How would you attack in a self defence situation?

[GeoGiant]

Heh in one of the tourneys I did last year I saw one of the other countries coaches (from what I could tell) telling his competitor to kick the other guy between the legs "by accident" at the start. He took a warning penalty but that's nothing when the other guy can't really fight anymore. Actually in the same tourney in my 2nd round fight the girl I fought went for the KO right after the ref said go at the start of the second round. Took a yellow card for it but I wasn't really in a position to fight back properly after that and lost the match.

Wow. Number 1 - I ALWAYS wear a cup. It would feel weird to have my gi on without a cup. When I first started karate i saw a guy go down from a kick in the buttons. I bought a cup that day!

The only dirty fighting I ever experienced was a guy in class [he doesn't attend class anymore] sort of head checked me when we got tangled up. No one else saw it but i felt it. I wrote the situation off as an accident until one of the BBs in my class pulled me aside.

[DWx]

He was - its mandatory for the guys to wear them. Probably still a hard enough hit for the guy to be at a disadvantage.

[GeoGiant]

He was - its mandatory for the guys to wear them. Probably still a hard enough hit for the guy to be at a disadvantage.

You probaby don't need this information... but the cup type is important. The old school triangle things can cause problems.

[DWx]

Well yeah but I have seen a guy having the hard plastic type crack in two before from a hit. What can I say.. we spar hard And it wasn't just a bog standard tourny either, everyone did have proper equipment.

[yamesu]

Just to get back onto the self-defence part of the thread...

I think a lot of martial artists tend to uphold respect throughout their day to day lives, which is a good thing - I believe it makes us better and more understanding people all round. I also think that this comes from the fact (when relating to fighting and self defence) that when we spar in class both parties usually have a mutual respect for one another. We need to keep in mind that outside the dojo people do not carry that mutual respect for each other.

If someone is threatening the health and safety of you or your loved ones then go ALL OUT! I mean, its one of the reasons we train right?.....

Osu.

[NINE TAIL FOX]

If I'm involved in a situation where someone is forcing me to defend myself i think I would go for the sucker punch if i can get it.

Thoughts?

I like the way you think. Further to that I like: 'Age and treachery will always beat youth and skill!'

[WolverineGuy]

In a self defense situation, the only fair fight is the one you win.

[ShoriKid]

In a self defense situation, the only fair fight is the one you win.

I've told the guys I train with that it's all fair as long as I'm winning the fight.

[JusticeZero]

If it is self-DEFENSE, do not start with the idea that the best response is to ATTACK. It may be, but that is by no means a foregone conclusion.

[bushido_man96]

If it is self-DEFENSE, do not start with the idea that the best response is to ATTACK. It may be, but that is by no means a foregone conclusion.

This is true. Every situation is different, and each has to be evaluated "on the fly," as it were. I know of a guy who, in the past, got a nasty beating in a fight. The jist of the situation is he waited too long, didn't recognize the threats, and got nailed early, often, and he came out on the raw end of the deal.

Now, just recently, this same guy had a situation pop up that was similar; this time, he didn't wait, as he precieved an imenent threat; he trounced the guy, suddenly, catching him unawares. He didn't get beat down this time; instead, he ended up being arrested and charged with a felony.

I know there is a saying that goes, "its better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6." There is some truth to this, but I'm willing to bet that most of the guys who have claimed this, haven't been run through the judicial system yet.