I used to kickbox, stopped a few months ago. Its really fun. I tried MMA over the summer, but compltetly failed... ;]
Good luck.

I did Brazilian Jui Jitsu for 4 years a while back.

Are you doing Japanese or Brazilian?

I think legit Ju Jitsu is japanese right? Brazilian is just that stuff people throw around in UFC.

well Brazilian jiu jitsu is really Kodokan Judo - like pre-olympic judo, where throws became the primary goal of the sport. The Gracies (of early UFC fame) called their art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because a Judo Master taught their father Helio Gracie the art in the 40's or 50's, before it became diluted. But BJJ is extremely effective as a fighting art, which is why EVERYBODY in MMA competitions learns it these days.

I started Shito Ryu karate in October (it is never too late!), will promote to yellow belt in March.

I do legit Japanese/Hawaiian Danzan-Ryu Ju Jitsu.

I'm a Blue Belt (just have to train up to being at that level again. <_<).
Our belt scale is White/Green/Blue/Brown/Brown/Brown/Black/Black/Black/Black....

Well, BJJ is extremely effective fighting art in the MMA arena...

In the streets? I don't know if I want to go to the ground in an uncontrolled environment... concrete, broken glass, and various obstacles...

Against multiple opponents? Against an armed opponent?

Haha, I don't really mean to stir up a MA fight because honestly an art is only as good as it's practitioner. Also, gun+some distance = win.

Chris: GUN KATA GO GO GO
<_<
>_>
Unless we're limited to arts that exist.
...

What about "Track and Field" for countering the gun? <_<

Chrispy - the problem is that most times you can't prevent going to the ground - especially if that's where the other guy wants to take the fight. Street fights are dangerous ... period. And no matter what you've trained in - you're going to better off than the guy who hasn't trained. But not as well off as the guy who has 3 friends there to back him, or in the worst case scenario - a weapon.

So all things equal - I'd put my money on a ground fighting art like Jui jitsu (BJJ or JJJ) or Judo or wrestling.

I study Tai Chi Chuan (aka Tai Chi) which is technically a martial art. But as is commonly practiced, it is uses "soft" techniques that are slow and steady. they are designed to help you find your center for mental, physical, and spiritual health. I find it gives me peace after a high stress day to go to the Y and participate in the class. The forms are easier than yoga and if I'm really stressed, I can do some upper body forms for 15 or 20 minutes during the day at work.

I know it's not the same thing. One doesn't study Tai Chi so much as practice it and the goal is not to be a great fighter, but to be centered and at peace with oneself and the universe.

philcore, actually in a street or bar fight it's easy to prevent going to the ground. This is because your opponent doesn't want to go to the ground either. It's too unpredictable and leaves the fighters too vulnerable. Every bar fight I've seen everyone just frantically swings their fists around. I haven't really seen a "real" street fight... it's either semi-organized so that there's a 1v1 rule or the fighters are mostly just threat displaying and have very little will to actually fight. Even with the semi-organized ones, very few that I've seen go to the ground, it's still mostly fist swinging.

A mugger is typically armed and isn't looking for a "fight"... if they really want to hurt you, you won't exactly have much time to "fight" them. They'll probably either threat display or simply sucker punch you.

In a real confrontation it's probably more practical to strike rather than take them to the ground because presumably you're just defending yourself, and would rather leave the conflict than prolong it. If you're attacked and somehow you manage to fight back and take them to the ground and even pin them. What do you do? Hold them in that pin until someone else relieves you or calls the police?

In a serious confrontation where you're outnumbered or outgunned, I would much rather strike and stay standing than go to the ground... of course you're still at a major disadvantage but I think going to the ground is just plain suicidal in that case and hoping to get a shot in and then running is by far the better way to go.

I will give you that ground play will probably win 1v1 in a relatively predictable environment.

I'm a master of kiss-fu

Let me get this right, I have stabbed a second Dan black belt...

Good job I live a few thousand miles away.

kiss-fu is the most fun of all martial arts

The only martial art I know is broad-sword fighting.