I am re-posting my original question in the form of a poll. Thank you for all the discussion. I did like the responses. I am really not trying to masquerade the clichéd discussion: Which is the best martial art? behind my question. I am simply looking for martial artist’s opinions of which art and/or weapon system they have experience with, which they think would be their personal choice in the given scenario.

Here is my original post:

Hypothetical question:

Tomorrow the world as we know it ends. The end could be from a nuclear war, an incurable disease, a massive meteor hitting the earth etc. End result is the governments of the world collapse, and all society breaks down. Chaos and violence rule the streets. There is no police or organized military presence. It’s every man for himself and his family. You are one of the survivors who must try to stay alive in this hostile new world.

Given the above situation:

Having mastered which martial art and/or weapon system do you think would best keep you alive and able to defend your family?

Weapons. Any and all. However, I'd be more concerned about how I was going to cook all the rotting food in my fridge, in a world without electricity.

I understand what you are saying, but I mean the best art for survival in the senario. I doubt someone who practices tai-chi would think their art is best suited to keep them alive in such a hostile world. Not everyone takes a martial art just for survival. There are many different reasons to undertake the study of the martial arts. I am simply asking martial artists to share how they think their art would fit in the senario.

I picked MMA as a means of choosing "all of the above"

I think that knowing how to purify water, make a fire, skin your cat (for dinner)...would probably be more important to me than the fine art of breaking necks (Goju).

Quote:

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I understand what you are saying, but I mean the best art for survival in the senario. I doubt someone who practices tai-chi would think their art is best suited to keep them alive in such a hostile world. Not everyone takes a martial art just for survival. There are many different reasons to undertake the study of the martial arts. I am simply asking martial artists to share how they think their art would fit in the senario.

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Change it to one weapon art and one unarmed art, it's very incomplete otherwise, who oculd choose one. If I only could choose one it'd be combatives though.

I selected "Other" because I'm not worried about what Martial Art works and what doesn't. I want to survive and protect my family and if that means lighting somebody on fire, shooting them in the head, running them over with a vehicle, hitting them with a shovel, stabbing them with a knife, impaling them on a pole, using my weed eater to chew them up ... or anything that kills my assailants, that is the best.

I'm going to let instinct dictate how I will handle things. If I can kick them I will. If I have to punch them I will. If I have to take it to the ground I will. If I have to bite, scratch, pull hair or what have you I will. Luckily with several firearms in my basement locked up and plenty of ammo, I think this is going to be my best course of action to ensure that my family survives. I have a .270 Winchester Ranger Rifle that I'll pick them off at a distance. I have a Mosberg Riot Shotgun that I will use for up and close encounters. I have a .22 semi-auto Rugar Rifle with a 10 rotary clip and 2 x 100 clip magazines that I can randomly fire at a high rate. I have an assortment of hunting knives and skinning knives not to mention my nunchucks and a Samurai Sword. I have shovels, rakes, ice picks not to mention a whole tool cabinet full of weapons. I have a wife that can screech so loud that you have to cover your ears or walk out of the room.

What ever it takes and I won't be worried about what MA works best.

Basicly...as soon as I'm armed with a cheese biscuit...Watch out