Hello everyone and welcome to the intro guide to my 3 part series. Recently I have seen some threads/posts about fighting, and there seems to be a fair amount of confusion regarding what fighting is, how it should be done, and effective methods used in fighting.
To start, I will tell you a bit about myself and the experience I have had with fighting. In high school, I was a very aggressive kid. I would get into a lot of fights, often times for miniscule reasons. I was a state placing wrestler, and I used that often times in the fights I would land in. During and after my senior year of high school, I matured a bit, and calmed down, and stopped looking for fights. I began to take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (many of you may have seen my BJJ guide). From there I began to take boxing, as well as traveling to Thailand for several months to learn Muay thai kickboxing. I enjoy participating in MMA competition, and am currently 6-1 in sanctioned fights. I am also an instructor for US army combatives, and am proficient in them. Enough about me though, you all want to know more about fighting!
Me in thailand
Fighting Defined
First of all, what is fighting? The best definition I could find in the dictionary was this, “to engage in battle or in single combat; attempt to defend oneself against or to subdue, defeat, or destroy an adversary.” Obviously in different contexts, a fight can mean different things (an argument, a battle, etc), but throughout this guide we will use the definition in the context of physical confrontation between two or more persons.
In the realm of fighting, there are various levels, or types of fighting. The two main categories I would divide this into are sport fighting, and, for lack of a better word, “street fighting”. Sport fighting involves any combat between two opponents who participate in such a way that they playing it for sport, without the intention of fatal injury or harm. Street fighting, on the other hand, is combat with the intention of physically harming your opponent for whatever reason. While sport fighting is relatively easy to categorize (MMA would be the culmination of sport fighting, as it is an authentic fight between two persons, with limited rules, see this for reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNPcW9bG4D4 ), and is the area where I have most experience in, street fighting should be divided into two categories; minor and major.
An example of sport fighting; MMA
Minor Fighting
Minor fighting would be categorized as a brawl between two people with the intention of proving something. Various examples of this could include a high school type of fight over a girl, or maybe a bar fight in which two drunks started arguing about a sports team. An example of this type of fighting can be seen here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8T0km1dyNE
As you can see, no type of lethal force was used. Some trash talking occurred, and after a few seconds of fighting, the issue was over.
In any event, minor fighting will typically arise over small issues, and end rather easily (one person gets hits, and the fight ends). Typically with minor fighting, the issue at hand is pride. Once the two persons have fought and one person was victorious, the need for the fight declines. This is the more common of the two types of street fighting.
Major fighting is an entirely different story. This is the type of fighting in which you fight for your life. A meth’ed out druggy comes at you for your wallet as you walk down the sidewalk at night. A soldier finds his weapon jam as he enters a hostile building, only to find an enemy jump at him upon entering. These types of encounters are based not on pride, but on survival. in these instances, the fight will typically not end until one participant is incapacitated, or dead. These types of fights occur much less frequently.
Although it is training, this is how some major fights look. Lethality is the focus.
Conclusion
For the 3 types of fighting listed above, there are various “suitable” ways to go about the fight. In sport fighting, there are always rules that must be followed. In minor fighting, there are unspoken rules (you obviously don’t want to knee someone in the groin, or eye gouge someone over a minor scuffle over a girl). In major fighting, however, there are no rules.
I plan on making this a three part guide, starting with sport fighting, then minor fighting, then major fighting. Each of the guides will include analysis of that specific type of fighting, as well as ways to avoid it, ways to be effective in it, things to remember, and explanations of various techniques/tactics that could be utilized for the situation.
Having had experience in all 3 of the above categories, I present you with this disclaimer: it is always best to avoid the situation. Walk away when that bully talks trash to you. If you are held at gunpoint, give up your wallet. Pride and possessions can be replaced, but your life cannot be. Take the higher road and avoid the situation if possible.
That’s all I have for my introductory guide, feel free to stay tuned for the next guide in the series, which will cover the sport fighting category. Hope you enjoyed!
