Martial Arts -vs-Combatives – Which is better?

So, before I answer the question, let me explain the differences between the two.

Martial arts is about tempering the soul through body conditioning, the study of warrior ways (psychology and philosophy) and introspection — looking into oneself. Martial arts tend to be codified systems with established curricula and a hierarchy.

Combatives is about focusing on quelling violent attacks as efficiently as possible by training in live (i.e., sparring) and reality-based scenarios. Combatives are ever-evolving with no formal ranking structure and tend to borrow techniques and weapons from various established martial arts.

So, which is better? BOTH! It is not what you train in, but HOW you train.

If you train in a traditional martial art, make sure to have at least one “live” training session a week. By that I mean light to medium contact (with protective gear) and or free grappling (“randori”). That way you will know what you can really pull off under stress against a resisting opponent.

Now, go train.