Originally Posted by ModelPerfect

OK: Here's my take on the subject. With respect to arts, keep in mind there are exceptions to every rule. Not all dojos are run the same way or have as competent of instructors. A dojo has to be evaluated individually. Also, arts that are effective in the street may not do as well in NHB competitions and vice versa...it all depends on what you're looking for. Here, I'm just talking street defense.

First off, the best defense is avoidance, bar none. As for arts:

Aikido is a very powerful defensive art BUT there are a LOT of very bad dojos/systems out there. Very few actually teach street effective techniques, imho, so you have to be careful when selecting a dojo. If you find a street effective system, then it's amazing what you can do. The advantage of an effective style of Aikido is (1) size/strength discrepancies don't come into play as much as with other arts and (2) you have a wide range of responses ranging from really messing up someone to not hurting them at all.

Karate offers a wide variation in methodologies, so it's hard to lump a single "good" or "bad" rating. Some systems concentrate on physical toughness, some on finesse. Imho, the best techniques come from the arts that emphasize non-linear movements and simultaneous counters. Look for the instructor to teach moving off the line to the blind side and NOT taking force against force with blocks, etc. If you do the latter against a bigger opponent, you're toast.

Jiu-Jutsu is very effective but there are limits. For instance BJJ typically concentrates on the ground. However, in the street you are rarely guaranteed a one on one fight. You might be choking or arm-barring the crap out on one guy, but getting stomped from above by his friends. Grappling on the street during multiple attack situations more effectively entails getting up as quick as possible and causing as much damage on the way up as possible. Since there is a large probability of a fight clenching or going to the ground, I think grappling (especially Jiu-Jutsu) is absolutely vital, but not the end all, primary martial art people make it out to be for the reason cited before. Now some arts do keep in the stand-up element and actually work on it (take-downs and some strikes), in which case I think those are more effective for the street than an art that solely teaches ground work.

Wrestling (not pro) is a great art, but they lack a lot of submissions. Still, from my experience, their take-downs and movements are better than Jiu-Jutsu. From a street perspective, its an awesome supplemental art or primary if you learn some strikes as well. Wrestlers that later learn submissions can be incredible.

Judo is a good martial art, but is competition minded. In general, their throws will be better than Jiu-Jitsu guys because they practice them more, but their groundwork probably won't be a formitable. A very solid base though, and if you devote yourself to it, it's awesome. I grappled a 4th dan in BJJ, who was also ranked in Judo, and his opinion was it was the best base of any martial art. I've also grappled the #1 and 2 ranked Judoka in America and the CanAms and though my head was going to pop off my body.

Boxing has the most lethal hand techniques of any martial art, although they are somewhat limited to just hands unless some cross training occurs. But even as a sole art, it's effective for the street.

Thai Boxing is brutal and very very effective. There is nothing more powerful than knees and elbows in terms of strikes, and they use them very efficiently. As a primary or even secondary art, Thai boxing is awesome for both the street and the ring.

Arnis, Escrima and Kali are different martial arts, but since I don't know much about them and they come from the same foundation, I'm lumping them together. From my limited experience, the empty hand techniques are good, but the real power comes from what they can do with sticks and knives. If you cross an escrimador who's got a knife, pray.

Tae Kwon Do is more for competition, and usually point sparring which serves no purpose except make you a less effective fighter. I don't have a high opinion of most Tae Kwon Do, but recognize there are difference ways of teaching it. I have seen some guys coming from the ultra-rare street-wise TKD dojos that could handle themselves on the street, although I still don't think it's as effective as some other styles. Forget about doing high kicks or spinning techniques, because a street fighter will kill you.

Jeet Kune Do has a great philosophy and from my experience seems effective for the street.

Kung Fu seems pretty loopy. I'm sure there's some powerful styles out there, but I don't know enough about it to say. I haven't yet crossed a Kung Fu guy that was incredibly formitable, but then I haven't really played with a lot of them either... so can't really say too much. Simple works better than complicated, so keep that in mind.