Comments on: What to Do (and Not Do) In A Fistfight

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:55:00 +0000

The best technque is if you are trying to avoid it is get low and try to charge in get your cheek near his bum cheek lift him off the ground and slam him down with your shoulder in his stomach this will wind him and then you have a great chance to run away. Or get a shot to the wind pipe stop there air intake and the wont be able to catch you thats my advise

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Hi, I wa\s in my first ever fight tonight. Me and my friend were in a night club and my friend told this guy who was bothering some girls we were with, to go away, the guy got agressive and headbuted my friend, i stepped in and he swung his rignt fist back to punch but i expected that and blocked in and headlocked him to the ground.
I HAPPENED to be stronger than him so i pinned the pr*ck down and punched him a few times(Close quarter punches that wouldnt really hurt.)
Anyway, his mates came over and pulled me poff him and him away from me, they didnt attack me but broke it up.

The fact is i had the oppertunity to smash his head against the tiles a few times but i didnt because i sensed i had teh better of him and i knew the worst could happen and he could be seriously injured.
Im not particularly strong or anything, i just got lucky and it was broken up quickly, it was my first fight and i was so exhilarated afterwards, i felt sooooo good.
i wish he never go tagressive and just left but he didnt, teh previous comments are right, all that martial arts is useless when you are grappling, all you can do is waitn for it to be broken up in reality, if you arent so sure of a safer setting, biting etc is of course an option, neve rlet yourself be bettered. i leave you with no advice because you dont know when a punch is coming and what will ahppen, but you will realise you arent made of glass, but somethign like a knife can change things for the worst.

good luck and dont get into a fight.

By: yellowhamer

yellowhamer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:17:18 +0000

Indeed – I would not recommend using fists. Not smart. You just wind up with cuts on your knuckles, which you then have to explain at the office. Which is really bizarre when you’re a 120lb girl. I didn’t get into a fistfight but I chased down this guy who tried to steal my bracelet. In heels. While dodging traffic. Like I said, not smart.

By: Bloodstone

Bloodstone — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:44:06 +0000

Ok first off I’m assuming we are talking adult life here and not some high school scuffle where the fight always gets broke up.

I’ve been in lots of fights (although not in a very long time). I have also been jumped and mugged by multiple attackers up to 5 at one time. I have been in the hospital over fighting 3 times. I don’t like fighting, I don’t like pain but sometimes a fight is unavoidable (unless you just want to take a beating).

So real life fight involving at least 2 adults, here’s my advice.

1) Stay in shape (lift weights, jog, be active, don’t smoke). In a real fight unless you get knocked out or pinned down cardio beats strength every time. If your in great shape you got one up on the other guy who sits on the couch all day or plays video games all day and thinks he is billy bad ass.

2) Use a weapon every time. Whether its a taser, a club, a stapler, a bottle. If your in a street fight you should assume that the other guy is out to do as much harm to you as possible (or even kill you) so don’t hold back.

3) Have in mind what you’ll do in a fight and practice it occasionally. Martial arts is just that. If you practice something over and over it will come to you quickly in a situation when you need it. You can shadow box, practice kicks, etc on your own without the local dojo master telling you what to do. It will still help you.

4)If you don’t have a weapon kick your opponent in the knee or try to strike them in the throat if possible. No matter how much bigger a guy is than you if he can’t catch you because you just about broke or broke his knee then you can escape. Similarly no matter how big a dude is if you strike him in the throat he will gasp for air. Short of that go for one of the soft targets mentioned in the article.

So thats my advice. Here’s hoping you never get in a situation where you have to fight but if you do hopefully some of this will help you out.

By: PolyMathMan

PolyMathMan — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:57:26 +0000

When my kids were in Junior High, I told them that you can tell when you’ve passed the point and the fight is on. Just smack them in the face, and go after them like crazy. Don’t stand there and let someone hit you. You will BOTH be suspended anyway, and when you come back, your life will be easier.

The only other tip I can give is from Josey Wales – get some kind of edge, then spit!

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:50:47 +0000

Blake, since I’m in martial arts I like to think I have a leg to stand on.

By: RobCat

RobCat — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:12:41 +0000

I know this is going to sound ridiculous but also look at Tai Chi as a defensive martial art. They teach balance, step into your opponent so their reach and power is diminished and to stop taking at a certain point so your opponent talks himself out of the fight. Sounds silly but I used it and it works. I walked away from a fight that I would have lost.

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:40:38 +0000

Wow, I’ve never seen so many comments to an advice column that are additional tips in the same vein. I guess it’s true that everyone wants to believe that hey know how to fight.

By: ErinM

ErinM — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:27:41 +0000

Another good soft spot to hit – the solar plexus. If you don’t know where that is, find the center of your rib cage, right below the sternum. Go about an inch down. A good punch or elbow to that area will knock the wind out of them. Trust me, that’ll set them back.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:02:44 +0000

I’ve never been in a fist fight, but I saw an interview with Will Smith after he filmed Ali. He said one of the main things he learned was that most people (because of what they’ve seen on TV and movies) will wind up for a big hit. Take the chance for a quick jab to one of the soft spots mentioned in the article (or the face) and you’re already one up on the other guy. Even if you don’t get a good hit in, then you’ve disrupted him and it could give you a chance to get away or set up for the next hit.

Also, if you get in a lot of fights, it might be worth some kind of martial arts study. For quick and dirty, I understand Jujitsu is the way to go. Keep away from Taekwondo and Kung Fu which look great, but unless you’re a friggin’ master you’ll get your ass kicked by people who can grapple.