The real problem with self-defense techniques are when they work

[@ruthlessgray]

Self defense is indeed a legal term. It is also an admission of guilt with the caveat of necessity. This happened and I had no choice but to do that, to protect myself. The important part to pay attention to here is, "I had no choice". A man tries to stab you, you manage to avoid the knife and kick him in the groin, If the bad guy falls to his knees holding his groin, that's self defense if you then kick him on the head and he dies because of the kick, that's assault. Congratulations, you are now a criminal. When did you become a criminal? the moment you stopped the aggressor (on his knees, holding his groin) once you had stopped him you CONTINUED to attack him. Any police officer will arrest you for it. Any prosecutor will take you to trial for it and any jury will convict you. Self defense is a serious legal term. I suggest you pay for a couple of hours of an experienced criminal defense attorney's time and have them explain the concept to you. Spare yourself the horror of fighting for your freedom in a court room. The fun doesn't end there, say you go to trial and are found not guilty, well you may now have to worry about a civil trial for wrongful death with a much lower threshold of proof. Fun fun. The short point is, know what you are talking about when throwing the term self defense out there, your freedom and future prosperity depend on it. Oh, and remember that a trained fighter has a higher degree of responsibility in self defense situations because they are a "trained fighter".

[@utomocalvin]

"When did you become a criminal? the moment you stopped the aggressor (on his knees, holding his groin) once you had stopped him you CONTINUED to attack him. ... *any jury will convict you*." Is it though? Does the aggressor stopped becoming a threat when he is on he knees? Can he not easily recover and continue the attack? As the claim of "any jury". If I as a jury, it will not be as clear cut and I will look at the situation. Supposed that a 100kg potential rapist holding a knife was kicked in the groin by a 50kg woman, then the woman soccer kicked him in the head when he was on the ground. I think it is not unreasonable to think that the woman is still in "genuine fear of imminent physical harm" even after the 100kg man was holding his groin.

[@egarcia1360]

Not a great example. A knife-wielding attacker poses a deadly threat, and therefore you'd be justified in responding with deadly force. While it may be more practical to run away, depending on the circumstances, the mugger does not-as @utomocalvin pointed out-stop being a deadly threat just because he's stunned for a few seconds. John Correia at Active Self Protection does a great job of explaining various legalities of self-defense using real life examples.

[@thedog5k]

@@utomocalvin I wrote my comment before reading your reply. Thank god somebody has some fucking sense. I'm so tired of reading peoples fantasies like its a comic book story. If someone messed someone up after they tried to attack them "unnecessarily" I am giving a LOT of wiggle room to the self defendant. If you have a 5'0 ft daughter, are you going to tell her that she needs to stop hitting after she established " control"???? ( holy shit, i didn't finish your comment before writing my reply. You REALLY have some sense.I went through the same thought process LMAOOOOO)

[@WALTAH2000]

This is patently wrong. What if he starts motioning to get off his knees and charge at you with the knife again? What if your back is against a wall and your forced to go around him to escape? You are right that you will be arrested, charged and tried, but many jurors would not convict someone in such a scenario. People have gotten away with way more than the kick in your example and jurors did not convict them.

[@cthulhu-jitsu7404]

I wish more people would talk about things like this. A friend of mine once put it perfectly, "doing something that's going to get you sent to prison for the next 10 years isn't effective self defense".

[@paulpelle3046]

Nor is potentially allowing somebody to kill you. ✌️

[@cthulhu-jitsu7404]

@@paulpelle3046 nor is assuming everyone on the street is trying to kill you. Life isn't John Wick. If you (royal you, not you specifically) need to constantly be on edge that you are going to get jumped by blood thirsty murder knights, it's quite possible that you're the problem in this scenario.

[@paulpelle3046]

@@cthulhu-jitsu7404 I don’t live that way at all, nor does any sensible and rational human being. However, I know that if unavoidable trouble comes my way, I can deal with it both physically AND legally. This is taking ownership of one’s safety AND liberty in an increasingly-troubled world. This necessity is amplified when you have children. Very few people out there are intent on killing you bro (using your ‘royal you’), but a high percentage are stupid (especially when intoxicated and in a large male group). Your passive-aggressive comments aren’t helpful, or based on reality. My comments are all based on nearly half a century on Planet Earth, a good knowledge of criminal law, and numerous personal experiences of having successfully defended myself. My intention has been to help and inform others...not to advocate fighting ‘on da streetz’. Get real, and grow up basically. Best of luck to ya. 🙏

[@wattlebough]

I have been a student of a particular reality-based self defence system, and as part of my first grading we sat through a lecture that covered the specific laws around self-defence and assault in our state. One of the key points we were drilled on was this: that a key question you will be asked by the prosecution in a court of law is did you have the opportunity to leave before the situation escalated to becoming physically violent. Because if you did have the opportunity to leave before the first punch was thrown and you did not take that opportunity, that alone will weigh heavily against you before the jury. Almost all altercations are avoidable. It just takes one person to be humble and say sorry matey you’re right it was my mistake and back away. 9 times out of 10 nothing will come of it. It’s also vital that all young men especially learn the Rules of Stupid. Don’t go to stupid places at stupid hours with stupid people and do stupid things. If you follow the Rules of Stupid once again, 9 times out of 10 you’ll avoid trouble.

[@cthulhu-jitsu7404]

@@wattlebough "Don't go to stupid places at stupid hours with stupid people and do stupid things". THIS!!!!! ALL OF THIS!!!!!!

[@RamseyDewey]

If anyone can explain why my phone started talking to me about halfway through this video, please let me know in the comments. I’m concerned about the AI robot uprising.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

There are Martians inside your phone. They are insidious as bad as Land Sharks....but seriously if you have an Android (or possibly with Iphony) there is Google voice which can be programmed to do thing like translate and give you info like directions....and sometimes it will wake up erroneously and try to speak

[@cheese7072]

at 7:35 your phone heard "serious " and mistook it for Siri

[@paulpelle3046]

Are you still rockin’ an iPhone 6 Ramsey? 🤔 (I legitimately AM...and my phone occasionally does similar bizarre sheee 🤷‍♂️)

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

Glitch. Or it was possessed may the powers of Christ compel it 💦💦💦💦May the powers of Christ compel it 💦💦💦💦

[@lunchguy659]

If you have Google assistant or Siri or Samsung's Bixby and say something that sounds like "Hey Google" or whatever the phrase that the phone app is listening for to start listening to you to do a task, it will start working

[@spinningdragontao]

As a martial artist of 38 years plus, teaching both martial arts and self defence - YOU SIR... Are absolutely right.

[@Vlad_Tepes_III]

In conclusion: streetfight enthusiasts who practise non-competitive martial arts and claim their techniques are too dangerous for combat sports have it reversed: it's combat sports that are too dangerous for the streets. This is the best reversal I've seen in a while.

[@brianpugliesi5733]

As someone who studied self defense for years, this video is 100% correct. It’s a shame that coach’s / trainers / practitioners like this catch so much flak from others.

[@Chiburi]

No. Read my comments.

[@cwhitetkd]

The most successful "self defence" technique I ever used: A woman whom I'm going to guess had experience with meth was on the train with me, and said classic lets start a fight words: "What the f**k are you staring at?" and so I responded, 'Oh my gosh you just look so much like a friend of mine.' She was completely stunned for a moment and then said, 'Oh yeah? Ok? You look familiar too? Maybe we've seen each on the train, well have a nice day.' Not a single punch or elbow to the back of the head. Why aren't we teaching de-escalating situations first? (I mean, I kinda know, this is mostly a rhetorical question).

[@maxford1798]

That's such a genius way to deflect a confrontation

[@cwhitetkd]

@@maxford1798 Thanks.

[@davemeads859]

This is legit I've used it myself a few times and it's crazy how well it works

[@Sakattack2023]

Because everyone knows how to cowtow and avoid. Self defense is about what happens when you can’t avoid.

