Street guys. Please give direct technical answers.

[Kung Fu Wang]

In self defense you don’t show your weapons until required.

When I walk, I always hold a 5 lb dumpbell in my hand. When I swing my arm with my weight, nobody wants to be close to me.

To show your weapon do have advantage.

Will you attack this guy in street?

 

[drop bear]

I do not understand this comment. There is a rule set in MMA competition so the results can/are much different from say a street encounter.

The better fighter generally wins regardless of rule set.

I mean you could go vastly different and not be the case.

But mostly not.

 

[HighKick]

The better fighter generally wins regardless of rule set.

I mean you could go vastly different and not be the case.

But mostly not.

For certain, it goes without saying that the better fighter is going to win.

But the point I was trying to make is that there is a rule set in MMA competition that must be followed to (fairly) compete. Go outside the rules and you will be penalized (I assume).

Here is the unified rules for UFC: Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts | UFC

It is about as straightforward as any written rules I have ever seen.

 

[Badhabits]

These self defense conversations always get into the better fighter usually wins, performs better etc. But that is like saying a small woman trying not to get raped has no chance against a man who's a better all around fighter. Or not get kidnapped. And yet everyday a woman prevents herself from getting raped or kidnapped. Put that same woman in the ring with the guy trying to to rape or kidnap and tell them to slug it out, the guy will probably beat the tar out of her in a fight. And yet they manage not to get raped or kidnapped. That to me is self defense. It's not always about the better fighter winning the game dangit.

 

[Badhabits]

Or for that matter a woman fighting off a guy trying to take her child. It's just not the same as putting that same woman in the ring with a guy, putting on gloves and saying now slug it out.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Speaking as someone who is both a "sport guy" and a "street guy"...

I teach the same underlying physical concepts for both. But I emphasize that the different contexts come with different risks, objectives, and restrictions. This means that there can often be different tactics required and different techniques that are prioritized.

For example, in BJJ or MMA sparring, if the match goes to the ground with me on top, I like side control or mount for pinning my opponent and setting up further techniques. But for a street self-defense scenario I greatly prefer knee ride, since it allows me to

• scan the surrounding area for additional threats
• disengage and flee quickly if necessary
• monitor the opponent's hands and make it difficult for them to access any weapons that they might be carrying (or that I might have on my person)

Along similar lines, I've seen you say before that you prefer kesa gatame for controlling people so that your knees don't get abraded while you hold them down and wait for the cops. The difference there is that you've presumably already disarmed them of any weapons they might be carrying, you have coworkers to watch your back, and you have an obligation to stay there and hold the troublemaker for the cops instead of running away. So you're adapting to the situation.

And this is the real key. Different "street" scenarios can be just as different from each other as different "sport" scenarios (i.e. IBJJF vs MMA vs Muay Thai vs Boxing). Someone with a well-rounded skillset and well-developed attributes can do well in these different scenarios if they have the mental flexibility to quickly recognize the demands of the situation and apply the appropriate tactics. If not, they can get into trouble.

 

[Holmejr]

Casually walk up to one of your students, pull a practice knife out and assault them. See how they react. You’d be surprised how many MArtist’s with years of experience freeze if even for a second or two. Just enough time to get stuck. They should react immediately without thought. Positioning themselves to protect themselves and inflict serious damage.

 

[Badhabits]

Casually walk up to one of your students, pull a practice knife out and assault them. See how they react. You’d be surprised how many MArtist’s with years of experience freeze if even for a second or two. Just enough time to get stuck. They should react immediately without thought. Positioning themselves to protect themselves and inflict serious damage.

That is something my current instructor does to us on a regular basis. He's got us all scanning the room out of the corners of our eyes no matter what we're doing. You just never know when he's going to poke you with that thing. And he'll sometimes give it to other people in class to do it. He usually has it, but you really never know who might have it. A plastic gun too. We'll be doing partner drills and then you feel something hard stuck in your back or the back of your head.

 

[wab25]

For me the difference between "street" and "sport" comes down to two basic things: the goal and the time.

The goal or object of "sport" is to out point, submit, choke out or KO your opponent. The goal of "street" (with regard to self defense) is to go to work tomorrow. I just need enough fighting to get to the point where I can go to work tomorrow. Maybe that is deescalating, maybe that is giving up the cash in my wallet, maybe that is running away or the worst possible thing... apologizing and backing down. In "sport" I am working towards points and submissions, putting myself back into the fight where on the street that is looking for the out. The other guy hits me, knocks me down, but I can get up and out the door.... I don't have to re engage with him, as I would in "sport."

Yes, it gets more complicated when your family is around. Then your goal is still not to defeat the other guy, but get your family to safety. You may be better off stalling him, making him focus on you, while your family gets to safety, then you get yourself to safety.

The deal is that when training for self defense / "street" the idea is to get to the point where you can leave... and then leave at that point.... don't hang around to "defeat" the other guy.

The second thing is the time. In a sport, many times you start the competition with a feel out round... where you are trying to figure out what his tendencies are, how much power he has, how fast he is.... You have time to set him up, by showing tendencies, baiting him in.... In the "street" you need to hit your highest percentage move for that situation, as soon as you can, and then get out before his friends show up, before his weapons come out, before he gets the upper hand. You don't have time for the "feel out round."

Another issue with time.... in "sport," you both know when it will start.... you are usually asked if you are ready. On the "street" the confrontation has already begun, before you know it has. They have picked you out as the victim, decided on their tactics.... all before you realize that your are in the middle of something. Being situationally aware helps you to recognize sooner, when you are getting involved in an altercation. So, in "sport" you both start off as equal.... in "street" the other guy has done as much as he can to start off in the advantage. So, you need to work from the position of disadvantage to the point where you can get out.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I feel like this thread is just mental masturbation for the mma is the best crowd. Regardless of rule sets, the distinction is an implausible comparison that is essentially meaningless since each and every sport fight starts the exact same way and every street encounter is unique and varied.

 

[Holmejr]

since each and every sport fight starts the exact same way and every street encounter is unique and varied.

This is true. This is why we train by attack rather than simply spar, although being attacked from the outside or largo Mano is a bit more like sparing as it takes a second or two longer to unfold.