Top 5 “Easiest” But Effective Martial Arts To Learn

Becoming a skilled martial artist takes a lot of time, and for most people, it is a lifelong journey. However, there are combat systems that, due to the simplicity of the concept, actually include a short learning curve. 

In fact, a dedicated student may expect to learn how to fight in less than a year of training in one of the martial arts we have included in this list.

Which Martial Arts are Easiest To Learn?

If you are a beginner without previous fighting experience and looking to develop proper fighting skills to use in the real world, you should primarily focus on striking martial arts.

This is because throwing punches kicks, and setting up blocks is more in line with our instincts, allowing you to learn the motion and master the moves in a short period.

Grappling arts are all about balance, weight distribution, and exact procedures, which take a lot of time to master. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it in a short time. There are rare talents everywhere. But overall, striking-based martial arts are easier.

The same stands for traditional martial arts that usually have standardized belt ranking progression. In most, there is a minimum time you need to spend training before progressing, which limits your ability to progress faster as an individual.

So, our list primarily includes combat sports where the progress is entirely based on individual performance on the mats or in competition.

Boxing

Boxing stands out as one of the easiest martial arts for beginners due to its straightforward techniques and emphasis on fundamental skills. It all revolves around 5–6 different punching techniques, and mixing them with footwork and upper body movement.

Any person, regardless of talent and fitness level, can learn how to box in a reasonable time, usually less than a year.

In the opening months, beginners focus on mastering the foundations such as stances and basic punches. They spend most of their time working on the heavy bag, hitting the pads, shadowboxing, and improving strength and cardio.

Once they master the basics in between 3 and 6 months, they move on to live drills and sparring where they learn how to practically apply these skills against the moving target.

This significantly boosts their progression and helps them develop strong fighting instincts, timing, and feelings for distance. After an additional 6 months, 1 year in total, most practitioners are ready to enter amateur competition. This is also a level where you are considered an advanced practitioner, ready to apply the skills in real combat.

So, the fast learning curve combined with the simplicity of its techniques and overall effectiveness is what makes boxing so popular among beginners looking to develop proper fighting skills quickly.

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a full-contact striking style that blends the finesse of boxing with the raw power of kicks. Its simplicity lies in the combination of these elements, making it an ideal choice for beginners looking for an all-around striking style.

In terms of concept and techniques, Kickboxing primarily focuses on western boxing punching techniques, and versatile kicking arsenal that originate from traditional combat systems such as karate and Taekwondo. Based on the style, kickboxers prefer to use less footwork and head movement than boxers. But this may vary.

At first glance, throwing all types of jumping and spinning kicks may look hard. However, kickboxing emphasizes direct techniques such as roundhouse kick, front kick, and side kick that do not require much energy and time to execute.

With regular training and stretching, practitioners may expect to develop strong kicking skills in around 1 year.

In modern times, kickboxing is also very popular among people looking to improve their fitness. Among women especially. The discipline promotes full-body engagement, providing an excellent cardiovascular workout that simultaneously enhances strength and agility.

But above all, kickboxing is an effective combat system. Due to its emphasis on sparring, it teaches practitioners how to apply skills in real life, equipping them with a versatile set of offensive and defensive self-defense skills.

If you are looking to learn how to strike using both your hands and legs in less than a year, then kickboxing is an ideal option. You can later transition to Thai boxing to add elbows, knees, and clinch to your arsenal in a short time too.

Krav Maga

Krav Maga is a military self-defense system developed by the Israeli military in the 1950s. In modern times, it is accessible to people worldwide, and it stands for one of the most comprehensive self-defense martial arts you can train in. But the best thing about it is it doesn’t require much time to learn.

The learning curriculum is not strictly standardized as in other combat systems which makes Krav Maga adaptable to individuals. Through frequent scenario-based training, beginners quickly develop the ability to respond effectively to potential threats based on their strengths and weaknesses.

It doesn’t matter if you are tall, short, obese, skinny, strong, or weak — the system will get the most out of your potential.

In terms of techniques, practitioners learn how to strike, grapple, apply dirty tactics, handle weapons, and many other conventional self-defense moves. They drill different combat scenarios, against multiple attackers and different environments. Also, the system prepares them to control their emotions and stay rational in stressful situations.

In essence, Krav Maga’s practicality lies in its focus on real-world effectiveness. It is an excellent choice for those seeking a self-defense system that prioritizes real-life application.

Karate

Karate is arguably the most popular traditional martial art that has dozens of different styles and variations. Naturally, some of these styles are harder and take more time to master than others. However, the majority focus on a straightforward approach and focus on fast-paced striking using punches, kicks, blocks, and linear movement.

In terms of concept and techniques, karate emphasizes fundamental movements such as linear strikes and blocks. The learning program includes katas that practitioners practice alone to master the motion of each strike to perfection and stamp it deep into the muscle memory. This improves their reaction time and speed, which are crucial in fighting.

There is also limited sparring, called Kumite in karate. This is a segment where karatekas simulate a real fight with a training partner. They practice techniques using light contact in a controlled environment which further improves their form and self-defense skills. depending on the school, you may also encounter hard sparring as well.

For beginners, karate offers a structured journey to mastery through gradual progression via belt levels. However, the time it takes to move from one belt to the other is based on various factors such as schools, countries, and style. In general, it takes between 5-7 years for an average practitioner to reach a black belt rank and become an advanced student.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai emphasizes straightforward and practical techniques. The system relies on a limited set of powerful strikes using fists, elbows, knees, and kicks. It is very similar to kickboxing.

Further, unlike some other martial arts that may have complex forms or intricate movements, Muay Thai’s techniques are designed to be efficient and effective in real-world situations. Each technique and segment of training is designed to prepare a person for the mental and physical aspects of real combat.

The learning program places a significant emphasis on repetitive drills. This means that practitioners spend a lot of time practicing basic movements, strikes, and defensive techniques until they become second nature. Repetition is key to muscle memory, allowing practitioners to execute techniques instinctively in a stressful situation.

Next, sparring, or controlled practice fighting, is an integral part of Muay Thai training. This experience allows beginners to apply the techniques they’ve learned in a dynamic and interactive setting.

Regular sparring helps them develop essential skills such as timing, distance management, and defensive skills. It also provides a realistic simulation of a combat scenario, helping beginners gain confidence and adapt to unpredictable situations.

Then there are intense fitness workouts that simultaneously improve cardiovascular health, strength, and endurance. These workouts often mimic the physical demands of actual fights, ensuring that practitioners are not only learning techniques but also conditioning their bodies for combat.

Overall, the simplicity of the techniques, combined with the emphasis on practicality, makes Muay Thai an effective martial art that can be learned and applied relatively quickly.