[@MarcRitzMD]

that's a low-proability defense. A simple slap would have had the same effect to deescalate the situation

[@turbomanmechachrist]

Our coach actually makes us learn the self-defence laws here in Germany, including what tools are allowed and what isn't. And you're completely right, it's never simple and always complicated. In the end it's the in court's decision to decide was alright and what wasn't. And what confounds it even more is the fact that you as the defender can get unlucky and simply knock someone out, have them fall down on their head and die, and then you're in for a whole different ride with the law.

[@RamseyDewey]

Everyone teaching a self defense course needs to do exactly that: make sure their students understand the law.

[@paulpelle3046]

@@RamseyDewey absolutely correct. Many lives have been destroyed in England by PRECISELY what you said: one punch, falling back, hitting head...dead. Pretty sure there’s a documentary on Netflix and/or BBCiPlayer about the tragedy of 1-punch deaths. It will generally lead to a conviction for manslaughter, cf. murder...IF you’re lucky. But the guilt would still last a lifetime. ...I probably need to listen to my own advice tbh. 🤷‍♂️

[@romalevin1762]

I think i saw a video 10 years ago from deutch goverment advising on womens self defense and it looked like: Pull your hand out, with your palm up, and say NO! (Nein). I never thought there are more options in Deutchland

[@e.e.8589]

In den meisten Fällen wird von der Polizei sowieso eine wechselseitige Körperverletzung aufgenommen und dann muss das Opfer/der Verteidiger seine Rechtfertigungsgründe beweisen.

[@markchen4355]

fun fact: in guam if you are trained in any “martial arts” ie even fake one and you defend yourselves, you get into more trouble😂 only place in the world that equate martial arts as weapon except when you are a service member.

[@Sevensliders]

Many of these self defense videos appeal to the power/revenge fantasy of people which are bereft of consequence. Been thinking of this topic often, coach. Thank you for covering this. 🙏🏼

[@paulpelle3046]

Happy birthday bro! 🥳 🎂 This video was spot-on. I’m legally trained Ramsey, and knowing the law has genuinely saved my ass several times in life (I’ve been formally interviewed by police after fighting, more than once) 😬 It’s all about reasonableness in the U.K., ‘reasonable force’. What’s reasonable force? It’s a level of force that’s reasonable in the circumstances. Someone swings a bat at you...you can pick up that tree branch next to you and swing it at them. Basically, there has to be an equivalence of force. They used to call it ‘bode of resentment’, but that’s kinda an outdated term now. A dude punched me first, and I basically hurt him pretty badly...but as soon as he said, “Alright, alright!” I stopped. Also, people hugely misunderstand what an assault actually is. There needn’t be ANY physical contact to your person. If you anticipate immediate and unlawful physical violence, you may launch a ‘pre-emptive strike’. Someone shouting aggressively in your face and gesticulating will suffice...but your strike cannot be unreasonable. This is also the standard (generally) in the U.S. too (since a lot of American law is based upon English common law). 🙏 *Edit* I know some smartass will talk about swinging a 🦇, but I meant a baseball bat (obviously 🤣🤦‍♂️).

[@theelysium1597]

I apologize, but I simply can't stop myself: How did you become a legally trained Ramsey?

[@paulpelle3046]

@@theelysium1597 don’t apologise for not understanding basic English...just get an education instead 👍🤭😄

[@theelysium1597]

@@paulpelle3046 thank you for not shaming me because of my bad English. Would you please educate my uneducated German ass by explaining how the proper noun and object Ramsey is grammatically used in the sentence we both referred to above?

[@paulpelle3046]

@@theelysium1597 my message was directly to Ramsey, you idiot. Nicht vergessen! 🙄🤦‍♂️ *Edit* you’re doing nothing to dispel the perception that Germans aren’t funny.

[@Jono793]

A legally trained Ramsey *will* increase your chances of survival! 😄

[@hypnoticskull6342]

Seeing Ramsey find out what Siri is is the pinnacle of serotonin

[@anthonymoon7746]

Comes back the the saying, a top gun pilot knows how to avoid a situation where he needs to use his top gun skills. No.1 rule of self defence is distance, the further away from a situation where violence is an option the more defended you are.

[@hasanyaseen5547]

Guns....

[@Cod-specialcase]

@@hasanyaseen5547 just without the s

[@FS7kills]

Best self-defense tactics imo: prevention, de-escalation, running away. I've been using these all my life, never been in street fights and only been robbed once when I was a kid. I find it very weird that a lot of the so-called "self-defense" videos don't focus on the "defense" part of fighting (distance management, blocking, head movement, footwork, takedown defense, grappling escapes), instead it's usually some supposed one magic move that supposedly wins every fight. Imo people who want to learn how to defend themselves should worry about learning the defense techniques mentioned above first, then worry about learning striking & submissions. Maybe that's a topic you could talk about in a future video.

[@JohnBlades]

I'm a student of Machida Karate and most of the self-defense techniques are grappling based or escape based to provide an opportunity to either subdue an attacker without causing much damage or creating an opening to run away. The rest of the art is helpful for self-defense as it covers the basics of fighting as in striking, blocking, and countering, but it's mostly a combat art for competition. I think this is a good, solid mix.

[@perfectsplit5515]

"Best self-defense tactics imo: prevention, de-escalation, running away." You are making a blanket generalization and speaking in absolutes. Real life is not black-and-white; it is full of shady gray areas. If the only things we ever needed to do were to prevent, de-escalate, and walk away; then nobody would ever need any martial arts training. You are doing what schoolteachers do - teaching children to be doormats. That is actually a terrible lesson to teach children.

[@bakters]

" *prevention, de-escalation, running away [...] never been in street fights* " So how do you know that will actually work? I've been attacked on the street a bunch of times, I even ended up in a situation described in this video (sitting on the guy's back and contemplating rabbit punching him). What I mean, many people have quite a naive idea of which de-escalation approach will actually work. Being nice and running away will likely work equally well as being meek and trying to run away from an aggressive dog, while standing your ground might result in an actual de-escalation. From my experience, the people who are likely to assault you (or yours) on the street are predatory in nature. They want an easy victim and easy street cred. If you do not look and behave like an easy victim (nice, meek, ready to run), they are more likely to leave you alone. BTW - They will defend their egos and public image, so being unnecessarily aggressive is obviously stupid. Yeah, it's a balancing act. Not my fault, that life is too complicated for simplistic answers.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@bakters Well said, bakters. As Machiavelli said, “Only power checks power.” Reagan stood his ground against the Soviets. In the long run, it did eventually de-escalate the tensions. Do people ever tell a woman that if she is confronted by a rapist, that “it is better to walk away”? Oh, please. I hate it when adults and schoolteachers teach children to be doormats with black-and-white generalizations that “it’s always better to walk away”.

[@bakters]

@@perfectsplit5515 " *adults and schoolteachers teach children to be doormats* " That is true, they do that. I wonder why. Because, as I'm sure you are aware of, that attitude simply begs to be exploited. If you teach your kids to never stand up to a bully, even the weakest bullies will become extremely successful, which will make bullying seem like a decent school career prospect. So, why they do it anyway? Meaning, why do we create easily exploitable youths? I've gone cynical over the years, so I have my ideas why that is so.

[@BlueDongDroop]

I know you have talked about this topic a lot, but this is probably the best and most concise way you have explained your meaning out of any of them. Good video.

[@littleRhino968]

Very true. Its not condisdered 'self defense' if you have the clear option for escape instead of attacking. It was amazing how much info was relayed when I took my CCW class and signed up for self defense insurance coverage. Ultimately, the law is NOT on your side in issues of lethal selfdefense (for either accidental or in negligence). Good of you to share words of wisdom in depth!

