1. 

I don't think I really have a favorite. At one time I might have said judo. I enjoyed it tremendously when I was doing it. But I think I might have thought of it as my favorite because I loved to travel and compete when I was young. I enjoyed training with the people I trained with. But I have a different focus now. I Still enjoy training with the people I train with and the ones I meet. But competing is no longer a focus. My focus is on going home safely and being able to protect my family. Since I did compete on a high level I know the difference in competing and self defense. Also having trained in more than one judo dojo made a difference. One school was self defense first and the other school was sports judo only. My favorite of the 2 was the one where we learned judo as an art of self defense first.

Today I have no interest in competing or training to compete. So today my favorite I guess would have to be the ones that I train in now. If I trained somewhere else then that might be my favorite.

If I were still young and no injuries I might have considered capoeira. I think it is a beautiful art. When I didn't know any better I thought it was not "practical". That you couldn't do those things in a fight. However, I maturing and researching I know better. I've also witnessed it in person. I see how it works. I see all of the ingenious deceptions in what they do. I feel I would struggle more in a fight with someone of that style than any other style. I haven't seen enough of it or practiced against someone using it in order for me to be well prepared to counter many of the things that they do.

I also like the deception of aikido too. The aikidoka IMO has an advantage over many because when they do something if you don't know aikido or something similar you will easily fall into a trap and not realize it until it happens.

Hard to name a single favorite, though I have a few good candidates.

Karate was my first martial art, and I still try to explore it whenever I can. These days, I'm drawn to the full-contact stuff (Kyokushin and its offshoots) as well as the old-school, close-ranged, kata-based Okinawan stuff. I'm not happy with the way most karate is trained these days, though.

Catch/Shoot Wrestling is my grappling art of choice. Whether it's the classic Euro-American Catch form, or the hybrid Japanese form that combines the style of Wigan with Judo and Sambo, I find this format to be very inclusive when it comes to submissions, and powerful as well with the throws, takedowns, rides, and pins.

Though it's limited in scope, I love the mileage one can get out of boxing. There's really little out there to me that's more beautiful than good, technical boxing. Because most people default to punching in real life, too, it also has self-defense applications.

Finally, I enjoy the principles and ideas in Wing Chun Kung Fu. I find, like boxing, it tends to be limited in scope, and like karate, is generally not practiced in a way that optimizes practical application, but I think it has some really good foundational principles, provides universal reference points, and has a logically progressive forms system.

I rather just take what I find useful from other schools and combine them to come up with my own system. Pretty much thats what happened throughout history. But if I really had to choose a school to belong to......I'd go with Wudang because their swordplay is top level. So I guess the boxing style would be taijiquan? Then Taijijian for sword style.

Probably boxing because it opened my eyes up to just how much there is to learn, how much of a game of human chess it really is, and how its easily one of the best styles for self defense on the street. It can also be used with all body types and even people past their prime with bum knees or ankles etc. Before i'd have told you Judo. Its so hard for me to do these days but without injuries its great.

Ive done martial arts for over 20 years and have found the Filipino systems of, Arnis, kali & Eskrima to be the most complete and street wise, in my opinion... Every motion done with the weapons can be translated to empty hand applications...

Thanks...

Aikido. It is something I can practice my entire life. The way martial arts are taught these days is either recreationally (and bear no value except limited fitness), or sport (which has limited use in anyone's lifetime).

But Aikido is not taught as a sport, and it can be practiced nearly one's entire life. The principles of Aikido can be incorporated into any style, or it can stand on its own.

Favorite? The one I am doing. No use wanting something else so learn learn to love it.

Why did I choose it? Best opportunity to train with a good teacher.

I have done Shotokan karate for a very long time.

I tend to favor the Okinawan arts, because of their efficiency, and because of their relationship to my own training.

Goju, for example has much to offer any karateka.

Taekwondo, Wushu, Kendo, MMA, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Capoeira. well, basically i like all martial arts

I know there is no 'best' martial art ,that it all depends on the instructor and so on.

But if you could only learn one martial art what would it be and why? As someone who partakes in a few I'm curious as to which you guys love the most and why you would choose this above others.

Taido.

They do back flips, front flips, roll around, do horrible kicks and blocks and punches and they would be killed in a real fight however, it looks great!

If this one was young enough and physically able to do the gymnastic aspects of Taido, he would happily study it just for the fun of it......

Look it up on Youtube...LOL!

I am piggy back With Rikki Rikki.

My current favorite is what I take. http://www.akban.org

My second favorites is Muay Thai, which I have been doing a-lot as of late.

Hung Gar, is my favorite.

i learn choi kwang do..its a type of material art...but i love kung fu...

Any Martial Art except for Homo drived Wrestling