Introduction
To start, I will tell you a bit about myself and the experience I have had with fighting. In high school, I was a very aggressive kid. I would get into a lot of fights, often times for miniscule reasons. I was a state placing wrestler, and I used that often times in the fights I would land in. During and after my senior year of high school, I matured a bit, and calmed down, and stopped looking for fights. I began to take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (many of you may have seen my BJJ guide). From there I began to take boxing, as well as traveling to Thailand for several months to learn Muay thai kickboxing. I enjoy participating in MMA competition, and am currently 6-1 in sanctioned fights. I am also an instructor for US army combatives, and am proficient in them. Enough about me though, you all want to know more about fighting!
Me in thailand
Fighting Defined
First of all, what is fighting? The best definition I could find in the dictionary was this, “to engage in battle or in single combat; attempt to defend oneself against or to subdue, defeat, or destroy an adversary.” Obviously in different contexts, a fight can mean different things (an argument, a battle, etc), but throughout this guide we will use the definition in the context of physical confrontation between two or more persons.
In the realm of fighting, there are various levels, or types of fighting. The two main categories I would divide this into are sport fighting, and, for lack of a better word, “street fighting”. Sport fighting involves any combat between two opponents who participate in such a way that they playing it for sport, without the intention of fatal injury or harm. Street fighting, on the other hand, is combat with the intention of physically harming your opponent for whatever reason. While sport fighting is relatively easy to categorize (MMA would be the culmination of sport fighting, as it is an authentic fight between two persons, with limited rules, see this for reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNPcW9bG4D4 ), and is the area where I have most experience in, street fighting should be divided into two categories; minor and major.
An example of sport fighting; MMA
Minor Fighting
Minor fighting would be categorized as a brawl between two people with the intention of proving something. Various examples of this could include a high school type of fight over a girl, or maybe a bar fight in which two drunks started arguing about a sports team. An example of this type of fighting can be seen here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8T0km1dyNE
As you can see, no type of lethal force was used. Some trash talking occurred, and after a few seconds of fighting, the issue was over.
In any event, minor fighting will typically arise over small issues, and end rather easily (one person gets hits, and the fight ends). Typically with minor fighting, the issue at hand is pride. Once the two persons have fought and one person was victorious, the need for the fight declines. This is the more common of the two types of street fighting.
An example of how a minor fight begins.
Major Fighting
Major fighting is an entirely different story. This is the type of fighting in which you fight for your life. A meth’ed out druggy comes at you for your wallet as you walk down the sidewalk at night. A soldier finds his weapon jam as he enters a hostile building, only to find an enemy jump at him upon entering. These types of encounters are based not on pride, but on survival. in these instances, the fight will typically not end until one participant is incapacitated, or dead. These types of fights occur much less frequently.
Although it is training, this is how some major fights look. Lethality is the focus.
Conclusion
For the 3 types of fighting listed above, there are various “suitable” ways to go about the fight. In sport fighting, there are always rules that must be followed. In minor fighting, there are unspoken rules (you obviously don’t want to knee someone in the groin, or eye gouge someone over a minor scuffle over a girl). In major fighting, however, there are no rules.
I plan on making this a three part guide, starting with sport fighting, then minor fighting, then major fighting. Each of the guides will include analysis of that specific type of fighting, as well as ways to avoid it, ways to be effective in it, things to remember, and explanations of various techniques/tactics that could be utilized for the situation.
Having had experience in all 3 of the above categories, I present you with this disclaimer: it is always best to avoid the situation. Walk away when that bully talks trash to you. If you are held at gunpoint, give up your wallet. Pride and possessions can be replaced, but your life cannot be. Take the higher road and avoid the situation if possible.
That’s all I have for my introductory guide, feel free to stay tuned for the next guide in the series, which will cover the sport fighting category. Hope you enjoyed!
, 10/10
