Martial arts have been practiced for thousands of years. The word “martial” comes from the Latin Mars, referring to the Roman god of war (Ares in Greek mythology). The question “which style is the best?” has undoubtedly been asked since the beginning of time.
From Greek pankratiasts to Roman gladiators, from Chinese wuxia to Japanese samurai, and from chivalric knights to Shaolin monks, individual armed and unarmed combat has formed the backbone for the survival of countless cultures and societies, in addition to providing entertainment for townspeople and healthy competition for otherwise restless warriors.
It is no wonder that the early UFC events were marketed as style vs. style competitions. Back then, mixed martial arts may have been more of a spectacle than a sport, but curious spectators eagerly tuned in to see which combat art would reign supreme.
What better way to entice fans to buy a pay-per-view than to guarantee an answer to this age-old question?
MMA has evolved since the time of Royce Gracie, yet the original query remains, and the controversy has heated up over the last few years. So I asked for the opinion of my colleagues here on Bleacher Report, and this is what they had to say.
Bryan Trafford
I would love to be creative here and say Shotokan Karate is the best base for MMA, but I’d be lying. The best base for MMA that has been proven over and over again is good ol’ fashioned wrestling. Granted, one-dimensional wrestlers are no longer having the success they once had without adding to their game, but wrestlers still make the easiest transition.
A great example would be Brock Lesnar. He will have shown the world that even in 2008, where guys have evolved their games so much; a high-level amateur wrestler can still compete in MMA against the best.
It seems that wrestlers end up having the least amount left to learn as well, as they usually learn just enough jiu-jitsu to not get submitted and work primarily on their striking.
Kevin Curran
Which discipline is the best? This may be one of the questions that is most open to interpretation. However, when one examines the facts he may only come to one conclusion: Judo. Judo is a relatively new sport in the world of martial arts, but is gaining popularity quickly. The reason for this is most likely its overall usefulness, especially in MMA.
When examined closely, Judo ties in elements of jiu-jitsu and wrestling (in particular Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling). These are the two most important ground skills in MMA.
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