Action Beats Reaction

[Zorbasan]

them putting there hads up in a fighting position means that they are preparing to make an attack, which to me is the same as them throwing the first strike. if this happens then i will be ready to strike first.

granted, i havent actually had any real combat experience.

[Jiffy]

I agree. I class the fighting posture as an imminant physical threat, they are doing that because they intend to strike. I will attempt to beat them to it.

Having said that, few fights on the street start from a fighting posture.

[MizuRyu]

It depends on your style and level of proficiency in my opinion. I know a family of killing machines that knows only one law "never throw the first punch". I've yet to see a single person who can best even the youngest brother.

[Zorbasan]

what if two of the members of this family had a disagreement?

surely one of them is better than the other.

either they will both stand there looking at eachother, or it will be a never ending string of block/counter.

[Kempohands]

Even if someone puts their hands up in a fighting position, I will not throw a strike.

If they get their hands up and ready, and yours are still down, you're going to have to be really fast to hit them first. Just a thought.

I will not throw a strike, but my hands will be up and ready to do so

[LiERO]

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"

[Traditional-Fist]

"My opponent moves first, but I'm the first to the target."

That is the philosophy of the traditional Wing Chun style/school that I practise as it is in the current kung fu school of which I am a member.

In kung fu, this has got to do with sensitivity and calmness where ones' "listening" abilities allow one to sense and attack and react immediately getting there first. This skill takes a long time to develope, but as far as kung fu is concerned, no one said it would be easy (or quick for that matter).

Having said this, in a scenario when one is in danger of being attacked by multiple opponenents or is facing a particularly large and powerful attacker or someone who may be armed, then of course in my opinion it would be best to strike first.

Traditional-Fist

[Jiffy]

This principle works very well in theory and in the dojo, but I am yet to use it or see it used in the street.

[atalaya]

i had the wonderful opportunity of living in a foreign country and living among the people for a time. for a number of reasons i was a pacifist during this time but that did not mean that i failed to initiate an attack if i percieved a threat. did i strike them? no. i would use body language, distance, jokes, disconnected speech, et cetera to avoid physical confrontation. nowadays i must say that that seems to be the best course. avoid at all cost, even the ego. however, when all else fails, my father always said not to throw the first punch, but the second and third and my mother said to never start a fight but always finish it. advice which has helped to carry me.

[Kempohands]

i had the wonderful opportunity of living in a foreign country and living among the people for a time. for a number of reasons i was a pacifist during this time but that did not mean that i failed to initiate an attack if i percieved a threat. did i strike them? no. i would use body language, distance, jokes, disconnected speech, et cetera to avoid physical confrontation. nowadays i must say that that seems to be the best course. avoid at all cost, even the ego. however, when all else fails, my father always said not to throw the first punch, but the second and third and my mother said to never start a fight but always finish it. advice which has helped to carry me.

absolutly 100% agreed