| There is a maxim amongst self-defense teachers and | | | | body language, but not every time and not on every |
| trainers that focuses on a known truism in street | | | | person. |
| confrontations: "He who strikes first, wins." | | | | The first thing I had to learn when perfecting my street |
| People who collect statistics and do studies on this | | | | fighting techniques was to unlearn all of the "square off |
| sort of thing have found that in a common | | | | and then toe-to-toe" that I learned in years of martial |
| confrontation on the street, whether the combatants | | | | arts training. In a street fight, you don't get to eyeball |
| are trained and experienced fighters or not, the person | | | | your opponent, move around a little while you gauge |
| who lands the first blow nearly always wins. Most of | | | | his movements, etc. Usually, you've got a fist coming at |
| the time, that is the only hit landed in the whole fight. | | | | you or a pipe aimed for your head and you have to |
| During a news broadcast on the BBC a couple of | | | | react. Period. There is no time to "set yourself" or get |
| years ago, I saw an expose where an investigative | | | | into a fighting stance or mindset. You just have to |
| journalist was interviewing Bobbies and bar security | | | | react. And quickly. |
| people to find out what their experience showed. | | | | In most situations, you will not know that a person is |
| During that, a single thread of thought pervaded the | | | | about to attack you and that the situation is about to |
| anecdotes of every one of the police and bouncers | | | | turn into a street fight until the actual physical attack |
| questioned: most fights don't last very long. When a | | | | comes. To start the physical attack yourself is inviting |
| criminal is resisting arrest, the Bob can usually produce | | | | yourself to arrest and court. |
| a truncheon and the fight is out of the bad guy, often | | | | Two things I always advise my students are: |
| without a blow being landed. At the same time, the | | | | 1) Always be prepared for a fight or an attack. Don't |
| bouncers almost all unanimously stated that once they | | | | wait until the moment comes to begin switching to a |
| grabbed or punched the unruly patron, the fight would | | | | mental mindset for combat. Learn to make the switch |
| be out of him. | | | | automatically, within a split second. |
| This was even true of most of the Irish drunkards. | | | | 2) If the chance to walk away from a situation |
| Then a second line of thought began to emerge: the | | | | presents itself, no matter how humiliating you might |
| problem was when to know that things should go | | | | think it is: take it. Walking away without harm is always |
| beyond words and become physical. | | | | better than fighting and risking getting yourself and |
| That turned a light on in my head. I began this article | | | | others hurt. If it means dropping a few Pounds on the |
| with a common maxim amongst street defense | | | | ground so the criminal will leave you alone, it's a small |
| trainers. There is one fatal flaw in that phrase "He who | | | | price to pay. |
| strikes first, wins." | | | | In most street confrontations, these two things are |
| How do you know when to strike? After all, there are | | | | what will save your life. If it does get physical, the first |
| some pretty serious legal ramifications if you lay | | | | piece of advice will likely save you from serious |
| someone out only to find out that they just wanted to | | | | physical harm. You'll be switched on and ready to |
| know the quickest way to the nearest tube station. To | | | | defend yourself immediately, as the first attack unfolds. |
| those who have never been attacked on the street | | | | It's likely that, if you've got good training, this will result in |
| and who only theorize about it, this probably seems like | | | | a fast block or counter and the whole thing will be |
| a daft question to ask. | | | | over. |
| In reality, however, criminals don't appear to be | | | | Above all, realize that street fighting is not like the |
| criminals until they're committing a criminal act. That | | | | movies. It's not always obvious who the bad guy is until |
| could include asking you for a light and, while you're | | | | he shows himself to be the criminal, usually by |
| fumbling in your pockets, producing a knife and telling | | | | attacking you. Secondly, there is no long dialogue or |
| you to hand over your wallet while your at it. Or | | | | ten minutes of choreographed fight sequence. There is |
| perhaps saying "excuse me," before swinging the | | | | him hitting you and you reacting. |
| hidden blackjack at your head. | | | | The first things I had to learn in order to master street |
| More often than not, people don't really realize they're | | | | fighting were to forget my ego and to forget my |
| being physically attacked until the actual attack is | | | | stylized martial arts training. Those are the first steps |
| taking place. Sure, you can "read the vibes" or see the | | | | towards true self-defense mastery. |