Would like opinions on this fighting strategy

[Mik_36]

Hi Karlinhos,

I'm from Newark. I'm from a working class nieghbourhood that is definately above skid row but still has problems with gangs, drugs etc. The good news is that most trouble makers there don't know any martial arts. The bad news is that it often doesn't matter because they also aren't smart enough to realize that it probably isn't worth while to spend the next 20 years in prison for blowing someone's head off for their Nike shoes.

I'm exaggerating a little, you just have to keep to your own and stay out of certain places and most of the time you'll be o.k, if your careful. So it's not THAT bad.

I don't know if we've ever had COPS here, not that I know of in Newark, for sure not in my nieghbourhood I don't think. I think they mostly stay to the bigger cities, but I only watch occasionally so I'm not sure on that.

Good luck, C ya

[judo guy]

Mik,

So you are a Jersey guy. I grew up on the Jersey Shore. Lived in Harrison for a couple of years while I was taking the PATH train into Wall Street. That was in the early 80's.

Last time I was in Newark it looked like a warzone. The city had rats the size of cats and dogs. Have they cleaned it up?

[Mik_36]

I'll be blunt, NO.

[Ryu (non-working password]

Well it sounds reasonable, but most of the replies are based on the old "put up your dukes" scenario...

Streetfights don't usually start like that. Usually you don't have time to look at the stance or anything. A guy sucker punches you, and you're on the ground, or tackled from behind, etc.
Sounds good for competition...but in a fight. I am reluctant to think you have more than a second to know what your opponent's stance is.
But there's exceptions of course.


Ryu

[Ronin]

I would never take a guy to the ground for two reasons:

1) I suck at takedowns. Bad.

2) You never know what may happen when you hit the ground. Maybe he pulls a knife. Maybe his accomplices appear and kick you into a coma (see Enson Inoue).

I would stay on my feet if at all possible, then if taken down I would utilize my minimal jiu-jitsu knowledge. Even if I was better at groundfighting I think my strategy would remain the same. I just think standing-up offers more alternatives, such as running away.

BTW, if I was better at takedowns, I would try to throw the guy and remain up, then kick him or run, rather than do a MMA-style sacrifice throw.

[Mik_36]

Hi,

Yes definitely the "put up your dukes" scenario does not happen the majority of the time on the streets. And I am going to continue train for the other sudden attack scenarios, but for right now my training partner and I are training for the scenario of "your at a party or bar, and for one of many reasons, out of your control, you have to step outside to fight with ONE guy”. Your friends are there so you know it will be one on one, and you don't have to worry about getting stomped to death or anything.

Definitely, this probably is a relatively rare scenario on the street, but it is the one I'm training for right now, but your right everyone should definitely prepare themselves for the other scenarios.

I think your right Ronin, if your not relatively sure it will be "one on one", with out weapons, you want to stay off the ground for sure, if not turn around and run right off the bat, if at all possible and feasible.

Addressing a previous post someone put up, that you should work mostly and use mostly (if not always) grappling. I don't think anyone will argue that grappling is and can be EXTREMELY effective but I've seen WAY to many successful strikers to dismiss the effectiveness of striking. I think if your like me and your equally skilled with both, there is a place for both striking and grappling, I'm sure most here will agree with me on that, that's pretty obvious by the success of both strikers and grapplers in NHB, right? But if you are a champion wrestler then yes you will mostly use grappling, or vice versa for a champion kick boxer.

However, my fellow Jersey native, Judo Guy, is probably very correct in saying that you decrease your legal liability in a fight if your grapple rather than strike, depending on the situation. What I'm saying is just because you have a guy in say an arm bar does not mean that he will tap and the fight will be over, like in a competition. Sure many guys will be embarrassed and not fight anymore, but many will just get up and the fight will be on again, so you may have to break your opponent’s arm to end the fight. If not your risking yourself further, only to get him in another submission, to have him get up again, and over and over and over (i.e. something must end the fight, and with some people they only understand pain or broken bones).

Good luck, see ya

[Ronin]

Mik:

For a strict one-on-one fight I would only take the guy down if he was beating my ass, or I thought he could beat my ass standing. For instance, if one of my buddies told me, "Dude! That guy used to spar with Mike Tyson and knocked him down once!"

Then I would try to take him down and tap him as fast as I could.

If the guy has a good jab, he is probably a good boxer/striker. Most punks don't jab.

[Patterson]

Your going to make him tap in the street? lol

[Ronin]

Patty:

If there was a crowd standing around, and he verbally submitted to a choke or armlock, I would probably let it go rather than break his arm, or choke him out, yes. I wouldn't give up the position right away though.

There ARE legal ramifications to consider.

Mik made the scenario, not me. With no crowd I would probably finish the hold and walk away.

[edro]

7532148960

[Mako]

Good Thread!

I think that either sizing up the stance, or going straight into an offensive mode, suited to your strong suite, is the best strategy (IMHO).
I can't imagine Vanderlei Silva wondering "hmm, maybe I should shoot in on this guy." Or Royce thinking "wow, he's short, maybe we should box."

If you do EITHER with exceptional skill, use it.


Also, I have to agree with JG... I'm 30, have a wife and 2 kids, house in the burbs.. what could POSSIBLY cause me to risk that in a fight? Pluse, i've noticed 2 common causes in almost EVERY fight story i've heard:

Alcohol (especially in the bar scene)

Girlfriends

If you want to decrease your odds of fightin 100 fold, stay out of bars! LOL!

[Ronin]

And women.