What's the best martial art for me if?

Self defence only and good streeet figiting capabilities as if to fight againset knifes and guns and more of a one shot kill kindda style, is wing chun the best or how about pure boxing alotugh I'm a heavy build guy I may not be as well built as Mike Tyson.

What's the best martial art for me if?
Hapkido is one. When your in blue belt or over you could fight against people with knives.
Reply:Judo is a good form of karate for larger folks as it teaches pulls throws and useing weight against an opponent also for larger peple Tae Kwon Do is an aggresive style where it teaches to attack and avoid attacks by meeting head on and attack also they have many ways of teaching the disarming of an opponent with knifes and guns good luck and stick with it.
Reply:Ed Parkers Kempo.
Reply:For self defense only I'd recommend boxing, it's very useful. Wing chun is also very good but it takes longer to master, although you also learn to use elbows and such.





It does not matter if you are a heavy guy, if you learn to punch effectively, being a heavy guy would actually help, as you learn to use your body weight with your punches.





I'd also give muay thai a try, you also learn elbows, knees and kicks (low kicks are very effective), in case you are not very flexible.
Reply:Okinawa style Kung-Fu would work best in defense against knives and the like. Add some Jujitsu and you'll never regret it.
Reply:What style is best for you depends alot on your mentality. Your goals are one thing, but if you have an agressive mentality versus a defensive or passive mentality, then you should choose a style and trainer who you feel can work with you and bring your best out.





Personaly I am a mixed martial arts man because it emphasises a little of all, if you can find a mixed martial arts school I would definately look into it. Some suggestions:





1.) Mixed Martial Arts (or MMA, because of the variety and application usualy taught. Usualy includes, boxing, muay thai, and submission wrestling)





2.) Boxing + any form of wrestling if you can find simply because a great many fights end up on the ground.





3.) Kali/Arnis/Escrema - Philipno styles which are fluid and involve using weapons as well as hands interchangably. Variety of strikes as well as some holds and locks.





4.) Akido/Ju'Jitsu - Japanese styles that emphasise using fluid movements while using others energy against them in a variety of locks, and holds.





I once more stress the importance of finding both a style you feel comfortable with (physicaly and mentaly) as well as a Instructor because those two elements will determine a great deal of your success.
Reply:If you use unarmed martial arts against people with knives and guns, you're basically an idiot.





Just being honest.
Reply:Krav Maga - I say that a lot, above all enjoy it, good luck
Reply:Pure boxing limits you to your hands only. There is no "best". Find a good school in your area %26amp; don't worry about the name on the door.
Reply:Ninjitsu, cause then you could flip around and do flying kicks in their head, sweep their legs and catch bullets and break their sticks and hit them like 20 times when they blink and then just disappear in a dark cloud of smoke.
Reply:Yupchagee makes a great point , pay attention, thats the kind of wisdom that comes with age and experience.
Reply:Jijutsu. I would say......Hapkido is also great. Also Aikido. But remember takes a LONG TIME to be comfortable with your technique, it wont happen over night. Be ready to make a commitment. and PUSH HARD. All the best.
Reply:Everyone looking to start martial arts searches for the "ultimate style," truth be known there just isn't one, there are great fighters from all styles. Most people that have been doing martial arts for a period of time begin to belive that their style is the best as they win all of the competitions that they enter or they are able to beat up people that they know, but they forget that they are usually play fighting with people that are doing things that they are used to or are untrained.





The best thing to do is try a bunch of different places until you find one that you like and go from there. Don't be scared to ask questions of your teacher, always question what you are doing and how it is relevant to your training, any teacher worth his salt should be able to give you a good reason for absolutely anything that they ask you to do. Also make sure that when you find a style that you like train with people from other styles to try and get your style to work against them, don't be disheartened if you lose, that doesn't mean that your style doesn't work or that their style is better, just that you need to practice more.





One thing I will say though is to try and make sure that the style you choose covers all of the different skills, Blocking/deflecting, Striking, Kicking, Grappling %26amp; Joint Locking