Skylark

I have taken multiple different martial arts. Tae Kwon Do is my highest belt (1st degree black) but I was mainly taking that for exercise (so I had a different focus).

My first teacher taught me 2 things
1) If someone wants to fight, run. After 2 miles, if he is still after you. Stop and beat the crap out of him. Because you are in better shape. That is why I make you run until you puke.
2) If someone does fight you. Assume he wants to kill you and act accordingly. Like Fenian's experience - you never know if he is going to pull a knife (or a gun) so do NOT give him the chance. All the fights I have gotten into have been usually over in less than 10 seconds. I warn them how I will approach a fight and they still came after me.

When I fight, I go for areas that break. Knees, collarbones, etc. I have a wife and a daughter. I AM going home safely to them. If any were dumb enough to pull a weapon, then it gets nastier. I go for ANYTHING that ends it. If that means a strike to your windpipe, so be it. I AM going home. If you want to make that not happen, you will die if I have to.

This is why I try to not get into fights. Because I know what I can do. I know what can happen to me and I'm not going there unless I have no choice.

This is the biggest worry I have ever had as a teacher. I have been attacked by students and by brothers a couple of times. Whenever I get hired, I make it clear that I will defend myself against aggression to the principal. I make sure I know the security officers well and talk to them. I AM going home and you are NOT hurting any of my students.

I had a student's brother (20 year old) sneak into the building and came to my door. The student should have been in my class at that time. He wanted in to get three students in my room. Why? Because his brother had been waving a red handkerchief around saying crip stuff. They took it, put it on the floor and stepped on it. That was it. He was there to hurt and/or kill them. He wanted in. I said no and pulled out my radio. As I started calling for security he pulled out a knife. I broke my radio over his head. Fight over. The principal joked about making me buy a new radio.

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"I've TKed better men then you, and I wasn't even trying!"


Skylark |TG PCS|

Long Bow

Good points Skylark.

As I said I only started my training. However I have already realised that the things Im learning are not going to leave a little bruise, they are going to change the internal make up of the persons limb. A fight needs to end quickly or your risk of getting injured goes up. There is a big difference between throwing punches and manipulating joints and bones.

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