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One way to define victory in a fight is by exiting unscathed, regardless of your opponent's fate. The simplest method to avoid harm is to prevent the fight from happening in the first place. However, if you find yourself cornered and under attack, your best move is to end the altercation as quickly as you can. There are certain fighting techniques that can incapacitate an attacker almost instantly. Keep in mind that these methods aren't foolproof, especially without practice or training.
Steps
Evaluating the Threat
Take a moment to assess the situation. This brief pause can be crucial for success. Clear, rational thinking, even in a split second, will help you remain composed, allowing you to fight not only with your body but also with your mind.
- Assess whether your opponent is angry (with you or in general), seeking a fight, intoxicated, or potentially unstable. This information will guide you in choosing the most effective way to quickly end the confrontation.
- Before deciding whether to fight or flee, consider your opponent's size and strength. Remember the saying, "The good big man beats the good little man." While this doesn't imply that you can't defeat a stronger, larger adversary, it does mean you should factor these elements into your approach.
Diffuse anger. If your opponent is shouting, threatening you, or throwing objects, but hasn't yet physically attacked, you may have the chance to defuse the tension and avoid the fight entirely.
- Stay calm yourself. Responding to anger with more anger will only escalate things.
- Let your opponent know you're willing to listen to their concerns. Give them space to speak. Sometimes, just listening without interrupting can help calm someone down if they are upset or in pain.
Be cautious of unpredictable opponents. If your opponent is acting erratically—such as someone who is intoxicated or mentally unstable—it may be harder to de-escalate, but it's still possible.
- An impaired opponent might not want to fight once they calm down, which can influence your decision to either engage or try to diffuse the situation.
- To help someone who's impaired settle down, listen to them, agree with whatever they say, and calmly direct them on what to do (e.g., sit down, leave). Repeating this approach may be necessary many times to succeed, so don't give up too early.
Exploiting Your Opponent's Weaknesses
Evade your opponent's first move. If they charge at you or throw a punch, sidestep quickly and push them from behind once they've passed you. If your opponent is not significantly larger, try extending your leg in front of them and pushing to trip them. This technique uses their momentum to your advantage.
- Stay composed and move swiftly to avoid the attack. Your reflexes should help you dodge, but be mindful that you might freeze in the moment.
- When pushing your opponent, use your legs to drive the force from the ground and follow through with your arms for maximum impact.
Don't play into your opponent's preferred style. Most fighters rely on one particular approach—punching, grappling, kicking, etc. Don't engage using the same method.
- If your opponent throws punches, try taking them to the ground.
- If your opponent aims to tackle you, focus on staying upright.
Fight dirty. Combat techniques like Krav Maga emphasize targeting the opponent's most vulnerable areas with intense, swift strikes. Strike soft spots like the toes, groin, stomach, face, or side of the neck using the hardest, most forceful parts of your body (such as your heel, knee, elbow, palm heel, or the top of your head).
- Stamp on your opponent's toes.
- Deliver a kick or punch to their groin, solar plexus, or diaphragm area.
- Strike at their eyes, nose, chin, or jaw with all the force you can muster.
- If you're being attacked and find something around you that could be used as a weapon, use it. Throw keys, sand, gravel, or dirt, or employ any nearby object. You have the right to protect yourself by any means necessary, but remember, this doesn't include initiating attacks.
Target weak spots for self-defense."I was walking home late when a man grabbed me from behind. He was much bigger than me. Terrified as I was, I remembered reading this article that suggested using elbows and heels to hit soft spots. So, I jammed my heel into his foot and elbowed him in the stomach. It was just enough to break free and run for help. I'm not a fighter, so I'm thankful for the simple tips that could have saved my life."- Mary S.
Use your opponent's momentum against them."My friend had too much to drink at a party and got upset over something trivial. He threw a wild punch at me, but I dodged it by stepping to the left. He lost his balance and stumbled past me. I quickly gave him a push from behind to end it, just like the article suggested. No serious harm, but it could have gone worse if I didn't act quickly."- Sunday E.
Stay composed and look for opportunities."Some guy on the bus started threatening me for no reason. I took a deep breath and stayed calm. When he threw a wild punch, I saw my chance. Remembering to keep my cool, I kicked his leg out from under him, and he fell flat on his face. I walked away without a scratch. Staying calm helped me recognize the opening to defend myself."- Jeff T.
