Muay Thai vs Krav Maga???

[Slate Paker]

I have been wanting to train in a martial art for a while now and I am stuck between taking Muay Thai and Krav Maga. I really need help deciding, and if somebody could explain the core differences, that would be helpful as well. I want something that I can defend myself with, but also be offensive and do damage. Possibly to incapacitate my attacker both quickly and effectivly.

Edit. I forgot to mention that i am also planning to take a brazilian jiu jitsu class as well no matter which i choose.

 

[VZLANemesis]

Try looking for them in wikipedia?
Wouldn't judo or something like that be the best at incapacitating attackers?

 

[new_age_reject]

Muay Thai is fucking cool if nothing else.

 

[Slate Paker]

Muay Thai is fucking cool if nothing else.

Yeah im leaning more towards muay thai atm

 

[Seldon2639]

Okay, seriously. Searching for threads is your friend.

Major differences:

Krav Maga: Largely based on Aikido, it's mostly about grappling, disarms, and some striking (mostly upper-body).

Muay Thai: Mostly striking (especially using the elbows and knees). Less grappling and disarms, focused a lot on quick hits doing a lot of damage to a small area.

Both styles are largely offensive, rather than defensive, and based on preemptive attacking, rather than any blocking. Krav Maga is better for simple incapacitation (not causing long-term damage), Muay Thai is better for strictly hurting people. Neither style is as effective against a trained opponent than against a relatively untrained one, since both require some element of overwhelming force to work.

But, I would urge you to examine your motivations for wanting to learn a martial art. There's little need in modern society to defend yourself (since any martial art (including Krav Maga) will teach you to simply give your wallet to the mugger), and even less need to be offensive and do damage. The reason to take a martial art is for discipline, and self-awareness. Anything else just makes you a douche.

 

[Slate Paker]

Try looking for them in wikipedia?
Wouldn't judo or something like that be the best at incapacitating attackers?

I just want some fresh input on the matter. I cant exactly respond to wikipedia anyway. and as for Judo.... its already crossed my mind.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

Muay Thai.

 

[Seldon2639]

Try looking for them in wikipedia?
Wouldn't judo or something like that be the best at incapacitating attackers?

Depends. Any martial art works for "incapacitation" depending on your opponent's actions. Judo works best with momentum, and less-well in close quarters. Aikido works great in close quarters, but less well at moderate to long-range (strikes and kicks respectively). Shotokan is balanced, though more strikes than anything else. If you're looking to incapacitate without harming, any of the grappling arts would work (Sambo, Aikido, Jiu-Jutsu)

 

[PlasticPorter]

i mean, muay Thai might be more suited to your casual non militant life style. Krav Maga is at its core a full contact fighting style and is all about hurting your opponent as much as you can as fast as you can and its survivalist nature means that its not a sport or an "art" like most other martial arts. Its goal is to keep you alive in life and death situations and as such its most likely one of the strongest ways to fight. However unless your REALLY gung ho about being able to kick ass you should probably settle for a less hardcore fighting style.

 

[Slate Paker]

Okay, seriously. Searching for threads is your friend.

Major differences:

Krav Maga: Largely based on Aikido, it's mostly about grappling, disarms, and some striking (mostly upper-body).

Muay Thai: Mostly striking (especially using the elbows and knees). Less grappling and disarms, focused a lot on quick hits doing a lot of damage to a small area.

Both styles are largely offensive, rather than defensive, and based on preemptive attacking, rather than any blocking. Krav Maga is better for simple incapacitation (not causing long-term damage), Muay Thai is better for strictly hurting people. Neither style is as effective against a trained opponent than against a relatively untrained one, since both require some element of overwhelming force to work.

But, I would urge you to examine your motivations for wanting to learn a martial art. There's little need in modern society to defend yourself (since any martial art (including Krav Maga) will teach you to simply give your wallet to the mugger), and even less need to be offensive and do damage. The reason to take a martial art is for discipline, and self-awareness. Anything else just makes you a douche.

Thx for the info, but as for the reasons i want to take them, im looking for a good workout, and something i can continue to do for a while. Im not planning to beat the shit out of ppl, though i would like to be prepared in a fight in case it comes my way. ive had some pretty close calls recently.

