Fight to Win. Martin Dougherty

is necessary to be realistic about martial arts when seeking somewhere to train. A “good” art does what it is supposed to, whatever that may be. Good does not always equate to ideal for personal combat though. It is worth looking at a few different classes before committing to something. However, just because an art is not the ultimate all-round fighting system does not mean you should pass it up. If you enjoy it and get something out of it, then it’s a good place to train. There is nothing to stop you going to a class for fun and working on fight-winning skills elsewhere.

      Self-defense vs. Sport

      The “Street vs. Sport” debate has probably raged for as long as there have been streets and combat sports. The crux of the argument is that the sporting environment is different to that encountered outside a pizza shop at 2 a.m., and the real or imagined differences between the two are used as ammunition by those who claim that various martial arts techniques will or will not work “on the street.”

      The truth is that there are indeed differences between a sporting environment and “real” personal combat. There are also a number of close similarities. Assuming that you are not expecting to wrestle crocodiles or something, your likely opponent will be built like most other human beings. Maybe a bit bigger or smaller, but in possession of the same number of arms, legs, and heads, equipped with the same weapons and vulnerable in the same places.

      “Sport” groundfighting is subject to artificial rules about what you can and can’t do. The fighter who makes best use of position and leverage will be able to apply a submission technique and win….

      … which really isn’t any different to “Street” groundfighting. You just have a few more tools at your disposal and some nasty dirty tricks to watch out for. Position and leverage are still the keys to success, whatever sort of ground you’re fighting on.

      The fact that humans are all put together in much the same way means that they tend to do much the same things in a fight. There are cultural and environmental differences of course, but as a rule the instincts to grab and strike are the same the world over. Thus the things that work in a cage match are surprisingly similar to those that work when rolling around in the street outside a nightclub.

      Generally speaking, the victor in a fight will be the fighter who:

      • Makes best use of his own physical capabilities

      • Prevents the opponent from utilizing his own advantages

      • Takes into account any environmental factors

      The first two are self-explanatory—fight better than the other guy and don’t let him do what he wants to if you can avoid it. The third is a little more subtle. Environmental factors can include things like showing the judges what they need to see in order to award you victory, making use of the limited space in a ring or fighting area as well as various “street” factors. These include the presence of your friends, the opponent’s friends and any bystanders who might become involved plus traffic, curbs, broken glass, and anything else that might influence the course of a fight.

      Dojo, cage, ring, or street; the same basic principles apply to effective fighting. If you can break the opponent’s posture and/or control his head, his options are severely limited.

      Any grappling situation will be chracterized by move and counter-move, with the position of the fighters dictating what options are available. Pulling the head down will get someone under control, the response is grabbing the leg and trying to overbalance the opponent.

      The primary difference between “street” and “sport” are that in a sporting event there are rules, (usually) weight categories and other factors intended to create a reasonably fair fight, and relatively minor consequences in the case of defeat. An opponent who throws in the towel or taps out in a sporting event is likely to be safe, and on the opposite side of that coin, an opponent who gives up is no longer a threat. He is not likely to start throwing punches as soon as you let go of him.

      Conversely, there is no guarantee that a “street” opponent will not beg for mercy then attack you after you have released him. His friends or random passers-by may decide to join in, or there may be weapons involved. You cannot guarantee good footing and a suitable fight environment. There is also likely to be some doubt and confusion about whether or not a fight is about to start, whereas in a sporting event you will know what you are expected to do, and when.

      However, fighting skills are fighting skills. It has been suggested that a “street” opponent can bite and gouge eyes, making conventional grappling skills invalid. The first half of that sentence is true; the second does not necessarily follow. After all, biting and eye-gouging are just tools, just like an armbar or a choke. Fighting skills are about using the tools you have at your disposal and stopping the opponent from using his. Whether the tool is an armlock or a bite, the positional skills you learn in training will help you use your tools and defend against those of the opponent.

      It is necessary to tailor your tactics to the situation. Striking is not allowed in a judo match so you can expect your opponent not to punch you in the face. Instead, you must watch for attempts to throw you or take you down. In a street fight, with a risk that someone might run up and kick you while you work your opponent, trying to set up an armbar on the ground might not be an ideal tactic. You can usually afford to take your time in a sporting match, which may not be an option under “street” circumstances.

      One of the key fighting skills that you need to develop is to appraise the situation and adapt to it. The skills you use are much the same; for example you can use groundfighting skills to disengage from a “street” attacker who has managed to take you down, or to obtain a submission from a sporting opponent. The skills are much the same; the important thing is to use them intelligently and to adapt to the situation.

      Habits can be dangerous in this context. If you routinely train in an environment with rules against striking or grappling, it is possible to become over-fixated with one mode of combat, and to develop a blind spot regarding possible attacks. This can be overcome by occasionally changing the rules during application work such as rolling, sparring, or self-defense drills.

      Very few techniques have only one application. The “arm wrap” movement normally used to trap an arm can also give you control of an opponent’s leg, which can protect from being kicked.

      There is nothing complex about any of this; it is simply a matter of being realistic about what will work in a given environment and fighting accordingly. The basic principles of personal combat are exactly the same for the street as they are for the sporting environment. The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is one of the hallmarks of an effective fighter. A good fighter is a good fighter wherever they happen to be.

      Winning A Fight

      Winning simply means making the fight end on the most favorable terms you can obtain. Sometimes it is possible to emerge victorious and unscathed; on other occasions the price of victory can be high. As a rule, more effective fighters take less punishment on the way to victory, but there is more to this than simple fighting ability. The best way to avoid getting hurt in a fight is to make it end quickly, which requires a combination of techniques, tactics, and psychological factors.

      There are three ways a fight can end: self-stop, inability to continue, or intervention. Multiple variations of each exist, but all fall under these general headings.

      Self-stop

      Self-stop occurs when one combatant decides not to fight any more. This can take the form of surrender, voluntary collapse or a choice to break off. In a sporting context, the