Choosing the right martial art as a beginner can be a daunting task. With so many styles and disciplines to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? 

To help you navigate this exciting but challenging decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top five martial arts for beginners. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, learn self-defense, or simply explore a new passion, these martial arts offer a great starting point for beginners of all ages and fitness levels.

1. Karate: Karate is perhaps one of the most well-known martial arts for beginners, thanks to its focus on discipline, respect, and traditional forms (kata). Karate emphasizes striking techniques, such as punches, kicks, and knee strikes, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to improve their overall fitness and learn basic self-defense skills. With its emphasis on form and technique, karate is also a great way to improve coordination and balance.
2. Taekwondo: Taekwondo is another popular martial art for beginners, known for its dynamic kicking techniques and emphasis on flexibility and agility. Taekwondo also incorporates elements of self-defense and sparring, making it a well-rounded martial art that can help improve both physical fitness and self-confidence. With its focus on high kicks and fast-paced movements, Taekwondo is a great choice for beginners looking for a challenging and rewarding workout.
3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ): While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) may seem intimidating to beginners, it is actually a great martial art for beginners of all ages and fitness levels. BJJ focuses on ground fighting and submission techniques, making it an ideal choice for beginners looking to learn practical self-defense skills. BJJ also emphasizes leverage and technique over strength, making it accessible to practitioners of all sizes and physical abilities.
4. Muay Thai: Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is a popular martial art that originated in Thailand. Known for its powerful striking techniques, Muay Thai is a great choice for beginners looking to improve their striking skills and overall fitness. Muay Thai also incorporates elements of clinch fighting and knee strikes, making it a well-rounded martial art that can help improve cardiovascular endurance and strength.
5. Judo: Judo is a martial art that focuses on throws and takedowns, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to learn practical self-defense skills. Judo also emphasizes the concept of “maximum efficiency, minimum effort,” making it accessible to practitioners of all ages and fitness levels. With its emphasis on technique and timing, Judo is a great way to improve coordination and balance while learning valuable self-defense skills.

These top five of martial arts for beginners offer a range of options for practitioners of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, learn self-defense, or simply explore a new passion, these martial arts provide a great starting point for beginners looking to embark on their martial arts journey. 

By choosing the right martial art for you, you can not only improve your physical fitness and learn valuable self-defense skills but also cultivate discipline, respect, and confidence that will serve you well both on and off the mat.

What disciplines does the Martial Profile app cover?

Martial Profile has a fairly extensive catalog of disciplines that you can review and add to your profiles. We currently have more than 40 disciplines. From the most basic ones like Karate, Taekwondo, BJJ, Muay Thai and Judo, to the most eccentric ones like Kalaripayattu, Krav Maga and Pencak Silat.

Every week we focus on highlighting a specific discipline and explore more about them on our Instagram, TikTok and Reddit accounts.