Lessons from Fist Fighting
I always avoid getting into fights, especially in my country where you don´t know if the other person is carrying a gun or a knife; there is also another factor to consider, back in my dad´s days, two men would get into a fight and solve their issues one versus one in a fair combat, no outsiders, no weapons and most importantly, no retaliation in the future from one of the parts, now, it is nothing like that.
Getting into a fight is a serious matter, especially if you are an adult - whatever that may be - from whom a good behaviour is expected. Besides if you get injured you don´t heal as fast as if you were 16 years old. It also doesn´t speak highly of you to go to work on monday with a blue eye or a swollen chin.
Long story short, fighting is no good for you, no matter the circumstances.
But sometimes you just can´t avoid it.
I am not someone who runs away from a fight, I was raised to stand up for myself whenever it was needed. I was also raised to avoid a fight as much as I can, to always try to use reason, logic and politics to avoid an argument getting to the point where fists were needed instead of words.
I trained Tae Kwon Do for 8 years - my belt is out of question, but I´m fairly advanced- and I have gotten into street fights a few times - never started by me - so I can say I have some experience but still, I was never the one who started them; Once you understand that a fight can end up in very unfortunate circumstances, you pretty much avoid getting physical unless it is unavoidable.
The thing is, once you realize you are not made of glass and that you can take a few punches without falling, you stop being afraid of fights, you no longer are terrified of someone attacking you with their fists up. This can be good in a certain way - example, I wouldn´t like my kids to run from fights - but it can also be negative, because you stop *taking care of yourself*, you start taking risks you didn´t take before.
But let´s be real, in a street fight there are no rules, your skills count very little and it is a matter of suckerpunching your way to victory. In a street fight the most important factor is weight, then surprise and after that, skills. Skills are pretty much nonexistent in a street fight, mainly because there are too many uncontrolled variables that come into play.
Like yesterday, when someone sucker punched me.
It was my fault. I am always, always in a constant *alert mode*, paying attention to my surroundings, taking mental notes of everything around me, observing all the small details in every place and person, looking over my shoulder from time to time - for example, when I go to a restaurant, I always sit facing the door and I try to sit with my back to the wall - and I procure to never be distracted on the cellphone while I´m in a public place.
Call me crazy or maybe I watched a lot of spy movies when I was a kid but that´s how I am. It is tiring and sometimes I drop my guard. Usually, when people drop their guards is when accidents happen.
Yesterday I was very happy drinking my 3rd Rum and Coke with my brother in a random bar, and some dude decided that my face looked punchable and decided to go for it.
If I had my guard up and if I had been paying attention the guy would never have had a chance to get to me. But I didn´t and he punched me. I don´t know if he recgnized me from somewhere and he hated me, or if I bullied him when we were young, perhaps I looked like someone he hates... I don´t know, perhaps I was just picked by luck. A second later I punched back, he fell and the bar´s security got him out, no big deal.
The true experience from here is that none of us should drop our guard anywhere. We live in a crazy world where everything can happen and in a matter of seconds our lives can change forever.
The good news is, I was having trouble breathing because my nose is more damaged that James Wan´s mind, but with this punch I received, suddenly I can breathe better and I probably don´t need surgery anymore, so thank you random drunk dude, you fixed my nose! :D
Lesson learned. Never drop your guard, keep paying attention to details, be aware of your surroundings, be alert and...
Maybe fate threw this guy at you to fix your nose XD I'm glad that had a happy ending, but still maybe better go get your nose checked out anyway XD
I'm similar to you, I won't wear headphones out in public and I like seeing the entry and exit points. I'm still undecided about walls though as though it's useful to have less approach points, back to wall also means less retreat options :)
Yeah I believe everything has a deeper reason to happen, not religiously but karma-wise.
That´s so true, I don´t understand how people can ride a bike with headphones, if a car honks they won´t listen and an accident could happen... Yes, retreat options get slimer but attack points also lower, unless you are with your brother and you can get back to back to fight the foes a-la-wolverine-and-sabertooth-style Lol
LoL!
