Martial arts are currently studied worldwide from a variety of
cultures. Martial arts can improve your fitness levels and muscular
condition immensely. Depending on the martial art you choose to do,
you may even learn some effective self-defense techniques.
There is a major debate as to whether martial arts are effective as
self-defense. My personal experience has taught me it is best to study
as many styles as you can and question what works.
What I have done is take techniques, which I find work from a few
styles and then design a fighting system and practice based on me.
To simplify the above choose the best techniques from each style and
use them in your own practice. This probably goes against the culture
of martial arts, however for self-defense you cannot possibly expect
to be held down to a set form. That is like a brick in water. Think if
you are on the street, do you honestly think you are going to have
time to pull of a full-blown technique and fancy kicks? I don't think
so. That's why it is best to be open to all techniques and styles....
http://groups.google.com/group/martialartshenc