At some point in your life, you may be faced with a situation where you have to defend yourself against one or more opponents. Street fights have no rules or small talk. If you find yourself in this situation, do everything you can to defend yourself and try not to get seriously hurt. Keep in mind that using excessive force is illegal, although it can be justified if you do it in self-defense. So remember that your goal is to protect yourself and get out of the place as quickly as possible.
Step
Method 1 of 9: Dealing with One Attacker
Step 1. Walk or run and hide, if possible
Your best defense is to keep away from attackers.
Step 2. Know how to defend yourself
If you can't avoid it and must respond to protect yourself, it's very important to know how to defend yourself. Be aware that the rules of martial arts techniques may not help you because sometimes black belt holders in self-defense can be seriously injured in violent and unruly street fights.
Step 3. Try talking to your attacker to avoid a fight
Step 4. Try to stay calm
If you can be calmer, you can find an escape route and know when it's time to run.
Step 5. Remember that the notion that body size is not related to strength is wrong
Body size really affects strength. Don't think that you can beat someone who is twice as big just because you have martial arts skills.
Method 2 of 9: Confronting Multiple Attackers
For more details, check out the wikiHow articles on how to defend yourself in a school fight and how to deal with multiple opponents.
Step 1. Try to get away or run away, and try to stay calm, just as you would when you face an attacker
Step 2. Try not to anger the attackers
Shouting words of challenge can encourage them to attack you.
Step 3. Try to find out why they want to attack you (if possible)
However, you have to be careful because talking too much or asking questions can make them angry and attack you harder.
Step 4. Stick your back against the wall so you don't get surrounded by opponents (this is if you're not a good fighter)
With this position, you can run to the right or left by passing one attacker instead of being surrounded by many attackers.
Method 3 of 9: Responding to Attacks
For more details, check out the wikiHow article on how to avoid being interrupted by a bully.
Step 1. Learn some basic techniques that can help you
Use the following techniques to defend yourself:
- Try to hit your opponent in the ribs. Contrary to popular belief, this blow can be very painful.
- The best place to attack is the solar plexus. Or, attack the area under the nose. Never attack the eye sockets because these areas are very hard parts of the face, and could break your fingers. Hitting the solar plexus can give you plenty of time to run away (as can bending your body to dodge your opponent's attacks, which gives you a chance to strike back). Hitting the nose can also knock your opponent down. Everything you can use.
- When your opponent hits you, move sideways to avoid him, then grab his arm, and strike his elbow joint.
Step 2. Perform the following actions if the attacker tries to strangle you and leans you against a wall (while still choking you)
First, use your left hand to grab one of the attacker's arms. Next, use your right hand to strike your opponent's elbow joint hard. After that, hit your opponent's neck hard (but not too hard), then push his body against the wall, and run away from the spot. If you want, you can also place one of your opponent's arms behind his back.
Method 4 of 9: Using Advanced Tactics
Step 1. Use the following techniques to increase your chances of escaping
However, keep in mind that sometimes you may still need a better way. Use this advanced tactic as last resort.
Step 2. Rotate your opponent's arm backwards (but don't dislocate his arm), and hold the position
This can leave him in pain and paralyzed giving you a chance to escape.
If you practice self-defense, use this technique because you must have been taught how to do it. This technique is often used in martial arts movements (Judo, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, etc.)
Step 3. Do the headband
Try to get ahead of the attacker by moving around him. Move towards the back of the opponent. When you get the chance, wrap your left or right arm around the midpoint of your head (the area near your nose).
Wait a minute, then release your opponent. Be careful that he can still attack you after you remove the headband
Step 4. Protect your feet from being stepped on by your opponent
People who practice karate have learned that stepping on an opponent's foot can break the skull and inflict pain on the attacker. If someone tries to do this with you, jump back a little while keeping your opponent's head on their toes. However, you will need practice to do it successfully.
Method 5 of 9: Defending Yourself When Your Opponent is being crushed
The position of the body under the opponent is a situation that very dangerous. This is a position when you are on the ground, and your opponent's knee is above your body. This position allows your opponent to have free space to launch a punch, while your space is very limited. This is a very common position in street fights.
Step 1. Know what you have to do
The key to preventing this from happening is to parry the blows that come your way. If your position is already under your opponent, the attack technique you can do is to kick the attacker as hard as possible using both feet towards the front of the hip. Then, run to save yourself.
Don't try to launch an attack right away. This will only make you more vulnerable because being on the ground under your opponent is a bad position
Step 2. Find a way to break free
Attacking probably won't give good results. So, the best option for you when you're being hit by your opponent is to let go. Here are some suggestions you can implement:
- Use the "escape the back door" method. Move or bend your body from under your opponent's body.
