The 6 Best Martial Arts For Women | Training For Self Defence & Fitness


Martial arts is gaining more and more popularity as a fun and effective form of fitness training. Many Australian gyms offer some style of martial arts in the form of group training classes. Alternatively, you can choose to focus solely on a form of martial arts and join a specialised gym.

When you train in martial arts, you will not only learn a new skill but also improve your fitness levels and gain self-defence skills.  Practising martial arts also helps improve health, situational awareness, well-being, and mental state. Some of the best martial arts for women include wing chun and krav maga.

There are actually many forms of martial arts to choose from, and women’s boxing classes at your local gym are just the beginning. If you are new to the world of martial arts training, it can be challenging to navigate the different styles and choose the best training option for you.  

That is why we have developed a guide detailing the six best forms of martial art for women. Read on to learn more. 

What Are The Benefits Of Martial Arts for Women?

Any kind of martial art demands physical exertion, skill, mental focus, and more. Addressing these demands is what makes pursuing martial arts so beneficial for women. 

Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider adding a martial arts class to your fitness routine:

  • Practising martial arts makes you healthier by improving cardiovascular health, bone density, and more.
  • You burn calories which can aid in achieving weight loss goals. 
  • You become stronger and leaner as you build muscle.
  • You build self-discipline through regular training. 
  • You become more confident as you acquire new skills and master more techniques of your chosen martial art.
  • You expand your capabilities and push your limits physically, mentally, and psychologically.
  • You socialise with like-minded people.
  • You learn to control your emotions through focus and meditation.
  • You’ll be able to defend yourself effectively.

What Are The Best Martial Arts For Women?

We have gathered a list of the most effective martial art styles that ladies should consider adding to their fitness routine or lifestyle. 

Here are the six best martial arts for women for self-defence, fitness, and even relaxation.

1. Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a concept-based traditional Chinese kung fu style requiring rapid arm movements and strong legs for offence or defence. Unlike popular martial art styles that emphasise blocking first then attacking next, Wing Chun allows the practitioner to defend and attack simultaneously.

Another unique characteristic is that the Wing Chun practitioner does not step back before attacking. Instead, she attacks from any position, allowing her to increase her speed and prevent the opponent from predicting her style.

This martial art utilises the structure of the entire body to generate maximum power in a small space, best exemplified by its famous “one-inch punch.” The key is training the body to move and position itself efficiently and precisely.

Wing Chun is one of the best martial arts for women. The proper practice and application of the style allow a more petite woman to defeat a bigger, stronger opponent in a matter of seconds.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Wing Chun is the only martial art created by Ng Mui, a Chinese Shaolin female nun. She realised that traditional techniques practised in Shaolin kung fu were impractical for women; they’re designed for larger, stronger men with lots of stamina. Thus she made Wing Chun specifically for women.

2. Aikido 

Aikido is a Japanese martial art translated as “the way of unifying life energy” or “the way of harmonious spirit.” Morihei Ueshiba developed it as a combination of his martial studies, philosophy and religious beliefs. 

Essentially, practising Aikido allows you to overcome yourself rather than cultivate violence or aggressiveness. 

Aikido centres on breathing control, triangular principle, and turning movements that allow a woman to redirect her opponent’s attack momentum. These principles involve a series of throwing and joint-lock techniques.

Aikido is a perfect martial art for women as it involves movement precision and joint mobility over muscle strength and bulk. Since women tend to invest more in their flexibility than men, they can execute better movement precision and finer motor coordination. Popular movement-based disciplines such as yoga, reformer pilates and even adult gymnastics are great foundations for those who want to be Aikido practitioners.

Aikido also enhances situational awareness, improves body posture and alignment, teaches how to fall without injury, and cultivates a philosophy of non-violence. More importantly, Aikido uses self-defence techniques to convince attackers to surrender without causing physical harm.

3. Krav Maga 

Developed by the Israeli Defence Force, Krav Maga is military-style self-defence and martial art. Rather than a single discipline, it incorporates techniques from other sports and disciplines such as boxing, aikido, judo, and karate. 

The martial art was drawn from the street-fighting, boxing, and wrestling techniques of Imi Lichtenfeld, a Hungarian-Israeli martial artist. 

The Krav Maga philosophy emphasises aggression and synchronised attack and defence manoeuvres in direct opposition to Aikido. It focuses on handling real-world situations with extreme efficiency. This makes Krav Maga very useful for women who want to learn practical self defence skills.


Krav Maga students learn a variety of effective techniques – many surprisingly simple and easily executable – to defend against attacks and to counterattack in the fastest and most efficient way. 

These lessons include:

  • Situational awareness and expanding instinctive response during potentially dangerous situations
  • Simultaneous attack and defence
  • How to develop physical aggression
  • The continuous and sustained striking of opponents until they are completely incapable of fighting back
  • Pre-empting attacking and counter attacking
  • Using any available objective as weapons
  • Targeting vulnerable areas of the body such as the eyes, throat, groyne, solar plexus, etc.
  • Developing muscle memory to obtain quick reactions during a fight

4. Muay Thai 

Originating in Thailand, Muay Thai is also known as Thai boxing. It is a martial art that emphasises striking while standing up and different clinching techniques. Known as the “art of eight limbs,” Muay Thai is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

Because you don’t need to be large or strong, Muay Thai is one of the best martial arts for women. Muay Thai is simple to learn, improves overall fitness, burns calories, and builds confidence. The simple yet effective moves also make it an ideal martial art for self-defence that women can execute quickly and easily. 

