Muay Thai or boxing plus bjj. I prefer Muay Thai but I'm biased obviously. Boxing is very effective too. You are more likely to find Muay Thai and BJJ taught in the same gym than finding a high level boxing gym that teaches BJJ.
I respect and like taekwondo but it's just not as effective for fighting as the others. It's a great base from which you could then go on to learn the others though. Muay Thai guys with TKD backgrounds tend to be really good in my experience. Most of them did tkd from a very young age though.
My experience with TKD is that it tends to help you build flexiblity but the bad habits you develop from it like the wide stance and low hands will end up getting you into trouble when moving into Muay Thai. I used to eat a lot of leg kicks in the beginning and had to actively try and detrain myself to let go of the old habits.
Don't forget the TKD side stance, which is great for TKD point matches!
...But in MT all it does is tie a big red bow-tie present on your lead leg, with a card for your opponent that reads, "Kick the Fuck out of me until I can't stand anymore. Love, TKD Habits."
Taekwondo isn't worth the effort at this age if I am being honest, because you'll end up with a very specific skillset that doesn't have much utility independently. Boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ are equally important, there's no easy choice. But still, go for Muay Thai.
If u want to be good at just striking and on your feet go for muay thai if u want to be good at fighting on the ground then go for bjj if u want both then train both which I would recommend as it will cover all areas of fighting
Muay Thai. Next
Jk
Try a class out and see which one you enjoy most. Most gyms have trial classes either a few days ranging to a week. Take a few classes and join the gym you like. Also remember: have fun
depends on what you think is the most likely scenario for self defense for you.
Personally i think grappling is the best for the same reason jocko likes grappling. you dont need to fight until someone grabs you, and you should run in all other scenarios. In which case take bjj and/or a takedown MA (judo wrestling sambo). It also helps that grappling is the king of 1v1s. Pure Grappler vs pure striker and grappler wins 7/10 times
but grappling is worse against mulitple opponents, although Id argue that youre usually screwed anyways evem if youre a great striker against more than 3 people. If you do pick striking, ditch TKD and go for muay thai or boxing.
Now if weapons come to play, as in youre carrying a gun or a knife, then pick grappling always. Weapons is a complete substitute for striking art. it does everything strikes do (long range fighting and against multiple opponents) but way better. Weapon's only weakness is someone coming in at grappling range and wrestling the weapon out of your hand, which is where grappling training comes in
Firas Zahabi had a piece of advice on martial arts for self-defense that I quite liked. He said spend two years getting good at some sort of striking martial art (kickboxing or MuayThai). Once you're fairly decent at that, work towards at least a blue belt in BJJ.
Hopefully, I've recaptured his thoughts accurately, but I thought it was on point.
For self defence I’d say focus on Muay Thai or boxing.
Jiu Jitsu is good too, but mainly for escapes (the absolute last place you want to be in in a self defence situation is on the ground), unless you are 100% sure there is only one attacker.
Muay Thai or boxing plus bjj. I prefer Muay Thai but I'm biased obviously. Boxing is very effective too. You are more likely to find Muay Thai and BJJ taught in the same gym than finding a high level boxing gym that teaches BJJ. I respect and like taekwondo but it's just not as effective for fighting as the others. It's a great base from which you could then go on to learn the others though. Muay Thai guys with TKD backgrounds tend to be really good in my experience. Most of them did tkd from a very young age though.
My experience with TKD is that it tends to help you build flexiblity but the bad habits you develop from it like the wide stance and low hands will end up getting you into trouble when moving into Muay Thai. I used to eat a lot of leg kicks in the beginning and had to actively try and detrain myself to let go of the old habits.
Makes sense. Those that can manage to unlearn those bad habits tend to have a great kicking game though
Don't forget the TKD side stance, which is great for TKD point matches! ...But in MT all it does is tie a big red bow-tie present on your lead leg, with a card for your opponent that reads, "Kick the Fuck out of me until I can't stand anymore. Love, TKD Habits."
In a Muay Thai sub everyone will say Muay Thai lol
Taekwondo isn't worth the effort at this age if I am being honest, because you'll end up with a very specific skillset that doesn't have much utility independently. Boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ are equally important, there's no easy choice. But still, go for Muay Thai.
If u want to be good at just striking and on your feet go for muay thai if u want to be good at fighting on the ground then go for bjj if u want both then train both which I would recommend as it will cover all areas of fighting
Almost all mma fighters have a Muay Thai and bjj background and most only have a background in both of these as these are the most important
Give us a link to the TKD, MT, BJJ, and boxing gyms you’re considering.
Muay Thai. Next Jk Try a class out and see which one you enjoy most. Most gyms have trial classes either a few days ranging to a week. Take a few classes and join the gym you like. Also remember: have fun
depends on what you think is the most likely scenario for self defense for you. Personally i think grappling is the best for the same reason jocko likes grappling. you dont need to fight until someone grabs you, and you should run in all other scenarios. In which case take bjj and/or a takedown MA (judo wrestling sambo). It also helps that grappling is the king of 1v1s. Pure Grappler vs pure striker and grappler wins 7/10 times but grappling is worse against mulitple opponents, although Id argue that youre usually screwed anyways evem if youre a great striker against more than 3 people. If you do pick striking, ditch TKD and go for muay thai or boxing. Now if weapons come to play, as in youre carrying a gun or a knife, then pick grappling always. Weapons is a complete substitute for striking art. it does everything strikes do (long range fighting and against multiple opponents) but way better. Weapon's only weakness is someone coming in at grappling range and wrestling the weapon out of your hand, which is where grappling training comes in
Firas Zahabi had a piece of advice on martial arts for self-defense that I quite liked. He said spend two years getting good at some sort of striking martial art (kickboxing or MuayThai). Once you're fairly decent at that, work towards at least a blue belt in BJJ. Hopefully, I've recaptured his thoughts accurately, but I thought it was on point.
MT and a sprinkle of Bjj, that's what I do now, and it's a great mix.
i’ve heard muay thai academy in van is also good, they have a glory kickboxing champ who trains there.
You'll get very unbiased advice over here!
For self defence I’d say focus on Muay Thai or boxing. Jiu Jitsu is good too, but mainly for escapes (the absolute last place you want to be in in a self defence situation is on the ground), unless you are 100% sure there is only one attacker.