The list below consists of the top ten martial arts for self defense. If you are interested in choosing martial arts for the most effective defense, then you should definitely read this rating to the end.
Kickboxing is a combat sport that originated in the United States in the 1960s. Based on punches and kicks along with tricks martial arts(cuts, throws, etc.). It has quite a few branches, the most famous of which is Muay Thai - roughly translated as "the art of eight limbs."
Karate is a Japanese martial art that uses precisely targeted, powerful punches and kicks to the vital points of the body to crush the opponent. This sport was invented in 1929 by Gichin Funakoshi under the influence of Zen Buddhism. In Karate, special emphasis is placed on evasions.
In eighth place in the ranking of the best martial arts for self-defense is Aikido, a Japanese martial art, the peculiarity of which is the use of throws and grabs. It was founded by Morihei Ueshiba between the 30s and 60s of the 20th century. Aikido focuses on using the opponent's strength against himself. It is considered one of the most difficult Japanese martial arts to master.
Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art that uses a variety of fighting techniques. It is for this reason that it is considered an applied direction of wushu. It is characterized by effective escapes from the line of attack, complemented by instant, straight-line strikes at very close range. Often the fight ends with knee and elbow strikes. An experienced Wing Chun fighter is capable of inflicting up to eight blows per second on an opponent.
Jiu-Jitsu is the most versatile style on this list. This is a real hybrid, which includes elements of wrestling, hard punches, chokes, locks, etc. Jiu-jitsu is one of the oldest types Japanese wrestling. Main principle jiu-jitsu - not to go into direct confrontation, but to yield to the onslaught of the opponent, directing his actions in the right direction until he is trapped, and then turn the strength and actions of the enemy against him.
Jeet Kune Do was created by Bruce Lee and is translated from Chinese as "the way of the leading fist". Today, this style of martial arts is considered one of the most popular in the world. It is taught in many countries. However, Bruce Lee himself did not call Jeet Kune Do a "style", but preferred to call it a "method". According to his philosophy, the Jeet Kune Do method can be used in any kind of martial arts. Here the emphasis is on the speed of impact and combinations.
The fourth place in the list of the best martial arts for self-defense is boxing. I think almost everyone knows that a boxer has the fastest, strongest, most accurate punch of any trained fighter of any other martial art.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an international martial art combat sports, the basis of which is wrestling in the stalls, as well as painful and suffocating techniques. This art is based on the principle that a person with an underdeveloped physique can successfully defend himself and defeat a more powerful opponent using the appropriate technique (painful holds and chokes).
Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) is a self-defense system based on the development of natural human instincts and a number of techniques taken from the arsenal of boxing and street fight. KFM is based on a small arsenal of techniques adapted to the specific situation. The system was created in 1957 by Spaniard Justo Dieguez and Englishman Andy Norman, both of whom are Jeet Kune Do instructors.
The best martial art for self defense is Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art developed by Imi Lichtenfeld for self defense purposes. In Krav Maga there are no exact rules and there is no difference between workouts for men and women. The system is not considered a sport and lacks a specific dress code and competition, although some organizations award different levels and emblems as they learn. All techniques focus on maximum efficiency in real conditions, as well as on natural reflexes, simple movements and aggressive defensive techniques. The main principles of Krav Maga are: do not take damage, quickly disable the attacker, quickly switch from defensive to offensive technique, use body reflexes, and also vulnerabilities enemy, use any available item.
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We've all seen Hollywood's wire-fu (a mix of kung fu and special effects) and Chuck Norris' karate. Everyone knows about how Seagal can break his hands, and saw how Van Damme can lift his legs. Although the popular mixed martial arts are now dominated by a relatively small number of styles, which often end up with fights that are very long and boring. These styles are known to most - methodical Brazilian jiu-jitsu and ordinary kickboxing.
However, there are many other fighting styles. These styles may be too brutal for the ring and not too pretty for the screens. There are also ancient deadly styles that have survived to this day without being glamorized and distorted by seekers of money and fame. Below are a few examples of tough martial arts that are not taught in seedy gyms for a couple of dollars a month.
