Could you fight back / handle yourself?

Fukuyama · 22-05-2011 02:38PM #1

I started a thread the other day about me being pissed off about having to talk to a junkie on Dame street the other day. Little did I know at the time that while I was typing out that post, a guy was being kicked to death a few streets over from where I had been hassled by another junkie.

Everytime something like this happens I think 'what could I have done if it was me being kicked about' or even 'could I have stepped in'? Fact is I probably couldn't.

Krav Maga is something I've thought of taking up (funds won't allow it though). Other martial art and 'sport fighting' goes out the window in a street situation. Krav Maga is supposed to be very effective when two or three scumbags are having a go at you.

What do you think? Could you handle yourself? Do you ever think of taking up self-defense training?

Ghandee · 22-05-2011 02:41PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

I started a thread the other day about me being pissed off about having to talk to a junkie on Dame street the other day. Little did I know at the time that while I was typing out that post, a guy was being kicked to death a few streets over from where I had been hassled by another junkie.

Everytime something like this happens I think 'what could I have done if it was me being kicked about' or even 'could I have stepped in'? Fact is I probably couldn't.

Krav Maga is something I've thought of taking up (funds won't allow it though). Other martial art and 'sport fighting' goes out the window in a street situation. Krav Maga is supposed to be very effective when two or three scumbags are having a go at you.

What do you think? Could you handle yourself? Do you ever think of taking up self-defense training?

Sounds like a breakfast cereal, hot or cold milk over it?

Nodin · 22-05-2011 02:43PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

I started a thread (..........)very effective when two or three scumbags are having a go at you.

What do you think? Could you handle yourself? Do you ever think of taking up self-defense training?

1 - Martial Arts Forum
2 - Don't Believe The Hype

Fukuyama · 22-05-2011 02:44PM

Nodin wrote: »

1 - Martial Arts Forum
2 - Don't Believe The Hype

Hardly hype when the Army Ranger Wing are now trained by the guys in Dublin...

m@cc@ · 22-05-2011 02:44PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

Do you ever think of taking up self-defence training?

Not so much grammar Nazi-ism and anti-Americanisation-ism.

To answer your question, not really.

Chris P. Bacon · 22-05-2011 02:46PM

Yes,im well able to handle myself.

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 22-05-2011 02:46PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

Everytime something like this happens I think 'what could I have done if it was me being kicked about' or even 'could I have stepped in'? Fact is I probably couldn't.

Problem is you could end up dead or slashed for stepping in,or even intimated to the last if you made a citizen's arrest on the culprit and handed them over to the police.

Best scenario is to talk or run forest run.

Acoshla · 22-05-2011 02:48PM

Nope, am as weak as a newborn baby lamb. My plan if I ever get in trouble has been the same since I realised in my teenage years that I have little to no upper body strength - eep, run away.

Also my mother has a fair point on this, you might think you can talk something out or step in and defend someone, but people can be on all sorts of drugs that destroy their reasoning in these situations, or someone could pull a knife and seriously injure you in a heartbeat. I grew up in a rough enough town and have seen enough innocent people bottled in the face or have had syringes, knives, etc pulled on them to know that staying out of it or getting out of it quickly is the best option.

thehairyelbow · 22-05-2011 02:49PM

Fight or flight isn't it? I'd like to think I'd jump in and give a dig out, but you don't know until you've come on it. Remember years ago in Dublin coming across a bloke belting the sh1te out of a young one. Got involved, and she turned on me, and handy with the fists she was too. Don't think you know what you're going to do until it's done.

Gunsfortoys · 22-05-2011 02:51PM

In before makikomi.

Sinfonia · 22-05-2011 02:54PM

I can run pretty fast when the adrenaline that accompanies fear kicks in.

I'd presumably be **** in a fight though, I've zero experience.

Biggins · 22-05-2011 02:56PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

...What do you think? Could you handle yourself? Do you ever think of taking up self-defense training?

