The Best Self Defense Martial Art

People study martial arts for all different reasons. Some study martial arts for the health benefits and improved balance. Others choose to practice karate, tae kwon do, or ju jitsu as a sport or recreational activity. But some people want to learn martial arts for self defense purposes. The answer to the question of what is the best martial art for self defense is not set in stone. All martial arts training will help with fundamentals such as balance and flexibility and improved reflexes/response time, which can help if you are ever faced with a situation where you need to defend yourself. However there are some methods of training that are developed solely for the purpose of self defense. For this reason, it makes sense to say the single best self defense martial art is krav maga. Krav maga, or literally "hand combat" from its original translation, is a system of self defense that was created by Imi Lichtenfeld to protect people in dangerous Jewish ghetto streets. Unlike traditional Asian martial arts, krav maga's purpose is to get out of a fight as fast as possible. The basic teachings of krav maga include:

• How to avoid getting hurt
• How to render your attacker defenseless as fast as possible
• How to be ever-vigilant of your surroundings
• How to use objects around you for your defense
• How to get out of a fight as fast as possible

Krav maga is taught around the world at various martial arts centers, but because it is not as widely-practiced as most martial arts, it may not be immediately available in your area. This is why there are videos and instructional manuals to help you learn krav maga online.