What is the most practical martial art to learn?

I would learn mixed martial arts. I have taken Tae Kwon do, hapkido, kenpo, kickboxing, and some ground fighting. I have never used one style alone to be honest. I take what works from each style, and it seems to be most effective. MMA for sure.

Shaffer

I've studied Hapkido and BJJ. I believe that makes a decently rounded fighter. At some point I'll dabble in Mui Tai.

Jiu Jitsu

Any Martial Art that helped form the MACP, especially Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

My answer is precise and direct as my recommendation; Shotokan.

I prefer Okinawan Karate. It focuses on strikes, locks, throws, restrains, etc. I took it while stationed in Germany. You might want to seek a seasoned Sensei. Wish you the best. Blessings.

Another vote for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve been taking it for going on three years. For the exercise aspect of it alone I consider it one of the best arts to train in. I’ve worn a heart monitor some classes and in 90 minutes burn 800-900 calories. I’ve hit the gym for years and thought I was in decent shape. When I first started BJJ I soon discovered new muscles I didn’t know I had. I was sore. When grappling 100% it’s very anaerobic. I never run, but my PT test score has gone up in the run event just due to the cardio I get from training BJJ.
For the self-defense aspect of it, most fights do end up on the ground. I recently took the combatives level one course and decimated everyone when grappling 100%. I was the oldest in the class and one of the smallest. I was the only student to grapple the level 4 certified combatives instructor. I had him submitted in under a minute. While it sounds like bragging, I’m just trying to illustrate the effectiveness of BJJ.

Given the choice I’d take MMA. It includes striking and grappling. My school is an MMA/BJJ school, foundation in BJJ, but unfortunately the MMA classes are all in the evening when I’m sleeping for my 3rd shift job. So I’m limited to BJJ.

One of our guys at the gym is fighting Friday night on a televised Bellator event. Dennis Olson vs Paul Daley. Dennis is the MMA instructor at our gym.
http://teamtriumphbjj.com/

Folks probably addressed all of this, but can't help myself:

The best answer is it really depends on the instructor. No matter what "style/school" if the instructor does not understand the realities of fighting and can't teach it - then it doesn't matter. That being said - from a purely practical perspective, that means self-defense, i.e., no rules - just survival. I'd recommend checking out Krav Maga or Self-Defense specific instruction. At a minimum Krav Maga teaches concepts for very practical self-defense with solid situational/cognitive training techniques so you can react and not think in crisis.

After that - Martial Arts are pretty much divided into those that maintain "Tradition" and "Sports" - I believe Martial Sports transfer best to practical martial arts to a certain extent. Martial Sports like boxing, judo, wrestling, and BJJ at least expose you to actual full-on contact and provides the physicality and mental stress that may possible provide value in a practical self-defense situation. However, ultimately they are sports. If the school never allows you to Spar, then you aren't learning squat. I specifically don't list Tae Kwon Do (TKD), Karate, other - because the rules applied during sparring actually are too sports specific (e.g., no punching to face in TKD and Karate). The jab is a great technique which is not part of these offerings. I don't mention Kick Boxing at all also, because unless it is taught from some serious old school Muay Thai instructor - you'll just learn how to box and kick poorly. Since we are all Military - remember crawl, walk, run - if there is no "run" phase in training, you are not learning anything practical. I don't mention MMA, because I don't know what that is really - I understand learning multiple disciplines and blending them per MMA, but not learning "MMA". MMA is the application of multiple disciplines - not just a class. A solid "MMA" offering will break down what specific disciplines they teach and yet again - this is a Martial Sport, not practical self-defense.

Ideally in a good Krav Maga class or self-defense class you'll learn how to foster your situational awareness to avoid trouble. The most pragmatic self-defense is to run away, not fight, avoid violence absolutely unless you truly have no options - you never know what can happen in the street, you can never truly prepare for the worst case scenario, so best to avoid it.

Putting in another vote for "the school, not the art."

There are probably several options near your home. Same for me. But my bjj place might be great, and yours a belt-mill, only interested in pumping up your ego and pumping out your wallet. Or vice versa.

Shop your schools, find a teacher/group with whom you feel confident.

Certainly, if you think bjj is silly, and that's the only worthwhile school nearby, don't settle for an art you know you don't like; just drive further. :) My point/advice is that the quality of the schoolhouse itself should be high on your priority list; your options will be distance-limited, so don't look over this detail.

I'm a 7th Degree black under Larry Tatum in the American Kenpo art. It makes Krav Maga look like child's play in the self defense area. I also carry a blade and a gun, just in case :)

Krav Maga if you just want to learn to protect yourself. I like all martial arts and the structure of it all but Krav Maga takes all the good things and uses the best of them all, it's kind of like Jeet Kun Do. But it's really up to you what your looking for. Go out and try different styles and find out what you like.

CH (MAJ) William Beaver
Both Gi and No-Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu combined with MMA training. Even if you don't want to fight competitively I think it is one of the absolute best all-around self defense arts and it's a great way to lose weight and get/stay in shape.

I've practice Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do for some time. I have enjoyed both and find myself combining certain aspects of each. I would research a discipline that can be adapted to you. I'm 5' 5", which means that I have to leverage speed and power. TKD offers speed and kicking power. What Karate gives me is raw power and the ability to come in bottom up.