Yes, have done before and had been training for many, many years.

hinault · 22-05-2011 02:58PM

If I saw someone assaulting someone else, I wouldn't hesitate to step in.
I have done on several occasions.

What I notice is that when someone else steps in, it diffuses the situation immediately.
The fact that I'm physically strong and bigger and wider than most people helps.

I abhor violence of all kinds.

Spunge · 22-05-2011 02:58PM

Acoshla wrote: »

people can be on all sorts of drugs that destroy their reasoning in these situations

Alcohol being the most common.

Fukuyama · 22-05-2011 03:01PM

Biggins wrote: »

Yes, have done before and had been training for many, many years.

So what kind of training do you do Biggins?

Ever put it to use?

Scrappychimow · 22-05-2011 03:02PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

I started a thread the other day about me being pissed off about having to talk to a junkie on Dame street the other day. Little did I know at the time that while I was typing out that post, a guy was being kicked to death a few streets over from where I had been hassled by another junkie.

Everytime something like this happens I think 'what could I have done if it was me being kicked about' or even 'could I have stepped in'? Fact is I probably couldn't.

Krav Maga is something I've thought of taking up (funds won't allow it though). Other martial art and 'sport fighting' goes out the window in a street situation. Krav Maga is supposed to be very effective when two or three scumbags are having a go at you.

What do you think? Could you handle yourself? Do you ever think of taking up self-defense training?

Get your facts right it wasn't a Junkie who attacked the victim.

Kevin Duffy · 22-05-2011 03:03PM

Yes and have done many times, either defending myself or intervening for others. Never been bested, but since I'm not knife or bulletproof, I know well I will see the day when I come second.

Biggins · 22-05-2011 03:06PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

So what kind of training do you do Biggins?

Ever put it to use?

Wado-Ryu and Krav Maga to begin with.
Trained in them for more years than probably the ages of younger ones here.

That said, I would NEVER use it for minor stuff.
Absolutely ONLY as a last resort.
One of the very first things you learn is that the body with the right training is very, very easy to damage a lot more so in particular ways.

Yes, I've had to defend myself and no, I took no pleasure in doing what I had to do.
I want to walk away 100 out of 100 times every time. Bugger being all macho.
Lives can't be replaced.

Kess73 · 22-05-2011 03:06PM

Yes I know I could handle myself within reason if I had to.

Over 20 years of boxing and martial arts has given me the confidence and skills to know that the best option is generally to walk away or talk yourself out of a situation.

My size and build helps keep me out of trouble as well, and there are easier looking targets around.

As for the OP's comment that martial arts and "sports fighting" are not much use in a street fight, I will have to strongly disagree with that. You put anyone with years of training and conditioning into a situation where they have to use that training in order to defend themself or a loved one, especially in the case of defending a loved one, and you would soon find out exactly what "sports fighting" or martial arts bring.

But the trick, in my eyes anyway, when faced with the choice of flight or fight is to be brave enough to make the decision to walk away.

Any fool can get into a fight, it takes more not to get into one.

Cat Melodeon · 22-05-2011 03:07PM

Nope. Was attacked by a random scobe when walking home from my part-time bar job when I was a student in Dublin. He wasn't big, about 17 and a right scobe. I was 23, smaller, female, tough enough, but totally unprepared - he stepped out of a doorway and floored me with a punch to the temple before I even knew what was happening. I had taken karate for a few months in college and had been to some self-defence classes, but there was nothing I could do to prevent the situation. I did manage to not make it worse though, by rolling into a ball and protecting my head from the ensuing kicks and punches. He wasn't after money, he was after me. Fortunately he wasn't wearing sturdier shoes and he didn't have a weapon, and I managed to get him off guard long enough to whack him in the nuts, push him away and run like fúck. This all happened about 50 yards from my front door, I worked a 3-min walk away.

Three things I learned:
If the first punch floors you, it's hard to make a come-back, no matter what martial arts etc you know how to do.
People don't come if you scream.
There are no safe areas in a city, scobes travel.

