is really the best????!!!!

[Nemo]

I'm looking for a martial art that realy work in a street fight, i was just about to start prac. aikido when i first heard about the Gracies and the jiu jitsu. now i'm in a problem i don't know if the ultimate art is aikido or jiu jitsu. please help!!!!!!

[controllerzero]

there is no ultimate art when it comes to streetfighting. I prefer bjj because it focuses on tehnique and leverage rather than strength and speed. It does a poor job at allowing you to defend against multiple attackers. you should take up running!

[JaredExtreme]

Yeah, there is no ULTIMATE martial art. But, one thing that I do like about BJJ is that it is very realistic. Instead of pretending our enemy doesn't know anything about fighting and that he'll have the same abilities, BJJ assumes that your opponent is bigger and more powerful than you. BJJ takes more time to learn, but I think a BJJ black belt can beat any other style's black belts hands down. Plus, I have seen a few AIKIDOKA'S and they look like sissies hehe.

[Bushido]

come on

Aikido the ultimate martial art? LMAO! No offence, but Aikido is an illusionnary martial art that ONLY work with a participating, willing partner! The only thing that might work is the defence against some grab, but other than that not really! I may be practice just for the fun of it, but you will never defend yourself or someone you love with Aikido.

[Bau]

Nonsense!!

Steven Seagal kicks EVERYONE'S ass...

[aikidoka]

nah you guys are wrong. im practicing bjj soon, but aikidos wristlocks are good. overll for a streetfighting, do jkd, krav maga, or muay thai. and if it gets to the ground just get up or hit him while there.

[Maxximus]

I think that all martial arts are useful to a certain degree, but not equally. Once you train under the most functional methods and techniques out there, learning the less functional MAs beyond just picking up a few things or ideas would be pointless. For example, I'm sure traditional style karate training will make you more coordinated and given enough time, will give you somewhat of an increase in your fighting skill level at a particular range. But if you already know boxing and kickboxing or train under a method that offers full contact, practical technique and no kata crap or obsolete/nonfunctional techniques at all, then why bother learning karate? It's unnecessary. There are many reasons people learn martial arts so if i were you I'd pick whatever style appealed the most to me for whatever my particular reasons are. But if you are first and foremost interesting in developing good fighting skills, then go learn the most functional styles in an environment that offers the most functional and realistic training methods. Don't learn kickboxing at a place where no one spars. Don't learn "grappling" at a place that doesn't do serious amounts of rolling and a good deal of standing clinch/takedown sparring. As for what the most functional arts are, look at all the evidence that is available to you and decide for yourself. Not to bad mouth other styles or come off sounding like an arrogant know-it-all, but I have a feeling that if you do this kind of research, aikido is not going to come up at the top of your list. I understand the theories behind aikido and all that, but no matter how good something sounds in THEORY, the only true test is to see it in actual application, as well as seeing whether or not they TRAIN through actual application, which brings me to my next point...any style or school that trains through technique accumulation, theorizing and dead drilling (instead of live sparring where you learn technique through applying it on a resisting opponent) will NOT teach you how to fight...plain and simple. They might give you a good workout or show you how to hit a pad hard and look good while moving around, and they may even teach you all kinds of interesting theories about MAs and fighting...but if you think this equates to being able to fight, you're fooling yourself. That's my two cents. Think about your goals, think about what you've seen, think about the things other people have told you...and make your decision.

[Bushido]

Good post Maxximus!

[Maxximus]

Thanx man. I try

[Karateka]

There is no ultimate martial art, just ask the teacher what he can do for you

[Oldskulbus]

Actually...

There is an ULTIMATE martial art and I know it! All you have to do is send me hummm $4,000 and I will send you a tape teaching it to you.

[LEGION]

MUAY THAI.

[DIRE WOLF]

Muay Thia alone is certainly not the ultimate MA I would rather choose BJJ. I think having a gun beats all styles of MA.

[IronMaiden]

Martial arts

Somke of you said that they think aikido can't be effective.I wouldn't agree with you.Aikido is pretty soft when compared to other martial arts but can be very effective(at least some of the moves in it). I've trained shotokan karate(for a year or so) and aikido, and I would probably use aikido in a street fight not karate.But then, a knife or a gun is the best choice.
I heard that BJJ is great , that it can be very useful and easy applied.I also admire the Gracie family for their role in the martial arts world in the last 20 years.With all due respect I think that Aikido's O-Sensei would probably kick all of your a$$es(including mine).
JaredExtreme you said that a lot of aikidoka look like sissies.That I won't argue, and is probably true.But some of them are very skilled.
My personal opinion is that any ju-jitsu style is the best to learn.

[Bushido]

hum...

With sincere respect, O-Sensei would not kick anybody's ass in here! Not against a trained fighter Even traditionnal kung-fu could beat Aikido. Come on, Aikido is unrealistic, it is more a ritualised combat danse/sequence. Having 17 years of xp in kyukushinkai have done Aikido a few weeks and that was enough to convince me that it does not work, unless in extremely precise circumstances.

Still, Aikido is a very good "sport" activity for everyone, and it is really fun to do...