“I am 24 and petite (about 5'1 and 115 lbs). I want to start learning martial arts mainly for self-defense. Which style of martial arts is best suited for this purpose?”
The replies to the question listed martial arts and fighting systems from A to Z. But that presupposes that there is a single answer to the self-defense question. I wish it were as easy as that.
The truth is that there is a lot more to self-defense than learning a martial art. A martial art or a fighting system, like Krav Maga, is only a slice of a holistic pie.
First, you must understand that it’s better to avoid than run; better to run than de-escalate; better to de-escalate than fight; better to fight than die. You should learn to be aware of your surroundings and understand threat levels. Second, if you do have to fight, you must be willing to do harm to others in order to protect yourself or loved ones. When is your when? Lastly, self-defense training is no cake walk. It’s hard work and it requires commitment.
It doesn’t take long to learn a Krav Maga technique, but like a martial art, it does take time and lots of practice to master. There’s no way around this.
If you haven’t mastered a Level 1 technique like position 1 of the 360° outside defenses, you can’t expect to execute a proper Level 5 knife defense against a downward stab. Be truthful with yourself.
Krav Maga is not a perfect system. It is not a cure-all. It is not a religion. It is, however, in my opinion, a philosophy of recognizing the dangers inherent in this world and preparing for the fight, but not seeking it out. We learn to fight so that our attackers, whoever they may be, will keep to themselves.
The reality is that there is no silver bullet for self-defense. You’re on a fools errand if you go looking for it.
