Is this Right ro Wrong for a street fight?

[blackxpress]

What Sohan said. Personally, I would rather not be the one to throw the first strike in most cases. Most of the self defense moves I know are designed to work as reactions to a strike. They take the aggressor's momentum and use it against him.

[alsey]

striking first gives you advantage. often, especially if the fighters are inexperienced, once that first strike advantage is gained, its very difficult for the other guy to overcome it.

[Eric_]

If someone points a weapon at me, they have already made the first strike. If someone raises their fist at me, they have already made the first strike. If I am cornered by two thugs who intend me harm, then they have already committed assault according to the law, so they have already made the first strike.

No, they haven't.

STRIKE:

1. to deal a blow or stroke to (a person or thing), as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; hit.

2. to inflict, deliver, or deal (a blow, stroke, attack, etc.).

3. to drive so as to cause impact: to strike the hands together.

A quote (I wish I could remember who said it) is brought to mind.

"Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose."

If I raise a fist to you, it is only a crime if I intended the gesture as either a threat, or if I intended to actually hit you. It would come down to me proving that I did not intend threatened or actual harm, and you proving that you believed me to pose a danger. It would be a matter of the specific circumstances, and, as you said, witnesses. Ether way, the charge that would most likely result would be disorderly conduct (for both of us), and I would take a trial by a jury of my peers for disorderly conduct long before I would take my chances fighting someone who has already broken my nose.

There are three steps to surviving violent confrontation:

1. Physical

2. Legal

3. Emotional/Mental

Worry about the first one first. Without it, the other two are meaningless. It doesn't matter what a court decides if you aren't around for the decision. Of course you won't be given the benefit of the doubt, no one is. If you let him swing first and he breaks your jaw, you won't have to worry about being charged with any crime, but is it worht it?

P.S.

I have great faith in people's ability to not necessarily always recognize the truth (lies can be very convincing), but to understand that the spirit of the law always takes precedent over the letter. This is why we have juries, not computers.

[granmasterchen]

there are now many legal ramifications based on self defense and it has been shown that today it is very hard for martial artists to be protected by this legal issue. If you are in a fight, you can get away with self defense usually, but if you break a bone....then you are looking at a felonious assault and some serious remifications. The major key to self defense is that you better hope that you have control and can end a fight without seriously harming your attacker! The courts view a martial artist as a professional that has the control to do manipulation or joint locks to end a fight with out harm they dont realize how the circumstances of a real fight are to a person not accustomed to the fight scene. They dont take into effect reaction time, repetition of techniques in the dojo, instictive strikes and adrenaline rushes. They expect you to end the fight calmly and peacefully......be prepared if you are going around looking for fights. It is just like the great masters say, it is best NOT to fight in all situations.....something to think about.

[Sohan]

If someone points a weapon at me, they have already made the first strike. If someone raises their fist at me, they have already made the first strike. If I am cornered by two thugs who intend me harm, then they have already committed assault according to the law, so they have already made the first strike.

No, they haven't.

STRIKE:

1. to deal a blow or stroke to (a person or thing), as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; hit.

2. to inflict, deliver, or deal (a blow, stroke, attack, etc.).

3. to drive so as to cause impact: to strike the hands together.

A quote (I wish I could remember who said it) is brought to mind.

"Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose."

If I raise a fist to you, it is only a crime if I intended the gesture as either a threat, or if I intended to actually hit you. It would come down to me proving that I did not intend threatened or actual harm, and you proving that you believed me to pose a danger. It would be a matter of the specific circumstances, and, as you said, witnesses. Ether way, the charge that would most likely result would be disorderly conduct (for both of us), and I would take a trial by a jury of my peers for disorderly conduct long before I would take my chances fighting someone who has already broken my nose.

There are three steps to surviving violent confrontation:

1. Physical

2. Legal

3. Emotional/Mental

Worry about the first one first. Without it, the other two are meaningless. It doesn't matter what a court decides if you aren't around for the decision. Of course you won't be given the benefit of the doubt, no one is. If you let him swing first and he breaks your jaw, you won't have to worry about being charged with any crime, but is it worht it?

P.S.

I have great faith in people's ability to not necessarily always recognize the truth (lies can be very convincing), but to understand that the spirit of the law always takes precedent over the letter. This is why we have juries, not computers.

If you point a weapon at someone, raise your fist as if you are going to strike someone, or make your intentions otherwise known that you are going to do harm to someone, you have committed ASSAULT.

Assault is considered a first strike and is an action that can be justifiable by the use of deadly force to defend against it in many states, including my state of Georgia.

Next time, please research the law first before you tell people that they're wrong.

With respect,

Sohan

[alsey]

all the fights i've been in were situations in which the law was never going to get involved. but yeah, defending yourself can be pretty dangerous legally.

[cross]

In my opinion, yes, the first well landed blow will determine the outcome.

If an agressive person comes towards me, I will try to maintain enough distance where he cannot hit me without having to move forward thereby giving me enough time to react. If a fight is unavoidable, I will hit first.

I agree. I think the most important word pineapple used was 'distance'. If you dont control the distance, and you allow the attacker to get to close, then the first person to strike will definetly have an advantage. If however, you control the distance with a suitable defensive posture, you have the advantage because you give yourself enough distance to react to your opponent and your in control, without them even knowing.

[Anbu Alex]

it depends on the person it you ever seen ghetto ppl fight (it you wnt to call it that) most of us here due to our training can take the hit and laugh it off but lets say a boxer i wouldnt let the get the first hit but i perfer the person to punch first, but i hit first