Street Fight vs. Street Attack

The talk all over the internet and in magazine ads for martial arts programs is, "What works, or doesn't work, in a real Street Fight". Everyone claims that their fighting system is better than everyone else's, and they can beat everyone else. It has gotten to the point of being ridiculous.

The truth is, it's all a bunch of B.S.! It's just marketing hype to get you to pay them a lot of money for a bunch or re-hashed techniques that everyone has seen before. Don't fall for it. Save your money.

You see, the whole point of these types of marketing campaigns is to take advantage of your thirst for knowledge. First, they want you to think that you will be in a lot of street fights. Then, they want you to question that you may not know enough to survive a street fight. You just don't have the knowledge that they do, and you need to get it. That's how they sell their programs.

The problem is, they twist the language in order to make something mean one thing, when it really means something else. Let me explain it this way...

There seems to be some confusion over the meaning of the term "street fight". It is often used to imply a self defense situation against an unprovoked "street attack". Therefore, most people seem to think that the terms "street fight" and "street attack" are the same thing. They definitely are not the same!

The BIG LIE: "My Martial Art Works for Self Defense"

I hear from people all the time who tell me how their training in "ABC martial art" or "XYZ fighting system" is great for self defense because it has helped them to win "dozens" of street fights.

Dozens?... Really?...

You know what I tell them?

"I couldn't care less! In fact, I'm sick of hearing from scumbags like you. You disgust me! If you want to brag about how many fights you’ve been in, go tell someone who gives a shit. I don't want to hear it!"

You see, those people are just idiots who haven't got the first clue as to the meaning of self-defense, or even martial arts, for that matter. No matter what system or style they have trained in, and no matter how long they have trained in it, they have learned NOTHING, and they know NOTHING.

Those are the very people who are giving the martial arts a bad name.

Let me explain the scenario, then I'll let you decide if I'm right or wrong…

In the course of a disagreement, one guy says. "let's go," the other says, "OK." [Then they agree to take it outside, or make a go of it right there on the floor. It doesn't have to be on a street, to be a street-fight.]

Does this sound familiar? Is this an example of self defense?

Of course not! That type of behavior has nothing to do with self defense, or martial arts for that matter. This is nothing more than an explosive mixture of male pride and testosterone. Guys like that feel a need to fight as a way to prove something; usually as a way to compensate for feelings of inadequacy regarding certain body parts (you know what I'm talking about).

In this case, there are two people making a choice (agreement) to fight. They both want to fight! Either one of them could have walked away and avoided a fight, but instead they chose not to. They could have de-escalated the tension, but instead, they pushed it, and provoked a fight.

These are not martial artists; they are nothing more than Thugs and Punks!

Yet every one of these punks who write to me about their "self-defense" skills describe the same scenario...

Don't you dare call yourself a martial artist, and DON'T call this self defense!

Mutual Combat

When you are challenged to a fight, and you accept that challenge, you are NOT engaging in self-defense. You are engaging in an event specifically addressed in legal terms as "Mutual Combat". In doing so, you have forfeited any claim to self defense in any sense of the term, both legally and morally.

Go ahead. Check your State Laws regarding Self Defense. You will find out I'm right.

If you injure your opponent in such an event, you will be arrested and probably sued for medical expenses. You cannot claim self defense in a Court of Law. If you injure him severely, you will probably spend time in jail, as well as being sued. And if you kill him, expect to spend a long time in prison for manslaughter, and get sued by his family for wrongful death. You are completely liable for the outcome, and the Law is NOT on your side!

You will have NO legal defense because Mutual Combat is NOT self defense.

You're on your own.

No matter how you look at it, street fights are usually engaged in by people who LIKE to fight. It is a thrill and adrenalin rush just like any other dangerous sport. So don't you dare try to say a street fight is an indication of how well your martial art or self defense skills work. It's NOT!

Don't try telling me your karate or your brazilian jiu-jitsu worked in a fight that could have been, or should have been, avoided! Obviously it didn't, because your training should have taught you how to avoid a fight! You are a MORON!

A true martial artist never goes looking for fights! A true martial artist only uses his/her skills as a last resort! A fight that never should have happened is not a last resort!

If you intentionally start confrontations just to see where it will lead, hoping the other guy will become agitated enough to take a swing at you, then you are a thug and a disgrace to both the martial arts community and to the human race. You are nothing more than a criminal, as far as I am concerned.

If you go to places with a reputation of rough people hanging out there, just to see if someone will start something, you are an idiot! You obviously have a death wish, and someone is going to make your wish come true. And if they do, I say, "Good riddance!"

If you call yourself a "martial arts instructor" who encourages your students to engage in this type of behavior, you are the lowest form of scum on the earth. You are nothing more than a parasite that needs to be exterminated. If I ever meet you, I will do it myself.

If you like to fight and you really want to fight, there are plenty of legal opportunities to "prove your skill." The street is not the place for it. Organized and regulated competition is the only acceptable method to "prove" yourself, should you feel the need to do so. But don't call that self defense either...

Street fights are for street punks!

"Do you feel lucky, punk?"

Self Defense Only Works for Street Attacks

A street attack means that you DO NOT want to fight! But, you are forced into the situation. A street attack is when a larger, meaner, more determined opponent wants to rob, rape or just plain beat you up. You know you don’t want to fight this person, but you have no avenue of escape. It is fight or die!

A Street Attack does not happen by choice. If you try everything you possibly can to AVOID a fight, and are forced to defend your self against someone who attacks you anyway, this is the only true definition of self-defense.

In this case, the legal system will back you up no matter what you do to protect yourself or to survive this attack. Even if it means the use of deadly force.

If you are truly in a self-defense situation, both the police and the courts will be on your side.

This is a completely different situation than the "street fight" discussed previously. This is a last resort! This is the only situation where you can use your martial arts training the way it was intended to be used; for self defense.

And, even when forced, after trying to avoid it, they attack you anyway, you still don't want to fight or struggle with them for any period of time.

You want to end it fast; take them out immediately!

This is where I can help you...

To survive, and even prevail, against seemingly overwhelming odds, I can teach you to deal with street attacks against robbers, rapists and street punks who think they have to prove something.

Just follow the links to find people who teach my brand of martial arts and self defense; not street fighting.

The Self Defense Company

© 2008 The Paragon Project. All rights reserved.