List of Types of Martial Arts for Self-Defense

If you ever come under attack at close range, knowing self-defense techniques may save your life. Different martial arts systems teach students to fight and defend themselves from an attacking opponent. Each type of martial art has a unique history, theory and basic set of techniques. Find a martial arts discipline that suits your physical abilities to hone your self-defense skills.

  1. Karate

    • Karate developed in Okinawa, Japan, when a weapons ban was in place during the 1600s. Learning karate teaches you to defend yourself from attackers. Basic techniques include assuming a fighting stance and striking your opponent with your hands and feet. Karate helps you learn self-defense strategies for face-to-face combat. The purpose is to block your opponent's blows and deliver attacking strikes until he is incapacitated. Karate also emphasizes psychological skills such as fearlessness and perseverance.

    Aikido

    • Morihei Ueshiba of Japan developed aikido during the early 1900s. Unlike some other martial arts, aikido does not require great physical strength. The purpose of aikido is to redirect the energy from an attacker's motions, rather than countering attacks with brute strength. Aikido training emphasizes flexibility, endurance and relaxation, which allow you to defend yourself from an attacker without exerting large amounts of strength. This makes it an excellent martial art to learn self-defense from for children or smaller adults who are not very strong.

    Jujitsu

    • There are two major types of jujitsu: Japanese and Brazilian. The basic techniques learned in each style are similar, although their application differs. Jujitsu emphasizes throwing, pinning, locking an opponent's joints and strangling. This martial art teaches students to use their leverage and momentum to overpower larger opponents, making it a strong fighting style for self defense. Jujitsu incorporates ground-fighting, in which you must fight back from a position on the ground. These techniques directly translate to self-defense situations in which an attacker pins you to the ground.

    Krav Maga

    • The Israeli military and special forces train soldiers in Krav Maga, a martial art developed in Israel. Krav Maga includes an eclectic blend of techniques from judo, jujitsu, boxing and fighting with knives or sticks. This practical martial art teaches students to defend themselves from modern-day attackers carrying knives or guns. Practitioners of Krav Maga target an attacker's vulnerable points and attempt to disable the opponent as quickly as possible.