School fights

[Jiffy]

This is a topic I was talking about in class on Friday.

In Self Defence, the only objective is to defend yourself. If you then continue once the threat has been stopped, you are now the agressor.

Not only will you have gone too far, but you will no longer be using Martial Arts.

[Syphax]

This is a topic I was talking about in class on Friday.

In Self Defence, the only objective is to defend yourself. If you then continue once the threat has been stopped, you are now the agressor.

Not only will you have gone too far, but you will no longer be using Martial Arts.

Good outlook.

[bushido_man96]

This is a topic I was talking about in class on Friday.

In Self Defence, the only objective is to defend yourself. If you then continue once the threat has been stopped, you are now the agressor.

Not only will you have gone too far, but you will no longer be using Martial Arts.

Good outlook.

This is a nice approach, but I only have one issue with it. When you use the terminology "self defense," it seems to insinuate that you cannot go on the offensive. When people think this, and think that it is possible to block everything that comes at you, and then just wrap them up and hold them down until help arrives, it leads to misconceptions. It is important to know that you may still have to be offensive to neutralize the threat.

[Syphax]

Use only what counter attacks you must.

[bushido_man96]

Use only what counter attacks you must.

This kind of relates to the points that I made earlier. When I teach self-defense, I don't advocate the "sit and wait" approach of making sure the opponent takes the first swing. One reason for this is the fact that not everyone has the fast reactions to properly counter before getting hit. Another reason is that counter attacking, which in most cases is taught as "block and counter," usually only assumes that one attack is coming.

I am a big advocate of the pre-emptive strike. Now, that doesn't mean I like to initiate a confrontation, but if someone is being threatening towards me, then why should I wait for them to take their best shot?

[Shui Tora]

Looking at distance of the attacker....

this happened to me when i was in high-school;

A kid was walking towards me in the corridor at break (i was going to get some food, and he was going outside) and the kid decided to bang shoulders against me (insinuating he wanted to fight... lucky me didn't have my bag with me!) so i spun around facing him with me hands by me side (i've always concluded that having your fists showing makes you the aggressor) and the distacne between us was round 6foot... He looked at me, then he closed the distance... I stood my ground and he came up to with about an arm's length between us... He rose his fist, and swung at me (roundhouse punch) I defended it with hiwan-uke and put him into a wrist look... After that the bell rang and i just walked off....

The idea being that if the kid maintained his distance from 6foot, then i would've just left it as it was, but seeing that he closed the distance, confirmed that he wasn't going to just talk....

Distance is the thing with fights... The greater distance, the less chance of a fight....

However, I could be wrong... It doesn't always work out like that...

[Sohan]

I am a big advocate of the pre-emptive strike. Now, that doesn't mean I like to initiate a confrontation, but if someone is being threatening towards me, then why should I wait for them to take their best shot?

Depends on the laws of your state. Some states permit deadly force in response to a perceived danger to life or property, before any blows are thrown by the attacker. In any case the responsibility may end up being yours to prove that you acted prudently.

I personally would prefer to gauge the situation on my own and strike when I determine the line has crossed, but in this litigious world, as martial artists we will always be held to a higher standard regardless of how justified we think we may be.

With respect,

Sohan

[cathal]

Looking at distance of the attacker....

this happened to me when i was in high-school;

A kid was walking towards me in the corridor at break (i was going to get some food, and he was going outside) and the kid decided to bang shoulders against me (insinuating he wanted to fight... lucky me didn't have my bag with me!) so i spun around facing him with me hands by me side (i've always concluded that having your fists showing makes you the aggressor) and the distacne between us was round 6foot... He looked at me, then he closed the distance... I stood my ground and he came up to with about an arm's length between us... He rose his fist, and swung at me (roundhouse punch) I defended it with hiwan-uke and put him into a wrist look... After that the bell rang and i just walked off....

The idea being that if the kid maintained his distance from 6foot, then i would've just left it as it was, but seeing that he closed the distance, confirmed that he wasn't going to just talk....

Distance is the thing with fights... The greater distance, the less chance of a fight....

However, I could be wrong... It doesn't always work out like that...

Distance is a factor I agree. If they close the distance, getting into your personal space - and are behaving agressively - well there you have it. You can defend yourself. If you feel threatened you are allowed to defend yourself afterall. It's just how far you go I think.

[bushido_man96]

Looking at distance of the attacker....

this happened to me when i was in high-school;

A kid was walking towards me in the corridor at break (i was going to get some food, and he was going outside) and the kid decided to bang shoulders against me (insinuating he wanted to fight... lucky me didn't have my bag with me!) so i spun around facing him with me hands by me side (i've always concluded that having your fists showing makes you the aggressor) and the distacne between us was round 6foot... He looked at me, then he closed the distance... I stood my ground and he came up to with about an arm's length between us... He rose his fist, and swung at me (roundhouse punch) I defended it with hiwan-uke and put him into a wrist look... After that the bell rang and i just walked off....

The idea being that if the kid maintained his distance from 6foot, then i would've just left it as it was, but seeing that he closed the distance, confirmed that he wasn't going to just talk....

Distance is the thing with fights... The greater distance, the less chance of a fight....

However, I could be wrong... It doesn't always work out like that...

Distance is a factor I agree. If they close the distance, getting into your personal space - and are behaving agressively - well there you have it. You can defend yourself. If you feel threatened you are allowed to defend yourself afterall. It's just how far you go I think.

This is a good statement. I agree that invading personal space is a definite sign of impending confrontation (unless it is your significant other ).

[bushido_man96]

I am a big advocate of the pre-emptive strike. Now, that doesn't mean I like to initiate a confrontation, but if someone is being threatening towards me, then why should I wait for them to take their best shot?

Depends on the laws of your state. Some states permit deadly force in response to a perceived danger to life or property, before any blows are thrown by the attacker. In any case the responsibility may end up being yours to prove that you acted prudently.

I personally would prefer to gauge the situation on my own and strike when I determine the line has crossed, but in this litigious world, as martial artists we will always be held to a higher standard regardless of how justified we think we may be.

With respect,

Sohan

Yeah, that is a good point, Sohan. Being able to guage the situation well enough to garner the action is very important, especially if you end up in court over it.