Hengest

Sorry. I was bored and got a bit carried away... Aikido Aikijujutsu Amateur Wrestling American Kickboxing Archery Arnis Bando Banshay Baratero Bartitsu Bastone Bata Bersilat Bojutsu Boxing Brancaille Canne Capoeira Chausson Marseilles Choson Do Chuong Nhu Collar & Elbow Wrestling Collegiate Wrestling Cornish Wrestling Cumberland & Westmoreland Wrestling Danmye Devonshire Wrestling Draka Dumog Escrima Fencing Freestyle Wrestling Gicheon Mun Glima Gouren Grand Baton Greco-Roman Wrestling Haidong Gumdo Hanbojutsu Hankido Hankumdo Hanmudo Hapkido Hisardut Hojojutsu Hojutsu Hwa Rang Do Iaido Iaijutsu Ishinage Jailhouse Rock/52 Hand Blocks Jeet Kune Do Jodo Jogo Do Pau Jojutsu Judo Juego Del Palo Jujutsu Jukendo Kaikenjutsu Kajukenbo Karate Kendo Kenjutsu Kenpo Kickboxing see American Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate Koppojutsu Krabi Krabong Krav Maga Kuk Sool Won Kun Gek Do Kung Fu Kung Sul Kusaribojutsu Kusarijutsu Kwonbop Kyudo Kyujutsu Kyuk Too Ki Kyushojutsu Laamb Lancashire Wrestling/Catch-as-catch-can Lethwei Lua Lucha Canaria Lutte Parisienne Maculele Mau Rakau Muay Boran Muay Thai Naban Naginatado Naginatajutsu Ninjutsu Nippon Kenpo Panache Pananjakman Panantukan/Suntukan Pankration Purring Qwan Ki Do Ranggeln Sambo San Shou/Sanda Sasumatajutsu Savate Schwingen Scottish Backhold Ship Pal Gi Shootboxing Shootfighting Shorinji Kenpo Shurikenjutsu Sikaran Silat S'istrumpa Sojutsu Sports Chanbara Ssireum Stav Stockfechten Suieijutsu Sulkido Sumai Sumo Systema Taekkyon Tae Kwon Do Tae Soo Do Taihojutsu Tang Soo Do/Soo Bahk Do Tankendo Tanjojutsu Tantojutsu Tekkenjutsu Tenarashijutsu Tessenjutsu Toamijutsu Uchinejutsu Viet Vo Dao Yabusame Yagli Gures Zipota

Another good point. Many years ago I was working at a criminal law practice in Essex and I remember seeing one case up before the magistrates' where the victim of an attack took a roasting from the accused's counsel because he was a martial artist. Counsel wanted to argue that he'd provoked the attack in some way by dropping into a stance, or demonstrating a technique or just talking about his MA experience around his attacker! So perhaps it doesn't pay to mention your MA experience at all, whichever side of the fence you're on in a physical confrontation.

Technically, in the UK at least, you're within your legal rights to strike first providing that you were placed in fear of an immediate physical attack and you use reasonable force. However, I do see what you mean in that practically speaking you may have problems convincing the police of your defensive action. It doesn't help that many police officers aren't aware of the actual legal situation. So I would add to the excellent points you made that its a good idea for people to actually learn the legal position (preferably word for word) and, should you be called upon to make a statement to the police, phrase it in those terms.

To me, a pre-emptive strike is a defensive action. Just because my reaction to a confrontation didn't include a block, doesn't mean I wasn't acting defensively, morally or legally.

I don't think it's really about whether or not you have confidence in your defensive skills. It's more about adopting a strategy that is more likely to ensure you walk away from the confrontation. What if I were to wait for the attack but instead of receiving the expected haymaker, I get a Glock pointed at my nose? At times like that you're going to wish you'd hit first and made a break for it. Actual confrontation is a highly variable, unpredictable business and it doesn't pay to wait around and see what happens, cos you might just have waited a little too long...

What style are you looking at?

Personally, once I feel that an attack is imminent, I'll hit first. I've found from my own experiences that this is a much less dangerous way to deal with a situation and, contrary to popular belief, isn't against the law in most westernised countries.