The difference between Muay Thai and kickboxing styles makes Muay Thai a better full-body workout, as well as a better option for self-defence. 

The practice of Muay Thai moves is also fun. In fact, shadow training or training with a sparring partner is more fun than just running on a treadmill. It’s no wonder that Muay Thai classes for women have become an extremely popular training option. 

5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) was created in 1920 by the Gracie brothers in Brazil. Together, the brothers developed and refined the style, creating their own combat and self-defence martial art system now known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

BJJ focuses on ground fighting, submission holds, chokeholds, and joint locks. It teaches skills that allow the person to take an opponent to the ground, control that opponent, achieve a dominant position, and force that opponent to submit.

Why is BJJ ideal for women? Well, BJJ is actually created around the idea that a smaller and weaker person can effectively and successfully defend herself against a larger, heavier, and stronger opponent. 

This is done using leverage, weight distribution, and taking the fight to the ground. Thus, BJJ’s principles, theories, and styles are definitely suitable for women who want to practice martial arts for self-defence as well as fitness. 

6. Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a martial art and sport that has its origins in Korea. The discipline is defined by kicking and punching techniques. Emphasis is generated on jumping spinning kicks, head-height kicks, and fast kicking. 

Taekwondo-related psychological training is purposeful and is geared toward increasing mental strength.
There are a lot of women Taekwondo practitioners as the discipline suits female physiology, especially because it has a lot of kicking techniques. Many women prefer not to maximise upper body strength the way men do in training, so focusing on kicking and not just punching helps level the playing field. 

In addition, Taekwondo adopts narrower and taller stances rather than broader and wider (such as karate stances). By not relying on physical bulk and breadth, Taekwondo martial arts styles can be a good fit for women’s training style. 

Which Martial Art is Right For Me? 

With so many martial arts styles being practised around the world, it can be challenging to choose the one ideal for you. As women, it is important to focus on the martial art styles best suited to our bodies and natural builds. This allows women to get the most out of their training. 

Here are a few guidelines for the disciplines mentioned above.

  • Wing Chun –This is a good martial art if you don’t like moving a lot, relying on fast reflexes and a solid stance. This is suited for women who have speed and prefer to learn concept-based martial arts.
  • Aikido – This is an ideal martial art if you prefer precision movement. It’s also ideal if you’re hesitant to seriously or permanently damage opponents. Therefore, women who are looking for skill and not violence should consider this
  • Krav Maga – If you prefer practicality and aggression, and want to build maximum confidence, then Krav Maga is perfect for you. Women who wish to feel strong and empowered through practical defence skills should consider this.
  • Muay Thai – If you want moves that are easy to remember and execute, then Muay Thai is your martial art. This can be a good style for women who are new to martial arts, so Muay Thai for women is becoming more and more popular.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – If you prefer a well-rounded approach to martial arts, then Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may be right for you. If you are a woman who wants to learn powerful moves and strategy, consider this option.
  • Taekwondo – This is an ideal martial art if you want to deliver faster and stronger strikes. If you also want to develop a strong mentality, the rigours of Taekwondo training could be right for you.

Of course, this is just a rough guide – the best training style is always the one that you enjoy the most! We suggest you try a couple of local fitness classes and decide which one best suits you.

If you work with a personal trainer, they can advise you on which martial arts style might help you achieve your individual fitness goals. 

What’s the Best Martial Art for Small Women?

Wing Chun and Krav Maga are some of the most popular martial arts for petite women. The techniques used in Wing Chun are specifically created around the idea that a smaller woman’s strength and stamina can defeat an average man’s during a prolonged fight. This philosophy makes Wing Chun perfect for women with small stature.

Krav Maga is also considered an ideal martial art for small women. This is because the discipline’s techniques revolve around practicality and aggression. Remember that Krav Maga is military in nature, and the military fighting system is designed for continued effectiveness when facing real-world situations. Thus, Krav Maga’s techniques are easy, simple, effective, and practical, which is definitely ideal for women of any frame. 


Related Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about martial arts for women.

How Much Do Martial Arts Classes Cost? 

Martial art class prices are often based on the frequency of training. On average, the cost would be around $10 to $20 per session. However, many dojos and gyms offer weekly, monthly, or even yearly packages that allow you to save money. 

Fees may include or exclude the usage of uniforms, equipment, or facilities. Martial art studios, schools, gyms, and dojos may also charge you other fees such as membership fees, yearly fees, and so on.

There’s so much variance between styles, venues, and providers, so it’s better to check with the martial arts class provider for more accurate and updated prices.

Can You Do Martial Arts Classes Online? 

In theory, yes. However, without an instructor to guide you with the philosophies, discipline, proper stances, and proper execution of moves, you might be executing the moves dangerously or unsafely, risking yourself and others around you.

You can settle for online classes and tutorials, perhaps imitating the stances for fitness or acting. But when it comes to martial arts training, it’s always highly recommended that you enrol for face-to-face classes.

What Age Can A Girl Start Martial Arts?

Women can start at an early age, at around 5 to 7 years old. In fact, many children now practice martial arts as a sport or recreational activity.

The important thing to remember is that martial arts teachers should be careful in administering programs appropriate for children. Adult martial arts training needs to be adapted to be safe for younger audiences. 

Disclaimer:

This article is published for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and does not take into consideration your individual circumstances, medical conditions or abilities. Always consult a medical professional before beginning any program of exercise. A fitness industry professional can provide personalised advice to suit your needs. 

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