Can you defend yourself?

[Nantucket_v1legacy]

Not 5 people but I could probably take down 1 or 2 people.
Of course I would fight dirty if 2 people came at me but hey, as long as I win who gives a shit? Chances are they would attack me first anyway.

I say that but if in reality it happened... I'd put up a good fight but I might lose. It all depends on the situation. Is there a wet floor sign near me? Stairs? What advantage is there for me to win? Hm...

 

[axlryder]

I did some boxing in high school and a bit of MMA in the "fight club" I belonged to. I wasn't big, only like 150, but I was very strong for my size (benching 300, squatting 400) and have a very high pain tolerance. I'm also fast and extremely flexible, which made me "unpredictable" in my movements. I remember winning a fight against a pretty cut guy who had at least 70 pounds on me. About 3 years ago I would have said I felt confident in my ability to defend myself against any reasonably sized opponent who didn't have extensive training.

Unfortunately, Since my joint problem kicked in my ability to do strenuous physical labor has greatly decreased, especially in regards to the rapid motions involved in fighting. My pain tolerance is even higher now though, and with the proper amount of adrenaline I can "override" my joints for a limited period of time (the recovery afterwards can take 1-2 weeks though). However, I'm simply not as strong or fast as I used to be, I'd say I'm just above average for my size, which is now only about 140 now. My chances of getting injured are also much higher now. I'd say I'd have no problem against someone around my own size or a larger person with very limited strength or fighting experience, but much more than that and I'd probably try and avoid the confrontation all together.

If we're including eye gouging, larynx crushing, jugular biting, life or death stuff, I'd give myself a bit more of an edge, I guess. I'm okay with getting really vicious, but then so are a lot of other people, especially around here. I guess I'd just feel more confident against a sheltered suburbanite.

Oh, and five average sized guys solo without weapons? you're fucked. Plain and simple. If they have even an ounce of real fighting ability, you aren't getting out of that thing conscious.

 

[operationgenesis]

Having never been in a fight, I'd probably get my ass kicked against the kind of person who would go around looking for one. I did five years of wrestling, though, and I hear that's better in an actual fight than most martial arts, so I think I could at least not making it not worth most people's time and energy to fight me.

If there's two of them? I'm probably boned. Wrestling has kind of given me tunnel vision in regards to fights, so it would be really easy to outmaneuver me. If they are especially weak I might be able to take them, but no promises.

But five guys? No way. Again, unless they are especially weak. Like, I could probably take out any five people in my social circle, because they're all stereotype nerds, but against five average guys I'm screwed, and am going to try to get out of there ASAP. And if any of them have weapons, I'm out.

 

[brom0220]

Define "win."

I could probably not outrun a guy. However, I could either hide in a crowd, bail into a store, or kick him in the balls and flee. That'd probably work, and I count that as a win. (Remember, kids, you win if you come out of the fight intact. This means you don't have to land a punch. At least, that's what my sensei says.)

As for an actual fight, where I have to put knuckles/palms/knees/whatever on skin? Yeah, I could definitely take one unarmed guy. But it's not going to be boxing/sparring style; it's going to be dirty fighting. Groin kicks, palms to the nose, knee to the face when they double over, broken elbows, all that. No mercy. Some drunk guy decides he's going to come get some, and my life might be in danger because there's no way I can get away and he's looking at me like I'm a steak? I hope he likes learning to use his limbs again.

Guy with a knife or a gun, at melee range? Hmmmmmmm. I like to think I can deal with it, but I am still very wary. You really have to *commit* when they have a weapon; that's the point at which you can't half-ass things even less than you already could. Someone punches you, they can knock you out, yes. Someone knifes you, you might die right there. Once that weapon is out, you're either gone, you're cooperating so the guy leaves with your wallet and not your life, or you're on that weapon arm like dots on dice. No middle ground, and once you choose to either fight or flee, you have to really do it.

Add a second guy and things get nasty. While we do train for multiple attackers, I'm not that badass yet, and besides, it's just never a good situation. There are some basic tactics like "don't let anyone get behind you" and "don't stop moving" and all that, but...really, you just don't want to mess with that. I am not confident I could take on a group, where a group is more than one.

This guy gets it. Survival=Victory. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard in regards to fighting is to get an MMA rulebook, and look up what's prohibited. You almost never know the training and strength of your opponent beforehand in a real fight, so run if possible. If cornered, fight until you can escape. If there is no escape, see my previous post.

 

[LordLucan375]

I've been boxing since I was 11 and have been in the amateur University league for the past 2 years. But still I must admit that boxing is not the most practical of self-defense techniques and I would consider myself extremely fortunate defeating two assailants at once. Besides, anyone with any real martial arts training will convey that fighting against more than one person is extremely dangerous, as keeping multiple attackers at bay at once is nearly impossible, as maintaining a close watch on your opponent is essential, which, obviously is difficult to do when there is more than one of them.

 

[Something Amyss]

This thread is full to bursting with the thick and creamy results of masturbatory bragging, and it's pretty entertaining.

Please, tell me more about all your years of taekwondo training.

But as for myself, I've never been in a real fight, so I'd probably immediately burst into confetti if someone even pushed me.

Tae Kwon Do? I'm a Jedi. If someone mugs me, I will disarm them with my Force techniques or protect against their bullets with my lightsaber.

Do I win the thread?

 

[Zeraki]

I'm not a fighter, I am however a pretty big guy so that's usually enough to put people off from messing with me. Besides, I avoid confrontation and refuse to let people goad me into situations that would require me to actually fight someone.

To answer your question though, I wouldn't last stand a chance in any kind of physical confrontation right now. I've been recovering from knee surgery for the past four months(one ligament had to be repaired, one completely replaced and my kneecap had to be moved)and I still need a crutch to get around.

 

[S_SienZ]

Once got cornered by 5 guys in high school. Identified who was in charge and bit him in the neck til he called everyone off.

 

[bleys2487]

Trained in krav maga, so relatively confident. I was always taught to assume the worst and be prepared. Don't be cocky, it doesn't give you anything in the fight anyway. Take it as it comes or if they're packing heat and have buddies, gtfo Ain't no honor with fighting on the streets.

 

[Something Amyss]

I'm not a fighter, I am however a pretty big guy so that's usually enough to put people off from messing with me. Besides, I avoid confrontation and refuse to let people goad me into situations that would require me to actually fight someone.

To answer your question though, I wouldn't last stand a chance in any kind of physical confrontation right now. I've been recovering from knee surgery for the past four months(one ligament had to be repaired, one completely replaced and my kneecap had to be moved)and I still need a crutch to get around.

You call it a crutch. I call it a weapon!

But seriously, that sucks. I've spent two years recovering from various problems.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

If its un-armed combat, going against more than 2 or 3 people is just silly. However if pressed and injuries were not a question... I'd break as many bones as quickly as i could and get away. Wrists, knees, ribs.

If the goal is to survive then i shall do so. I was trained in Muay Thai and Krav maga. I will make it hurt. However i hate fighting and like being forced to fight even less. If weapons are involved then sadly no. Not everyone can be batman

 

[Slayer_2]

If I had to, I could probably put up a fight against an average sized untrained and unarmed opponent, but I'm not a fighter. In a fight with firearms, I'm a pretty good shot, so I think I could do okay if I could get my nerves somewhat under control. In a fight with blades, I'd probably be fucked.

 

[OctoH]

Which branch of the military, if you don't mind me asking?

1st Scout Ranger Regiment based in the Philippines.