Top 10 Martial Arts for Personal Protection

Martial arts are not only exciting to watch and a great way to get in shape, but they really prove their worth when used for self-defense – which is often the true purpose behind many of these practices. This list explores the ten best martial arts to learn if your main goal is to defend yourself from potential threats.

10. Kickboxing

It’s important to note that in any street confrontation, if a stranger tries to mug you or worse, they likely don’t possess a specific fighting style, aside from the basic instinct of “throw punches and keep coming.”

Kickboxing has several offshoots, with the most notable being Muay Thai, which is often translated as the 'art of the eight limbs.'

Kickboxing as a self-defense technique focuses on punches, knees, and kicks: quick, distracting, and aimed at every vulnerable spot. If an attacker is armed with a knife or gun and within striking distance, they will likely use the weapon. In contrast, the defender has a wider range of weapons, such as hands, feet, knees, elbows, and head.

Approach the attacker (if they have any weapon except a gun), and deliver a powerful front kick straight to their chin with as much force as possible. Kickboxing specializes in such moves, training practitioners to execute them with incredible speed, faster than the attacker can react, making 'fancy kicks' obsolete. Done correctly, this kick can break the attacker’s jaw, crush their larynx, shatter their teeth, or cause them to bite off their tongue, rendering them unable to continue fighting. The training ensures that this kick is quick, powerful, and untelegraphed.

Alternatively, step to the side, grab the attacker’s weapon arm, and drive your forehead into their nose. This move will cause far less pain to you than expected, while the attacker’s nose will break like a firecracker.

Kickboxers undergo a process known as 'combat qi,' where they condition their bodies by repeatedly subjecting them to damage, until pain signals no longer register in the brain. Kickboxers practice by rolling a baseball bat handle up and down their shins with enough force to induce aching for about an hour a day for two years. This constant stress strengthens and thickens the tibia. Eventually, a kickboxer can break a baseball bat with their shin without feeling any pain.

9. Karate

In Karate, the focus is placed on deflecting attacks. Most punches or knife strikes come directly toward you, rather than in an arc. It’s rare for a fighter to make the mistake of attempting a looping haymaker.

To counter, step aside, creating a lateral line toward the attacker’s arm, and strike their attacking hand (whether punch or knife). Then, swiftly strike their lower side, stomach, or back with your other fist. This maneuver is difficult to defend against, and the attacker is unlikely to recover in time. Push forward and land a knee strike to their quadriceps – it’s intensely painful.

While strikes to the face and head are essential, the attacker will anticipate them. Instead, block their right-handed strike with your left fist (or vice versa), and immediately punch with your other hand into the soft spot just below their sternum, twisting your hips as you strike. This target is the solar plexus, and hitting it will incapacitate them as effectively as a blow to the groin.

Alternatively, if the attacker charges toward you, deliver a powerful front kick, with the ball of your foot planted, straight into their stomach or solar plexus, not the groin. A kick to one of these areas will force the attacker backward in pain, as it disrupts their center of gravity. Since they are leaning forward while charging, a groin strike would cause them to lunge directly at you.

8. Aikido

Aikido is a unique martial art, instantly recognizable by its techniques. Though it includes some striking moves, its primary principle is that when an attacker strikes, they expose a vulnerable part of their defense. If you, the defender, choose not to strike back, you maintain complete defensive invulnerability.

Do not resist the attacker’s move. Instead, use their own momentum against them. Steven Seagal, despite being a subpar actor, is the most well-known Aikido practitioner in the Western world. While his acting may leave much to be desired, he is a legitimate 7th-degree black belt in Aikido, and his signature move, the kote gaeshi, or 'forearm return,' is a crucial technique in any self-defense repertoire.

The attacker steps in and throws a straight punch. You sidestep, grab their wrist, and spin in sync with their punch. When executed properly, this technique will send them completely off balance, using their own momentum, while you rotate and twist their wrist outward. Although they may not flip over as in the exaggerated scenes of a Seagal film, their wrist is likely to break. After this, they’re unlikely to continue fighting.

Many critics of this art argue that it’s nearly impossible for an average black belt to catch a punch and turn quickly enough to perform this move, but that’s a misconception. In reality, it’s a relatively easy move to learn and perfect.

Aikido emphasizes joint locks, which require less speed to execute compared to the kote gaeshi, but are extremely effective in restraining and neutralizing an attacker.

7. Wing Chun

Wing Chun Kung Fu is the martial art taught by Yip Man to Bruce Lee, but Lee later criticized it as too slow and rigid for effective self-defense. However, this statement is often misinterpreted. What Lee actually meant was that it was insufficient for him when battling professional martial artists, such as Wong Jack Man, with whom he had a famous duel.