[@Hive-Mind-BBX]

"On the street's, there are no rules!" Folks, yes there are, they are these things called law's, the thing is that once a fight start's, in most cases rule's will not apply until afterwards, when you can be tried in court as Ramsey is detailing to you. So regardless of if what you're doing is effective and justified in the moment, the "Rule's" might not agree with you.

[@piotrd.4850]

Basically, in this screwed society, day and age, if fight comes to you choice is being either convict or evidence in the case.

[@macleod1592]

"If you don't understand the law you don't understand self defense." That is a brilliant way to look at it and it's very true.

[@ulfhazelcreek8108]

This is intensely important, and seldom discussed in ”self defense” forums. Thank you.

[@myeramimclerie7869]

There are several interviews about a one punch accidental killer on youtube. His friends got into a bar fight, he went to defend them, threw one punch that ended one guy's life and ruined his own. He spent years in prison and has to live with guilt forever. Highly recommend.

[@MJRLHobbyStuff]

Let’s also be clear, if a person enters into a self defense situation, specifically I get attacked, by another person attempting to hurt me, I then go beyond what a court of law would consider a reasonable stopping point, and the court of law decides my actions went “over the line” and I’m sent to jail. The question is “do I care if I’m safe, or if I survive but end up in jail?” Just to be clear, I’m on your side Ramsey, MMA is the greatest sport, and there is some crossover between MMA and street self defense. For those that focus on Street defense I think most of them think “if I survive is all that matters, if I go to jail it’s fine, because I’m the one still breathing”

[@MODElAIRPLANE100]

It's a difficult situation, i can imagine if I was attacked by someone stronger and larger than me, I would take any opportunity for a few elbows to the base of the skull.

[@TheKlaun9]

Yeah, if you have the option "kill or be killed", many people will decide "kill". But I don't think that Ramsey was suggesting that you let yourself be hurt or killed. I don't wanna explain the video because I won't do it justice in a 2 liner, but perhaps watch it again to get the point?

[@RamseyDewey]

@TheKlaun9 Ramsey was suggesting no such thing. Ramsey just explained to you that the burden of proof when claiming self defense falls upon you.

[@Laugh1ngboy]

Why did Elvis go to jail? Because a guy died when he accidently hit him in the throat, or the plot of a movie?

[@gaetan252]

You are making your own movie inside your head. Why would someone want to use lethal force against you ? In your scenario, are you fighting against 10 bikers in a dark alley ? Are you running from a serial killer in the woods ? In France we have 1,4 Murder for 100 000 habitants each years. The crushing majority of those peoples knew their agressor quite well. A lot of them were womens killed by there husbands or ex boyfriends. Courts are full of young mens who ruined there life over stupids fights. Courts are full of peoples who regrets, who wished they had knew better. I'm teaching future lawyers how to deffend those poor souls. I don't know the country you live in, I can only tell you about what jails are in France. Prisonners are bearly breathing there, in summer. They are usually 4 in ridiculously small cells. Temperatures can often touch 40°C (104 F°). Peapoles get violent in hope they will be thrown into isolement cells. Life is a bit easier in Winter also know as the suicide season. Mental deases are a common thing in Jail. If you didn't had one when you entered you will quickly develop a crippling depression. Ramsey speak the Truth. No one should waste their life because of there misunderstanding of what violence and or self deffence really is. We don't live in fictions, our world is even crueler.

[@adamsmith577]

As a self defense instructor in the US, I tell people that if anything ever happens dont talk to the police. Request a lawyer and thats it. You may be in the right, but you may talk and dig yourself a hole.

[@skinny544]

I'm not a MMA fighter and at the same time I enjoy the sport. I do however understand what you're videos are for, and I find you to be a man of truth. Thank you for the wisdom you share both in the ring and out in the world.

[@HunterGargoyle]

I once got tackled, i managed to turn it around took his back but he still had my arm so i hit him once in the back and got up to escape, i still got in trouble but not as much as i could have since it was justifiable under the laws where i was living at the time... still was fines to be paid

[@RamseyDewey]

Yep. That’s reality! Even the “good guys” still need to answer to the law at the end of the day.

[@paulpelle3046]

Dunno what jurisdiction you’re speaking of, but that 100% would NOT have happened in England. What you described is an extremely clear case of reasonable force...unless you’re skimping on detail here buddy. 🤷‍♂️🤔

[@HunterGargoyle]

@@paulpelle3046 to my admittedly terrible memory that's what happened... if i'm skimping on details i have forgotten them

[@paulpelle3046]

@@HunterGargoyle then there’s absolutely no way that transpired in my country bro. ✌️

[@adcyuumi]

I had to stop the video by 2:27 - sorry Ramsey, but you are way off on that claim. If there is a weapon on the ground and the person you have pinned is going for that weapon in order to kill you, you are still defending yourself. If there is reasonable cause to think the person you have pinned is bigger, stronger, and generally able to kill you if you don't neutralize them before they get out of that pin... you are still defending yourself. If you can claim that you were panicking after being attacked and acting out of instinct to preserve your life, you are still defending yourself. And even outside of those parameters, it is better to go to prison (where you can appeal your case again and again with strong footing in court for a self defense claim) than to die because you didn't do everything you could to survive an attacker. I have no idea who you chose not to single out (wasn't me), but I'd say they are more correct than you are here. It's definitely true that escalating a fight means you can't claim self defense. For example, typically you can't draw a gun on someone who hit you in the face but clearly isn't trying to kill you (let alone actually shoot them). In most places, you can't attack a burglar that has entered your home unless they initiate/threaten violence... and you definitely get in a lot of legal trouble if you attack a burglar who is actively fleeing from your home (if that can be proven; but why risk it). There are limits to a self defense claim. It's just that the line isn't anywhere near where you claim it is.

[@RamseyDewey]

Tell that to the police. If you claim self defense, the burden of proof to prove that it was in fact self defense is on you. Good luck.

[@willieroberson9901]

Hey Ramsey. Back in the 90's a guy named Gavin de Becker authored a book entitled the gift of fear. It is a self defense book and some may say it's the best one ever. You have probably already read it but if you haven't and you have anything to do with addressing self defense I believe you should. The book does not explain any punching kicking or grappling techniques whatsoever. Instead it goes way beyond any kind of fighting methods and explains how to survive life or death situations at the core. It is an excellent read in my opinion and I am not aware of any self defense expert whatsoever that says different. If you read and like the book perhaps you could recommend it to your subscribers.

[@Kwankrang]

I have a strong suspicion that most of the people who are interested in learning what works in a "street fight" are what I like to call "martial LARPists" they LARP on KZbin and sometimes in real life as badass Street fighters, despite never making an effort to go to a fight gym and learn the martial arts they LARP, hence all of the hostile Muay Thai elitists on the internet that most of the time can't even spell Muay Thai. The worst part being that many youtubers pander to this audience. It makes mixed martial arts look ridiculous from an outside perspective.

[@danielhance3325]

Ramsey, I really appreciate you explaining all of this even though you are probably tired of saying this in multiple videos every year. Before I trained bjj, I came from a traditional martial arts/reality based self defense kind of background before and I definitely was guilty of the "martial arts = self defense = fighting" fallacy that so many people fall into. While some people get angry or have an emotional reaction to realizing their understanding of martial arts is wrong/misguided, I feel I have benefitted greatly from your thoughts and explanations. In many ways, it has allowed me to appreciate martial arts more since each martial art can appreciated for what it is (IE its own unique rule set or practice methods) rather than having to judge all of them through this nonsense lens of "wiLL it wOrk In DA STReeTZ????" Keep up the great work and awesome videos!

