Wushu athlete, Elahe Mansoorian: I Will Defeat Hulk Within A Minute

Self-Defense

Every martial art teaches some elements of fighting and self-defense, but some more-so than others.  For example, Chinese Wushu is performance oriented.  Wushu students spend a lot of time learning choreographed routines, and do not focus on learning to fight.  Martial arts such as Muay Thai and Brazillian Ju Jitsu focus a lot of fighting, for defense and offense.

Physical fitness

When choosing a martial art, you need to take into account your age and any health concerns or injuries that you have had.  Some martial arts are very aerobic and contain a lot of jumps, leaps and flips that may not be suitable for all students.  For example, Shaolin and Capoeira involve many upside-down movements.