What's the best martial art for self-defense?

There is no clear answer as it is a matter of personal opinion. Something might be great for me, but feels completely awkward for you. You'll need to assess what your natural abilities are...are you strong? do you like to wrestle? do you like to run? hit? are you acrobatic? are you tough physically and mentally? Plus you need to consider real issues like budget, school availability and choice, commute, time, etc.
Ultimately what it boils down to is a compromise between all these important points and what you are left with is your final decision.
 
what appeals to you?
stand up?
what aspects of stand up? punching, kicking, joint/pressure point manipulation, take downs?
ground fighting?
what aspects of ground fighting?take downs, ground 'n' pound, joint manipulation/submission?

then you look at which styles offer what you are interested in, then you look at whats close to you, and choose the school the has the best teachers, and teaches what you have chosen (but if it comes down to it, choose the school with the best teachers, you may decided traditional Goju karate is what you want, but if the only decent school near you teaches BJJ, then go for that.)
 
To my opinion, I would have to say Judo. Because that's the only martial arts that makes you learn how to take down your enemy by force. (You're using your whole body to neutralize your opponent.) "It kinda resembles CQC (Close Quarters Combat) in the military!!" But unlike, TaeKwonDo... Cause in TKD, it mostly depend on their kicks a lot. Not that much on punches though...
 
I would recommend Kenpo Karate. Kenpo is a mix of different fighting styles. I've only been to four or five classes so far, but I've learned how to use my feet and legs to get the most power out of my punches, how to escape a bearhug from front and back with arms not pinned (next class is learning to escape with arms pinned), a grab takedown, how to escape different types of chokes, how to perform an effective choke (that will only take about 15 seconds to choke your opponent out, less if they struggle), a technique for if they grab your shirt with one or both hands, and a technique where you perry a punch, hyperextend their arm and get them into a choke, all in one move.
 
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Watch UFC #1 and #2 and you will see.

Royce Gracie fights pretty much every style of fighter and some of them out weigh him by over 100 lbs.

He dominates them all.

BJJ (Especially Gracie Jiu Jitsu) is the most practical and effective martial art ever.

Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet is also one of the best BJJ systems. It might even be better than the Gracie system because the Gracie system is mostly Gi, while 10th Planet is No-Gi, which is more like a real life situation.
 
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Watch UFC #1 and #2 and you will see.

Royce Gracie fights pretty much every style of fighter and some of them out weigh him by over 100 lbs.

He dominates them all.

BJJ (Especially Gracie Jiu Jitsu) is the most practical and effective martial art ever.

Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet is also one of the best BJJ systems. It might even be better than the Gracie system because the Gracie system is mostly Gi, while 10th Planet is No-Gi, which is more like a real life situation.
 
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