Lee went on to create his own version of Wing Chun, a modified style that became known as his own approach. This new method helped him defeat Wong in just three minutes, whereas most other fighters would have taken significantly longer and suffered far more injury.

Lee triumphed by using Wing Chun’s signature punches, which are quick and powerful. These punches don’t rely on the hips but are rapid-fire left and right strikes aimed directly at the attacker’s sternum or solar plexus, rather than the belly or throat.

You block the opponent’s strike with one hand, then respond with a fist straight into their chest, quickly followed by another strike from the other fist. You continue to walk toward the attacker with each punch, using your body’s forward motion to add power. The strength of a typical 100-pound woman, when combined with this technique, can deliver around 300 pounds of force directly into the attacker’s chest. The key is practicing your speed—landing 15 punches before the attacker can react is achievable. Additionally, keeping your elbows close to your body prevents the attacker from grabbing your punching arm.

When facing looping attacks, such as a haymaker or roundhouse kick, centerline defense comes into play. The shortest path between two points is a straight line. Rather than swinging around and twisting your hips for extra power, you block the attacker’s strike and immediately throw a front kick directly into their belly. This will often knock anyone off their feet if you deliver the kick with maximum force.

This method is particularly effective in close quarters, which benefits a shorter individual—such as a woman defending herself against an attacker. The smaller the distance between the two, the easier it is for the shorter person to close the gap and break through the larger person’s defense.

6. Jiu-Jitsu

This style is the most versatile on the list. It is a true hybrid, blending techniques from grappling, hard striking, eye gouging, choke holds, biting, joint locks, and even an understanding of how to manipulate both the defender's and attacker's centers of gravity.

To throw your attacker, lower your center of gravity below his, then jerk him over or around you. This simple and effective technique works even if the attacker is armed. Trap his weapon arm, strike his collarbone with a knife-hand, and simultaneously push him back and down while locking and breaking the weapon wrist.

If the attacker delivers a front or roundhouse kick, he will be supporting himself on one leg. Sidestep the kick, trap the leg, then strike his standing knee with your own kick, snapping it backward. Follow up by whipping him around by his raised leg. He will fall and will likely struggle to retaliate.

If the attacker charges and grabs your shirt, don’t retreat. Instead, step forward, bend down, drive your hip into his midsection, grab one of his shoulders with one hand, and with the other arm, grasp his back to throw him over your shoulder while lifting with both legs. Even a 100-pound woman can easily do this to a 250-pound man. Once he’s down, trap one arm and lock its joint.

5. Jeet Kune Do

Bruce Lee envisioned ‘a style without style,’ a concept that may initially seem nonsensical. But consider the idea of adaptability. Lee placed great importance on this: ‘The worst thing you can do is predict the outcome of a fight. You should only focus on the attack and your reaction. Clear all other thoughts from your mind, or they will hinder you.’

In practice, you adopt a single stance, the western fencing ‘en garde’ position. Stay light on your toes so you can quickly switch between left and right-foot forward, retreat, advance, or kick with either leg. Footwork is crucial in a real fight as it determines your proximity to the attacker.

Wing Chun includes elements such as trapping the hands and feet in close quarters. Kicks should not go above waist level, as higher kicks leave both the groin and the supporting leg vulnerable. It also focuses on simultaneous attack and defense (see #1).

Jiu-jitsu incorporates body throws and strike deflections, with a strong emphasis on rapid strike combinations. Skilled practitioners can strike an attacker’s throat up to 10 times within a single second.

4. Western Boxing

You’ve probably heard of stories where would-be muggers target the wrong elderly person. The confrontation usually ends with a single punch. That’s all a boxer needs. In fact, there have been cases where boxers were wrongfully imprisoned for defending themselves against muggers, murderers, bank robbers, etc., under the claim that their hands are lethal weapons. Boxers throw punches faster, harder, and more accurately than any other trained fighters in the world.

This is because boxers train, on average, for four years to perfect their punches. They are not allowed to kick, so their hands are their only weapons. Take the example of Rocky Marciano, who knocked out Rex Layne with a right hand thrown off-balance and out of reach, while wearing a 16-ounce leather glove. That punch sent Layne’s mouthpiece flying 10 feet across the ring, tore off four of his teeth, and knocked it out of his clenched jaws.

Boxers also condition their bodies daily to build muscle endurance and resilience. They might not have the massive physiques of bodybuilders, but their muscles are just as powerful and solid as those of a hardworking farmer.

They throw punches, block, and weave while advancing, and they repeat the same movements while retreating. Their training is relentless, always drilled with the principle: 'Always protect yourself.' The hands remain positioned by the sides of the head, and their posture is low, ready to unleash explosive power, with the forearms shielding the front of the torso.

