Learning martial arts for self-defense is a practical and empowering decision. In real-life situations, knowing how to protect yourself can make all the difference. While competitive martial arts are popular, many disciplines were originally developed with self-preservation in mind. This article will explore seven martial arts that are highly effective for self-defense, showcasing examples from ONE Championship athletes who demonstrate these techniques in action.
Taekwondo: The Art of Kicking
Taekwondo is renowned as a dynamic kicking sport, but its roots lie in self-defense. This martial art heavily emphasizes kicking techniques, which offer a significant advantage in self-defense scenarios. Since legs are typically longer than arms, Taekwondo’s focus on kicks allows you to maintain distance and prevent attackers from closing in.
Anthony Engelen delivers a head kick knockout in ONE Championship
ONE Championship’s Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen, a Taekwondo specialist, exemplifies the devastating power of a head kick. As seen in the video, a well-placed Taekwondo kick can be a fight-ending technique, crucial for quickly neutralizing threats in self-defense situations.
Submission Grappling: Ground Control for Self-Protection
The saying “every fight ends up on the ground” highlights the importance of ground fighting skills in self-defense. Submission grappling is a martial art specifically designed for controlling and neutralizing opponents on the ground. In a self-defense scenario where a fight goes to the ground, submission grappling provides essential techniques for control and escape.
Christian Lee secures a rear-naked choke in a ONE Championship fight
ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee, a master of submission grappling, demonstrates the effectiveness of this art by applying a rear-naked choke against Kazunori Yokota. Submission grappling teaches vital skills like escapes, positional control, and submission holds, all crucial for defending yourself on the ground.
Muay Thai: The Clinch and Striking Art
Muay Thai, often called “the art of eight limbs,” is a powerful striking art that is highly applicable to self-defense. It incorporates punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, making it a well-rounded striking discipline. Furthermore, Muay Thai includes clinch techniques, sweeps, and throws, providing options for both stand-up and close-quarters defense.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon showcasing powerful Muay Thai strikes and sweeps in ONE Championship
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon is known for his aggressive and effective Muay Thai style. His fights highlight the devastating strikes, sweeps, and throws inherent in Muay Thai, illustrating its versatility for self-defense in various ranges.
Judo: Throws and Takedowns for Control
Judo emphasizes throws and takedowns, focusing on using an opponent’s weight and momentum against them. The core principle of Judo is efficiency and leverage, making it effective for self-defense, regardless of size or strength. Judo techniques can quickly take an attacker to the ground, allowing for control or escape.
Judo takedown in a mixed martial arts fight
Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki, a former ONE Lightweight World Champion, is renowned for incorporating Judo techniques into his mixed martial arts game. His success demonstrates how Judo throws and holds can be seamlessly integrated into a broader self-defense strategy, providing powerful tools for controlling and neutralizing threats.
Wrestling: Takedown Defense and Ground Mobility
Wrestling is an excellent martial art for developing defensive skills. Wrestlers are known for their agility, balance, and ability to control their opponent’s movement. In self-defense, wrestling skills are invaluable for avoiding takedowns, quickly returning to a standing position if taken down, and controlling an attacker on the ground until help arrives.
Demetrious Johnson showcasing wrestling skills in ONE Championship
ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix finalist Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson effectively utilizes wrestling in his fights. His scrambles and takedowns demonstrate the practical application of wrestling for controlling opponents and dictating the pace of engagement, crucial for self-defense.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Leverage for Everyone
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a close-combat martial art that focuses on ground fighting and submissions. BJJ is particularly effective for self-defense because it emphasizes leverage and technique over brute strength. This allows smaller individuals to successfully defend themselves against larger, stronger opponents, making it an ideal martial art for people of all sizes and strengths.
Angela Lee demonstrating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills in ONE Championship
ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee seamlessly integrates BJJ into her ground game. Her performances highlight the effectiveness of BJJ in controlling opponents, securing dominant positions, and applying submissions, showcasing its practicality for self-defense.
Mixed Martial Arts: A Comprehensive Approach
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines, offering a comprehensive skill set for self-defense. MMA training includes striking, clinching, grappling, wrestling, and submissions. This well-rounded approach prepares individuals for a wide range of self-defense scenarios, making it arguably the most adaptable martial art for real-world situations.
Brandon Vera defending his ONE Heavyweight World Title using mixed martial arts
ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera exemplifies the effectiveness of MMA in real combat. His successful title defense showcases the seamless integration of striking and grappling techniques that are characteristic of MMA, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness for self-defense.
Conclusion: Preparation is the Best Defense
Ultimately, the best martial art for self-defense is the one you train in and can effectively apply. Preparation is the most crucial element of self-defense. Regardless of the specific martial art you choose, the ability to react effectively and apply your training in a real-life situation is what truly matters. Choosing any of these martial arts will equip you with valuable skills and enhance your preparedness for self-defense.