10. Bokator
Bokator is a martial art originally from Cambodia that originated in the days of the armies of Angkor, who were among the best on the battlefields of Indo-China over 1700 years ago. Bokator is translated as "beating a lion", and the name comes from ancient legend, which tells about a man who was engaged in Bokator, who found himself alone with a cannibal lion. According to legend, the warrior killed the bloodthirsty animal with one directed knee blow.
Like many other Eastern martial arts The Bokator is based on the movements and mannerisms of various animals such as eagles, cranes, horses, snakes and of course lions. What distinguishes Bokator from other martial arts is its brutality and practicality on the battlefield. Featuring 10,000 different moves such as elbows and knees, knuckle locks, throws and more, Bokator is a deep and varied art that provides fighters with endless possibilities in combat.
9. Coups and throws (Rough and Tumble) 
This martial art is actually more severe than it sounds. In fact, it should have been called “mutilate and kill”, since this combat system was created for this purpose in the southern United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term "gouge" was also used to describe this style of fighting, due to the fact that one of the most common techniques was eye gouging, and this was not an ordinary poke in the eye.
The "flip and roll" fighters emphasized maximum disfigurement and unrestricted brutality compared to few other martial arts. Some of them are even rumored to sharpen their teeth into sharp weapons, with which they bite off the ears, noses, lips and fingers of their opponents. And given that the genitals were not protected by a special rule, many fighters lost their courage during these cold-blooded clashes. This heartless cruelty is the main reason why "Flips and Throws" is not often discussed or practiced in modern "civilized" times.
And since most of the moves have not been formalized and cannot be practiced without danger of severe injury, this martial art is ignored by much of modern martial arts society. Most people now, even those who love to fight, are not cruel enough for the gouging of the eyes, the biting of the neck, the tearing of the genitals used in "Flips and Throws."
8. Bakom
Bakom, the creation of the poor slums of Lima, Peru, is a dangerously brutal martial art that teaches not only to quickly maim and/or kill one's opponent, but also to use deceptive and "not-so-fair" tactics, such as the use of concealed weapons.
The martial art was invented in the 1980s by former Marine and prisoner, Roberto Puch Bezada, and is officially classified as a modern hybrid martial art that includes various elements of jiu-jitsu and Vale Tudo street fighting. Common techniques include grabbing and breaking hands, ruthless strangulation, and precise strikes to vital organs, all at the fastest pace in order to defeat the opponent even before they realize what danger threatens them. The result is a blitzkrieg-style beating that is incredibly difficult to predict.
7. Lerdrit 
Lerdrit - modern development traditional Thai fighting techniques, which are practiced by the elite special forces of the Thai Royal Army. The basic principles of lerdrite are similar to its predecessors (Muay Thai, Muay Boran). However, there are a few key differences that give it a whole new level of coolness.
Fighters learn to attack without warning, instantly throwing opponents to the ground, and ending the fight with one of the deadly powerful blows such as a kick to the throat or an elbow to the temple. These techniques are aimed at preventing injury by using such "resistant" parts of the body as knees, hands, shins and the aforementioned classic elbow. As with other martial arts, the purpose of lerdrite is radical and is specifically designed for situations where a person is caught between life and death. It is not intended to be beaten, but to take life.
6. Dambe
Dambe is based on the ancient Egyptian boxing tradition and is a deadly martial art created by the Hausa people from West Africa, many of whom travel between villages and perform martial ceremonies, as well as fight with anyone who wants to.
The main weapon of the dam are strikes strong point fist, also known as "spear". The fists are wrapped in a piece of cloth, covered with a heavily tied cord, and the leading leg of the fighter is wrapped in a thick chain. Apparently punching people in the face isn't hard enough for West African butchers. They also need to wrap their legs in jagged metal to make sure they bleed a little.
An interesting note: many of today's dambe trainees, traveling from village to village, ritually smoke marijuana before fights.
