Self-Defense and Fighting on the Street vs. Combat Sports

By Rolando Haddad – Core Combat Sports

For the sake of this discussion the need to fight on the street is because there is no other option and there can be an assumption by the defender that great bodily harm or even death can be the result of the altercation.

In any type of fight where no holds are bared the Variables that can affect the outcome of the fight are great. Unlike a boxing match where one knows exactly how the opponent can attack (punches to upper torso only) in an NHB type of fight there are many ways to win or lose the fight. Even in sport MMA matches where there are rules, padded mats, refs, single opponents and no weapons the variables for wining or losing the fight are much greater than in very specific sport combat matches such as boxing or kickboxing. To win a boxing or kickboxing match the participant must be very technical in the specific skill set required only. He knows going in that he is fighting an opponent who is training to excel in the exact skillset he is training. He also knows that he will enter the ring and close and maintain the specific distance to “out perform” his competitor in that specific skillset. Thus the need to be very technical at said skill is much more important than that of a person training to defend themselves on the street (or for that matter, one training for MMA). This combat sport athlete will compete against a person of similar weight and equally important with the same level of experience and similar number of sanctioned fights. The fewer variables you have to deal with the more technical you have to be in order to be successful at that combat sport. The more variables you have the more you have to be well rounded in all aspects of combat, and the best way to control the outcome (win/succeed) is to control the variables.

This is really a simple concept but unfortunately when people think of Self-Defense there are some huge misconceptions. Often practitioners of a specific combat sport, especially if they are very skilled at it will think that their sport is all that is needed for Self-Defense. They are correct if they can control the variables of a confrontation and keep the combat at the range (grappling, striking) they excel. Unfortunately, in Self-Defense situations one doesn’t always have that luxury. We need to define and differentiate Self-Defense / Fighting / and Self-Protection.

Self-Defense -

Implies defense against unforeseen attack such as chokes, sucker punch, grabs, bearhugs, headlocks or even threat with a knife or gun. Because the attack is unexpected the following is important.

· The tools (technique) to deal with the assault should be instinct based

· Technique should have the “fewest solutions to the most problems”

· Technique should work for all or (as many as possible)

· Training should trigger an aggressive mindset vs a passive one

· The technique and mindset should capitalize on the range you are in and give you the ability to neutralize that threat immediately before the attacker even realizes what is going on –

· GO FROM DEFENDER TO ATTACKER IMEDIATELY. The mindset should be if in doubt attack and keep attacking till the threat is neutralized or you can’t attack any more. No Quitting!

One of the downsides of training in a system like boxing or kickboxing for self defense is that the instinct of that person will be to create distance in order to “play” the striking game. This can be a huge mistake especially for a smaller person, less athletic person, or less skilled person as you are giving the attacker the option of regrouping and getting back into the fight. You at this point increasing the variables (and increasing the chances of failure).

Self Protection / Awareness

If you know an attack was possible or imminent you would (should) remove yourself from that place or situation, or put yourself in a position of advantage. If a person is at striking range and is a clear threat, and your attempt to difuse the situation and leave is not an option or successful, you should place yourself in a tactically advantageous position and strike with devastating incapacitating blow(s). At very close quarters you are either a “sponge” for blows or vice versa. Being nose to nose with someone can put you at a huge advantage or disadvantage depending on your decision to engage or not. It is very difficult to do anything other than “accept” that first strike at this range. For the sake of self protection it is always better to give than to receive.

For the sake of comparing street vs. sport, one does not need to be super technical in order to deliver solid blow(s) to a vulnerable area, before the “attacker” has a chance to react and counter. The mistake in this situation would be to let the variables increase by not engaging or creating the distance a boxer / kickboxer is comfortable with – this puts you on equal terms with the threat. Nor is the best solution to take it to the ground. The obvious reasons are: the possibility of multiple opponents, the need to be much more skilled if of the same size or smaller, the condition of the ground where you are taking the fight, etc. It is much more difficult to realize a weapon being deployed (and controlling the weapon) when on the ground.

I don’t want to be “fair” in a street fight / self-defense situation a good example is: If I know someone is coming for me with a pistol to shoot me. I’ll shoot him first from cover at 100+ yards with a scoped rifle. This is obviously a very contrived analogy, but you get the point.

Importance of Technical fighting / Support System

Having spent this time emphasizing the difference between sport and Self-Defense, I’ll emphasize the importance of having some technical fight skills – your support system.

Training against live resisting opposition does the following:

• Gives you confidence as you have trained and seen what works and what doesn’t
• Helps with timing
• Helps with mental toughness and your ability to deal with being hit.
• Improves your conditioning and your bodies ability to deal with impact – conditions the body.
• Helps give you control of more variables – sometimes a self-defense situation will transition into a “fight” with everchanging ranges of combat. Obviously the better you are at dealing with all ranges of combat the better off you will be.