Do We Possess Any Resolve?!? (Rewrite)

[sensei8]

As a martial artist, particularly in a fight, we have two outcomes—win or lose—survive or fail?!? Fight or flight?!? I do not ridicule what decision(s) one might make when their faced with an attacker who’s filled with a such a resolve that hell itself will not quench its appetite for destruction. One does what one believes to be the best for them—I will too—you will too.

Whatever resolve is within you at that very moment, I pray that it’ll aide you to a certain victory. 

I do pray that at that certain moment that my resolve is that of Jerusalem with a no-quit attitude and that after the dust settles, I’ll still be standing.

Do we martial artists have resolve within us, especially whenever we’re faced with an overwhelming challenge, whatever that challenge might be?!?

Edited August 6 by sensei8

[KarateKen]

On 7/31/2025 at 2:50 AM, sensei8 said:

As a martial artist, particularly in a fight, we have two outcomes—win or lose—survive or fail?!? Fight or flight?!? I do not ridicule what decision(s) one might make when their faced with an attacker who’s filled with a such a resolve that hell itself will not quench its appetite for destruction. One does what one believes to be the best for them—I will too—you will too.

Whatever resolve is within you at that very moment, I pray that it’ll aide you to a certain victory. 

I do pray that at that certain moment that my resolve is that of Jerusalem with a no-quit attitude and that after the dust settles, I’ll still be standing.

Do we martial artists have resolve within us, especially whenever we’re faced with an overwhelming challenge, whatever that challenge might be?!?

My first thought is to always consider violence the last form of action to resolve any issue.  When we are training, we are in a controlled environment.  Same when we are in a tournament.  There are refs, rules, other people, ect.  Even a UFC fighter or boxer studies their opposition before getting into the ring with them.  On the street we do not have any idea who we are dealing with.  The person could be high, drunk, mentally ill, armed, and so on.  There are endless possibilities of how things can turn out once violence takes place. We do not know who we are dealing with, and it is not a controlled environment, making it far riskier than what we do in class.  Some claim that MMA is the closest that MA has ever created to a true street altercation.  I don't know if that is true or not, but even if it is, it is nothing like a street altercation at all.  What victory means in the ring and what it means on the street can be very different.  

[Nidan Melbourne]

16 hours ago, KarateKen said:

We do not know who we are dealing with, and it is not a controlled environment, making it far riskier than what we do in class

When we are on the street and dealing with all types of violence; even if we aren't paying attention to it or looking for it. 

For instance; I was taught that I can relax but be paying attention to whats going on around me. From the people sitting in my immediate area to the people that could be impacted from an accident in my immediate area. I'm not looking around like a crazy person, but I have that awareness. 

Why? when I pay attention, I can listen to how people are talking and if there is a shift I can be ready for things to explode. 

So if I did have to get involved; I have a better sense of control of where its coming from and what the threat is. 

This also falls down to simply observing what gets served to the tables around you and what doesn't. So are they getting lots of alcohol and nearly no water or food? 

Like I rarely drink these days, and if I do its literally 1 or 2 drinks. So when I am like this, I feel a whole lot safer than not listening to whats going on. 

 

16 hours ago, KarateKen said:

The person could be high, drunk, mentally ill, armed, and so on

Any of those change how you interact with them, especially if they are armed! 

Do I tend to opt to hit them? No

Do I listen to them and treat them kindly? Yes 

Do I treat them like a child if they are like that? Yes

Sometimes I ask them "Hey, I'm starving where should i go to get some good food?" if their homeless I don't ask it. Otherwise if their drunk or high they get ridirected very easily. 

 

16 hours ago, KarateKen said:

What victory means in the ring and what it means on the street can be very different.  

I agree, because in the Ring its Knockout or Be Knocked Out or Lose by points. 

In the streets its Live or Die. 

I think its well known here that I dislike Violence a lot, and I try to redirect it as much as possible. But if I do have to fight i will, yet will use every tool in my box to survive and not have to hit someone.