Myths and Realities of Fighting

By Ari Bolden
(Taken from Headlocks and Haymakers ebooks)

‘Sic vis pacum para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war.’
- The Punisher, after Publius Flavius Vegetius (ancient Roman philosopher)

The myths regarding street level confrontations are numerous in the extreme. Below are just some common thoughts, which happen to be floating around out there.

• Myth 1: Martial Arts are always effective tools on the street.
• Myth 2: Street fighters will always lose to trained fighters.
• Myth 3: The kata (trained movements) I have learned will knock an opponent out in four moves (or less) guaranteed! My sensei said so.
• Myth 4: I’ve fought several fights in the ring and done very well. I should have no problem against a common street skill.
• Myth 5: If I am in a fight and I find myself losing (or lost), if I beg or curl up in a ball, my attacker will stop.
• Myth 6: I’ll never get taken to the ground in a fight.
• Myth 7: A grappler will beat a striker.
• Myth 8: You can’t prepare for the eventualities on the street because, and you said it yourself, combat is fluid.