A Revelation That's Helped Me Win More than 10 Streetfights

A story about the first time I 'won' a streetfight by realising that the other guy - an older, shabbily dressed, homeless man - was almost certainly mentally ill.

Be compassionate and be strategic my friends,

Stephan

[DrMakak]

A thing I think about (that's kinda easier to reconcile with the ego): I don't wanna fight with anybody. I have literally no business engaging in an activity that can get me killed/crippled/imprisoned. They want me to fight them, that's why the provocation happens. How weak mentally would I be to allow some drunk random on the street to manipulate me into doing something so stupid? It's like getting mind-controlled into a possible suicide by a bum.

[habibmalik]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. This one video is more valuable than 10 thousand videos on self defense.
God bless you!

[chrismarukos]

Very mature and realistic advise Stephen. I will add to never underestimate anyone, not a street person, not an old lady, not a kid. Although it is best to avoid a conflict, we all know to walk away but never take your eyes off of anyone until you are long gone. And on your way to safety you can be proud of "winning by losing (by not engaging in the first place)"

[UKBritt]

THE Best Self Defence Advice - Hope this finds it's place.

[enginetruck]

I was just telling a frellow martial artist about my BEST martial arts bar fight - I told my girlfriend not to bother finishing her drink because we are leaving.

[jcfyre]

Wow, this DID move me! Even those who are right in the head can have their break point. Knowing that can absolutely help respectfully de-escalate a situation.

[redpuppy]

Reminds me of a somewhat similar episode when I was around 19yo and just started doing MA. Was with my gf when we saw a man flat on the ground midday. We got him up, he was drunk. Then he got the impression that we want to mug him and made a step towards me with his hand raised in a menacing way and I just posted my hand against his chest to stop him. He got unbalanced and was tilting backwards. In that split second I imagined him falling and smashing his head on the pavement, so my reflex was to grab his collar to stabilize him. He was still bad mouthing us, I barked a bit back at him and we just left him holding on to the fence that was next to us. Pretty good outcome for all parties!

[darrenngo]

Greetings from The Philippines! :) This video was amazing. Your students are very, very lucky. You are the true epitome of martial arts, which is (despite all the B.S. marketing) actually really, really rare.

[flylord]

Very wise! One of the most important videos ever on youtube!

[thomasnugent]

Very true and very smart ! Thank you very much

[medicineandbrazilianjiujit]

Thank you, professor!
As always, excellent advice.

[ZenDragonYoutubeChannel]

This is very true and a good perspective to avoid physical escelation whenever possible, which is the highest level of self defense whenever possible. Just to add to the discussion, I would like to note that my wife has worked as long as I know her with people with mental illness, my mom has been mentally ill on and off all of my life, in fact my wife used to work for her but that's a digression... anyways, in some cases with mentally lll people, some of the normal clues which might indicate a potential physical altercation go out the window, as depending on the mental illness, sometimes they can switch in an instant, which can make it hard to avoid and de-escelate.... just another reason to also train the combative aspects of self defense, although communication skills combined with having compassion and not being guided by one's ego are extremely underrated aspects of self defense. I also like about this video that it's not always just about protecting yourself, sometimes it's about protecting the potential attacker as well, if it's a kid, someone physically inferior, or just someone you know is unstable and about to ruin their life if you let the situation escelate.

[daniel-zhnjyny]

Another youtuber talked about a homeless guy trying to break into his car. To avoid touching him, he threw a leg kick, and the homeless man limped away. (That youtuber was already the size of a heavyweight when he was 16, it doesn't work like that for everyone)

[simoneriksson]

I have missed your uploads on this chanel! Very impotant insight you share with us :)

[robertnorrell]

there's a fella i saw in the news quite recently that punched an old guy once, just ONCE, mind you, that called him the "n ' word the old guy fell hit his head and died later fella is in jail now and prob going to prison this stuff really happens just walk away if you can not worth it

[ambulocetusnatans]

Something similar happened to me, but the guy said he was going to kill me and rape my dog. Do what you want to me, but don't mess with my dog. I was physically shaking I was so upset, but I knew there had to be something wrong with him so I walked away. I still get upset thinking about it, but you're exactly right.

[mchughcb]

Dude I thought you were going to explain how you avoided a fight with a guy in a tuxedo called Tattoo.

However story does ring true there was a local homeless aggresive drunk at a village when I was in my 20s and he tried something similar on some a group of teenagers. The killed him and 2 served 5 years for manslaughter.

[wesg]

Some of the best advice I've heard regarding being "testosterone drunk". 10 seconds can change your life forever.

[hotpopcorncake]

I had a encounter like that before, I was mentally thinking about punching a crazy guy trying to fight me, Because I know was sitting on his favorite bench at the park..Also some people on drugs will take the amount of blow in the chin, then keep coming back like a fast zombie..

[snatchX]

another great video. btw, if i may ask, is your left eyelid ok? looks like lid ptosis.