- Use the bridge movement (bridging). This movement is done by pushing the hips up and to the side.
- Use your elbows to release yourself. Use your hands or elbows to create space between you and your opponent so you can pull one or both feet out of your opponent's grip.
- Turn your body so that your face is facing downwards. When you do this, your opponent will be in a "back-up" position (this is a disadvantage for the attacker), and as a result, you will have the opportunity to loosen the grip of the opponent above you. You can then escape by standing up and shaking off your attacker or using the "back door escape" method.
Method 6 of 9: Breaking the Headscratch
Step 1. Learn how to break a skullcap as this is a tactic often used in street fights
Some good methods will be mentioned here, but your best defense is to stay alert and do not until the opponent hits the head. Recognizing someone approaching allows you to turn around and prevent them from hitting your head.
Step 2. Try to dodge and block your opponent's arm when he's about to do a head curl
This will allow you to avoid the headbutt he's about to do. Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to get away from your opponent's clutches.
Step 3. Protect yourself
The head clamp can cut off the air or blood supply. So, the first thing you should do is protect yourself:
- Bend your chin down.
- Point your face towards the attacker's chest so that your face is protected from the opponent's hand.
- Grab your opponent's hand (hold it at the same time your opponent is squeezing) and pull his hand down. This can instantly reduce the pressure.
Step 4. Keep your body in a low position and continue to bend your legs wide
This action aims to maintain stability so that when you have a chance to counterattack or break away, you are in a good position to do so.
Step 5. Use your free arm to protect your face from the blow
Step 6. Try some of the ways below to get away from the headrest:
- Step on the opponent's foot. Perform this action quickly and correctly at the first opportunity. If you get it right, your opponent will feel pain, so their grip will loosen and you'll be able to break free.
- Hit the inner upper thigh or groin of the opponent. Then grab the opponent's head (by grabbing hold of the hair, eye sockets, or something else), and push the attacker's body and… run.
- Pinch your opponent. This method will hurt your attacker's face, giving you valuable time to get away from your opponent's headrest.
- Move your head up and down quickly. The purpose of this action is to confuse the opponent. Once you've done that, make a sudden forward movement. This can also result in the opponent pinning you down.
- Grab the attacker's arm, then push your head under the arm and release yourself from the grip. This should be done at the right time when your opponent's grip is a bit loose or his attention is temporarily distracted. An effective hit to the ribs or genitals can destroy your opponent's grip.
- Use two hands against one of your opponent's hands (2 vs 1). Use both of your hands to grab one of the attacker's hands and pull that hand away. It is VERY difficult to do a good head curl or strangle with just one arm. Therefore, once you've managed to get one of your opponent's arms out of the way, you'll immediately feel relieved that you're relieved of the pressure.
- Or, instead of choosing one hand, hold your opponent's finger. Use one hand to grab your opponent's finger and bend it as hard as you can. This technique can break the opponent's finger easily.
Method 7 of 9: Breaking Armrests
Breaking the clasp of the arm is a very painful act. The following are some suggested moves that you can implement.
Step 1. Bend your arms if your opponent is going to do a sling with straight arms
If your opponent is going to do a sling by bending your arm, straighten your arm.
Step 2. Prevent arm cuffs by holding onto belts, pants, tops of skirts, etc. before the pitting is made by the opponent
This will prevent your opponent from using your arms and wrists to bend back. Of course, this requires you to be aware of what is about to happen. You also need to know what armrest your opponent wants.
Step 3. Try some of the following strategies if your opponent has done arm curls:
- Pretend to hit your opponent to loosen his grip. Use this moment to break free from the grip of your opponent's arm.
- Really hit or kick your opponent and when his grip loosens, use the moment to break free.
Step 4. Try to pull your hands back as fast as you can
Sometimes this can lead him to let go of you in reaction so you have a chance to let go.
Step 5. Be careful when trying to free yourself from the armrests
The effort you put in could break your arm.
Method 8 of 9: Dealing with a Strike
For more details, check out the wikiHow article on how to deal with a hit.
Step 1. Learn to recognize the incoming blow
As with many other offensive moves, recognizing an impending move is a very important part of a defensive strategy. Signs to watch for include:
- Palms clenched
- Angry gnashing of teeth and jaw
- Shortness of breath and shortness of breath
- One of the legs suddenly shifted forward
- Chin lowered (to protect throat)
- Shoulders lowered (this is where the force of the blow is used)
- The body moves to the side, away from you.
