| Listen up. I know you think you've heard | | | | chance. |
| these before. You've likely had some martial | | | | |
| arts training in the past, and I'm sure you | | | | Number two. Know the feeling of being hit. |
| already know that much of what you learn in a | | | | Most martial artists who have only ever been |
| dojo can't be applied in a real fight. | | | | hit while wearing protective gear, can't |
| | | | anticipate the pain of a direct shot to the |
| It's common knowledge that most street fights | | | | face. Instead, friendly sparring matches are |
| are usually over in 10 seconds or less. | | | | brought to a halt the instant someone gets |
| They're dirty, there are no rules, and you | | | | accidentally hurt in a dojo. Unfortunately in |
| have to expect the unexpected. Even if you've | | | | a street fight, you'd be on the ground at |
| never been in a real fight before, you | | | | that point getting kicked in the ribs and the |
| probably have a gut feeling that fancy | | | | face. Not that there is any suggestion for |
| Jean-Claude Van Damme spin kick might get you | | | | you to go out and let someone break your nose |
| into trouble. You're right. | | | | so you can 'know how it feels'. No. Just be |
| | | | very weary of this principle, as it has |
| Despite the obvious resolution (of not | | | | surprised even the most experienced martial |
| getting involved in a street fight at all), | | | | artist. |
| sometimes you don't have that option, and | | | | |
| you're forced to fight. These are the often | | | | Number three. Your elbows and your knees are |
| overlooked, yet crucially important points | | | | the most lethal weapons you possess when |
| that may allow you to dodge a critical | | | | fighting in close quarters. Often times, |
| injury, or worse. | | | | you're not given the opportunity to punch, or |
| | | | kick, when someone grabs you, or you're |
| Number one. Footwork is key, cover the family | | | | struggling to get a weapon out of their hand. |
| jewels. Laugh if you will, but a kick to the | | | | The human body is engineered is a way that |
| groin is absolutely the fastest, real-life | | | | such a significant amount energy can be |
| way, to take somebody out. Biological | | | | transferred with the right technique, that |
| explanations aside, the human body simply | | | | even the smallest individual can deliver a |
| cannot withstand a targeted blow to that | | | | fatal blow. |
| region. Unlike a school fight or a bar fight | | | | |
| where it wouldn't be 'cool' or acceptable to | | | | There are countless other street fighting |
| kick below the belt, in a street fight, | | | | tips, tricks, and advice out there, but these |
| survival is your first priority. Whether that | | | | are by far the details most martial artists |
| means facing your attacker to the side, or | | | | overlook when they're forced into a street |
| keeping your guard low, it's up to you. This | | | | fight. If you remember these 3 things, you'll |
| isn't an article on fighting technique. Just | | | | have a significant advantage over your |
| protect that region if you want to stand a | | | | opponent. |