Hmmm against five I don't know but I have training in Karate, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and Taekwondo, so I would give as good as I get. It's not often I can answer a question positively, woohoo!
Can you defend yourself?
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There is only so much reach for people to get to you, that's what you've to take into account.Amaury_games said:
It all is up to strategy, countering punches and making use of the confusion and openings left by the fact that they're a group, try it out just as a test, 5 v 1 is an impossible task, the only added value of being with more than 2 people (actually practically more than 1) is that when there's an opening and you go down, they can deal more damage quicker.
This is if we take into account again that you're trained in "a" discipline meaning you've got the condition to last in a fight.
And I would never dare say that you could go without taking a punch, sometimes we even take punches to disorient our foes(make them feel that their weaker punch has connected will give them a false sense of security creating openings)
Yeah me neither, their parents sue the hell out of me if I so much as imply physical or verbal harm towards them.DaWaffledude said:
Against five? No, I'd be running at around the 'e' in the words 'Hey you!' I'm fortunate in that I've never been jumped, so I've never had to defend myself. Strangely, I'd never bother crossing the street, because I tend to find people are pretty happy to meet a friendly, cheerful bugger who treats them enough like a human being to ask them if they're having a nice night.
Besides, if five people want me that badly, crossing the street isn't going to make much difference.
If it came down to a one-on-one situation, I really couldn't say who'd come out on top. I have no real experience, but if I knew it wasn't going to end up going too far (i.e. the guy wanted me dead) and I knew I couldn't get away, I'd at least give it a go. Granted, I'd fight as dirty as possible, but that's because I know I'm no fighter.
As my pal put it (and I trust him completely on this); 'When it comes to a fight, the bigger b****** wins. If you're willing to go further than they are, you're in with more of a chance.'
Besides, if five people want me that badly, crossing the street isn't going to make much difference.
If it came down to a one-on-one situation, I really couldn't say who'd come out on top. I have no real experience, but if I knew it wasn't going to end up going too far (i.e. the guy wanted me dead) and I knew I couldn't get away, I'd at least give it a go. Granted, I'd fight as dirty as possible, but that's because I know I'm no fighter.
As my pal put it (and I trust him completely on this); 'When it comes to a fight, the bigger b****** wins. If you're willing to go further than they are, you're in with more of a chance.'
I'm not weak, but I don't really know much about fighting, and I haven't fought since primary education times. I got into fights every day back then, but now is way different. Against five everyday guys? I'd get destroyed. Even with a weapon, I'd still lose.
PFFFFF!!!Rastien said:CHALLENGE ACCEPTED GOOD SIR LET BATTLE BE JOINED.Malty Milk Whistle said:
I even used something as childish as MLP to prove just how Badass I am...
I practiced Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do for several years, and even supported myself at times by teaching self defense classes. Using the core of JKD, which you can simplify to "If it is efficient and doesn't waste motion, and it works... steal it for yourself", I've absorbed a lot of useful knowledge from fighting and sparring with more styles/approaches than I really care to list. I also have some Krav Maga, as well as second hand S.C.A.R.S. and MCMAP under my belt.
On my own, I've only had to handle two or three attackers at a time. It is an entirely different animal compared to a one on one fight. The principles are still the same, analyze weakness and exploit it, but you don't have the luxury of trading probative jabs while you pace the other guy.
Ideally, you assess the group dynamic as quick as possible. You pick the weakest of the group and take him out of the fight fast (this could be the overweight guy, the really slow guy, the or just one wearing sunglasses at ten o'clock at night in the club parking lot). Next up, you take out that lanky/skinny/twitchy guy. Only then do you take their alpha down.
Anyone who is familiar with somatotypes will translate the above as 1)Endomorph, 2)Ectomorph and 3)Mesomorph.
Of course, since they aren't going to wait patiently while you attempt this, a la the Walker Texas Ranger method (form a neat queue, remembering to wait for me to roundhouse kick your buddy before you step forward), you'll probably have to engage all three at the same time. Joint locks and manipulations are great for this. Anything you can do to even temporarily incapacitate an attacker so you can put their body between you and the fists, feet, blades and bludgeons coming your way, ratchets up your chances of remaining intact after the end of the encounter.
The worst encounter I was in happened when I was still in my late teens. I had a good foundation of WC and had started to train in line with JKD, but at the time I got by more on my reach, reflexes, speed, and luck more often than actual skill. A friend and I saw an acquaintance of ours being harassed by, well, lets just call it a gang. The situation was rapidly deteriorating. My friend and I exchanged a sort of "Yeah, we're really going to do this, aren't we," look and set in to intervene right as the first blow landed.
The guy was on the ground and surrounded in a flash. My friend and I just carved our way through them. We fought dirty. I was wearing boots, and I had no qualms about stomping the sides of people's knees or ankles. I felt a kind of a juvenile aura of badassery come over me as I piston kicked one guy hard enough to knock down two others with his falling body.
