Since the second martial arts style was formed ages ago the debate over which style is the best fighting system has passionately raged. The answer is simple: NONE. Sure, some styles are more comprehensive and well-rounded than others. Some emphasize less-than-realistic technique. But how good they are in a real fight depends for the most part on the context in which your instructor teaches his art. His philosophy and methods of teaching shapes how you execute your art. Is his class more of a physical workout than fighting-based? Is the emphasis on acrobatics, high kicks and fancy technique? Does tradition and stylistic dogma take precedent over practicality and versatility? Are tournaments, trophies and point-sparring the primary focus of the school's curriculum? 

 

If the answer to any ONE of these questions is a "yes", the dojo in question is not an IDEAL fight school. If any two or more is yes, you would do well to look elsewhere for real fighting instruction. On the other hand, if your instructor emphasises the real-world application of what he teaches, you'll be a skilled fighter almost regardless of what style you practice. It's not enough to simply learn to mimic a bunch of movements. I have seen many instructors in many schools simply put students through countless technique drills without ever teaching the student what exactly the techniques do. What the student ends up with is the ability to do fancy katas and block, kick and punch air but still can't fight. This is why you'll hear the occasional story about some karate guy getting beat up by a street fighter. Someone who has never taken a martial arts class in his life but has been in many fights has a distinct advantage over a martial artist who hasn't been taught how to fight. A skilled boxer can beat a poor karate practicioner any day. A skilled wrestler can humiliate a poor kung fu artist.

 

Then there are instructors who only teach how to fight against other martial artists of the SAME STYLE. Moves and techniques are practiced in a set way with predictible results. One-step sparring is a scripted way to learn technique and free-style sparring is done with rules and set techniques which also foster predictibility. Two practicioners square off, each using the same techniques in a way they both have practiced time and again. You will almost NEVER see an instructor train how to combat an unpredictible street fighter who will punch, bite, tackle and grapple.

 

When learning how to fight, you are at the mercy of your instructor's philosophy and methodology of teaching more than the style you choose. Do your homework on any school you can before joining, ask the instructors questions and observe several classes in each school to get a good picture of what is being taught. Only then will you find the "best" fighting style.