"Lying" for Protection?

[Tiger1962]

In a self-defense situation, I would prefer that the opponent did not know I practiced martial arts so I can benefit from the element of surprise. Also, the person is less likely to take extra precautions, such as bringing a weapon or extra friends for back-up.

More or less, the tactic gives the opponent a false sense of security.

Yes, I think that's exactly true too !

[unknownstyle]

i have once to avoid fighting a guy at a party, one of my friends was telling the guy i was a blackbelt and he was like than lets fight. so to keep myself out of it i told him to fight me he would first have to fight my friend who is also my student(my friend is very big and is intimidating) and at that point he said nevermind.

[Tiger1962]

i have once to avoid fighting a guy at a party, one of my friends was telling the guy i was a blackbelt and he was like than lets fight. so to keep myself out of it i told him to fight me he would first have to fight my friend who is also my student(my friend is very big and is intimidating) and at that point he said nevermind.

LOL - smart move !

[FitOrDie]

Sounds more like insecurity to me. Trying to sound like something you're not.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big believer in deception of any sort if necessary. But this sounds like paranoia at best. So my friend tells a bullt that my super-secret weakness is do this when I move this way... and then we will kung-fu fight with five ninjas or a gang of bullies who each attack my Achilles' heel? No, I'm not buying it.

Besides, trying to project an image like that is almost always seen through in no time, and then becomes a challenge to anyone with a chip on their shoulder or something to prove.