Biggins · 22-05-2011 03:08PM

Kess73 wrote: »

...But the trick, in my eyes anyway, when faced with the choice of flight or fight is to be brave enough to make the decision to walk away.

Any fool can get into a fight, it takes more not to get into one.

Couldn't agree more.

jimthemental · 22-05-2011 03:11PM

It's not so much the training you might have but the way you react. I've had Jiu Jitsu and akaido training but in most fights I've been unfortunate enough to be caught in I mostly just dodged punches and punched back, boxing is basic but extremely effective if you have hassle on the street.

starviewadams · 22-05-2011 03:11PM

I'm tall and broad so people generally leave me alone.

And if somebody does try something I can run pretty fast!
Best advice I got from a SD instructor in the army was if you can run away,then run!

El Horseboxo · 22-05-2011 03:18PM

Yep i'm quite confident. I'm over 6 ft, 220 odd pounds and been doing muay thai and boxing since i was 4. Usually my size is enough to deter fights and i haven't been in too many. I usually try end it quick and don't get involved in a big fight. Eye contact and a kick to the shins ends most quickly.

123balltv · 22-05-2011 03:23PM

no if anything ever happened to me I woud'nt have the energy/skills
to fight back but what I have a perfume spray can in my bag and a small travel sized one in my pocket.
I watched one of these survival shows years ago they said advised wether attacked by an animal or human always go for the eyes a blind person cant follow you basicaly hurting the eyes even for 2 seconds can give you a chance

Pacing Mule · 22-05-2011 03:24PM

Yes I can fight back and yes I can handle myself. I have a brown belt in Kenpo Karate and a black belt in Origami too. (One of these is true

)

I've had quite a few opportunites to use my skills but thankfully have been able to walk away most of the time. In my mind the greatest weapon you can have is distance. When I was forced to defend myself I regrettably hospitalised the attacker. I found that something to be ashamed of rather than proud tvh.

the_syco · 22-05-2011 03:36PM

A couple of things:
Would you risk jail time, a conviction, not being allowed travel outside of Ireland for beating up a junkie?

Do you know that they are not carrying a weapon, that they will not bite and give you gawd knows what disease?

Do you know that they are not in a group, that someone may be behind you, next to you, or next to them is part of that group?

Do you know how much fighting experience that the attacker has? Do you know if they have a long rap sheet filled with violence related convictions? Do you know how many people they have killed for money?

IMO, you do not fight back unless you are backed into a corner. If the police do come, and the junkies friend could say that you are the one that started the fight.

Laisurg · 22-05-2011 03:40PM

I'm able to handle myself quite well, had long hair when i was younger and grew up in a dodgey part of finglas so i had no choice really, avoiding the fights was always best though, even though i had been doing karate since i was 11 theres nothing i was able to do when there was 5 scumbags in a circle around me, and no matter how good you are at fighting theres always the chance that someone will pull a knife and be stupid enough to use it.
That being said though if you are attacked it's virtually never a good idea to stand there and just take a beating,

hondasam · 22-05-2011 03:42PM

against a girl yes probably, against a man not likely. I would give it my best shot.

biko · 22-05-2011 03:45PM

Dean0088 wrote: »

Army Ranger Wing are now trained by the guys in Dublin...

Trained by Dub junkies?

Ironman76 · 22-05-2011 03:45PM

Im big enough and able to handle myself but Id always walk away from trouble. The last altercation I got into was about 5 years ago, I was defending someone else and we walked away and the guy came after me and I snapped. It got nasty, and part of his face swelled out like a grapefruit whicih freaks me out ot this day. Ever since then Ive no time for it. Thankfully I dont go into town much anymore. The bottom line is I dont want anything to happen to myself and I dont want anything to happen to anyone else. If thats being yellow then thats a fair deal, I can live with that.

Could you fight back / handle yourself?

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