[@Nuetral768]

As someone that taught self defense for 5 years, and practiced many different combat arts over 20 years before that, I have frequently told every one of my students that if they are taking significant long lasting damage of any kind from any source then they are practicing bad self defense... the best self defense is not to be present when and/or where there is danger, the second best self defense is the utilization of certain techniques to significantly reduce or more preferably negate damage and/or danger to ALL parties present as much as possible. This is what makes a great self defense instructor worth their weight in gold... Because they'll teach you about exercise, driving, psychology, law, aging, and so much more that you can actually use daily in your everyday living. Even when a situation demands combative self defense technique it is extremely unlikely to be defending yourself or others in a street fight and far more likely to be defending yourself or others from a friend or family member that has become impaired as a result of substance abuse or in the case of a child utilizing such techniques a case of domestic abuse (because as you said it isn't what you know, it's what you can prove... most people accept that bad things happen but don't want to accept responsibility for not getting involved in putting a stop to some of those bad things so sadly there are many children that should and will learn self defense to protect themselves from their family members). To be honest I wish we didn't need self defense techniques, I wish we would appreciate legitimate self defense instructors more by learning what they were interested in teaching us, and I wish that we wouldn't be so quick to dismiss or diminish those that have been through such events in their lives that we respond to their pain with compassion more than criticism... in that order. But this world is a dangerous place, and we make it so... I won't ignore that fact (nor will I continue to try to change it, that's why I quit... we can afford to spend hundreds of dollars a month on alcohol and tobacco products, but can't afford to spend even minimum hourly wages on someone teaching us how to protect our backs from injury while lifting heavy objects... it's not the money, it's the lack of priority that made me quit... I got better ways of spending my time than to cater to that kind of stupidity).

[@blockmasterscott]

As you know, I'm a fundamentalist practitioner of Classical Chinese martial arts, and I agree with your entire video, including wondering why the phone talks back! 😁 I've had people over the years ask me to teach them self defense, and I've always told them to go to your local police station to learn the law for self defense, and to find out how people get into those situations in the first place. The sword and arrow Samurai and OK Corral Wild West days are over, self defense is knowing and following the law. It had nothing to do with martial arts, and I mean exactly that. NOTHING. My pet peeve is people asking why do I train with the 3 section staff or spear when it won't help me on the street. Idiots.

[@axelstone3131]

Yeh, play by the law when you have no way out and that person pulls a knife and has every intention of killing you or seriously hurting you, these laws are going to get people killed.

[@dacedebeer2697]

"'Cause it's really fun" should be the answer. That's why I train with swords, knives and axes. I certainly would never use one of those in streets either.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@dacedebeer2697 Good answer!

[@joey792]

Ramsey, Several months ago you corrected me about something in regards to self defense and I humbly listened, I allowed your correction its proper place... your very informed and others should learn from you as well. Happy birthday by the way.

[@paulthomassen5007]

I've been boxing for about 10 years, and doing judo for 5-6 years. And I've had 6 serious fights in my life. What happened was that I didn't get afraid, but I got deep fears about striking and causing some serious harm. Fortunately my judo kicked in by itself and I got out whole of all the situations without causing injuries.

[@basilistsakalos9643]

Excellent post Ramsey!! Happy birthday 🥳

[@ajshiro3957]

But... i thought streetfights were two dudes meeting at a place and agreeing on 3 round matches with fireballs and flying knees. I've been bamboozled

[@chrislemoh2019]

Phone intervention🤣 Happy birthday, Ramsey! Thanks for talking sense.

[@patrickcorrigan2048]

Happy Birthday Ramsey!!!! Enjoy your videos!!

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

Ramsey I am a life long martial artist & I agree 99% with what you are saying. But I once got jumped by a Brooklyn street gang. Their leader started arguing with the guy standing next to me. His hand swung by six inches from my nose. I politely guided it away from his face & asked him not to do it again. When he immediately put his hand back in my face, I redirected him to where I had his wrist and he was off balance. Next thing I knew several of his buddies came up behind me and coldcocked me from 3/4 rear. Then I get swarmed, go to all fours and somebody behind me pulls my EDC from my belt. I had been receiving instruction in an iaido seminar from a Japanese sensei who was visiting & was a friend of my sensei. I instinctively did the iaido seated zazen draw move, bursting forward and upward. The guy in front of me figured I’d strike his jewels so he threw a low cross block. I went over it and struck his bladder til I touched spine. He went down hard & they all backed away cursing & split. Put word on the street I wanted my knife back or I’d find them one at a time. The next day my knife was returned to the bartender. Had my woman do the concussion protocols overnight then went to ER next day. Told doc I felt like I had lost because of my concussion. He told me I’d be queasy for a few weeks & heal completely within 3 months, but that the guy I struck would probably have to pee in a bag forever. 2 weeks later I went back and a different doc and he said I k had healed well for six weeks thinking the injury had happened in June instead of July. I would gladly have avoided or walked away from that but before I knew it it was one. The alternative was a handful of fingers in my eyes. So other than not going to a music venue on a holiday weekend, do you believe that was avoidable or that you would have responded differently leaning on a wall with a hard suddenly in my face. And don’t say pick better friends. I barely knew the guy next to me. Just curious if you think I had another option when a hand went into my face as the first sign of trouble other than the two guys discussing some deal of an indeterminate nature. One second I was minding my business next I get a hand in my face by accident twice then get jumped by 6-8 guys. Just curious about your thoughts after watching your video, which I 99% agree with.

[@CR-vu1rt]

All jokes aside, I remember some of these scenarios discussed in my criminal law classes in college. One action leading to more lethal consequences could possibly cause the other person’s fatal demise.

[@paulpelle3046]

AKA. ‘logic’ 👏😄 And I think you’re talking about ‘the chain of causation’ and ‘legal intention’. I.e. in law we ‘intend’ anything and everything which naturally flows from an act/omission upon somebody else...unless and until an intervening act breaks the chain of causation initiated by our original act/omission. This is known as *novus actus interveniens* 🙏

[@ToiletDuckFan]

So many things I don't understand about this as a 14yr or thereof TMA. IMO: 1. I reject that current, UFC, MMA etc doesn't account for about 95% or more of the variables of a one-on-one fight with somebody. 2. So many variables of techniques in Kungfu etc, illegal for MMA, but worked in a real-life situation. What if it was a home invasion with a guy with a gun and they were on drugs would not the jury be less sympathetic to the assailant's death/maiming using that illegal MMA technique? 3. Even in first world countries they don't publish the percentage of unsolved, rape, murder or whatever crimes - don't think your even going to necessarily get caught at all. I mean think about it people still do these things, they must be getting away with some reasonable percentage or else they'd be terrified to step-out-of-line. Heck, in my country they just solved a 40yr old murder case that was made famous by a journalist who made a very famous podcast. 40yrs. Pathetic. 4. I mean if you don't have a choice and you had to kill/maim a person; I'd rather them than me. I've' had to give mercy to an untrained opponent in a real-life situation before. But if I couldn't do something and they were going to kill a family member and had to do that then - I would almost certainly maim or kill them.

[@mikepapp9084]

The two times I have CHOSEN to be involved in an altercation was when a big guy started to swing at my smaller friend. Good time, he was drunk and all that was needed was to get close and just not let him hit me until his family colleted him. No one was hurt! When two guys started a street fight I got involved just as it was turning into a ground and pound. Luckily neither of them did much damage to each other, and I'm luckier still because the guy on the ground came up swinging at my rear and I didn't get hurt either. A key takeaway from both of these encounters was that I didn't have to strike anyone, strangle anyone, or break anything, but that's cause I was lucky. Every other time I've used my legs and ran away because why would I stay? Good video! Thanks for shedding light on legal factor of self defence. Not everyone hears about that part. Happy Birthday too!

[@GM-hu2xj]

If there was a good guy to begin with. Good call Coach!

