Why is "running away" a cowardly fighting tactic ?

[Coffee79]

Gus and Condit in his fight against Diaz have both been criticized for "running away." It's a fight, right ? And if the idea is to inflict damage and not absorb any yourself, how exactly is running away from danger a bad thing ?

It's not like Gus doesn't fight - but on occasion when he feels cornered or in a bad position, he runs away from the fighter to create distance so he can regroup. Machida's style is based on this, in essence, but in a different way. Is Machida being cowardly but not engaging in this gif but backing away ?

No, people would call it smart strategy. Then why does Gus get shit ? It's basically a way to regroup, create distance, and avoid damage.

 

[BBMN]

Machida side steps and backs up. Gus was actually running like a wounded gazelle.

I don't think he's a coward. Just saying he was literally running which isn't what Machida does.

Basically just bleed fans want to see KOs. And Gus fans wanted to see him engage more. And Jones fans wanted to see him lose. So everyone is disappointed here.

 

[Clear Winner]

I suppose it's how you do it and how often in a fight.

It also reeks of desperation. Backpedaling and keeping just out of range is more befitting of a skilled fighter. It shows more control of the situation. I think this goes for all forms of combat sports too, not just MMA.

 

[MatRat75]

Gus engages after he regroups so i never really complain. condit against diaz was the most annoyed ive been by it

 

[bambammccoy]

"Remove yourself from all cultural and social restraints and think rather about survival than about putting on a good fight. You are a naked, starving human being who wants to eliminate a stronger, competing human being. How do you do it? The correct answer will always be to sneak up behind him and bash him over the head from where he can't see it coming and from where he cannot retaliate. As he turns to face you, head still aching and still regaining his senses you hit him again, and again until he falls."

Awesome Jack slack quote which I think applies to Gus.

He is running, but he is also Top 3-4 of an extremely competitive division while fighting like a "coward" as some fools would say.

 

[Emjay]

Because you're supposed to "stand there and fight like a man" or some other macho bullshit

 

[JustOnce]

It's how you do it. It's obviously okay to inflict damage to someone during the fight, of course, but not with a gun. It's okay to avoid damage, but not run like a forrest gump on prozac.

 

[runnpray]

Gus and Condit in his fight against Diaz have both been criticized for "running away." It's a fight, right ? And if the idea is to inflict damage and not absorb any yourself, how exactly is running away from danger a bad thing ?

It's my personal favorite. Love to see the frustration mount from the opponent, lured into making mistakes.

 

[FeloniousMonk]

What martial art teaches running?

 

[JustOnce]

And you know, it could be a bitchbutt move, but still not a bad move. You know what I mean?

 

[yookfarb]

Well first of all it isn't smart strategy, turning your back to someone is just asking for bad shit to happen to you. And the judges/referee are not going to look favorably on you.

 

[jeremyemilio]

The simple answer is that even though fighting is a sport, we like to think it requires a set of skills that are applicable in real life situations.

In a real life situation, if you can run away from the conflict, then you probably should. But that's not a fight.

Fighting is reserved for defending something (or, on the other side, attacking or taking something).

If someone is going to hurt your child or steal your television, you stand in their path and you fight. If you don't do that, you will probably fail at your goal of protecting your child or your television.

And that's why a lot of people believe that if you don't stand and fight in an MMA match, you should probably lose.

It's the same reason why the debate over whether Werdum should have gotten the nod over Reem in their second fight is a silly one. If you flop on your back in a real life situation, I'm hurting your child and running off with your TV. Not all forms of self-defense are fighting.

There's a fine line, though. If someone gets you down, of course you defend yourself with the guard. As long as he's there, engaged with you, he's not doing damage to your loved ones and your property, and you get to live a little longer and come up with a way to stop him.

Ditto for being elusive and creating angles. If every time he makes a move for your loved ones or your property you close the distance and ring his bell, you're still fighting him off, while keeping yourself alive to do so.

But sometimes, in the judgement of the fans (and the judges), you don't look like a person who is able, ready, or willing to stand and fight for anything.

In those cases you get booed by the fans, often get handed the lose by the judges, and occasionally get slapped and called a bitch by Nick Diaz.

And rightly so.

 

[JustOnce]

What martial art teaches running?

I think, for real, I think I read in shotokan karate book, that you are SUPPOSED to disengage and run from the conflict if you can. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I think that's what it's supposed to be though, whole self defense is to run if u can, but if u can't, do this and that instead to protect yourself

 

[...El Ray]

People still mistake Condit's lateral movement and Diaz' inability to cut him off as running?

Cute.

 

[FeloniousMonk]

I think, for real, I think I read in shotokan karate book, that you are SUPPOSED to disengage and run from the conflict if you can. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I think that's what it's supposed to be though, whole self defense is to run if u can, but if u can't, do this and that instead to protect yourself

Well great... maybe
everyone should just hop
the fuckin' cage when buffer
starts announcing their names
& just bounce

 

[JustOnce]

People still mistake Condit's lateral movement and Diaz' inability to cut him off as running?

Cute.

Did you look at Condit's expression after he 'won'? and how he was like " I did what I was told to do".

I think chances are that Condit FELT that he ran too. Didn't look like he was all that proud of himself. I don't know who won that fight though, could've gone either way, kinda lost interest in the middle of it because it had a decision written all over it because it didn't look like Diaz could cut him off.

 

[...El Ray]

Did you look at Condit's expression after he 'won'? and how he was like " I did what I was told to do".

I think chances are that Condit FELT that he ran too. Didn't look like he was all that proud of himself. I don't know who won that fight though, could've gone either way, kinda lost interest in the middle of it because it had a decision written all over it because it didn't look like Diaz could cut him off.

I know who won the fight.

So do you.

 

[Coffee79]

I think, for real, I think I read in shotokan karate book, that you are SUPPOSED to disengage and run from the conflict if you can. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I think that's what it's supposed to be though, whole self defense is to run if u can, but if u can't, do this and that instead to protect yourself

Not really. In a Shotokan tournament, you can lose points or be disqualified for running. There has to be a level of engagement. What you are allowed to do is release back and avoid getting hit by side stepping or stepping back. But "running" isn't really taught.

 

[JustOnce]

Not really. In a Shotokan tournament, you can lose points or be disqualified for running. There has to be a level of engagement. What you are allowed to do is release back and avoid getting hit by side stepping or stepping back. But "running" isn't really taught.

I meant, the PRINCIPLE of the shotokan karate as martial arts as a self-defense in real life situation

 

[JustOnce]

I know who won the fight.

So do you.

Well you know when a 'winner' wants a rematch, and a 'loser' doesn't want one, it really is telling, especially when that 'winner' did a great impression of kalib starnes, who actually had a broken hand or something that could more valid reason than the one of 'i wanted to win'