How To Win A Fight
Couple of tips from a ninja-bouncer
This article isn’t teaching you some fancy moves, glorifying the violence or the secret ninja tricks I have learned over the years.
I’m sharing the unfiltered truth of what it takes to win a fight, ensure you don’t go to jail and walk away as untouched as possible.
I’m not just someone that’s watched tons of Steven Seagal movies, or taken a few self defense classes. I’ve been a bouncer for two years and an avid martial artist my whole life. I’ve witnessed and been in my share of scuffles, which I intend to end quickly and decisively.
There is one hot take, though. All the training in the world can go out the window when you’re in a real fight. It’s not going to be pretty, very rarely do I pull off flawless technique. I make sure when I do strike, it’s hard and fast. There are times when you don’t get the luxury of preparing for it, nor a hamstring stretch or a couple high-kicks before you go. When it pops off, it goes; I ain’t talking champagne bottles, either.
The Reality
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Violence is chaotic and unpredictable. You can not go with the impression that there is a script or rules.
A real fight is not a sparring match. You’re not trying to score points. Your only job is to end the fight as quickly as possible. My philosophy is any altercation should last four seconds or less from the moment you go hands on- until the moment your opponent drops. In those four seconds, whatever strikes or throws you engage in need to be done with ferocity and intent.
This being said, every punch and kick has consequences. Knocking someone out and their head hitting the concrete is a scary feeling. Should they not wake up, that’s not a knockout. It’s a charge. The legal ramifications are real, and can turn your life upside down quick. While you are trying to win the fight, you also need to be mindful of how far you take it.
Just Don’t.
The number one way to win a fight is to not get in it. Walk away. There are countless situations I can note where a fight is absolutely on the table but I choose not to. Why? I hate fighting!
You hear the saying “Walk a mile to avoid a fight. Once one starts, don’t back down an inch.” It’s not being scared or weak, it’s being smart. You never know who you’re dealing with, what they’re capable of or the type of day they’ve had. The moment you engage in a fight, control of the situation is out of your hands. Anything could happen.
People may even push you, feint attacks or talk vile garbage to you. It is crucial during this time that you need to verbalize you don’t like being touched. Stay calm and composed, however inform them that if they continue this behavior you will defend yourself. Don’t be a victim.
When It’s Time to Go
The verbal warnings didn’t work, now it’s time to go. What do you do? Forget about anything fancy or a technique you saw in the “Kingsman” movies. This is not a training session, it is real life, and happening fast.
There are plenty of discussions of what martial art is best, what the best combination of styles is. While it’s an intriguing discussion for martial artists, whatever you do is best.
Some things are undeniable truths. If I deliver a kick to your knee while you advance, I don’t care how much you can benchpress or lift; that knee is going. I don’t care how many pushups you can do, If I stick my fingers in your eyes and ears, I’ll get a reaction.
First priority… strike. Focus your attacks on critical areas, the chin being one of the quickest ways to turn off the lights. A solid hit will disorient or even knock your opponent out, giving you the upper hand immediately. unless you’re a trained fighter, landing a body shot in the heat of things is difficult.
Your goal is not to have a boxing match or full contact fight in the middle of a parking lot. Your goal is to shut down whatever threat this being imposed on your physical safety.
Stay Off The Ground
Piece of advice. Stay off the ground. Not because I’m a biased karateka but because of the danger it brings. You may think you’re in a one-on-one situation until you’re rolling around and get a stray kick to the dome. Speaking from personal experience. Don’t. I do not care about your black belt, your wrestling championship or whatever you’ve done that makes you think it’s a safe place to be. You’re vulnerable and things can get ugly fast.
Stay moving, keep circling all while not forgetting about your surroundings. If you have the chance to disengage or a route to flee, take it. Someone else joining the fray is absolutely a possibility. The longer you stay stationary, the easier it is to get caught off guard.
I tell my students fights should last no more than 4–5 seconds. I hit them, maybe hit them again a little harder, they drop and it’s over before they even realized what’s happened. The quicker you end the situation, the margin for it to escalate dramatically decreases.