5. Hand-to-hand combat system
Let's be honest - to survive in Russia, you have to be a little crazy. So it's no surprise that Sistema (a common name for several forms of martial arts practiced by Russian special forces) is so cold-blooded and effective at "persuading" capitalist pigs.
The system focuses on control important parts body - elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles and shoulders, with the help of strong and targeted blows. The main philosophy of the systems is based on the laws of biomechanics and anatomy, and most of the training takes the study of the natural vulnerabilities of the human body in order to then use it for their own purposes.
Another unique characteristic of the System is that it does not focus solely on unarmed one-on-one combat, as in many other martial arts. On the contrary, it explores the possibilities of combat with several opponents attacking simultaneously with different weapons in their hands. After all, what could be cooler than knocking down some ambal? Well, for example, to defeat five or six thugs.
4 Jailhouse Rock
Prison Rock is one of only two martial arts that originated in the United States of America. Set in the cutthroat world of (yes, you guessed it) the US prison system, Prison Rock is a great example of no-limits fighting, designed by people with nothing to do but fight and rock.
Prison rock is notable for its brutal training methods, one of which is "52 raises". A deck of cards is scattered across the floor, and the trainees must pick them all up in turn while they are beaten mercilessly by three or more other people.
3. Kalari Payat 
Kalari Payat originated in India's southern state of Kerala and is generally recognized as the oldest martial art in the world and the ancestor of many popular martial arts around the world. Oral art claims that it was created by the incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu, who is described as the "Guardian of the universe" and who has "a universal form that cannot be comprehended by man."
Kalari Payat has many subspecies and various forms, each of which specializes in combat, both armed and unarmed. One of the most notable subspecies is Marma Arti (strike to vital points), which "in the hands" of the master can instantly paralyze or kill with a single point blow to one of the 108 nerve nodes, which are considered very vulnerable. And, given that they are so dangerous that they have pangs of conscience, the masters of this powerful art also study the Siddha medical system, which emerged from the same ancient teachings.
2. Silat 
Silat is an umbrella term for hundreds of different fighting styles developed by ruthless tribes from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Silat includes striking, twisting joints, grappling, throwing, and using knives.
The first references to silat in its current form were found in Sumatra. There, according to legend, a woman created combat system based on the observation of wild animals, as is the case with many other martial arts. On the this moment silat is used by several military groups throughout the Malay Archipelago and nearby lands, as well as by notorious pirate clans from the South China Sea.
1. Okichitaw 
Okichitau is one of the few surviving examples of American Indian martial arts and is based on the combat techniques of the Plains Cree First Nations. Okichitau was created by George J Lepine, who studied judo, taekwondo, and hapkido, and who also knew how to handle the "weapon club" ( traditional weapons Indians), and also mastered the techniques of throwing the tomahawk - a mixed martial art that combines the fury of the fighting spirit of the Indians with the time-tested techniques of popular martial arts.
Techniques used in Okichitau often involve weapons. As in the case of aikido, even if the fighter does not possess a weapon, his/her strikes are executed as if he had a weapon. For example, the arms are used like tomahawks, and the kicks are like javelins. There are also many knife techniques in formal Okichitau techniques. After all, why teach the martial art of the Indians if it does not teach you how best to scalp a white man?
The idea that with the help of a secret and deadly martial art, you can kill a person with bare hands or cripple a crowd of gopniks, has always warmed the hearts of nerds around the world. And, of course, the thought of fighting like Jackie Chan, breaking boards with your bare hands. The debate about how realistic or unrealistic it is to kill everyone with your bare hands runs like a red thread through all holivars in many forums. We are writing this just to tell you something interesting.
1. Sambo. Country of origin: Russia
An interesting observation: the more often a country has to defend itself and attack various neighbors, the more often it all turns into an interesting martial art. Russia is just such a country. After the revolution, all the numerous experience of wrestling with bare hands was combined into "Self-defense without weapons" or sambo. Both government agents and ordinary soldiers were trained in this type of struggle.