 

[Lord Monocle Von Banworthy]

But, I would urge you to examine your motivations for wanting to learn a martial art. There's little need in modern society to defend yourself (since any martial art (including Krav Maga) will teach you to simply give your wallet to the mugger), and even less need to be offensive and do damage. The reason to take a martial art is for discipline, and self-awareness. Anything else just makes you a douche.

Aside from your stunning oversimplification where someone wanting your wallet is the only conceivable motivation for violence, why would a martial art give you discipline and self-awareness you didn't already have? Also, what about martial arts people practice as their chosen sport or because it's part of their culture or any of the hundred+ other reasons people practice them?

OP, if you have the option to study either, visit both schools and at least watch a class, preferably take one of each. Decide which one you could really see yourself doing every week.

Also, Muay Thai because it's practiced with aliveness.

 

[VZLANemesis]

Try looking for them in wikipedia?
Wouldn't judo or something like that be the best at incapacitating attackers?

Depends. Any martial art works for "incapacitation" depending on your opponent's actions. Judo works best with momentum, and less-well in close quarters. Aikido works great in close quarters, but less well at moderate to long-range (strikes and kicks respectively). Shotokan is balanced, though more strikes than anything else. If you're looking to incapacitate without harming, any of the grappling arts would work (Sambo, Aikido, Jiu-Jutsu)

I thought the one with the grappling and all the "overextend X muscle to disable the attacker" was judo, sorry. I'm not particularly well informed in the area. I just thought I could give some input.

 

[NeedAUserName]

I never hugely understood the appeal of martial arts, if its to fend off attackers. I mean do you get attacked frequently were you live? And presumably anything they take when if you are attacked wouldn't amount to same about of money spent on martial arts lessons. I mean fair enough wanting to learn one, but I just think wanting to learn one for the reason you stated is fairly pointless.

 

[RavingPenguin]

I have been wanting to train in a martial art for a while now and I am stuck between taking Muay Thai and Krav Maga. I really need help deciding, and if somebody could explain the core differences, that would be helpful as well. I want something that I can defend myself with, but also be offensive and do damage. Possibly to incapacitate my attacker both quickly and effectivly.

Edit. I forgot to mention that i am also planning to take a brazilian jiu jitsu class as well no matter which i choose.

Muay Thai provides an awesome workout, along with being a great offensive martial art. I am less familiar with Krav Magna, however I do know that it is more grappling based, and seeing as how you're going to do jui jitsu I wouldn consider it a bit redundant.
Personally I would choose muay thai, just to diversify a bit.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I would suggest you learn the art of pick-up-a-blunt-object-and-beat-someone-around-the-head-with-it-fu.

Barring that I'd go with Muay Tai. Why? Because it's all about the speed, apparently.
Also, grapples are dangerous.

 

[bjj hero]

I have been wanting to train in a martial art for a while now and I am stuck between taking Muay Thai and Krav Maga. I really need help deciding, and if somebody could explain the core differences, that would be helpful as well. I want something that I can defend myself with, but also be offensive and do damage. Possibly to incapacitate my attacker both quickly and effectivly.

Edit. I forgot to mention that i am also planning to take a brazilian jiu jitsu class as well no matter which i choose.

I train BJJ and kick boxing/free style karate. Back to reality you'll do fine with either. There are only so many ways to hit someone and most styles cover all bases. Find a class that has plenty of contact and non-prearranged fighting/sparring whatever. You have to get used to being hit or you'll freeze if it ever happens in the street. Its more important that you have a good relationship with the instructor. Go and watch the classes.

Ive trained with pro fighters and most do a mix of Bjj, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai depending on which areas are weaker.

Hope this helps.

 

[bjj hero]

I would suggest you learn the art of pick-up-a-blunt-object-and-beat-someone-around-the-head-with-it-fu.

Barring that I'd go with Muay Tai. Why? Because it's all about the speed, apparently.
Also, grapples are dangerous.

Grapples are dangerous? Combat is dangerous...

 

[Lexodus]

Definitely Krav Maga. If you can pull it off, then you will basically be unstoppable. Did you ever watch that program when the two guys went all over the world, studying each martial art in its native country? It was hella cool, and I liked Krav Maga the best. At one point, a test one of the guys had to do was fight unarmed through a crowd of about 30 people, and another was to disarm a guy with a gun whilst completely unarmed. It's definitely the 'war' art, seeing as it is the staple training for the police over in Israel, and a few countries besides, I am told.