded skill set, including grappling and distance management, to maximize their effectiveness in combat situations.
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Recent questions
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art focused on ground fighting and submission grappling. It emphasizes techniques that allow a smaller, weaker person to defend against a larger opponent by using leverage and proper technique. BJJ practitioners learn to control their opponents through positional dominance and submissions, such as joint locks and chokeholds. The art is particularly effective in street fighting situations against untrained individuals, as it allows for effective takedowns and ground control. However, for BJJ to be fully effective, practitioners must also understand distance management and be able to execute takedowns, as pure BJJ lacks these techniques.
How does boxing help in street fights?
Boxing is highly regarded for its practicality and effectiveness in street fighting scenarios. It focuses on fundamental skills such as footwork, head movement, and powerful punches, which can be crucial in a real-life altercation. A year of boxing training can significantly enhance a person's ability to defend themselves compared to more complex martial arts. Boxers develop quick reflexes and the ability to read opponents, making them adept at avoiding strikes and delivering effective counters. However, while boxing is effective, practitioners should also be aware of their stance, as it can leave them vulnerable to low kicks and takedowns if they lack additional grappling skills.
What is the effectiveness of Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is considered one of the most effective martial arts for both street fighting and MMA due to its diverse range of striking techniques, including elbows, knees, and kicks. This variety allows practitioners to engage effectively in close-quarters combat and maintain an advantage over opponents. The clinching techniques in Muay Thai also provide opportunities to control and dominate an opponent during a fight. Its emphasis on conditioning and toughness further enhances a fighter's ability to withstand strikes and continue fighting effectively. Overall, Muay Thai's comprehensive approach to striking makes it a top choice for self-defense and competitive fighting.
What is the role of wrestling in MMA?
Wrestling plays a crucial role in MMA, as it equips fighters with the skills necessary to control the pace and position of a fight. Wrestlers possess physical strength and mental toughness, allowing them to dictate whether the fight remains standing or transitions to the ground. This ability to control the fight is essential, as it can prevent opponents from executing their preferred techniques. Wrestlers are trained to take down opponents effectively and defend against takedowns, making them formidable in both striking and grappling exchanges. Their training also emphasizes endurance and strategy, which are vital components in high-stakes MMA competitions.
Why is Aikido rated low for MMA?
Aikido is rated lower for MMA due to its reliance on techniques that are less effective against trained fighters. While Aikido can be effective in street fighting situations where opponents may overcommit or lack training, its principles do not translate well in a competitive MMA environment. Trained fighters are less likely to make the mistakes that Aikido techniques exploit, such as overcommitting on strikes. Additionally, the dynamic and unpredictable nature of MMA requires adaptability and a broader skill set, which Aikido does not fully provide. As a result, while Aikido has its merits, its effectiveness diminishes significantly in the context of MMA.
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Summary
00:00
Martial Arts Effectiveness for Fighting Ranked
- Jeff Chan, a professional MMA fighter and YouTube content creator, ranks various martial arts based on their effectiveness for street fighting and MMA, starting with Aikido, which he rates as A- for street fighting due to the average person's lack of training and tendency to overcommit on strikes, making Aikido effective in those scenarios.
- For MMA, Chan lowers Aikido's effectiveness to a C, explaining that trained fighters are less likely to overcommit, making it harder to apply Aikido techniques, although it can still work if the opponent is fatigued or angry.
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is rated as A for street fighting, as it is very effective against untrained individuals, but practitioners must understand distance control and takedowns, as pure BJJ lacks takedown techniques.
- In MMA, Chan rates BJJ as S, noting its historical dominance in early UFC events, but he acknowledges that modern fighters have adapted, making traditional BJJ techniques less effective against trained opponents.
- Chan gives Capoeira a B- for street fighting, citing its unorthodox kicks that can surprise untrained fighters, but he warns that its high kicks can leave practitioners vulnerable to counterattacks.
- For MMA, Capoeira is also rated B, as Chan appreciates its unique style but believes dropping hands too low can lead to vulnerability against strikes.
- Boxing receives an S for street fighting due to its practicality and effectiveness, with Chan emphasizing that a year of boxing training can yield better results than a year of training in more complex martial arts like Kung Fu.
- In MMA, boxing remains rated S, as it provides essential fundamentals, but Chan notes that a boxer's stance can leave them open to low kicks and takedowns unless they have additional grappling skills.
- Wrestling is rated S for both street fighting and MMA, as wrestlers possess physical strength and mental toughness, allowing them to dictate whether a fight stays standing or goes to the ground.
- Chan rates Judo as A- for street fighting due to its ability to throw opponents without falling to the ground, but he lowers its MMA effectiveness to A- because of the risk of overcommitting during throws, which can lead to unfavorable positions.
11:02
Martial Arts Effectiveness in Combat Situations
- The speaker reflects on their evolving perception of karate, initially dismissing it as ineffective but later recognizing its effectiveness in street fighting and MMA, particularly in spacious environments like parking lots, where they rate karate as a B for street fighting and an A- for MMA.
- They discuss the importance of distance management in karate, explaining that a hands-down style can be effective if the practitioner understands their opponent's distance, allowing for counter-punching and movement without being overly defensive.
- Kickboxing is rated as a B for street fighting and an A for MMA, with the speaker noting that while it is effective, the risk of slipping during a street fight makes it less favorable compared to boxing, which they consider highly effective for its straightforward techniques.
- The speaker gives Krav Maga an A- for street fighting due to its practical design for real-life situations, while noting that in practice, it resembles kickboxing, which may limit its distinctiveness.
- They rate Muay Thai as an S for both street fighting and MMA, emphasizing its effectiveness due to the variety of strikes (elbows, knees, kicks) and clinching techniques, which provide a significant advantage in combat situations.
- The speaker expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of Tai Chi in fighting scenarios, giving it an F, while acknowledging its benefits for health and longevity, but stating it lacks practical application in combat.
- Wing Chun is rated a C for MMA and a B- for street fighting, with the speaker noting that while it can be effective against untrained opponents, its techniques, such as hand trapping, may not work well against fighters using different styles.
- The speaker concludes by ranking various martial arts for MMA, placing Muay Thai at S, wrestling at A-, BJJ at A-, and boxing at A-, while noting that the effectiveness of each martial art can diminish if practitioners lack knowledge in grappling or takedown defense.