And here is Sambo in action.
2. Muay Thai. Country of Origin: Thailand
The borders of Thailand were also often violated, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that they had their own martial art, no. Another name for Muay Thai is eight-limbed fighting, or Thai boxing. What are the extra limbs? Elbows and knees, of course! Wrestlers use them like clubs, masterfully beating their opponents with them. The force of impact in this kind of martial arts is simply amazing. A smart person once said that Muay Thai is "Kill the bull with one blow." And he was damn right.
As is always the case with good things, there are many legends associated with Muay Thai. the most famous and partially true originates in 1774, when the kingdom of Burma captured Thailand, which was then Siam. Against the great muay thai master Nai Khanom Tom, who was captured, the king of Burma, for the sake of general rejoicing, put up a great master of the Burmese martial art, called lethwei. They say that dude held out against Tom for 10 seconds and was brutally killed. But the judge decided that Tom was cheating, distracting his opponent. Being a true gentleman, the Muay Thai master agreed to nine(!) fights that were won with amazing ease and cruelty. The King of Burma was amazed at Tom's skill and offered him, along with the freedom to choose, two awards: two very beautiful girls and a bag of money. Tom refused money (happiness is not in them), but he took women. And he went with them into the sunset on a horse.
3. MCMAP - Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Country of Origin: USA
The martial art for the US Marine Corps was invented in the eighties. Its peculiarity was the ability to use a pistol, a bayonet-knife, a rifle with a bayonet as an improvised weapon for close combat. Most often, the program is used to neutralize the enemy by breaking a couple of bones, immobilize him with hellish pain, but you can also kill him with it.
4. Silat. Country of Origin: Malaysia
Malaysia has also suffered a lot in its time. Pirates, the Portuguese, the British, and even the Japanese - all these dudes tried to bend the Malays. But they did not whine and invented silat.
Many martial arts were invented to improve the body and spirit, find yourself and complete your spiritual quest. So, silat does not apply to them. The first masters of this martial art used it to beat the enemy to a state of instability with lightning attacks in 10 seconds, and then finish off the half-dead with something heavy. Various sneaky blows and tricks are encouraged by silat masters.
The most brutal and vile methods of fighting are still being taught in the jungles of Malaysia. Rumor has it that such masters at the age of 7-10 years once beat an adult to a pulp. The dudes who were taught silat spent years in dark caves where they couldn't see beyond their noses. While Shaolin monks learn restraint, silat lunatics learn from a young age to tear flesh like beasts.
By the way, masters of silat actively use kris - a wavy dagger that tears out pieces of meat from the victim. Often a deadly poison is literally melted into the kris, which is very easy to kill a person - just a scratch is enough.
5. Exkrima. Country of Origin: Philippines
Excrima is ancient art Philippines, which is the beating of opponents with wooden sticks with stunning speed. Until 1521, the Filipinos practiced exkrima on each other, but then Magellan arrived, and foreigners tried on their own skin what the Filipino martial art means.
Exkrima became the main protection of the peasants who grew rice. The most famous victim of this art was Ferdinand Magellan, who was beaten to death with sticks. For 450 years, exkrima was banned and survived only because it was disguised as a dance.
In addition to the well-known types of martial arts, there are and are still developing in the world martial practices much less well-known, but no less effective.
Taing. Burma
Taing is perhaps the most synthetic martial art. This type of martial arts has incorporated ideas about human behavior in battle of numerous peoples inhabiting modern Myanmar. Each tribe had a sacred animal, and it was by its behavior that the fighting style was formed. The Nang and Ravangs have a sacred animal - a wild boar, the Nagas revere a black monkey, a tiger and a wild boar, in the Meras tribe the sacred animal is a tiger, and in the We tribe a deer.
Taing was formed for a long time and still does not stop changing. Absorbing "animal" styles, taing after seriously changed, it was affected by the influence of Buddhism with its principle of non-violence - ahimsa. Taing also adopted philosophical principles from Buddhism. The art of combat has become defensive. Technique has changed accordingly.
