My Style Is Better Than Your Style

One of the most popular "discussions" martial artists seem to engage in is the question of whose style is better. Hard stylists praise their strength and toughness. More fluid stylists praise their speed and flexibility. Ground fighters believe every fight goes to the ground. Stand-up fighters believe fights never go to the ground.

So, which is better? In truth, the answer is "none." Let's take an example.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the hot martial art today, so we'll look at that. If a BJJ practitioner gets you in one of those crazy pretzel holds, your only hope is having some familiarity with it. He's going to break something on you. So, BJJ is the best? Well, no.

BJJ's weakness is that it is effectively a 1-to-1 art (unlike Japanese jiu jitsu whose goal is to stay on your feet). In a street fight or bar fight, if you go to the ground and put your opponent in an arm bar, his friends are going to kick you in the head. Repeatedly. BJJ isn't great for moving between multiple opponents.

So, does this make BJJ bad? of course not. It just highlights the fact that every style has its strengths and weaknesses.

The key to any martial art, regardless of which you choose, is experience. Recognize your style's strengths and play to them. Accept your style's weaknesses and train to defend against them. If your goal is to be a professional fighter, study a contrasting style like mixed martial arts competitors.

To paraphrase Sun Tzu, Victory goes to the warrior who understands himself and his enemy. And Bruce Lee's martial philosophy of Jeet Kun Do provides excellent guidance in "taking what is useful, and ignoring that which is not."

Don't waste time arguing about which style is best. It is a better use of that time to study another style or to practice your own.