Comments on: How to Avoid a Fight Like a Martial Artist

on 3/2/2008 We have enough fighting between our two ears anyway in this lifetime to become the best we can become as a person that seeks for holistic self-knowledge ;D

on 7/2/2007 I am a MMA fighter, but outside of the octagon I hate fighting and try to stay out of it. I find the best way to defend myself is to dodge or block the attack as much as possible, or land as little strikes as possible until the attacker is either to tired to fight or just gives up. If there are more than one and they are just being ambitious blowhards I use the tecniques my trainer taught me to usually fend off pretty well.

on 4/1/2007 What would you say is a more effective fighting style:
The typical, calm, restrained, tactical martial artist's style or the all-out, "Use your anger", animal rage, norse beserker style. Personally, I am fond of both, but i must say that from experience I have found that the latter style is more effective.

on 12/29/2006 I have always held that I should not fight unless it is worth it. Analyze the event, will fighting, even if you win be a good investment? Think criminal charges, legal fees, lost time.

on 9/12/2006 If indeed you are about to be attacked, in most circumstances you can expect it to be a wide right hand hook, wide. This can be easily countered with your left hand placed on his forearm as he swings, and the right hand should be at neck-side. You can right knee into the ribs or kidneys, and slide the left hand from the forearm to his neck so both hands are around his neck in a clinch and begin firing alternating knees into the kidney area (which will no doubt bring him down). Also in this clinch you can throw your enemy around with your hands clinched tight around his neck.

on 8/8/2006 If you know you?re in a position where violence is unavoidable, be prepared to fight back (throwing the first strike is unwise). The person you are dealing with may, in fact, be more bark then bite. Watch the area around the person's collar bone for movement. As soon and you see the attack, react to it. Knock your opponent off guard, and then high tail it out of there.

on 6/30/2006 As soon as you have won, stop. If you can escape without them catching you then you're safe. Whatever you do, do not continue after they no longer pose a threat. Even if they pull a knife on you, stamping all over their head once they're unconscious is no longer self-defense.

on 6/30/2006 Use common sense in working out how to retaliate. If you have reason to believe that your life is in danger, then you can use pretty much any retaliation. If it's just a guy swinging a punch at you in a bar because he's looking for a fight, you'll get into serious legal trouble if you overreact. Any permanent damage, or even broken bones, can easily be seen as disproportionate force and out of the field of self-defense in court.
Having said that, if there is the chance that they have a knife or something, it is better to be safe and take them down than get yourself stabbed.

on 6/30/2006 Depending on the situation, depending on the mood, sometimes it's best to calm the attacker. If a guy wants to start an argument, just tell him "you're right" and then buy him a coffee or beer. Most dudes who pick fights have got some ego problem, and it's better off not to be egotistical yourself. Give him what he wants without giving him what he really wants (that would be a fight, or an "intelligent" debate).
The enemies worst weakness is his ego, and your best weapon is the lack thereof. I would read "How to Win Friends and Influence People".

on 6/30/2006 A good trick Bruce Lee used when being chased by a gang of 50 people; he ran to his gym where a good friend was training. Then they both calmly walked out and faced the gang and did something unexpected. They started shouting at the gang and acted really confident. This got the gang members nervous and led them to believe they were in fact outnumbered and there was a gang hiding, ready to attack in the gym. So they fled. The key here is to do the unexpected. Anything out of the ordinary will really throw an opponent off and give you the upper hand.

on 3/18/2006 In a bar or party situation your opponent will generally be drunk, you can use this to your advantage. If he throws the first punch it will be sloppy and slow, with most of his weight in making it real easy to dodge. Then kick him in the side of the knee, this will break, dislocate or shatter his knee cap leaving you free to run away. This can also work if one person is holding you and the other is about to punch.

on 12/8/2005 You have to be bouncing slightly on your toes and slightly bending your knees if you want to be ready to avoid the first strike and come back with a counter. Watch his chest, not his face, to see where his fists are going to be coming at you. If he's inexperienced, an uppercut or hook will be his first choice of attack, and these punches are easy to read unless performed perfectly.

on 11/22/2005 When somebody throws a punch or kicks at you, counter that with a straight jab. The jab is the fastest punch, so you'll most likely hit your attacker before he hits you. Make sure you aim for the chin, this way you won't need much force to bring your opponent down. When you throw the jab make sure you lean forward a bit so that your attacker won't hit you in the face. Don't swing your arm backward to
get some momentum, but bring your fist to his chin in the shortest and fastest possible way. A good
punch on the chin will knock-out, or at least startle, your opponent for a few seconds. Time enough for you to
get away. This is one of the most common counters used in kick boxing and Muay Thai.

on 11/22/2005 When I get near somebody who is making me nervous, first I assess the situation to see if my nerves are indeed sensing danger through the surrounding emotional field (known to many as aura, vibes, or Chan-Su), or if I'm just a bit hypersensitive that day. Then I try to find exit paths and flaws in the guy's moves, such as an unprotected groin or an open mouth. Then if he seems ready to attack, I first back away and out of position, then I grab his arm using a Single Whip movement instead of striking (which if he's familiar with CMA he will expect). I use High Pat on Horse and then a sidekick or roundhouse kick to the groin. If his hands are in the way, better yet, I can render irrelevant his weaponry. After that I use Ward Off and Needle at Sea Bottom to throw him on the ground and then flee using the exit corridors. That's how I use Viet-Cong tactics to subdue an aggressor.

on 11/22/2005 His face and lips will go white or paler if he is about to attack you.
This won't help you avoid a fight - but at least you'll know when to move.