Do you know martial art? What kind? What Level?

And what is the most effective in real world settings?

Originally Posted by Soph

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And what is the most effective in real world settings?

Now THAT is a loaded question. Need to define effective, first of all. Then get past the chest-thumping that many martial arts (especially of the "McDojo" Super Kurotty Ninjurtsu 12th Dan Soke Grandmasters) espouse. Then put in psychosomatic variations between artists of various levels of experience in the martial art are likely to have.
In short, that is almost impossible to answer.

The art of fighting without fighting.

That being said, if fisticuffs are unavoidable, take something with efficient movement with the emphasis on speed and crippling your opponent so that they can't fight back. Krav Maga has been reccomended several times on the board. Kick/boxing, some styles of jiu jitsu, greco roman wrestling, and judo can also come in handy.

I've done enough random martial arts to know that most of what they teach you in beginner "classes" doesn't really apply to real world situations. Stuff like katas and forms are pretty much traditional meaninglessness. Thats why Krav is nice. Generally they get right to the point.

I find that my black belts get in the way of my bench pressing mid-size SUVs.

Slim has some good points there. Full-contact incorporating disciplines/arts like krav, muay thai, kyokushinkai, boxing, kickboxing,savat et.c. may help with conitioning, increasing your resilience as well as giving you some good weaponry
Not to say other thinmgs don't have their merits. On the contrary, many MA (especially Japanese ones - gendai budo mostly; koryu are a different animal all together) have many things to offer that the aforementioned do not but they are not as quick to get to the skull-cracking stuff. Better pursued as long term goals.

P.s. not to get in a debate over kata here but there is a reason they had bveen the foundation of japanese koryu for almost 800 years. Open sparring was a later development in most arts, long after the Sengoku Jidai period where the technically more effective forms had died down in favour of more modern non-battlefield forms.

Eh? The question is rather ill-posed, as Stelios pointed out, but for the most effective results in ther shortest time (assuming the student starts from zero) Krav Mag, some forms of Juijitsu (which, contrary to what is commonly believed, includes striking as well as takedowns, locks, and chokes), and kenpo karate are probably most useful. Boxing takes more coordination and training of the neural pathways, and teaches a more limited skillset, but is also very useful. Of course, what martial arts is "best" also depends on the mindset and physical skillset of the student. A guy who can punch like a young George Foreman should.

Hey Dah, me too. These days, I just use my black belts as wraps for my hands when I am curling I-bars. Prevents blisters.

Soph, what is with the "This is how we're hung" style threads man?

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

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http://www.grouchyoldcripple.com/archives/001883.html

Yeah but Rummy's fly style is much more effective!

http://www.poe-news.com/features.php?feat=31845

(never saw Cheney's one before btw, lol )

any comments on systema? It apparently gets straight to the point and teaches you how to disable people as quickly as possible.

Originally Posted by skalogre

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Yeah but Rummy's fly style is much more effective!

http://www.poe-news.com/features.php?feat=31845

(never saw Cheney's one before btw, lol )

ROFL.

Have you guys seen the 7-Up (or is it Mountain Dew?) commercial where the dude goes to learn the "Clap hands" technique from the master on the mountain?

"Master Rumsfield, I come to learn. Please, take me as your student."

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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any comments on systema? It apparently gets straight to the point and teaches you how to disable people as quickly as possible.

I honestly know nothing about that. Haven't even heard of it, actually. Care to elaborate?

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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any comments on systema? It apparently gets straight to the point and teaches you how to disable people as quickly as possible.

Don't know really. There is so much hyperbole and chest-thumping that I pay little attention to all these things. Every modern art claims to do astounding things; much of it would not be out of place if it were in the back pages of Viz Magazine's ad section

Originally Posted by LA Guy

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ROFL. Have you guys seen the 7-Up (or is it Mountain Dew?) commercial where the dude goes to learn the "Clap hands" technique from the master on the mountain? "Master Rumsfield, I come to learn. Please, take me as your student."
Yes! I actually found that one rather funny. "*Burp* Not fast enough" Addendum: Systema

I only know what I've read. but am considering taking it once I put on some muscle. The russians developed and trained the Spetsnaz in it. It was developed for special forces and the emphasis is on disabling an enemy quickly and efficiently. I know that some militaries are starting to incorporate it into the training of their elite units. I believe canada is trainign JTF2 in systema (canada's equiv. to navy seals). It's also useful for SOF types because much of it can be performed under the burden of whatever gear you're carrying, which can't be said for a lot of martial arts.

It focuses on using efficient movements that are easy to wire-in. I've been told (mainly by people on army forums) that it gets straight to the point and that you spend a lot more time actually sparring than in most martial arts. It's not like a lot of martial arts that focus on a specific type of comba. It incorporates techniques for fighting with weapons and disarming an opponent. They teach you how to fight at close range or if you're backed in to a corner, against a wall, or are in a confined space such as a car. It doesn't ignore ground fighting techniques either (grappling of some sort i guess).

The other good thing I've read is that they are much more rigorous about who's allwoed to instruct it and the manner in which it is taught. Like any martial art they preach avoiding confrontation when possible, but instruct you how to end them quickly and brutally.

That's about as good of a description as I can give since I've never practiced it and don't have much experience with martial arts.

Originally Posted by skalogre

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Yeah but Rummy's fly style is much more effective!

http://www.poe-news.com/features.php?feat=31845

(never saw Cheney's one before btw, lol )
LOL, you're right. The Cheney one is pretty good but compares in comparison to Shao-Lin Master Rumfeld.