Boxing

When it comes to combat sports, the very first thing that comes to mind is boxing. It is also probably the most popular one among other forms of discipline.

It’s been around since ancient times. And some of the most well-known combat athletes of all-time are boxers—it includes legendary boxers like Muhammad Ali, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Oscar Dela Hoya, and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

Although it may not be as lethal or flashy compared to mixed martial arts or Muay Thai, improving your boxing skill may provide you an advantage over your opponent in case of hand-to-hand combat.

In addition, this form of fighting technique is also highly effective in defending yourself against attacks.

Boxing is a great place to start if you’re thinking of taking martial art classes. If you’re also planning to do mixed martial arts, kickboxing, or Muay Thai, then the more you have to try this combat sport.

As mentioned, boxing is a well-known sport in all corners of the globe. Therefore, you won’t find it difficult to find boxing classes in nearby areas.

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial art is another well-recognizable combat sport next to boxing. And I believe that it was mostly popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship or simple UFC.

Some of the top MMA fighters in the past few years that you may be well-acquainted include Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes, Matt Hughes, Jose Aldo, Connor McGregor, and Anderson Silva, just to name a few.

This form of discipline is a full-contact sport. And they are referred to as mixed martial art for a good reason. It is so because it uses several fighting techniques that include hand-to-hand combat, leg strikes, grappling, etc.

Although boxing seems to be more popular, MMA is more effective in terms of self-defense because your attacks are not limited to punches and head movements.

If what you want is a technique that involves a lot of movement with a wide variety of attacks, then MMA is the one you’re looking for.

In this type of combat sports, you can also utilize leg strikes and grappling in case of close contacts.

Judo

Judo is a Japanese-based form of discipline that uses strikes as a way to defend yourself from attacks.

You may think of it as counterattacking and effective as self-defense. Therefore, if your purpose in taking martial art classes is protection, then Judo is probably the perfect one for you.

You might have heard of them before in television or movies. But it may be a little challenging to find any classes near you. This is because, unlike boxing and mixed martial, they are less popular.

But some recognizable personalities in MMA started with Judo. One name that comes to mind is Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey.

She started training for Judo at a young age. And she even competed in the Olympics.

Another name that I could think of is the Russian MMA fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.  

Overall, I believe that Judo is a great addition to your skill set because of its focus on defense.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is Asian-based martial arts that were developed in Korea. It was developed in the 1940s and believed that it was influenced by Judo, Kung-Fu, and Karate.

This combat sport is an official Olympic sport since the 2000s.

This form of martial arts includes quick attacks like high and low kicks, basic throws, spinning kicks, etc.

Taekwondo is more concentrated on speed and agility than power.

However, the main criticism of the sport is that it is a little too flashy and seems to be more focused on style than anything. It is for this reason that it may be impractical in self-defense.

But followers of the sports say that it is still an effective form of self-defense due to its focus on kicks and leg strikes.

Another thing that makes them an excellent martial art to learn first is that they are extremely popular, especially to kids and young adults, with Taekwondo classes sprouting every summer.

They are easier to find than other forms of martial arts, and you can maybe find at least one in your local area.

Karate

Back then, when I hear the words martial arts, the first that comes to mind is karate.

This may not come as a surprise, especially to kids of the late 80s and early 90s, due to a popular movie called Karate Kid.

It is a Japanese form of discipline. Its origin is inconclusive, but Okinawa, Japan, is credited as its place of inception.

Karate utilizes powerful punches and kicks to outmaneuver your opponents. It is for this reason that they are an excellent choice for self-defense as well.

The only downside of this martial art for me is that it seems to be more concentrated on defense because it involves a lot of blocking techniques.

But overall, I think karate is an excellent choice for beginners in Martial Arts, especially if you’re aiming self-defense.

I also believe that it is a great form of exercise because it requires the entire body movement.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

As the word implies, this martial art originated in Brazil in the 1920s. It was particularly developed by the Gracie brothers that include Gastão Jr., Oswaldo, George, Carlos, and Hélio.

It combines the technique of Japanese martial arts like Judo and Jujutsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was popularized by a UFC Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie.

It focuses on ground-based grappling that involves check holds and utilizes joint locks.

Also, this form of discipline favors individuals with shorter stature. It teaches them how they can protect themselves against their assailants by using leverage and proper execution of technique to their advantage.

Now, it is for this reason that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a popular self-defense martial art, especially among women.

I also believe that this factor makes them excellent for beginners as well.

Final thoughts

I hope my review has provided you sufficient information in answering this all-important question—which martial art should I learn first.

But take note that you can’t go wrong with any of the combat sports listed above. And that the bottom line is it would just depend on your style and personal preference.

If you’re not sure about your style or technique, then you may try to enroll in nearby martial art classes if there are any. And then, see if that form of discipline suits you.

But of course, you can also try learning various martial arts if you like.

Well, I guess that’s just about it!

Thank you for taking time off and reading my “which martial art should I learn first” content.

I hope to see you next time!

Peace!