LiERO

yes you did the right thing, Every now and again I see my sensei at the shops or something. I just greet him like another friend, and then go on my merry way. although i would love to see some one walk up to their instuctor in the shops, say a greeting in another language loudly and bow in front of them...would be a classic.

Personally, if I was in a confrontation I would do several things. 1) Notice the situation 2) Work to avoid the situation directly e.g. walk away, go around, turn back 3) If that didnt work, and i was confronted i would (safely) attempt to move away 4) When all these methods have been attempted i would try to talk my way out of the situation 5) If THAT didn't work and a confrontation is obvious i would try to stun my opponent/s with either a throw to the ground or a stunning shot such as a jab to the tip of the nose etc. 6) if the opponent blocks this or manages to take it and tries to fight back I would use any of my nessesary training to deafeat them. Also...Blocking and Evading are both useful, but if they are combined along with striking the likelyhood of them working is increased. the only way to practise this is through SPARRING so naturally it would inprove your skills in fighting on the "street"

one thing that no one has mentioned (i think) is that a kiah is often used to teach the lower grades to breathe. when doing techniques, especially in sparring, lots of lower grades hold their breath or forget about it. When an instructor tells the people to kiah it opens their airways and forces them to INHALE as well as EXHALE