Currently, the evolution of taing continues. Along with the development of sports taing, in Myanmar itself there are still schools that follow their tradition. Schools of tigers, wild boars and black monkeys.
Krav Maga. Israel
There are no philosophical postulates in Krav Maga. This is an application system. There are no forbidden tricks, no rules for the fight. This combat system is aimed at instantly neutralizing the enemy, without traditional boxing "shuttles" and unnecessary loss of time.
Invented in the 30s of the twentieth century by Imi Lichtenheld (he taught the Jewish community in Bratislava), it eventually became the main Israeli combat system. Today, Krav Maga is a mandatory study in the Israeli army and police. Military experts from other countries also come to study. Krav Maga techniques are simple and reliable. They do not have the quirkiness and prettiness of martial arts. The main goal is disarmament, neutralization.
Even Krav Maga classes are not held in the traditional kimono or sportswear. Pupils practice with their daily clothes, only wearing protection for tough sparring. It becomes necessary - there are no rules. Comedians joke that if there were Krav Maga competitions, the winner would go to intensive care, the silver medalist would be taken away in a wheelchair, the third place winner would immediately go to the cemetery.
During training, loud music can be played, smoke can be blown, explosions can be simulated. All this allows students to adapt to the stressful load. AT real fight there should be no failures due to external factors.
Mallakhumb. India
From the outside, the art of mallakhamb ("yoga on a pole") resembles polly dance. However, since ancient times, mallakhamb has been part of the Indian combat system. According to legend, the monkey god Hanuman passed on the knowledge of the fight against the pillar to people. Thus, the pillar in mallakhamba is nothing more than an adversary. In addition to the pole, a rope is also used during training, on which asanas are also performed. Each element of the mallakhamba requires increased concentration, correct breathing, strong ligaments and muscles.
Mallakhamb is still included in training program divisions of the Indian army. This is a complex system for developing combat skills, tenacity, endurance and flexibility.
Varzeshe zurkhane. Iran
The martial art of the Persians, which is already more than 3000 years old, varzeshe zurkhane is also a type of national education of real Iranian heroes. Those who practice varzeshe-zurkhane are called pahlevans (Persian hero). Classes are held in the "house of power" - zurkhan, in a round recess, fenced with benches. Since ancient times, such "pits" have been used by pahlevans in order to provide temperature control during training. Today it is more of a tribute to tradition.
The main projectile for training Iranian heroes are two maces. They vary in weight. From three to 180 kilograms. Pahlavans perform various (mainly swing) movements with them. Training in this type of wrestling is saturated with ritual. It includes a warm-up, a ritual dance. All this is accompanied by Persian music with rhythmic accompaniment of drums. Conducts classes morshed and miandor. These two people are the main ones in the "house of power". The morshed announces the start of classes, reads a prayer, the miandor shows the movements to the pahlevans.
Arnis. Philippines
Filipinos are renowned martial artists. This applies to both traditional types - such as boxing (Many Pacquiao), and national ones. The Filipino people have developed a unique combat system in which quite everyday things - sticks and knives - are used as weapons. It's called Arnis.
Over the long centuries of development, a strict system of practices was formed in Arnis, which also absorbed external influences. Thus, the colonial period of the Philippines made it possible to include sections of the Spanish destrez fencing in arnis. Arnis is still developing today.
Movement training in arnis is carried out on special triangles with a side of corners of 40 centimeters. This allows students to develop a good intuitive sense of distance, instilling the skill of moving away from the line of impact.
In total, there are 12 basic knots in arnis. Each of the nodes has its own attack, its own system of defense, disarmament and counterattack. Strokes in arnis are carried out on ligaments and painful places. The purpose of the fight is to disarm and neutralize the enemy.
Arnis also has a system of fighting with bare hands, however, unlike the same aikido, where possession of weapons is rather an optional discipline, training in arnis begins with weapons (baston, muton and topado sticks) and knives, and then the student is taught to fight with bare hands.