The focus is on the side of the chin. A well-placed strike here will jerk the attacker’s head to the side and cut off blood flow to the brain by compressing the spinal cord in the neck. His strength and fury are irrelevant; he will lose consciousness instantly.

1. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

This martial art combines standing throws and strikes from Jiu-jitsu with ground fighting techniques. On the ground, the focus shifts to joint manipulation and total control of the opponent, which can swiftly end a confrontation. The bigger the attacker, the easier it is to use his center of gravity against him, taking him off balance and forcing him to submit—or even pass out.

When you hit the ground, Brazilian jiu-jitsu focuses on grabbing a limb and using joint locks to force it to break: kneebars to snap the knee or ankle, armbars to break the elbow or wrist, chokeholds, and employing the strength of the legs to pin down the opponent’s torso while the defender finishes the fight with punches or elbows to the face.

bonus Firearms

Although often joked about, firearms were left off the official list, but they remain the most effective method of self-defense. Bruce Lee always carried a .357 magnum after he gained fame as the unbeatable fighter, knowing there would always be some idiots who'd want to test that. He had no desire to put himself in harm's way.

Chuck Norris, a prominent gun advocate, was once asked by a reporter, “If someone broke into your house, would you rely on your roundhouse kick?” to which he responded, “No, I’d grab my 10-gauge shotgun.”

The ranking of the entries on this list doesn’t take into account how long it takes to master each martial art. Krav Maga, for example, sits at #1 mainly because it can be effectively learned within 3 to 6 months. In contrast, you can also learn how to hit a man-sized target in the chest or head from 50 yards away in a single afternoon. Plus, most street fights happen at close range, so the .380 or .38 revolver are the recommended calibers.

3. Krav Maga

Krav Maga, Israel's national martial art, was developed primarily by Imi Lichtenfeld. Its focus is on practical, no-holds-barred techniques for real-world survival situations, where no mercy is expected or given.

It blends various fighting styles, including Western boxing punches, Karate kicks and knees, Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground work, Jiu-Jitsu throws and grappling, and notably ‘bursting’ from Wing Chun. This ‘bursting’ is a method of defense and attack combined: instead of blocking and responding separately, you block the attack while simultaneously advancing, striking with the right fist to the throat and pushing forward with your legs.

Krav Maga also emphasizes attacking vulnerable areas of the body, such as the eyes, throat, and groin, with the aim of causing maximum damage. Attackers can expect serious consequences like testicular ruptures. The method also focuses on disarming opponents wielding both knives and firearms, using their own weapons against them. Training is centered around developing hand-eye coordination, ensuring that defense becomes instinctive and automatic. A skilled Krav Maga instructor can teach all of this, regardless of the student’s physical abilities, within just 3 to 6 months.

2. Keysi Fighting Method

The Keysi Fighting Method is featured in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films. Created by Justo Dieguez and Andy Norman, this style was shaped by Dieguez’s experiences in street fights in Spain. Batman’s fighting technique, as depicted in the comics, emphasizes efficiency, as he is a master at taking down criminals quickly without wasting time or energy. Dieguez and Norman developed this method to protect against multiple attackers—often ten or twenty at once. With six to seven years of dedicated training, anyone can learn the necessary techniques to become a self-defense powerhouse.

Nolan was looking for a unique combat style that had never been portrayed on film before—something fast, close-quarters, brutal, and effective. While classical Tae Kwon Do is elegant to watch, it’s ineffective for real street fights, where there are no rules and efficiency is key.

The Keysi Method is focused almost entirely on close-quarters combat, with no reliance on kicks. It excels in confined spaces, utilizing every part of the body as a weapon: fists, head, knees, and particularly the elbows.

There is just one fundamental stance to master, and once you see it, you'll recognize it instantly: the 'thinking man' pose, where the hands are clasped behind the head and the elbows are raised to guard the head, neck, and upper chest. It resembles someone holding their head, deep in thought.

The Keysi Method focuses on powerful strikes with sharp elbows and devastating hammer fists, which are far more impactful than traditional punches. These strikes involve the entire upper body, with force coming from the muscles extending from the little finger to the wrist, delivering hammer-like blows to the target.

This hybrid style incorporates elements from various martial arts: grappling from Jiu-jitsu and Aikido, ground fighting from Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, close-range strikes and centerline defense from Wing Chun, and trapping from Jeet Kune Do. The Keysi Method trains practitioners to defend against any number of attackers, whether it's 5, 10, 20, or more, by maintaining a 360-degree awareness of aggression and using nearby objects as weapons when necessary.