Which Is More Vital?

[sensei8]

Edit: This topic was meant to be a poll. I couldn't remember how to make it so, until Patrick re-educated me on how to do make a poll. Please feel free to pick your poll choice, even though you might have already posted already your opinions. Thank you for your understanding!

Edited November 29, 2010 by sensei8

[BDPulver]

good one. that is gonna take me a bit to comtemplate.

[Nevinyrral]

I'd take the first option. If the oponent falls on the ground I can step back wait for him to get up and make him fall again. Or just kick while hes down, or if he's strong I can run.

[Jeffrey]

I'd take the first option. If the oponent falls on the ground I can step back wait for him to get up and make him fall again. Or just kick while hes down, or if he's strong I can run.

Likewise. Once down I can always run. It is my best technique.

[sperki]

That question requires a bit more thought for me...I'm going with the techniques of bringing somebody down; if I can't get to that point in the first place I'm in trouble. And like Jeffrey said - from there I can run.

[evergrey]

Well, if you're out on the street... does the after technique include calling 911? Or putting the person in an arm-bar and putting them under citizen's arrest? Because we all know better than to start a fight here, right? ;}

[KarateGeorge]

The technique(s) that bring the opponent down are important to extracting yourself safely from an encounter, but the one(s) that happen immediately after you've felled an opponent are what really determines your own character.

[DWx]

The one's that bring them down. You don't even get the second option until after you've felled them; no matter whether that "technique" is running away or kicking them in the kidneys.

Its also more important in the sense that how you bring them down will determine what its available to you immediately afterwards. If you are going to run, you have to bring them down in such a way that you have a head start and time to make your getaway. If you're planning on incapacitating them, you need to remain in a position of control and how they land will determine what you can do next.

You could argue that in some ways how you fell them is as much of a test of character as what you do after you've brought them down. If you knock them out and then just let them fall face first onto the concrete, that's not so good.

[sperki]

KarateGeorge, I like the comment about character. It got me thinking a bit deeper about the situation. There are a lot of "ifs" to be contemplated...are there multiple attackers? How far away is additional help? What condition am I in at that point? Weapons? If I run, where is the safe zone? The list goes on, but it's interesting to play out various scenarios in my head.

[JiuJitsuNation]

I totally read into this question differently Sensei8. To me the felled opponent doesn't necessarily mean downed. To me I read a finished opponent and the techniques after may be referring to your own understanding of the law and should you be calling for help (police or ambulance). Taking someone down and finishing them or standing and finishing them are generally easy tasks. Being as most confrontations are unarmed and not reported. Pitbulls get the most media attention as they do the most damage when they do decide to bite. But Cocker spaniels bite more people every year than any other breed of dog, they just aren't exciting or dramatic to read about. Just like the most horrific stories make the media and tend to be the what ifs everyone focuses on. I'm a realist and realistically the vast majority of confrontations are unarmed and over ego and easily disposed of if you have been training realistically. And yes this includes having common sense enough to ignore the ignorant.