How to Fix a Potential Fight Before It Happens

There's a general principle that seems to stand the test of time, and it goes like this: prevention is better than repair. Many of the disciplines within martial arts take on this attitude - in order to cultivate a true method of self-defense, the wise person lives a peaceful life of confidence and calmness. But that doesn't mean all of your friends always will. So if you want to fix a potential fight before it breaks out, you've come to the right place.

What starts a fight in the first place? If you're of a certain age, then alcohol can be one of the leading contributors - two men fighting over a girl, for example, is a frequent theme around the world's bars and pubs. Understanding that alcohol can lead to these situations will hopefully encourage you to drink moderately, even when out with friends; losing control is exactly what the martial arts ask you not to do.

When you feel a fight coming on - and it's usually detectable simply by feeling the tension in the room, or observing the startled, frozen reactions of "bystanders" who are simply witness to it - it's time to be the calming presence. It's tempting to use your confidence gained through your mastery of martial arts in order to assert yourself over two people who are about to fight, but this can often just add fuel to the fire. There's already too much testosterone in the air, and the wise martial artist knows that more testosterone is not the answer.

So what do you do? You stay calm and try to shake the attention of the two fighters away from each other. If you have other people around, you enlist their help to separate the two fighters away before they can start hitting. It's important to stay calm and relaxed so that you don't add any more tension to a rope that's about to be cut - figuratively speaking, of course.

As mentioned already, prevention is the best way to avoid fighting anyone. Fights are generally a bad idea, as you never know when a stranger has friends waiting in the corner, or a weapon located on their person. Avoid them at all costs, and do it through a clear presence of mind, using other people to your advantage, and not adding any fuel to the fire. This should help you in the future.

Photo Credits: Chesi - Fotos CC

Originally posted 2009-12-08 03:47:23.

This post involves:

alcohol, bars and pubs, bystanders, calmness, certain age, disciplines, frequent theme, fuel to the fire, losing control, martial artist, Martial Arts, peaceful life, principle, rope, self defense, test of time, testosterone, true method, two men, wise person

... and focuses on:

Attack, Defend, Martial Arts, Sparring

Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on September 1, 2010 in Attack, Defend, Martial Arts, Sparring. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.