How to Win a Fight:
Self-Defense Strategies for the Untrained Man

You’re out and enjoying life with your friends or a certain young lady.  But some knucklehead  is determined to end your fun by trying to punch your lights out.  What can you do?

There are some simple self-defense tactics that even someone who's not in great shape or has any special training can employ:

First of all, wake up!  

• Who’s watching you?

• Look around, is someone giving you a hard look? Or alternately, does someone quickly avoid your gaze?

• Watch people’s hands as you are walking, don’t look away when you pass.

• Cross the street if you have to avoid a group of punks.

• Don't get too drunk.

• Are you doing something stupid like hitting on someone’s girlfriend at the bar?

• Are you in the habit of boasting about your fancy watch, car, apartment?

• Point out the troublemaker to the bartender or doorman.

• If the negative vibes get too intense, leave.

Remember, it’s always easier to STAY out of trouble than to GET out of trouble.

Second of all, keep from getting hit in a vital area!

• Get your hands up in front of your face to protect your head.
• Keep your mouth closed with your teeth clenched. When your mouth is open you are ripe to get your jaw broken (which means you should forget about ‘talking trash’).
• Circle away from his power side (circle to the right if he has his right hand cocked back, circle to the left if he has his left hand cocked back).
• You need to be either two arms lengths away from him (outside of his kicking range) or all the way in tight against him (holding him in a boxing clinch). Anything in between puts you in range for his punches and kicks.

Third, use your strongest weapons against his weakest targets.

• Use the proverbial knee to the groin when you are clinching.
• Smash him with your elbows in the face, throat and neck.
• Kick him in the knee, groin or lower abdomen. Kick straight ahead using the bottom of your foot like you would kick in a door. Or kick straight back like a mule using your heel. If you are untrained, resist the urge to kick with the top of your foot like you are punting a football, you will probably use too much of your toes instead of your shin (ouch!).
• If you try to trade punches with him, you're probably playing right into his game.

 Finally:

• Get a barrier between you and him (even if you have to run around a car).

• Yell for help.  You can't count on people coming to your aid, but he might think someone will render assistance.

• Use a weapon.  Hose him down with your pepper spray.  Use a chair like a lion tamer.  Throw ashtrays at him.

• Make your escape.  Lose your ego and your attitude.  Retreat and escape.  Live to go out and party again next weekend.

•  Better yet, start training tomorrow in a self-defense art or program.