The real deal on the streetfighter, and streetfighting.

[ravenzoom]

I was passing in front of a bar here in town with my car tonight when I saw an acknowledged 'street fighter' for many years where I live and the guy, probably 26-27 now, still looks like he'd like to start a fight: Shaved head (nothing against shaved heads but just describing him), fierce look, walks with both arms wide apart (although he's not that big, 180 maybe). I simply began to laugh because he's getting a bit too old for that sort of thing, Oh well some people never change. Wonder if he'll pick on someone tonight.

[Traditional-Fist]

Hopefully he will pick on the wrong person tonight.

[DKizzle]

Excellent post. I enjoyed your breakdowns of the different types of fighters from an experienced point of view. And I agree, never underestimate anyone. Master John (2nd ranking instructor at my dojo, 6th Degree Black) is about as unimposing a guy as you'll ever see. He's semi-short, not much of a build at all. But all we ever see in class are his skills which impress us, and we can't think of him any other way. Then, one day I was walking through the grocery store, and I see him in plain clothes, getting some cereal. And it made me realize how easy it'd be to underestimate him if I didn't know him.

[Killer7]

One other thing that was eluded to but I rarely, if ever hear expressed about street fight scenarios, they don't have a moral line of things they won't do. Or at the very least you can't expect them to. So for those that study martial arts styles that say "no hand techniques to the head, no kicking to the knee, etc." Be prepared, those are often the targets of choice.

Great post.

The first class I ever took at my dojo they taught me that in a real situation, I should try finger rake to the eyes, four knuckles to the neck, or a side kick to the knee

[DKizzle]

Yep, we practice those kinds of moves all the time.

[Bleeding Lion]

I think a mistake most people make is to assume people think like them.

What i mean is, someone might just walk up to you and throw a punch at you just because you looked at him/her disrespectfully. Sometimes trained TMAist might wait for 'hajime' to start the fight while the untrained would just punch you.

I've witness a good amount of fight where a fighter didnt know at what point or if he/she should start fighting.

[ninjanurse]

You bring up an interesting point!

[Sabumnim]

You raise a good point about the way many martial artists train for an encounter with an untrained individual.

It was also interesting to hear about the guy trained by his dad, I wasn't trained by my dad but apparently I was a bit of a show off and I did fight just to show that I could. Apparently I'm an OK guy now, or so one of my instructors says...

[Sam]

something else to consider - alot of martial arts either assume untrained OR training to use techniques similar to theirs.. same style punches, same attacking tools / take downs, which would give them a major disadvantage when pitted against an unknown, who doesnt use their style..... smae with recognising fight patters in an opponent - most of the time you train against people from your style and so notice the subtlties of your style's techniques and patterns, yet looking at a different / untrained style things may be completely different.

Guess saying what everone else is say - never assume, never underestimate - only go on what you know.

[y2_sub]

I think striking the opponent first will solve the problem,in the case were you can't avoid him , strike first , this way you won't wonder weither his trained or not cause he's allready knocked down .. lol