In martial arts, form and strength are important to land an effective kick or punch. This leaves someone who isn’t very strong thinking and wondering what martial art is best suitable for them. So, what is the best martial art for a weak person?
The best martial art for a weak person is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is a grappling and joint locks style that relies on leverage and positioning to overcome a stronger opponent.
By weak, I assume you mean “physically weak.”
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art form that is used by individuals to protect themselves from an enemy who is stronger, larger, and mightier.
This style of martial art, as you would soon see, emphasizes less on strength and power but techniques, intelligence, and positioning.
What Martial Art Is Best for Weak People?
The best martial art for weak people is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is a grappling and joint locks style. This style leans on leverage and positioning more than raw physical strength and size in overcoming its opponent.
Fights end up on the ground very often, and this is where Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shines.
With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you learn how to control your opponent on the ground, fight for dominant positions, and submit them via techniques such as joint-locks and chokeholds (either from a losing position or a dominant one)
A joint lock is when you use your legs or arm to pull the joint of your opponent into a position that causes discomfort or pain.
This lock can also hold the opponent in place until he or she submits or stops struggling.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gives you the techniques to win a fight even from a position that most would naturally see as a big disadvantage (such as lying on your back).
For example, an enemy who attacks a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner may think he is winning the fight handily one second. The next second, he could be staring down at his limp or broken arm.
People who are small, less muscular, and not very powerful tend to learn this grappling style and joint locks style because it doesn’t require flashy moves or high-flying kicking.
Just a small grab and twist and you would have broken your opponent’s arm or wrist allowing you to get away from them with the least amount of effort.
From my years of martial art experience, I have come to realize that people who consider themselves physically weak for martial arts are often people with Ectomorph body type.
This is likely because Ectomorphs have the most disadvantageous body type when it comes to building strength and muscle making the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style suitable for them.
However, if Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not something you fancy yourself doing, you can explore other similar grappling and joint locks styles such as Judo.
Martial Arts Makes You Stronger
You might not want to get involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, or any other similar grappling and joint locks style probably because it doesn’t suit your personality or maybe you just don’t find it interesting enough for you.
That is fine, as there are other options to choose from. You only need to be ready to put in the work.
The SWEET TRUTH is that most martial arts can be learned by everyone including the weak.
This is because martial arts makes you stronger, so it does not matter how weak you are at first.
However, you don’t want to take up something like Sumo wrestling if you are physically weak.
You can develop more power through training and developing techniques (and maybe by hitting the gym a bit).
Strength is indeed important, and practicing martial arts will help you train your body to become stronger and more formidable.
Martial artists can increase muscle mass and become more toned overall.
This is because punching and kicking require a lot of strength, demanding the muscles in your legs, arms, and core to work hard.
For example, a martial arts discipline such as Taekwondo requires a lot of strength in the execution of some of its techniques.
And these punches, kicks, and other moves will over time increase your entire body’s strength.
Since muscle mass and metabolism are connected, the more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolism improves.
This means even while your body is at rest, your body will burn more calories.
So, if you are truly interested in martial arts and you are ready to put in the work to become the best, I recommend you go for any martial art of your choice. Preferably, one that is most suitable for your body type.
Through consistent training, patience, and staying motivated, you can help improve your body’s musculature. Trust me, it is worth it.
Now, let’s help you determine some of the martial arts best suitable for you based on your body type.
Best Martial Arts Based on Your Body Type
Ectomorph body type
- Taekwondo
- Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
- Wing Chun
- Tai Chi
Mesomorph body type
- MMA
- Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
- Judo
- Muay Thai
- Tai Chi
- Jeet Kune Do
- Krav Maga
- Taekwondo
- Karate
- Kenpo
- Aikido
- Wing Chun
Endomorphs
- Taekwondo
- Tai Chi
- Kenpo
- Aikido
- Boxing
- Wrestling
Regardless of the above recommendation, note that there is no perfect body type or martial art for anyone.
While the best martial art for you remains the one you feel motivated doing, the best body type is one that is willing to show up for class and sweat it out, eat clean, get enough recovery sleep, and practice consistently.
You must understand that no matter our size, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.
The truth is you may never have the kind of power you desire especially if you are small and skinny.
The key is to train in a way that maximizes your natural strengths and minimizes your natural weaknesses.
Fighting is more than just power, so you can make up for your lack of power with your good technique and speed.
Even if you do not knock out your opponent, your speed and technique may allow you to target the eyes, throat, or groin, and temporarily disable your opponent.
To reach your full potential, you must work with what you have, not what you wish you had.
Which Martial Art Doesn’t Require Strength?
Generally, all martial arts require a certain degree of strength to become effective. However, martial arts such as Aikido don’t require much strength to execute.
The Japanese martial art of Aikido is a system of joint-locking, striking, throwing, and pinning techniques.
It also trains in traditional Japanese weapons such as the knife, sword, and staff.
Aikido is less combative than many other martial arts and competition is discouraged.
This martial art style appeals to women since it doesn’t require much strength.
And since their training is like meditation, the spiritual side of the art can help with inner peace and calm.
What is the best martial art for lightweight?
The best martial art for lightweight (skinny) people is Taekwondo. A thin person will not be as successful in grappling style and wrestling as someone heavier, but they can compensate with quick, powerful kicks. These strikes are considered the hallmark of Taekwondo.
Taekwondo is indeed the number one choice for skinny and lightweight people.
What makes it so great for them is that it relies so much on agility. A huge advantage in Taekwondo is the ability to easily perform many maneuvers due to their less weight.
This is not to say that smaller-sized individuals shouldn’t wrestle or practice martial arts that are often practiced by larger people.
However, learning TKD would be more beneficial in the short- to medium-term than learning other styles and techniques like wrestling or sumo.
Other martial arts suitable for lightweight people include Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Conclusion
Even though certain types of martial arts are considered more accommodating to weaker people than others, the truth remains that martial arts generally support the weak.
It is an art that transitions you from “weak” to “strong” if you put in the work.
So why limit your options knowing that regardless of your choice of art, you are likely to develop that much-needed strength and power in no time?
This is just one benefit that all martial art naturally provides.
Hi, my name is Godwin. I am a passionate martial artist with black belts in Taekwondo and Karate. I have over 15 years of martial art experience. I created this platform to enable me to help you learn martial art the right way.