[@shoto_shaun]

Okay, long time fan and viewer as well, and I was gonna original state how I agree with all this. I no longer compete so I focus my training on “self defense” of myself and my daughter. But, lol, I have to admit, the “don’t talk phone” portion was epic lol

[@69covcoh]

First of all, thanks you for the video and happy birthday to you Mr Ramsey :) Your advices are wise. Here in France, self defense is pretty the same for decades and compares the attack to the self defense : For self defense to apply the attack against which you defend must be : - Unfair : the attacker as no justified reason to attack you like defending himself/herself/yourself (suicide attempts) or others or stopping you in the execution of a felony. Defending yourself against a police officer trying to arrest you is NOT self defense for example. - In progress : the attack is in progress ; if it's not, even if it stopped a few second ago, it's too late to strike back. - Real : the attack must be really dangerous (can inflict injuries) to you or others. If someone hit you with something that can not do harm, you can not strike back and injure that attacker. A punch IS a dangerous attack while someone throwing water at you is not. Then, for self defense to apply, the defense must be : - Necessary : you have no other choice than defending yourself or other ; if you don't act it's obvious that soemone is going to get injuried. - Simultaneous : the defense is set in the same time of the attack. If someone hits you and you block than you strike it's pretty the same time but if that person attacks you than backs off, you can't go after him/her and strike back ; it's no more self defense but revenge... which is an assault. - Proportional : if someone tries to hurt you or others you can use a defense proportional to the supposed damage the attacker can inflict. If someone wants to punch you and you're of equivalent strenght (adult vs adult, male vs male or female vs female etc..) you can't defend with a weapon. If someone obviously stronger punches you or if that person wants to kill you (using a weapon or is yelling "I'm going to kill you" for example), you can use a weapon. As you can figure from this, the acceptation of self defense by a court will mostly based on the interpretations of that court. Things are going to be very ugly for you if your attacker had no weapon and you had one, especially if you're seemingly in an equal or better physical shape than that aggressor. The thing that the court will especially look at is the intentions and state of mind of the persons involved. If the court feels your attacker(s) was/were determined to do harm your odds are good. Multiple attackers are always a good point for you too. Witnesses or video footage are game changers here. As such, as much as you can, try to look like the person who tries to calm others : open hands, cool voice (don't yell unless to call for help) and no insults. The legitimity of self defense can vary from country to country. Here in France, the idea is to discourage citizens to short circuit the police and as soon as the attacker is more injured than the defenser the self defense will be studied carefully.

[@firun2635]

Well, I was never in a really dangerous situation, but when I had a guy throw punches at me in school I deliberately backed up to move us from concrete to grass, then threw him and put him in a lock until he stopped. I did not and certainly do not want to risk the guy falling badly and breaking the base of his skull, for example. It's not only about you in such a situation, but also the other guy. That is unless someone has you cornered and a knife out or something similar. Reasonable force, indeed.

[@teemun3979]

I understand this perspective from a legal standpoint, but I fundamentally find myself disagreeing with the fantasy that the law is written within. When someone attacks you with physical violence outside of a sanctioned situation, you do not know their intentions. You do not know if they have friends or weapons that will become involved. The longer you prolong the fight and do not eliminate the threat and run, the greater risk that may be posed to you. For instance if someone pulls a knife on you and slices you a bit but you disarm them and gain the upper hand, are you going to stop hurting them before you are absolutely sure that they no longer pose a threat to your life or are you going to let them potentially recover and grab the knife?

[@teemun3979]

I guess that the best way for me to summarize my issue is how police are treated when they overreact to a threat here in the US versus how a victim is treated. A police officer can often beat a subdued or downed opponent with multiple other police officers aiding and no other suspects present, whereas a normal citizen has to know exactly when to stop striking back against someone who attacked them first. It is as if the average person must behave as if they are better trained than the police.

[@codbeast914]

@@teemun3979 this exacly if a cop on the swat team for 10 years can use that excuse I Sure as hell can I definitely have less experience then him or should

[@patheddles4004]

@@teemun3979 Um. - If someone pulls a knife on you, then 99% you should just give them whatever they want. Not worth the risk. - If you gain the upper hand, then you should use that advantage to get yourself out of the situation. Yes, run away. - Police officers in the USA are largely unconstrained in their use of violence, thanks to qualified immunity. That's wildly unfair, but it's not relevant to this video.

[@teemun3979]

@@patheddles4004 What if the person who pulls a knife on you just wants to stab you as far as you can tell? Should you oblige? That may be unfathomable to some people who have not seen real violence in their life, but it is more common than you think in some places. Ah, yes. Let me allow the still conscious person who literally just tried to kill me to potentially stand up and chase me when I could instead break their arm/leg, or stomp them unconscious to be sure the threat no longer persists. Yes. IF you have the option to break their arm or leg over potentially giving them brain damage, you should. But they attacked an unarmed person with a knife, showing them too much mercy is a good way to get yourself killed. It is relevant in looking at the different extremes different people are held to in practice by the law. The reality of what is fair and pragmatic in self defense is somewhere in between what a civilian and what the police are allowed to do.

[@coldteaart5299]

As somebody who both works in law enforcement & as a self defence/martial arts instructor this is so on point. Anything more than the "minimum use of force" in order to suppress, subdue or arrest the attacker is considered assault and no longer self defence.

[@mepnep5060]

Happy birthday Ramsay hope you’re doing great! I wish you wellness and happiness! :))

[@YoutubeCommenter1]

An interesting question: can a submission ever be legal self-defense? Since you are in control while applying it the crime is no longer in progress. Even worse, you are actively preventing your attacker from leaving the confrontation. At the same time, letting go might put yourself in danger again

[@nickwilliams8302]

It's a good point. You may be better off (depending upon the situation) to use your dominant position to strike, disengage and then leave, rather than apply a submission hold.

[@sunte91]

RNC until unconscious put them gently into a stable side position (free airways) then move away. You could even watch them regain consciousness from afar. RNC rarely do any long term damage. Better than KO/TKO in my opinion.

[@punteroism]

I don't know where you live but in the US you can legally pin someone as part of a citizens arrest. BUT if you injure someone while submitting them you can be criminally charged and be liable to suit in civil court. So I would be very careful with any joint lock as you will have to articulate your action to a LEO. And if you use restrains (zip ties/cuffs/etc) you will be charged. So don't do that either.

[@punteroism]

So my advice is takedown then sit on them in full/side mount and call other people to help hold their arm and legs. This is why you will see 4 cops restraining one person they are trying to avoid hurting them.

[@nickwilliams8302]

@@punteroism Well, if you're in a situation where other people can come to your aid, then your focus should just be on not getting injured yourself until they can do so.

[@spextemp]

Ramsey, I've periodically watched your videos for a while now, but this convinced me to subscribe. Thank you for saying this. I've worked with a couple of instructors that drill this same thing it into their students' heads, and it has always stuck with me. What you are saying is reality, but it seems like a lot of people want to either neglect or flat out ignore it. I appreciate you educating people about this.

[@disruptive_innovator]

Sounds like "The Street" (i.e. a public area under legal jurisdiction) actually has the most rules.

[@timadams3979]

Mr. Dewey, one of the best videos on the reality of self-defense and a damn good explanation of it. The truth is, you can be criminally attacked by a violent felon, defend yourself successfully, quit fighting when the attacker gives up/out, and still get criminally charged--because it happened to me just that way, and I spent 6 months in jail and needed a federal appeals court win to clear my name, when I'd done nothing to these two guys who jumped me while ARMED, and if I hadn't successfully defended myself--I would literally have died there. That's the legal reality of most modern societies.

[@RamseyDewey]

A lot of young people in this comments section need to understand this!

[@bachokiro2866]

In most cases the assault happens dark at night where there are no witness, you punch them down they fall to sleep on the concrete then you leave, no one will have any idea what happened when they are found - in this case I don't find an issue.

[@timadams3979]

@@bachokiro2866 I wish that were true. My fight took place in broad daylight, had about 100 witnesses, and the cops arrived during.

[@codbeast914]

Ya the self defense laws need changing the police can go wild and shoot someone because they sneeze (the sudden movement making them jump and shoot) but you punch one to many times nah jail .

[@piotrd.4850]

@@RamseyDewey Need to CHANGE this.

