As a martial artist for over 16 years, a lot of people have come to me asking me what martial system is best for them, and invariably, my answer has always been the same. “It depends. “

By and large, asking which martial art is the best is like asking, which car is the best: the answer depends on your tastes and needs.

Although many argue that Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai, are the most effective  fighting systems, neither one is for the faint of heart, and telling someone that they are the only way to go for martial arts training is like telling someone that the only way to be safe on the highway is to drive a hummer.

Furthermore, aside from self-defense, there are a myriad of other factors that one should consider when choosing a martial art to train in. While any martial art, can be enjoyed and mastered by anyone who takes the time to really commit to it, different martial arts (much like different cars) tend to suit different kinds of people.

Olympic Taekwondo which is fast-paced, explosive, kicking-oriented is more apty suited to the those who are light on their feet, and have wirey builds, while Judo on the other hand tends more to favor those with a stocky build and a lower center of gravity.

While some systems are movement philosophies which develop one’s spirit and energy by training the body (i.e. boxing, MMA, kickboxing, Capoeira) other systems (Aikido, Qi Gong, Tai chi) work the opposite way, and develop physical strength, health and well-being by means of training one’s ‘ki’.

Other factors to consider, are the prices, and proximity to one’s house (and consequently how realistic it is that you will actually make it out to school regularly). Martial arts training should not be ridiculously expensive, and true masters will not try to rip you off. In fact, if you can’t afford the price, most will find ways to let you train in exchange for your helping them out. Frank Dux, the first westerner to win the KUMITE, and the person whom the film BLOODSPORT is based off of, was incredibly poor, and used to clean the outside of a master’s school in exchange for the master leaving the blinds open and letting him train along outside. (In the case of my own school back in Michigan, I actually did something similar by  helping out with maintainence, and cleaning inside and out)

Lastly, even if one has an idea of the martial system that they would like to learn, and have found a few schools that are within a reasonable distance, the last thing to consider is the quality and teaching style of the instructors. While some people may respond well to strict instructors who demand discipline, others may feel more comfortable around masters who are more easy-going. (As a rule older, or higher ranking masters are generally a lot more relaxed, and younger and lower ranking masters are generally more strict). Again, it is simply a matter of one’s tastes and needs, and when it doubt, much like a car, the best way to see if a school suits you is to take it for a spin, and see how it feels.

Chuck Johnson is an action actor, and a martial artist of 16 years. In addition to action films, he currently teaches action, martial arts, and stretching techniques in Tokyo, and Saitama, and also works as a personal trainer.

www.chuck-n-action.com