Step 2. Get moving
Before a person takes a hit, he or she has already decided where to hit and has thought of the strategy. On the other hand, you have a fraction of a second to change where the hit lands. So when the hit is aimed at the head, move your head slightly so that the hit will miss or at least have less force than desired.
Step 3. Move your hand in the same direction as your opponent's punch
This can help you to make a well-thought-out estimate of your opponent's next move. You should not make arbitrary estimates, but you must make reasonable and well-planned estimates.
Step 4. Try to block your opponent's punches with your arms, not your palms
This action can reduce the opponent's hitting range and not hit the desired initial target.
Method 9 of 9: Countering the Kick
Step 1. Remember that parrying a kick is a difficult thing to do in a fight
However, if you manage to get hold of your opponent's leg when he tries to kick, you can cause him to fall to the ground.
Step 2. Use your palms to block the kick, not the sides of the muscles in your arms
You could be seriously injured if your opponent's kick hits your muscle.
Step 3. Avoid the opponent's kick
You can dodge your opponent's attacks by relying on the following sequence of techniques to avoid kicks:
- Avoid kicks by keeping your body away
- Get down quickly
- Jump back
- Move to the side.
Step 4. Remember that dodging kicks is more effective if you do this by jumping, moving sideways, dodging your body, etc. rather than constantly crouching
Step 5. Make unexpected moves when ducking and dodging
Do not do the movements in the same pattern.
Tips
- Bring a friend or two if you're going through a less safe place. This can be useful to keep you out of trouble.
- Take the fight as last resort. The better option is to speak nicely to the attacker and run away.
- Take advantage of your strengths. Use the tactics that best suit your body and physique. People who are thin and light can run faster and dodge more easily. People who have a heavy body weight are easier to fend off than to dodge and move their body hard.
- Do something unexpected and strange. If you have a creative idea at the time, give it a try. Surprises are always useful.
- If the attacker has a gun in his pocket/hand, just give them what they want. Your life is worth more than property! Be aware that they will use the weapon if you annoy or upset them. So, just fulfill their request.
- When it comes to weapons, it's a good idea to equip yourself with weapons when you're fighting street fights against strangers. This is definitely better than just relying on your bare hands. Even a stick, rock, or umbrella can make a big difference.
- Try not to look like a victim. Stand up straight and show good posture. This can make you look even scarier. Walk with one hand in the pocket. Street thugs like to bully (bully) people who seem easy to harass and outwardly have a weak appearance.
- If possible, try to avoid areas that are usually inhabited by street thugs.
- Be nice to everyone. Don't make other people hold grudges when you can do the opposite, which is to have a good relationship. Don't act like you're afraid of other people because a weak appearance can attract street thugs to attack.
- Keep trying to get them to talk calmly and confidently. The less fear or anger you show or feel, the less your opponent will be able to control or read your condition. The greater their anger, the less their ability to control themselves becomes. Intimidate them!
- Learn how to spy and hide.
- Don't try to intentionally anger your attacker, as this could prompt them to move towards you and actually attack, when they may have been bluffing before. Alternatively, if you're good at bluffing, piss them off to make their attacks go haywire, and this is the element of "surprise." However, only do this when you are ready to defend yourself. Actually this is not a good tactic.
Warning
- Do not use excessive force to bring down the opponent. You can get in trouble if the act of self-defense is not in accordance with the laws of this country. If you continue to act in self-defense, rather than as the party provoking a fight, it's very important that you don't use excessive force. For example, attacking an opponent who is lying down, or hitting an opponent repeatedly when the opponent is submissive, etc. For more information, read on for this warning section.
- Don't start a fight involving many people. The more people involved, the worse the effects of the fight will be.
- If your attacker has a gun, run as fast as you can and call the police.
- Do not anger them by uttering insulting and condescending words. This can make them more aggressive in attacking you.
- Using excessive force is prohibited by law. However, you may have to use it to defend yourself if your life is in danger. Just leave the details of the case to your attorney later. An act of self-defense is considered "excessive force" or not will depend on context and interpretation.
- You'd better look like a coward than get hurt. So, don't even think about fighting against experienced fighters or a lot of people just to maintain "reputation". Having a healthy and well-maintained life will mean much more than having a good reputation temporarily.
- Watch out for people who might try to kidnap you.
- Real men or women (who should be respected) don't start fights for fun. Make sure that you have a good reason to get into a fight. Don't be a bully who harasses others or hits others easily for little or no reason. It's wise to always have an excuse when you do something, even if it's not the best reason.
