I am making this thread, because of all the experts who give different opinions. I've been training for a very long time martial arts and combat sports and I definitely feel very strange about tall those facts on internet and that's why I want to ask all the sherdoggers who have actually in street fights and/ or self defense situations to share their opinion on some of this truths or myths.
1) Don't use headbutts in fight! Don't headbutt with your forehead, but instead of it use the top of the head!
I have never headbutted someone or been headbutted by someone so here I can't share experience.
2) Don't use punches! Use vertical punches! Use only the bottom three knuckles! Use open hand strikes and other variations of hand strikes (hammer fists, knife hands, finger jabs and etc.).
I've always used mainly punches. I have never hurt my hands. Yes, I have some conditioning and also I use punches quite often for GnP. In my wushu gym we were taught vertical punches, but I can't remember a case in which I have used a vertical straight punch. And about the knuckles- I think it is less painful to land with the smaller knuckles and it is somehow more natural (just go on the heavy bag without trying to land with the bigger knuckles and see which knuckles are more bruised after this). Slaps and hammer fists have been used by me and they also have some effect. When fighting for fun with friends, with only body blows allowed I have used spear hands. They have effect, believe me, especially in the solar plexus or liver.
3) Don't lift your feet of the ground except for moving! Don't kick! Don't kick high!
Honestly in training I have always spent a lot of time for practicing my kicks. In street fight if I am calm I will use them. In hard sparring sessions I have missed to land a leg kick to the supporting leg of my partner after I caught his kicking leg. I was so pissed off, because he was going too hard. I have noticed many times that when the things are going hard, I don't use so much my kicks. Honestly I am not sure is it so easy to fall on the ground if you kick in a street fight. If your adrenaline is too high, you just don't kick, you rely more on you punches, it is somehow natural.
4) Don't grapple! Don't go on the ground!
I have grappled and use it to move the fight on the ground. I have never had a problem. I don't say that it is safe, but still the grappling is very helpful and might be s safer way to finish a fight. I prefer to control my opponents and to throw some GnP and the things become calmer very fast.
5) Parry and block instead of avoiding the strikes!
I block, just by absorbing the strikes mainly. I catch sometimes kicks, but not so often. I don't know what is the purpose of this rule, but if you stick to it, you are going to violate rule 4.
6) Keep your hands opened in front of you like in a MT stance!
Sometimes I use this stance. But in close range with punches in bunches I am not very sure that is going to help.
7) The size doesn't matter!
If you are top level athlete and you are fighting someone with less skills it is true. In every other caset the size matters. Yes, smaller people beat bigger guys, but this is so rear. I have always used my size advantage and I think it is helping a lot.
So guys, these are some the things that we all constantly listen. Most coaches look to these rules only through their MA or CS's view. What do you think about these rules? Do you stick to them? Does anyone think that all or some of them are useful?