I am not playing around trying to look cool in front of people. Only when you know it’s time to go, I am doing whatever I need to do to make sure I get back to my loved ones safe.
Keep It Simple Seagal.
More often than not, I’ve ended the majority of situations with a swift right hand. Straight through their guard, nothing fancy about it. A solid, well-placed punch that catches them off guard. The goal is to connect with the chin, which is a complex net of nerves. This is boxing 101, and it works. Fast and direct, while leaving little room for your opponent to react. You don’t need to wind up or telegraph, wait for the opening, deliver it straight and hard. That has been enough for me to end a fight with a single strike.
As a bouncer, I don’t have the luxury of swinging and beating every one of my kick-outs. in these situations it’s not my job to knock them out or teach lessons. Regularly, it is a matter of controlling the assailant without causing unnecessary harm.
A well executed trip or throw takes someone off their feet and directly puts them in a spot where they are no longer a threat. Let’s get this straight, Judo is the art of hitting people with the ground. In the world of security, I’d much rather use their drunken momentum against them.
Stay balanced, and stay in control and stay on top.
Mindful of The Aftermath
After you win said fight you’re not out of the woods just yet. Excessive force is a real concern, and something you need to be mindful of.
In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to lose control and go too far. Every action has a consequence. The difference between self-defense and assault is a fine line. Crossing it could mean facing serious legal charges. It’s one thing to defend yourself, it’s another to keep going.
De-escalation is so important. If you can avoid getting dirty or finish the fight before it even starts, do it. Verbal warnings, maintaining a calm demeanor and showing restraint can make all the difference in how the situation is perceived afterward.
Can’t Fight? That’s Okay. Won’t Fight? You Deserve To Lose.
You don’t need to know techniques to be able to “fight”. it’s in our human nature and instincts. Training helps, of course. It gave me the confidence and preparedness for me to hold my own in a physical altercation. You can have all the training in the world, but if you’re not mentally prepared to use it, it won’t do you much good.
If you don’t have any training, get some. It doesn’t have to be MMA or boxing. ANY form of proper training will give you an edge. Almost if not as importantly, train your mind. Be ready to protect yourself but also be smart enough to walk away if possible.
While I’ve trained, dabbled and tried various martial arts, I can say with certainty that the most effective trainings I have used are from boxing, and an Indonesian combat art called “silat”. Boxing offers how to strike with power and precision, focusing on head movement, footwork and combinations that overwhelm your opponent in seconds.
Silat on the other hand is straight to the violence. It’s a collective term of martial arts in the Southeast Asia region. It heavily relies on strikes, joint manipulation and a wide range of weapon techniques. Silat is fluid, adaptive, making it a versatile weapon in my toolbox of martial arts.
Recognizing Patters and Exploiting Emotions
In the world of fighting, people fall into matters subconsciously all the time. Some might telegraph their punches by winding back, others may just be too predictable in their movements. Pay attention and note these patterns, while inversely, noticing the openings. Anticipating what your opponent is going to do next is key to countering effectively.
Fights start because of conflict. Anger, fear, and adrenaline do a great job of clouding one’s judgement, leading to rash choices. When your opponent is growing angry or frustrated, I use it to my advantage. They become overzealous in their attacks, inevitably leaving them open for my own attacks. Remaining calm and composed may not also frustrate them but intimidate them, throwing them off their game even further.
Why is this guy so chill? Oh crap, maybe he knows what he’s doing!
I’m just a touch psycho and feel clearest when I have someone trying to punch me in the face. It’s been like that since I was a young fighter. They want to hurt me… I want to fight.
There’s a difference.
A clear mind allows you to think and act strategically, pushing you to make better decisions.
In fighting, I remain a perfectionist.
I stay unshaken in the chaos. It’s where I’m at peace. Should I get a black eye or bruise, it’s a reminder of the mistakes I made and weakness of mine that was exploited.
The best fighters are not just skilled in technique but possess the ability to read and adapt their strategies. Or impose their own.
In conclusion, get to training. Try that martial arts gym/dojo. Best choice I never made.