In a blur, my friend and I had managed to join the victim in the center of the attention. Any breathing room was made on our way in quickly evaporated as enemy reinforcements arrived. My friend headbutted one guy perfectly, and while a lot of the fight is a big blur, I'll never forget that sound. It was a combination of a thunk, a crunch and a loud squish. Then screaming.
There was one major problem with our plan: We didn't have what you would call an exit strategy. Full of myself, my ego casting me in the roll of every martial arts movie...ever, I told my friend I'd hold them off, just take the victim and go.
So, I ended up fighting alone in an alleyway before I was finally able to disengage. The timely arrival of a squad car made a great cover for my escape.
Only in the aftermath did I realize how serious things were, and how lucky I had been. While it was happening, I wasn't even aware of getting hit. During my self inventory I found that wasn't the case. I also had a couple of cuts. Apparently there had been at least one knife involved. I don't even remember seeing it, but since the blade wasn't buried in my belly I chose to believe I dealt with it properly.
On my own, I've only had to handle two or three attackers at a time. It is an entirely different animal compared to a one on one fight. The principles are still the same, analyze weakness and exploit it, but you don't have the luxury of trading probative jabs while you pace the other guy.
Ideally, you assess the group dynamic as quick as possible. You pick the weakest of the group and take him out of the fight fast (this could be the overweight guy, the really slow guy, the or just one wearing sunglasses at ten o'clock at night in the club parking lot). Next up, you take out that lanky/skinny/twitchy guy. Only then do you take their alpha down.
Anyone who is familiar with somatotypes will translate the above as 1)Endomorph, 2)Ectomorph and 3)Mesomorph.
Of course, since they aren't going to wait patiently while you attempt this, a la the Walker Texas Ranger method (form a neat queue, remembering to wait for me to roundhouse kick your buddy before you step forward), you'll probably have to engage all three at the same time. Joint locks and manipulations are great for this. Anything you can do to even temporarily incapacitate an attacker so you can put their body between you and the fists, feet, blades and bludgeons coming your way, ratchets up your chances of remaining intact after the end of the encounter.
The worst encounter I was in happened when I was still in my late teens. I had a good foundation of WC and had started to train in line with JKD, but at the time I got by more on my reach, reflexes, speed, and luck more often than actual skill. A friend and I saw an acquaintance of ours being harassed by, well, lets just call it a gang. The situation was rapidly deteriorating. My friend and I exchanged a sort of "Yeah, we're really going to do this, aren't we," look and set in to intervene right as the first blow landed.
The guy was on the ground and surrounded in a flash. My friend and I just carved our way through them. We fought dirty. I was wearing boots, and I had no qualms about stomping the sides of people's knees or ankles. I felt a kind of a juvenile aura of badassery come over me as I piston kicked one guy hard enough to knock down two others with his falling body.
In a blur, my friend and I had managed to join the victim in the center of the attention. Any breathing room was made on our way in quickly evaporated as enemy reinforcements arrived. My friend headbutted one guy perfectly, and while a lot of the fight is a big blur, I'll never forget that sound. It was a combination of a thunk, a crunch and a loud squish. Then screaming.
There was one major problem with our plan: We didn't have what you would call an exit strategy. Full of myself, my ego casting me in the roll of every martial arts movie...ever, I told my friend I'd hold them off, just take the victim and go.
So, I ended up fighting alone in an alleyway before I was finally able to disengage. The timely arrival of a squad car made a great cover for my escape.
Only in the aftermath did I realize how serious things were, and how lucky I had been. While it was happening, I wasn't even aware of getting hit. During my self inventory I found that wasn't the case. I also had a couple of cuts. Apparently there had been at least one knife involved. I don't even remember seeing it, but since the blade wasn't buried in my belly I chose to believe I dealt with it properly.
I'd give myself even odds against one person of similar phyisical characteristics as myself 
More than that, no chance, unless they are all really weak.
I took Karate for a couple of years when I was young, and I remember all the movements, but I never developed the muscle memory. I also took Kendo much more recently, but it is pretty much just a sports martial art at this point and not much use for self defense. I do feel confident I could hurt someone pretty badly if I had a sword-like weapon, but I'd probably get as bad as I gave.
I'm fast, but have little to no endurance, so I would need to be able to run somewhere safe very quickly or I'd be caught and pummeled while I'm out of breath. If I'm surrounded by five guys, and can't talk my way out, then I'm going to charge the weakest looking one, do my best to incapacitate him and throw him in the way of the others and sprint away as fast as I can. I'm sure the adrenaline will let me run a bit further than the usual 1-2 city blocks I can normally manage, but again, I would need to find somewhere safe fast!
However, if it looked like I wasn't going to get away, I would stop running before I was exhausted and make sure my attackers took some punishment before they totally kicked my ass though. Anyone who gets completely backed into a corner is dangerous if they try.
