E MacP

You are not being a "pain", but you are forgetting a point. When somebody attacks you, they want to hit you. If you back up four inches as you block a punch then they will move forward. They want to hurt you. One of the times when I was attached by a trained person he was a blackbelt in Karate (sorry, don't know the style). Someone told him that I was a judoka and then he came over and started asking questions. "What would you do if I did this" he said as he threw slow punches. I blocked, he started going faster and faster. Soon I was backing up across the kitchen as he advanced. One of his punches (left hand) grazed my glasses as I block it upwards, my frames cut into my eyebrow. He was advancing, I'd had enough. His next punch (right hand) came, I blocked it as I stepped forward. My left arm entwined his right. I performed a right side O-Soto-Gari. Fight ended. Do not forget: fighting is not randori, fighting is not shia. Fighting is someone, and potentially all his friends in the room, deciding that they are going to hurt you. It is not a chance to showcase your skills, it is a forced situation that you must deal with. Just because I know judo techniques I will not limit myself to them. If I can win by smashing someone upside the head with the beer bottle in my hand then I will. Fighting is not two trained masters facing each other on a dusty plain waiting for the other to make a move. The other person will come after you, they are attacking you.

Judo is very effective. I have been a Judoka for many years and I have had to use it a few times. Once someone tried to stab me, another time I was attacked with a broken beer bottle, and twice I have had people trained in striking techniques come at me. The trick is not to rush them, as others have written. Rather you back up. This forces your opponent to reach for you. As they reach you block and then either pull them in towards yourself (using their momentum) or you advance quickly to them. It all depends on the technique that presents itself. The gap is closed and grappling begins. Regarding ground work, DO NOT USE IT. It does you no good to have a brilliant pin on someone only to have their friend kick you in the back of the head. Always stay on your feet. If your throw did not end the fight then break their arm from a standing armlock, or kick them.. but under no circumstances give up the "high ground". I hope that this was helpful. Remember: Never hit a man who's down; but kicking a man who's trying to get back up is another matter.