Say we were at a bar, a bar with questionable character and full of equally questionable characters. One of these lovely patrons takes exception to the fact you exist, and he and his buddies start to sidle up to where we were previously happily whiling away our evening. Just some average guys out for a nice nights eye blacking. There’s no chance at talking our way out of it, and there’s no weapons close at hand other than perhaps a beer bottle. No matter what, it’s going down.
How good of a fight would you be able to put up? Down with the first punch? Holding your own? Cleaning house like Chuck Norris? How would you describe your ability to defend yourself with your hands?
Trained and competed in NHB-type mixed martial arts for a number of years. Worked a lot using various weapons, manufacturing weapons, and against multiple opponents.
Of course, if at all possible, I would hope not to find myself in the questionable bar full of questionable characters in the first place. And if I were there and things started to turn ugly, I would make every effort possible to get outta Dodge w/o fighting.
Outnumbered? I’d probably just shoot one of them. I’m sure the rest would lose their enthusiasm for the enterprise at that point. In a situation like that, especially with the assailants most likely drinking, it’d be too easy to get killed. Fists and feet can be (and have been) lethal. I don’t see myself getting stomped to death for their weekend recreation.
No gun? Then the first one is getting that beer bottle across his skull. If he dies, then I’ll claim the same defense I would have for using the gun. I don’t fight for fun. I don’t get maimed or killed for fun.
Fairly useful. I’m fairly young, strong and in decent shape, with a long background in amateur wrestling and a short background in kenpo. Which is not to say that I’d get all UFC or ninja-like on people, just that I’m no stranger to roughhousing, grappling, hitting or being hit.
Of course, there are guys all over the place who could beat me or choke me to death, unarmed, in two minutes. And since those people aren’t always easy to spot until it’s to late, my first two options in any fight situation will almost always be diplomacy and retreat, in that order. Unless I’m drunk and have to back up a friend’s play.
There was a time in my life when I would have been quite handy in a fight. That time has passed. Too many years behind a desk and too many times under a surgeon’s knife and this old body would not take much of a punishment.
IMHO, it’s best to just tackle someone and get them on their back. Then, pummel (thanks, pick-up soccer, for the training!). People on their back give up.
I also boxed (when I was much younger) Gold Gloves, so I am well aware (maybe too aware!) of how it feels to be hit in anger.
Combine the willingness to hit someone full-force and the ability to take a shot…I’m no Chuck Norris, but I’d be pretty useful.
3 on 1? I don’t know many people who could take that in real life, assuming all were pretty intent on giving it to you.
Warning…Theory!…It’s my opinion that the majority of people trained in Martial Arts would be pretty useless in the described “bar fight” (I’m not looking at you, Dinsdale). Unless you are experienced in getting hit (hard), and can react very quickly, I would say it’s better to try and tackle and pummel.
If I was out with friends I’m betting I’d be wicked toasted when this all went down. Still, a childhood spent wrestling my brother has made me a decent grappler so I’d be trying to choke the shit out of one of them…whilst getting kidney punched by the rest.
I Teach Hapkido, which is pretty much smart dirty street fighting. Mainly though, I intimidate most people too much to try. I’m 270 and bench well over 400 lbs.
I’m a bit of a berserker - red rimmed tunnel vision and totally irrational. Unfortunately, I’m also not that strong and relatively unskilled, which led to my receiving far more beatings than I ever dished out.
I tend to hang out with a fairly tall and freaky looking dude. Aggressors used to focus on him while I’d get behind them and bring them down.
Nasty, sneaky fighting is the only way I survived.
I’ve never been in a fight and probably with good reason. I’m 5’6" 135 soaking wet (I’m a guy). I wouldn’t be much good honestly, but I’d try. Maybe I’ll get lucky and hit someone with a glass jaw?