[@serre]

Happy birthday man! I love when you talk about self defence in these clear, honest terms 👍

[@mattirealm]

Ramsey, this is such GREAT advice and antidote (or answer) to the nonsense that most people never even think of. Most things in life can be gotten through without fighting or threatening and all that. I fully realize you have to lay out the arguments because some people don't get it, and the question you received was....loaded? I would call it a "moving the goalpost" type of question. However, they couldn't move it past your logic and I really like that! You nailed it!

[@bp8220]

Urban Combatives is a good channel that goes over stuff like this. He always reiterates running away before an altercation happens, or as soon as able and assuming CCTV and cell phones are watching the entire thing. " If you could have run, you should have"

[@sparrow420500]

I also think it's worth pointing out that just developing one strategy to deal with a physical confrontation isn't the best either. Sure you might be a fast runner if you want to run away, you might be a good all-around fighter, and you might be the best talker in the world, but when the time comes can you guarantee 100% that either one of those things will work on their own? I was a small nerdy kid growing up and got into a lot of fights because of bullying and my unwillingness to take it. Almost as many times though, I have used humor and reason to talk my way out of a fight. Once or twice I have even run away when weapons were introduced or I was outnumbered. I just think it is wise to try to develop all of your confrontation skills rather than relying on only one to keep you safe.

[@johnf7332]

“I am not a self defense instructor” - says one of the wisest self defense minds on the Internet. For better or worse, I’ve based a lot of my self defense strategies (if you can call them that) on what you have said. Real violence is not something that you can really prepare for in a gym. And more importantly, “self defense” probably shouldn’t be a priority in most people’s lives…

[@saparapatepete]

The UFC referee example is a solid guideline to know when to stop in such extreme situations. Love how you acknowledge the heavy implications on self defense.

[@rosskeeling4459]

Fighting is dangerous. The best you can hope for in a self defense situation is to not get hurt and get your attacker to disengage. But if you actually injure someone, and the police show up, it's best not to talk to them. Self defense is, as you said, a legal defense. Nice video. Thanks.

[@timlee8135]

I have to say that of all these utube videos about martial arts , Ramsey Dewey always makes sense .

[@fitveganathleteintegrateda1695]

Laws are RULES. As someone who had to run from gangs when young, I learned that the most important things about self defense in order were; 1. avoiding traps set to catch you. 2. minimizing engagement, in case there is more than one person coming to aide the assailant(s), you were initially trying to avoid. 3. successful full on engagement. 4. ultimate and successful disengagement and flight to safety. The longer you are engaged, the greater the chance of injury to yourself, hostile intervention, and injuring or killing the assailant. I know this because i was forced to defend myself against a goon that broke a long neck bottle on my head from behind, and then started swinging at my throat. While bleeding all over from head and hand from the bottle, I knocked the bottle from his hand, and then destroyed him, hitting followed by a body slam and by stomping his limbs. I was trapped on three sides by a wall, a door propped open, and a chain link fence. I couldn't run. I left the scene with my girlfriend. Someone else, in the otherwise deserted gas station, in a rural area, called the cops and as we drove we were greeted by a road block, and told to get out of the car. I was arrested for assault. I was sober. At the hearing, I was fortunate to have a witness, the judge said I went too far, but had me plead guilty to public intoxication, to give me some sort of record. The ghoulish bloody appearance I had, had him agree that I had a right to defend myself. If you can walk away from a stupid goon, do so. If you have to run instead of walk do so. Prize fighting, whatever modality is being used, forces engagement because there is some sort of material enhancement by doing so and winning. In self defense, the assailant almost never has anything of value to take, it isn't a sanctioned prize fight. You are escaping, possible injury or legal consequences, by using your presumptive superior skillset. Ramsey is correct, do whatever you have to do to avoid street fights. Yes, there is temptation to teach a jackass a good lesson, one that he morally deserves, but let someone else do it, or at least offer them a liability waiver and a visit to a gym where such things can be done within generally legal bounds.

[@kcmacdonald]

People don’t rate real self defence stories because they don’t understand violence Stay strong and stay safe

[@amhawk8742]

The best self defense training system is a 200m sprint. The acceleration is fast enough to get you away quickly & most people give up when the see that you've covered 20m in the time it took them to take a few steps. The anaerobic energy system used is also more suited to the high adrenaline & action in a scrap compared to the longer rounds in combat sports which train aerobic endurance. The only time someone tried to mug me I just calmly jogged away (most people can't even keep up with a pace of 15km/h for more than a few seconds). I didn't need to use any of the techniques I'd trained for over half a dozen years.

[@williampowell3378]

Cool

[@mb2776]

lucky you. Friend of mine didn't had that luck.

[@maxhensley1685]

I currently live in one of the highest crime areas of America. There are stickers up all around my neighborhood exhorting residents to stop murdering each other so much. Even here, I've never felt like I was at serious risk of getting into a street fight. Basic conflict avoidance pretty much obviates that. Sometimes, but still relatively rarely, there are random shootings. Most of the time you can avoid those by not being involved in the kind of stupid stuff which people get shot over. I've taught kids who got in fights all the time, who were convinced that this sort of thing just happened to people. I watched them get into fights, tried to intervene where I could. It was all very, very avoidable. That's actually the only sort of circumstance where I've been faced with the prospect of getting into serious violence as an adult: stepping into other people's fights. I've stepped in to break up fights now and then, and that can be risky, but it's not as dangerous as nobody stopping the fight. I've been lucky enough that I haven't gotten badly hurt or had to hurt anyone else that way. But the few martial artists I've trained with who've discussed using their skills in serious violent encounters, that's how they ended up in them; not because they were attacked and needed to defend themselves, but because they found themselves in situations where they felt it necessary to defend someone else. Ironically, this is a type of situation which "self defense" instruction very rarely ever addresses.

[@piotrd.4850]

Streetfight in gun-swollen country?

[@reginafowler3517]

As a woman, I think when I hear the term 'self defense', I automatically think of women having to fend off an attacker. I do sometimes forget that men find themselves in situations that are less than ideal as well. Fear and adrenaline are powerful feelings though that doesn't simply go away the very second a supposed 'threat' does. For example: My husband and I left our home one morning, headed to my sister's house, twenty miles away. We live on a gravel back road that doesn't even have a posted speed limit. We round one of the first of many curves in our road, just to encounter a pickup truck crossing the faded double yellow line. I scream my husband's name, put my hands out in front of me and my husband snatches the wheel to the right and we go off the road, on the shoulder just as the driver of the other truck snatches it back over to his side. He doesn't hit us, our truck is not damaged, we get back on the road and continue on our way. Thirty minutes later, when we arrive at my sister's, my heart is still pounding, I'm still on the verge of tears and I'm still shaking! That fear didn't go away just because the truck didn't hit us! The rapist that gets shot in the back or the back of the head a few seconds after he zips up and walks away shouldn't be considered a victim, he's still a rapist. The mugger that gets pounded in the back of the head while pinned down on his belly shouldn't be considered a victim, he's still a mugger, etc.. I know what the law states and I understand the reasoning, but human emotion, fear, adrenaline, etc. doesn't go away simply because someone's back is turned to them...or simply because the truck doesn't hit someone head on. I wish the courts would consider this when dealing with self defense cases instead of looking at the direction the suspect was facing from the real victims.

[@codbeast914]

This exact they act like adrenaline goes away faster then you can blink not hours later sometimes .I don't it's even physically possible to calm your self faster then like 10-15 seconds in a situation like that .

