The power of intimidation

[a_ninja]

It sure can be intimidatign the kaiii!!! One time my instructor was telling us to do it and he was demonstrating. he looked into my eyes and i knew he was going to do it but when he yelled it scared the crap out of me and i jumped so bad if i wasnt paying attention i would have fell down

[NightOwl]

I do try to look confident who-ever when i'm sparring but i think it works, i have to much of a cute, young face

I have the same problem.....the cursed baby-face! I don't think I could look tough if I tried. I need some scars on my face, or somehting!

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Ack,same problem! I know some GREAT fighters that hardly look it but the problem is that they can't depend on 'tough looks' to keep people from fighting them (even if they could back themselves up...my problem is that I have the 'baby face' look AND can't back it up all that well lol). That's why it's good to be big if you are a security guard or bouncer...the size factor intimidates the fight out of alot of people! If you had great fighters who were just average looking, then the job would be WAAAY harder...the goal of bouncers, bodyguards, etc. is to firstly be a deterrent.

[baronbvp]

Drunk peacocks don't intimidate me. The ones that freak me out are the calm, silent types with cold evil in their eyes. Dark eyes of death, like sharks. You can tell they are psycho and don't care if you (or they) live or die. Think Dolph Lundgren or Steven Seagal, or worse. I wouldn't fight either one of those guys.

[USCMAAI]

There are many forms of intimidation. When I was a young black belt, I was training with my senei in our dojo, and a group of Marines came in. One fellow in particular was very large (6'6" and probably 280lbs of muscle). They were obviously looking for trouble, and began mouthing off to my sensei. They stated that what they had learned in the Corps, could beat our "chop suey". My sensei informed them that they were probably right and therefore, they had no need to be here and to please leave. Well, the big guy came over to my sensei and stated " you are scared to show us your stuff?" Sensei smiled and said "My friend, you have trained for hand to hand combat, and our system is based on the same principles of speed, and power" At that point he threw a right palm heel strike that stopped an inch from the guys face, followed by a straight punch that stopped an inch from his bladder. The big guys eyes grew very wide at this, and Sensei smiled and asked them to leave....they did very quickly. I myself have used this same tactic when dealing with people looking for trouble. It is very intimidating and very effective.

[nine_weapons]

muscular size is probably the most awesome intimidating factor there is. size and a cold stare.

[USCMAAI]

muscular size is probably the most awesome intimidating factor there is. size and a cold stare.

Nine: I would respectfully disagree with this. I have never been intimidated by the size of an opponent. Maybe it is because I am too stupid to be scared, but I would rather think that my personaliy doesnt lend to being intimidated very well. I would think that the "1000 yard stare" is more intimdating than size. A person (regardless of age,size or sex) who looks as though they are looking trough you can be unnerving. My students accuse me of this all the time during sparring. We call it "total commitment" in our system and infact is what Zanchin (our schools name) means.

[NightOwl]

It really depends for me- after sparring with some bigger guys I don't really have that fear so much anymore...mind, I am the least intimidating looking guy you could find- I'm better off brushing someone off with a smile then giving any icy stares.

[nine_weapons]

muscular size is probably the most awesome intimidating factor there is. size and a cold stare.

Nine: I would respectfully disagree with this. I have never been intimidated by the size of an opponent. Maybe it is because I am too stupid to be scared, but I would rather think that my personaliy doesnt lend to being intimidated very well. I would think that the "1000 yard stare" is more intimdating than size. A person (regardless of age,size or sex) who looks as though they are looking trough you can be unnerving. My students accuse me of this all the time during sparring. We call it "total commitment" in our system and infact is what Zanchin (our schools name) means.

it varies from person to person. on my job, I have ended confrontations before they started merely because of my size. I have even had guys tell me they would whoop me if I wasn't so big. size is a very powerful intimidator.

[bushido_man96]

muscular size is probably the most awesome intimidating factor there is. size and a cold stare.

Nine: I would respectfully disagree with this. I have never been intimidated by the size of an opponent. Maybe it is because I am too stupid to be scared, but I would rather think that my personaliy doesnt lend to being intimidated very well. I would think that the "1000 yard stare" is more intimdating than size. A person (regardless of age,size or sex) who looks as though they are looking trough you can be unnerving. My students accuse me of this all the time during sparring. We call it "total commitment" in our system and infact is what Zanchin (our schools name) means.

it varies from person to person. on my job, I have ended confrontations before they started merely because of my size. I have even had guys tell me they would whoop me if I wasn't so big. size is a very powerful intimidator.

I would have to agree with this as well. There is a reason why night clubs and bars hire great big people to be bouncers and doormen. I know that size doesn't matter to eveyone, but to the general, non-MA practicing public, it can be a factor.

[Existence_is _suffering]

Apparently I'm a very "intense" person, I've been told that that intimidates alot of people.. I also find that being calm (especially in the pre-fight stage where you may have someone screaming all kinds of things in your face) Can diffuse the situation...