I would definitely need to overcome that whole "don't hurt people" thing though. It's kind of ingrained in most of us, which is why soldiers and police have training to overcome these feelings. You don't want to be pulling punches in a life-or-death situation.
More than that, no chance, unless they are all really weak.
I took Karate for a couple of years when I was young, and I remember all the movements, but I never developed the muscle memory. I also took Kendo much more recently, but it is pretty much just a sports martial art at this point and not much use for self defense. I do feel confident I could hurt someone pretty badly if I had a sword-like weapon, but I'd probably get as bad as I gave.
I'm fast, but have little to no endurance, so I would need to be able to run somewhere safe very quickly or I'd be caught and pummeled while I'm out of breath. If I'm surrounded by five guys, and can't talk my way out, then I'm going to charge the weakest looking one, do my best to incapacitate him and throw him in the way of the others and sprint away as fast as I can. I'm sure the adrenaline will let me run a bit further than the usual 1-2 city blocks I can normally manage, but again, I would need to find somewhere safe fast!
However, if it looked like I wasn't going to get away, I would stop running before I was exhausted and make sure my attackers took some punishment before they totally kicked my ass though. Anyone who gets completely backed into a corner is dangerous if they try.
I would definitely need to overcome that whole "don't hurt people" thing though. It's kind of ingrained in most of us, which is why soldiers and police have training to overcome these feelings. You don't want to be pulling punches in a life-or-death situation.
The nearest thing that I've been in to a fight is accidentally kneeing a twelve year old in the face.
I'm very much an avoid/run away kind of guy when it comes to fighting. I was always the biggest kid growing up, and you learn pretty fast that nearly ANY physical attack in self-defense ends up making you look like the bad guy because you're bigger.
But if I'm backed into a corner, and I have to fight? My only strengths are my sheer adrenaline rush and my ability to go pound for pound more sadistic. That's the only way I reason I walk away from a fight, is if I kill the guy attacking me.
But if I'm backed into a corner, and I have to fight? My only strengths are my sheer adrenaline rush and my ability to go pound for pound more sadistic. That's the only way I reason I walk away from a fight, is if I kill the guy attacking me.
I couldn't win a fight against anyone who would start one. I'm 1.9m tall, I'm quite good at looming. So the only people who would come at me anyway could definitely take me, since I've never been in a fight and punch like a child.
So yeah, I'd do my utmost to avoid a physical confrontation. It's worked so far.
So yeah, I'd do my utmost to avoid a physical confrontation. It's worked so far.
Get some nice facial scars and a glowing red eye, no-one will pick a fight with you afterwards.ClockworkPenguin said:
Also, I am taller than you. This piece of information I provided to avoid low-content.
The only advantages I really have is a super high tolerance for pain (From years of extreme clumsiness) and being sturdy on my feet (Again, From years of extreme clumsiness). I usually try to diffuse the situation before it gets to that and usually can. Saying that I have been in plety of fights before, and won a good few so yes I can defend myself. You asked about five on one? I had a three on one fight before and was just destroyed.
I went to go talk to them after they harassed my girlfriend and one of the fellas landed a surprise headbutt on the bridge of my nose, it was the first time I had been dazed and it sucked. I made a point to stay on my feet until I could see again and did for awhile. As soon as my vision came back I stopped to try and orientate and the guy got another punch in. Eventually the three of them managed to get me to the ground and once you're down there's not much you can do but cover your head and expose as little as possible to their kicks.
They were drunk and angry and meant to do me harm. I dunno how but I managed to get one of the guys down with me and gave him a few licks of my own. I think if I hadn't been able to do that they wouldn't have backed off and would have done some serious harm or worse.
I came away from it with a black eye a bloody (But not broken!) nose and a swollen jaw that still clicks when I eat sometimes. Fightings bad folks!!
My advice to defending yourself? I say if you are in a fight with someone the best way to defence is getting the first hit in. It usually puts you at an advantage or will make the guy back off. Being submissive will only show weakness and if someone clearly wants to fight you then it will just make them even bolder.
I went to go talk to them after they harassed my girlfriend and one of the fellas landed a surprise headbutt on the bridge of my nose, it was the first time I had been dazed and it sucked. I made a point to stay on my feet until I could see again and did for awhile. As soon as my vision came back I stopped to try and orientate and the guy got another punch in. Eventually the three of them managed to get me to the ground and once you're down there's not much you can do but cover your head and expose as little as possible to their kicks.
They were drunk and angry and meant to do me harm. I dunno how but I managed to get one of the guys down with me and gave him a few licks of my own. I think if I hadn't been able to do that they wouldn't have backed off and would have done some serious harm or worse.
I came away from it with a black eye a bloody (But not broken!) nose and a swollen jaw that still clicks when I eat sometimes. Fightings bad folks!!
My advice to defending yourself? I say if you are in a fight with someone the best way to defence is getting the first hit in. It usually puts you at an advantage or will make the guy back off. Being submissive will only show weakness and if someone clearly wants to fight you then it will just make them even bolder.