Fight Or Flight?

[pdbnb]

Even though I have some years' experience in martial arts, I always tend to avoid fights. Even when I was an actual MAer as a kid, I was wimpy and tended to stray away from fights - especially those involving people bigger than myself. That is still true today. If I see some bloke arguing with a girl and getting really harsh with her, I will step in, no matter the guy's size (they're usually drunk anyway). But other than that, I will still go for flight over fight whenever I can. I would not win in a punch-up (I'm 140lbs for f's sake!) but I could probably do some damage with what little I remember of Shorinji Kempo, plus my coward's instinct to block block block dodge dodge dodge (I'm pretty quick, which you have to be as a small guy). However, I prefer to not get hurt if I can help it.

However, I've noticed a large segment of people who seem to think MAs are for kicking butt, period, and worthless if faced as a sport/fitness programme/after school activity. Now, this may just be the gung-ho minority (there's always one), but I thought I'd ask you guys:

Do you think an MAer should go in all guns blazing whenever they see a situation where their MA knowledge should be applied (say, a case of bullying, a direct challenge, etc?) Or should they avoid confrontation whenever possible? Or maybe they should balance the two?

In short, fight or flight? What do you guys choose?

[kensei]

it depends on the situation for sure. If its a guy vs a girl I have stepped in and felt that it was warrented, if someone is getting "picked on" then I probably would step in, but if two guys are just going to bust each other up...its their choice and I have noted over the many years of training that its not worth changing peoples intent on beating the living stuffing out of each other and putting your life at risk for some guy that is to stumped to actually pick a good path in life.....Darwinian thinking I guess!

Being a Martial artist does not make me a police officer nor do I feel it is neccessary to assist them in their job...unless warrented. I am not here to make your life safe over my family and my well being, but I will help if I see it is warrented.

[pdbnb]

Kensei, what if the target is you? I.e. what if some drunken lout wants a fight? Do you give it to them, or walk away from it?

[kensei]

Kensei, what if the target is you? I.e. what if some drunken lout wants a fight? Do you give it to them, or walk away from it?

again, to many variables. First off I dont drink and I am an old bugger so I dont frequent the bars at all. Back in the day however when I did if a bar fight broke out and I was somehow roped into it my mentality was "Better judged by 12...than carried by 6"...being the smallest guy in the fight most of the time I would use fast strikes to soft spots to put the guy down and finish them as fast as I could...then get the heck out of their.

When I bounced (hah, weird eh!) I would think pretty much the same way but we had a great team so you were never alone.

If it were to happen now were someone wanted my wallet or was going to mug me I would like to think I would just hand it over and walk on...but the truth is I have a Russian mom and a Welsh dad...meaning I have a bad temper and like a good brush up...so I would probably giver a go!

The truth is my intellegence says you dont have to fight anymore. I am older and I have earned my rest...but the youth in me says "have fun". I am a bad model for pacifist of the year to be frank and even when I tell my students not to fight....I have this wicked streak in me that just comes out at the worst times.

[sensei8]

It is said that we must choose our "fights"! I wholeheartedly concur with that because actions based off ones sleeve can be harmful in many ways.

I'll fight if I've no choice and I'm being forced into that, but, I'll flight rather than engage if I have a choice. Flight, imho, should be what we do first until the situation warrants my involvement.

I can dial 911 faster than grease lighting because that's what the LEO's are there for; to protect and serve. Having said that, I WILL engage if I perceive that I must do so in order to save someone and/or myself until the LEO's arrive on scene.

Nonetheless, I can't do much against a gun, so, flight is right for me because I'm of no help to anyone dead. However, what the principal did during the Newton, CT shooting is what I pray that I would do as well if I'm ever in that situation; one won't know until that moment.

[MasterPain]

As a 5'7" fat guy, I'm not outrunning much of anyone. They can either let me walk away or I will crush them, see them driven before me and hear the lamentations of their women.

[sensei8]

As a 5'7" fat guy, I'm not outrunning much of anyone. They can either let me walk away or I will crush them, see them driven before me and hear the lamentations of their women.

Sometimes you make me laugh and sometimes you make me say...."Hhhhmmmmm", but it's all good MP...it's all good!!

[pdbnb]

I'm the opposite of MasterPain...5ft8, 140lbs, scrawny li'l bugger. Most people don't fight me because they don't realise they could knock my lights out with one punch. They probably think I'm tough enough not to be worth the risk (fortunately for me, since I've never been KO'd).

In fact, I'm apparently intimidating (?????) to men at clubs - when they're trying to chat up my female friends and I give them the evil eye, they never come close

With that said, I'd never be stupid enough to face off someone with a gun, and every time I got mugged, I had no chance - once I was grabbed from behind, and the second time it was two guys, both taller than me and one built like a bouncer, so I thought 'hell no!'

[Zaine]

Speaking as someone who is physically fit and 6ft tall I run if I can. The truth is that there are too many variables in a street fight and you just aren't going to consider all of them in the heat of the moment. If I can, I run. I generally assume that in a street fight the opponent is going for my life, or at least as no qualms in ending it and I personally like my life. That was a imperative taught to me by my sensei. Run if you can, fight until you can run if you can't. Martial Arts is a way to defend yourself and I only ever want to use it if I absolutely have to. Otherwise, running is a good way of defending myself.

[sensei8]

I'm the opposite of MasterPain...5ft8, 140lbs, scrawny li'l bugger. Most people don't fight me because they don't realise they could knock my lights out with one punch. They probably think I'm tough enough not to be worth the risk (fortunately for me, since I've never been KO'd).

In fact, I'm apparently intimidating (?????) to men at clubs - when they're trying to chat up my female friends and I give them the evil eye, they never come close

With that said, I'd never be stupid enough to face off someone with a gun, and every time I got mugged, I had no chance - once I was grabbed from behind, and the second time it was two guys, both taller than me and one built like a bouncer, so I thought 'hell no!'

I hear what you're saying. It's how you carry yourself; not looking like a victim...act like a victim, one will more than likely become a victim.