[@calburner4635]

Happy Birthday, Sensai. I have two close friends that have been in self defense situations. One knocked someone out, who tragically died after falling and hitting his head on the curb. My friend, bless his memory, was a well known, bonafide butt kicker, and served time for involuntary manslaughter. The other was attacked by two people, and after warning them not to mistake his humility for weakness, beat the heck out of them both. After one produced a knife, he took it and stabbed that attacker 14 times. He was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do serious bodily harm, because it was determined that if he could take the knife he didn't have to use it. The fact that the guy would have killed him was immaterial. He lost everything. It ruined his life. I try to stay out of street fights at all costs, but if I can't avoid it I will incapacitate an aggressor so he can't get up and shoot me. But I will do as little harm to him as possible. The best route is probably to punch an idiot in the midsection above his solar plexus or in his liver, blood choke him for about six seconds, lay him down gently, and get the heck out of Dodge. I suggest that other trained fighters do something similar, if necessary.

[@jonmiller5402]

Where were they from my friend? It tragic they got locked up.

[@calburner4635]

@@jonmiller5402 North Carolina

[@jonmiller5402]

@@calburner4635 Sounds like it's time for another judge, because self-defense is supposed to be a Right.

[@calburner4635]

@@jonmiller5402 What is tragically ironic is that much of the South allows for, so called, "Stand Your Ground," rights for armed self defense, but discriminates against trained fighters. Maybe because fat lazy lawmakers own firearms but don't train?

[@AirLancer]

​@@jonmiller5402 If you took the guy's weapon, and then proceed to kill him with it after already thrashing them, it's not self-defense anymore. You have control over the situation at that point, you can choose to leave. Once his weapon was removed, if you proceed to try to murder the guy with it you're no longer defending yourself. That part stopped once you disarmed them.

[@mikeylitchfield4651]

Most violence is a grey area both morally and legally and the government often passes legislation that helps criminals more than their victims. I think it's common sense that the best way to respond to threats of violence is de-esculation but sometimes I'm sure people do find themselves in situations where their options are limited to prison time for self defence or getting murdered by someone. In which case what are you going to do when you've done the right thing pragmatically and the wrong thing legally? Suck it up I guess.

[@lazur1]

Your voice is perfect for overdubbing English dialogue onto kung fu films.

[@biobomb93]

The best self defense martial art is bodybuilding: you get so big that no one picks on you.

[@patheddles4004]

Not sure that bodybuilding is the most efficient option here, but I do agree that physical size and confidence work really well to avoid fights. I'm not a bodybuilder and not a trained fighter, but I am big and confident. Can confirm, in my entire adult life so far I've never had anyone try to pick a fight with me. Just doesn't happen.

[@biobomb93]

@@patheddles4004 I was half joking but it's true that the bigger you are, the less people are likely to pick on you.

[@patheddles4004]

@@biobomb93 for sure, no argument there. :)

[@travelreview5962]

Ramsey could not be more correct. You are only allowed to use the necessary force to get away or end the danger. Thank you so much for clairofying this because specifically in the United States i see the gun argument self defense misused so often its scary.

[@wolfred5049]

Happy Birthday Ramsey! I have a question, what's your thought on martial arts used for war instead? Either your being invaded or you need to go out there and stop some major threat. What would you try to learn and focus on before hand if you could to increase your chance of survival(assuming you had a decent martial art base already)?

[@RamseyDewey]

Historically, the most important martial art for warfare has been battle formations. But in modern warfare, that no longer applies in most cases. Today, the collection of intelligence is probably the most important martial art for modern warfare.

[@TheKlaun9]

Don't wanna take anything away from this fantastic channel, but if you're truly interested in this, historically or contemporary, you'll find many great dedicated channels dealing with such things here on youtube

[@temmy9]

Martial arts as you understand them were created for sport fighting or duels. Combatives revolve around weapons and fighting in units

[@chocomalk]

People need to realize street fighting is not the same as getting attacked but still we do use the terms interchangeably but they are not the same animals.

[@dawnadmin8119]

Important video. All I’d add is that, in the U.S., if the police are asking you what you did, you are usually better off asking to speak to a lawyer.

[@michaelnewell7324]

100% too many people don't realise that your attacker and you can both be guilty of offences

[@KapteeniKaaos]

Hey, happy birthday Ramsey!

[@wattlebough]

What’s your understanding about the recent death of Leandro Lo, 8 time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion after he was involved in an altercation with an off duty military police officer at a concert? Either way it’s a very tragic outcome, but there’s some interesting accounts of what happened circulating. I have been a student of a particular reality-based self defence system, and as part of my first grading we sat through a lecture that covered the specific laws around self-defence and assault in our state. One of the key points we were drilled on was this: that a key question you will be asked by the prosecution in a court of law is did you have the opportunity to leave before the situation escalated to becoming physically violent. Because if you did have the opportunity to leave before the first punch was thrown and you did not take that opportunity, that alone will weigh heavily against you before the jury. Almost all altercations are avoidable. It just takes one person to be humble and say sorry matey you’re right it was my mistake and back away. 9 times out of 10 nothing will come of it. It’s also vital that all young men especially learn the Rules of Stupid. Don’t go to stupid places at stupid hours with stupid people and do stupid things. If you follow the Rules of Stupid once again, 9 times out of 10 you’ll avoid trouble.

[@mikuspalmis]

Excellently stated.

[@donsheckler127]

What's a reality-based self defence system

[@felipefroelich7032]

I think the Leandro lo case is scary because i understand why he let go off the man, since they were in a club, and its common for bouncers to check people for weapons before letting then in, they probably did it with Leandro and his friends, so Leandro probably believed the guy didnt have a weapon and let him go, he wasnt aware the dude was a off duty police officer who probably used his authority figure to get in the club unchecked, he fought a threat and let it go when he believed the dude wasnt a threat anymore, i think he acted the way it would be right for most situations like that, and sadly was unlucky enough to deal with the one guy who would have a gun in this scenario. This is also why its good to avoid these kind of people, if someone comes alone to threaten you and your group of friends, that person has a "backup plan" most of the times.

[@wattlebough]

@@donsheckler127 Let’s focus on the statement regarding the question of did you have the opportunity to leave before the situation escalated, and why didn’t you take it. Let’s also focus on the Rules of Stupid and teaching them to our kids.

[@wattlebough]

@@felipefroelich7032 That’s why its vital to always leave the scene immediately and rapidly after a successful defence. A defender can never under any circumstances assume that the attacker will be as benevolent and fair minded as you if you’re generous to him. Hindsight is always 20:20, but in an ideal world Leandro would have pushed the guy away and run for the nearest exit and left the concert. Life is always first priority over money.

[@fredriksjoblom5161]

Amen coach! A friend of mine got done for manslaughter over a single punch to a guy's face. It was in self defence as in "he responded to a punch the other guy threw". But the court ruled that under those specific circumstances he should have realized what was about to happen and evaded the situation at an early stage without use of force, but chose not to leave. Everything that happened after the point in time when he could have been expected to understand that danger may have been present, was legally ON HIM. Self defence is far more restricted in most countries than most people think!

[@altermellion6984]

Happy birthday to you, and thanks for the gift you made to us with this video (and the channel in general).

[@stcredzero]

Another problem with grappling and beating someone, is that while you're concentrating on that, the other guy might be reaching for his "last ditch" knife to stab you a dozen times. If you do the technique correctly, maybe he doesn't have a chance, and you could see it and stop it. The problem comes in, if you don't have the position or technique 100% correct, which is very likely in a messy fight. Then, you're right next to someone who is very motivated to frantically stab you a dozen times.

[@piotrd.4850]

Or just grab a shard, glass, can conveniently nearby...

[@kevincolwell9575]

Ramsey, I am glad you said that. I talk about this in my Psychology and Law class. I am a Professor and Ph.D. I tell people this all the time - The real problem with fighting is not that you can lose. The real problems is, sometimes you win. When you use violence as a way to get people to do something, and it works... it teaches you to use violence. You really need to have a whole range of ways to deal with problems. If you fall back on violence, to the exclusion of all the other strategies, then you have a true problem.