Know your legal rights for self-defense."As a bouncer, understanding the law is crucial for using the right amount of force to remove disruptive patrons without crossing any lines. This article helped me get a better grasp of my rights. Now I feel confident in keeping everyone safe while staying within the legal boundaries of my job."- Jarrod A.
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Deceive your opponent. If you're skilled at bluffing or acting, you might be able to trick your opponent into making the fight easier for you.
- Take on a martial-arts posture and raise your fists in front of your face to encourage your opponent to do the same. If your opponent is untrained, they may mirror your stance, putting you in a position of control.
- Feign a sidekick to make it seem like you're about to strike their shin. Instead, land a solid punch to their face, solar plexus, or diaphragm. Be careful not to look down at your leg, as it could give away your plan.
- If your opponent doesn't mimic your movements, this might suggest they have some combat training or experience.
Learning from the Pros
Adopt the methods of top fighters. In the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, 8 fights have ended in under 10 seconds. While you may not have the same level of training as these fighters, you can still attempt to emulate or borrow their techniques.
- Professional MMA fighters train in various fighting disciplines, including boxing, wrestling, and different styles of martial arts.
- These fighters dedicate years of full-time training to become effective in the ring.
Start with a sudden, powerful punch. This approach, favored by UFC fighters, can stun your opponent and knock them down. Knowing the correct way to punch is crucial; it can be the difference between hurting your opponent or injuring your hand.
- Ensure your thumb is placed on the outside of your fist.
- Use your knuckles, especially those of the index and ring fingers, and keep your wrist straight. This ensures a more effective punch and reduces the risk of hand injury.
- Although UFC fighters like Gray Maynard, James Irvin, and Todd Duffee have knocked out opponents with head punches, less experienced fighters may have more success by targeting the throat, neck sides, or ribs.
- While fighters like Ryan Jimmo have achieved knockouts with a single punch, it's important to remember that single-punch knockouts are extremely rare, even in professional boxing and MMA.
Begin with a kick. British kickboxer Mark Weir defeated Eugene Jackson by landing a quick kick and then following it with a well-timed punch to the mouth. Jackson fell, ending the fight in just 10 seconds.
- Avoid copying Jackie Chan's high-flying kicks. A quick, powerful kick to the knee or shin is far more effective and faster than a high kick to the head.
- Strike the side of your foot against your opponent's knee to maintain balance while maximizing damage.
- A major benefit of kicking is that it keeps you further from your opponent, making it harder for them to land a hit on you.
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Remember that being injured during self-defense, while apprehending individuals committing illegal acts (especially felonies), or when making an arrest as a police officer, is legally justifiable. However, being harmed in any other situation is the fault of the attacker and, most importantly, illegal. Everyone has the right to go about their life without being subjected to violence.
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If you are physically harmed by someone who is not a law enforcement officer, and you were not engaged in illegal activity, call Emergency Services immediately!
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If you witness someone being injured by someone who is not a police officer, contact Emergency Services right away and follow the instructions from the dispatcher.
Precautions
- If you find yourself confronted by a violent predator whose main aim is to harm or kill you, you must take charge of the situation by deciding when and where to act explosively – whether by running or fighting. Predators often remain calm, unlike thieves or enraged attackers. A predatory assailant may try to corral you into a secluded spot. Recognizing this will shift the element of surprise from your opponent to you, making it your greatest advantage. Regardless of whether you decide to run or stand your ground, creating or using a distraction beforehand can give you a significant edge.
- If faced with a thief, the quickest way out of the situation is to give them what they want. A thief's goal is not to harm you, but to steal valuables. Though you have the right to resist, doing so may escalate a simple theft into a violent altercation. If the thief is unarmed, consider tossing the item he seeks in one direction and running in the opposite direction. This tactic may distract him long enough for you to escape. However, if armed with a knife or gun, continue assuring the thief that you'll comply and follow his demands to avoid confrontation. Once he has what he wants, he will likely flee.
- Never engage in illegal activities, as it is lawful for someone to use force to stop you from:
- Committing a violent crime (e.g. acting in self-defense)
- Leaving after committing an illegal act (e.g. in a citizen’s arrest, particularly for a felony), and
- Resisting arrest by a police officer, even if you're innocent, as it is illegal to resist.
