Earlier today, I responded to a post having to do with an innocent criticism of Taekwondo sparring. In that response I say that there is no art that is supreme over another. It is more circumstantial than anything else. With my impending Blackbelt test, I’ve been asked questions such as “So do you have to be registered with the police” and “So now you can kick anyone’s ass?” The truth of the matter is martial arts in a street fight as self-defense only helps you so much, and to understand why, here are the 4 most typical types of fights and how we are taught to combat them. This also brings into account very few of the legal ramifications of fighting, but TRUE self-defense considers law.

1) 1 person (unarmed) attacks you - As a person that has studied martial arts, and no it does not matter what color your belt is, you are held to a higher legal precedence. First take no aggressive action unless necessary (if a guy throws a punch and wobbles by you don’t necessarily counter-attack him. Wade away and try to get away, if you are followed and must defend yourself, DO NOT escalate the fight. i.e. - If the attacker throws a punch at you and hits you in the arm, and you kick him in the neck killing him, you have used unnecessary force. You should look around to make sure no other people join the attacker. Remember - as by defending yourself, you true aim is to disable your opponent non-lethally and retreat to the authorities.

2) a group attacks you - Everyones nightmare. In the event of taking on a group attack, attempt to disable one member of the group, generally by forcing them to the ground while you control an arm while standing with a sweep, throw or by circling behind them. You should use movements that allow you to move in a circle. The idea is to maintain 360 degrees of visibility, because you never know if someone is going to come up behind you. Your objective should not be to trounce every combatant like Jet Lee would. This really isn’t as easy as it looks, people you knock down have a tendency to stand back up or trip you from the ground. The last place you want to be in a group fight is on the ground because someone is going to come up and stomp on you.

3) a person with a weapon attacks you - you can not do the following:

• catch a bullet with your teeth
• stop someone from stabbing you by clapping your hands on a blade
• kick a weapon out of someones hands

If attacked with a weapon we are taught to do one thing, divert that weapon from you as if it were fire. Place your hands palm open up in front of you and make small smack/pushing motions on the wrist/forearm of the person holding the weapon to keep them from using it effectively on you. At the same time you should attempt to disable them by strikes to another section of their body as they try and refocus their weapon.

4) multiple people attacking you with weapons - get away if possible, don’t even play with this one. If you even see the chance for this happening leave wear you are carefully. There is not a single strategy good enough to help you from someone swinging a machete at you while a chain is being swung at you as you are being shot. There are many martial arts that practice having multiple attackers come at you with weapons, but those generally happen 1 at a time from different directions than a coordinated attack.

This post isn’t meant to be legal advice and should not be used as it. Laws are different in any state, but use this as a general rule of fact. If you use your martial art knowledge outside of training, or sanctioned competition, be ready to go jail. It is the similar to having a knife or gun concealed on you. You may or may not be using the tool you have legally, but any situation in which you use it will be heavily investigated. There is no better self-defense that not placing yourself in danger in the first place. If confrontation can be avoided please do avoid it.

I will leave you with your thoughts on a story. Someone in a city near me was walking down the street. Someone he didn’t like was across the street and instigated a fight with this individual walking down the street. The person walking down the street crossed the street to “discuss” what the instigator had said. 1 thing lead to another and a fight took place in which the instigator, after drawing a knife was hurt with that knife.  The instigator was sent to jail AS WAS the man walking down the street. It turns out by crossing the street, he legally elevated the situation and was partially at fault for it. Be smart people…defend yourself only when absolutely necessary and if not, look the other way.