True about the walls, I'm the highly mobile type that likes to duck and weave and RUN AWAY though and walls restrict that too much, even though they do definitely give you less approach points :)
I live in the hoods and guys fight indiscriminately. I used to abhor the idea of fighting back but sooner or later, it dawned on me that I had to step up. I was bullied more times than I could count. My handbag and phones were seized from me almost every week. These touts gleefully perpetrate this act when they know you woudn't do thèm anything and it was especially difficult for me, being a lady to be able to react in anyway and protect myself.
Somehow, I figured out that it needed to stop. I needed to stop getting an i phone every two weeks so I had to do something unbelievable. On a friday evening I was returning home from Pharmacy school when a teenager accosted me and asked for my handbag and valuables. When I hesitated, he punched me in the face. I quickly returned the punch. It was unbelievable to him. I brought out my knife and made sure I gave him a beautiful tattoo on his right wrist. That was the last day anyone attempted to rob me till the day I packed from that hood. He must have told his people.
FIGHTING BACK MIGHT BE DANGEROUS BUT SOMETIMES, IT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT
Exactly, even when you don´t want to, sometimes its the only option, to fight back.
That story is amazing, so good to see you stood up for yourself! I mean, the knife was probably dangerous as you could´ve killed him if soemthing went wrong but I´m glad it all went down smoothly.
I saw your into post, welcome to the platform! Left you a comment there :)
I was worried about the same fact too but thank God the incidence didn't throd a negative path
Thank you very much. I have replied the comment
#muchlove 🙌🙌
The good news is, I was having trouble breathing because my nose is more damaged that James Wan´s mind, but with this punch I received, suddenly I can breathe better and I probably don´t need surgery anymore, so thank you random drunk dude, you fixed my nose! :D
Hahahahahahahahahhahah this line so funny!! It's not good to start a fight anyway but no doubt like u said its good to be able to protect yourself because street fight is always dangerous. You see alot of them in NYC and South America..... Sorry and thank God for your nose my friend it's a win-win my friend lol.
Lol I like referencing James Wan as he has the most twisted, sick and awesome mind. I also sometimes say "this is more crude than a James Wan movie" lol.
Thanks for dropping by man, cheers!
I particularly like the second part of this writeup, the story part. Like what kind of guy just reaches out to a random stranger and punches him in the face? Huh? Maybe you looks like someone who annoyed him at work and he came to drink it off just to come and see you right there...Lol...Anywhere, I am happy that he didn't give you any retinal detachment which is an ophthalmological emergency but healed your nose instead ( permit me to take this one as a joke please)😃
He looked very young and drunk, so a lot of reasons could have triggered the attack haha. This is the first time something like this happens so I like to think my face is not annoying :O Lol yeah, all jokes are welcomed :D
wow! todavía hay violencia en el mundo de la nada?? siempre estoy alerta pero a veces solo vivo, espero no tener esa suerte que tienes tu... De seguro le quitaste la novia en la escuela, jejeje saludos
So sorry about the punch you got yesterday as you described.
Being alert and up with one's guard is quite cool and perhaps, would see a level of mindful existence and being set for any eventful scene.
The ugly story is that Street fight isn't learned and no skills could be termed attributable to a suppose winner.
Honestly, it's a crazy world with so many trouble mongers.
Hope you are doing good?
Virtual kiss to make it better - and be careful. And stay out of fights. Even if you think you have to get involved.
Don't get hurt - I'm being the Mommy here but well, that's me <3
It's true, we should never let our guards down.. that's when really bad things can happen...
This expression cracked me up real bad tho...
AND
how he ended up fixing your nose is awesome
@ajremy (teen with steam for steem)
Hahahahaha since he fixed your nose, then he deserves a medal. Jokes apart. Truly sorry about the punch. That is the world we sometimes live in, with different people. How can a sane person just look at someone and punch him? It's crazy. So sorry about the punch and glad he got what he deserved. He would be careful with the battle he pick next time. Lesson well learned by him. How are you feeling now? How is the journey going for you? Please, stay safe, and yes, i need those lessons of Tae Kwon Do from you. Haha.
That is so random! No doubt you wouldn't be expecting that even if you were on guard. I'm so happy about the ending though, that's the greatest ever!! BOOM!! I'm glad you may not need surgery anymore, what a strange blessing... :)