[@kevincolwell9575]

In most places in the US, self-defense only counts as an affirmative defense. You state as given that you did the thing they charge you with doing (like hit someone), BUT YOU HAD NO CHOICE. You had to do it, or you would have been hurt or killed. That is when it is a defense in most places. I don't want to argue with people about this. I know there is a big range of interpretations. However, the majority of jurisdictions in the US, it is only good as an Affirmative Defense. At a different level, just using violence to solve problems, and it works, then it teaches you to use violence to the detriment of other strategies in the future. Fight and lose, learn other tricks. Fight and win, it makes you more likely to fight in the future. That is a potential problem. It works for governments, too :).

[@springbloom5940]

In general, if you're thinking in terms of a 'fight', or 'winning', its not self-defense. Self-defense is *escape*

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Happy Birthday Ramsey....

[@ghostdude45]

As a baguazhang practitioner who's specific method was adapted to survive ambushes by a family of body guards, if I managed to get a guy belly down, I am moving myself and my loved ones AWAY from them. If it were a situation where I couldn't, as a man who doesn't want to kill if he doesn't have to, I would use an MMA-like strategy to incapacitate them because it works JUST AS WELL (especially since it is also just as life threatening to the person I would be beating in the face). The more I train and cross examine/cross train, the more these "in the streets" arguments become reductive to combat sports. They may fight under rulesets, but combat sports fighters are still killing machines that need only decide to kill if the moment called for it, in my opinion. Most importantly, they are practicing similar if not the same movements most *insert traditional martial arts here* train, and probably analyze it even more since they have to actually FIGHT regularly. And that's without thinking about the legal ramifications of beating a man to death in the street.

[@railroadtrash09]

Absolutely! On a different note. In my state, mutual combat is legal. One stipulation, however, is that serious harm must be avoided.

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

Excellent . If your response is disproportionate to threat, and inflicts serious injury you are in big trouble.

[@ep_med7822]

As a security professional that does armed patrol and executive protection work, I dread ever having to use any of my weapons on or off duty, and so in addition to whatever company I happen to be working for's general liability insurance I also have my own self defense insurance that covers on and off duty incidents in order to win the "fight after the fight" and I brush up on state statute and local ordinances to keep myself as much in the legal white as possible. People need to familiarize themselves with the legal process.

[@grigoreureche345]

Ramsey Dewey, here is a tip for you.I am a hard-gainer.I trained with weights for some years using volume(a lot of number of sets and reps).My progress was small to nothing.Then ,after years of training and no results I found this secret:to gain weight and power you should use small weights and slow reps.You should use a weight that lets you do 12 reps.Each rep has to last 3 seconds on the positive side and 3 seconds on the negative side(to keep the muscles in tension).For example ,if you do shoulder presses or chest press,you should use a weight that lets you do 12 reps ,3 seconds the negative side and 3seconds the negative side.When I say 3 seconds I mean seconds like those in a boxing match that pass very slow.A lot of people do their reps very fast and they do not see progress.And they hurt themselves because they use big weghts that they cannot control and put pressure on their joints.I made this mistake too.Besides of no progress ,If I was to continue this type of training I would hurt my body.Slow reps with small weights is a lost secret for those who really want to get big and strong.I have some months of training,and in those months I made a progress far superior from the years when I was training with volume.You should really try this. I am hard gainer but the progress is visible although I have only a few months of training.For those who say volume is the answer,my message is that , yes, you can get big with volume(a lot of bodybuilders did that,but you must have the right genetics and you must eat huge amounts of food).There is no reason to train with volume(with the exception of those who want to compete in a bodybuilding contest)if you have another training method that is far superior(like small weights with slow reps) .As a hard gainer,with only few months of training like this(and using only multijiont exercises like deadlifts and shoulder press and bodyweight multijoint exercises and only 1 exercise a day) I come to the conclusion that this is the key to getting big.Yes I am only at the begininnig stages but my progress is clearly visible.You should try this too.If it worked that good for me,for you it will work even better.

[@willr.9903]

a good way to say it is there is a difference between self defense and defending yourself

[@Habersham25]

No fantasy just facts. Great video sir. Once the threat is no longer a threat you are no longer defending yourself.

[@avidhossanmansur9830]

The only legal strategy for self-defence would be pushing the other guy away, running to a safe place, and calling the police. Provided that you don't plan on going to prison.

[@donsheckler127]

There absolutely are legit situations where you can strike someone, throw them, etc. As long as you have a legitimate need to defend yourself.

[@nickwilliams8302]

The goal in a self-defence situation should be to _leave._ Violence is only permissible if someone is preventing you from leaving safely. Someone calling you mean names for leaving is not them preventing you from leaving.

[@avlinrbdig5715]

my brother told me once; "it is easy enough to beat someone to death.. the hard part is to render someone harmless without killing them. "

[@JayPleezer304]

love your videos man...been a long time listener bro...please keep dropping these jewels...salute

[@sbakhabd8799]

When i was a kid my father was a psychopath he had beaten for nothing and i become afraid of people and other kids beat me . But one day i said to myself i rather like to die than let somebody beat me without fight back ...i was 16 ans i had 5 fight than i became danger so just believe in yourself

[@thiagooshiro4857]

There is a moral aspect to this self defense talk. Imagine you permanently injuring person, even If this person had some ill intent towards us... Or even worse to kill a person in reaction... Not considering ALL the legal aspects that you pointed out. People fantasise too much about how 'cool' would be to be the self defense ninja, but in reality It has endless problem, it's a violent power fantasy. I feel very angry and very sad on how self defense become a term utilize to sell the promise of safety for someone that sometimes WAS a victim of violence... It's so wrong, never weighting the consequences... Neither for questionable "techniques", neither for the consequences of those If eventualy work. Nice vídeo Coach, really liked It. And Happy Birthday! 🎉 Greetings from Brazil

[@ll2nycell]

happy bday ramsey. Thanks for all you share with us. It's helped me in my fighting development tremendously

[@LupusRexRgis]

Great video, as expected. Happy birthday, Mr. Dewey!

[@RaffyAyala]

Happy birthday Ramsey!

[@guilegameche3810]

Very well put. Thank you.

[@TheDOS]

“Best defense, no be there” still true

[@christiankalk4668]

I took Jiu Jitsu for a few months several years ago (from a place that billed themselves as "self defense"), and given the level of force involved in the prescribed defensive techniques, I was disappointed that not once did they address WHEN it would be appropriate to use a specific technique or level of force. And many of the techniques were capable of causing significant permanent damage.

[@piotrd.4850]

Here's shocker: in situation, you won't have luxury of choice.

[@patheddles4004]

@@piotrd.4850 You always have choices, and you're always responsible for the choices that you make. If you're a skilled fighter, then you have control over the level of force that you deploy. If you're not a skilled fighter, then deploying violent force at all is probably an unwise choice.

[@youngmf6052]

The attempted murder charge is subject to the whims of a judge and prosecutor I was hit in the head multiple times with a hatchet and they only got aggravated assault, no deadly weapon charges, no attempted murder, just aggravated assault. 1 to 3 years. In the United States, at least of late, violent offenders do not get elongated sentences, for that matter neither do pedophiles. Believe it or not as opposed to say drug violations, for which some people are rotting away with life sentences. We definitely have our priorities straight here in the USA

[@TheDavidG27]

My personal first hand experience in Washington state and California (early 90s). If you are 1. stopping a imeadat threat amd/or 2. Attempting to escape. As soon as that objective is accomplished you discontinue any further viloance (IE reff would have stopped the fight), I haven't had any issues. A big issue to allowing ego to get you in a fight, You can loose and the other person may not have the control or morals that we do.

[@TheDavidG27]

Also food for thought. It WILL come out during the investigation what traing you have completed.

[@martinmunnelly5532]

99 percent of fights you can walk away from if you take your ego out of it stay sober keep your mind clear of violence and the fantasy of testing yourself. Fighting for real is awful unless your insane 🤷‍♂️