The Truth About Street Violence

There is a ton of nonsense online about how best to protect yourself from violent attacks. Most of this advice is dished out by sports based martial artists with zero experience of criminal violence and street fights. Of course their advice is also skewed so you sign up for their defence classes. I give what I feel is the truth of the matter after witnessing and being involved in hundreds of such situations. I discuss practical ways that anyone can do to greatly reduce your chances of being attacked.
The Truth About Self Defence - • The truth about self d...
The Truth About Street Violence - • The Truth About Street...
The Truth About Violence - Female Edition
• The Truth About Street...

[@paragonfilms1531]

As an ex-bouncer i’ll add another scenario that i saw many times: the drunk mouthy girl starting beef with guys that her poor boyfreind then felt compelled to try to finish. the old “my boyfreind will kick your ass” routine. I would say that was one of the most common scenarios I saw in terms of fist fights. In my experience in general the best ways to avoid trouble is: 1) avoid alcohol and places where people are drinking it. 2) check your ego, don’t ever fight because of ego, only for survival. 3)be careful selecting friends and girlfreinds, don’t let anyone into your life who would put you in danger.

[@thatgearguy]

Sound advice!

[@roobs4245]

Actually my best friend used to run the "my friend can beat you up" routine. It stopped quite quickly after I told him that he picked the fight, he gets to have it. :D

[@ushgambala1]

We go out with people who can control their intake, have fun, and don’t put their friends in dicey positions

[@scallopohare9431]

Too many women get men to do their dirty work.

[@Allthepills]

Ex bouncer here too. I agree, women were always causing trouble pitting guys against each other.

[@TheTrueFinnster]

A quote that changed my perspective on fights, "Whenever you are in a street fight, you've got one foot planted in jail, and the other foot in the hospital". I'd like to avoid both.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Or both feet in the grave. Just don't.

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

When you are young and pumped up with testosterone, and ego, you never realize how true, that is.

[@theboyisnotright6312]

You might be the toughest guy in town. But one day you might meet the meanest man in town. Mean beats tough every time. Oh your a 5th degree black belt? I have a 357, bye bye😂😂

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

@@theboyisnotright6312 True, they're always things that can't be foreseen you need to keep that in mind. There is always an unknown factor in any potential street, confrontation and you may not be equipped to handle it, irrespective of what training you have had, if you have had little or no street experience. Experienced street fighters, can be very dangerous as they can sense when the right time is to attack and what to do and can easily catch you off guard.

[@scallopohare9431]

@@theodoreconstantini2548 I wasn't even trying to fight one time, just heard a peculiar sound, and looked behind me. There was a length of heavy chain snaking on the sidewalk. I stepped aside, my memory goes blank after that. Though, there had to be some skill in throwing that chain.

[@Foghornish]

I always found that the taxi ranks and fast food takeaways after the nightclubs had closed were trouble. Everbody's tired, pissed, drugged up, hungry and sexually frustrated.

[@sotiriosnovatsis4529]

Very true, my friend.

[@ruiyurra4996]

True indeed

[@prettyundefinedrightnow8963]

My personal strategy is simple: don't be where trouble is, get away from as soon as you can smell it coming.

[@not_much_of_a_talk]

That's boooring 🤣

[@prettyundefinedrightnow8963]

@@not_much_of_a_talk better bored than beaten up, however I take your comment as an act of volunteering to be my substitute in case of violence... so thank you ever so much! 😜

[@not_much_of_a_talk]

@@prettyundefinedrightnow8963 I precisely followed your strategy all my life. Booring 🤣

[@chrispedersen2526]

I tried to explain this to my ex-girlfriend that you absolutely do not want to get in a street fight if you can avoid it. I think she thought I was a p****, but I'm not. If someone attacked us, I would defend us, but I'm not going to go fight someone because my girlfriend is an idiot and wants to start shit with people. I think her father used to road rage and start shit with people. What she doesn't realize is he always started shit with people smaller than himself that he didn't think were carrying a weapon.

[@anthonyluisi7096]

I see the reason why she’s an EX GF … good for you mate …

[@drengskap]

Glad to hear she's an ex-girlfriend, she sounds like trouble.

[@Beef8Cake]

Never stick around after a fight. Leave the area immediately.

[@adamfreeman2348]

100% right

[@jaylove3487]

💯 I was attacked, delt with the threat. Overconfident, stuck around, guy came back with a weapon, spent the night in the hospital and 2 weeks off work !!

[@user-ci2mn1oy3w]

@@jaylove3487 you obviously didn't REALLY deal with the threat. If they can move at all after attacking you, they should need a wheelchair to do so

[@just-a-fella3212]

@@user-ci2mn1oy3w You sound foolish.

[@gman5375]

@@user-ci2mn1oy3w😂

[@DrTune]

"Girls aren't impressed by having their outfits covered in blood and spending six and a half hours in A&E and then another six hours waiting for you to get bailed out" LOL there's some truth

[@soulflame5635]

toxic ones are

[@mattjk5299]

​@@soulflame5635and toxic partners indulge them. Easy to blame the other person sometimes.

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

The normal ones aren't and I have been lucky and avoided the crazy ones.

[@mattjk5299]

Lol comment deleted. Takes 2 people to do stupid shit usually. I wish everyone a very happy not enabling insane partners or friends. Truly

[@VenturiLife]

@@soulflame5635 Only if you're fighting over them. Some girls get off on that.

[@9Apilot]

The Active Self Protection guy distills it down to “don’t go to stupid places with stupid people at stupid times “ . You can usually get away with violating one of the rules and be ok.

[@jnmrn4069]

The guy who taught our concealed carry class said the same thing. If you are armed, you really need to walk away if at all possible.

[@ianclose123]

I've been watching ASP on and off for years and the amount of knowledge I've gained that I will share with my kids as they grow is immense. Even for the perspective of an unarmed Englishman like myself, the principles still remain the same.

[@jnmrn4069]

@@ianclose123you and your children will be well prepared if you go to South America! 😁

[@ianclose123]

@@jnmrn4069 the funny thing is, yesterday a Labour government was elected in the England so give it 5 years and it'll actually be safer for us to live in South America than it will be in England. The UK is over.

[@sorearm]

Situational awareness is your number 1 defence. Don't look like a victim, Don't hang around dodgy places, be in unavoidable places (underpasses, parks, unlit, etc). Keep off your phone. The good thing about any form of stress testing, realistic sparring will at least give you body conditioning to have the fitness to at least not gas out (and leg it!) It's easier to walk away and preserve your face, body and psychology from injury. Your phone or wallet are replaceable, physical and mental trauma are not

[@Bhouncer]

women have more social awareness than men and still they get attacked. you can be as socially aware as you want, in some cases its not enough.

[@arcanearcher13]

This video should be seen by teenagers every year of high school

[@dgeos4740]

Thank you! Dad always said "nothing good ever happens in a bar after 10."

[@charlesclawson3445]

Grandma said 12am but I work nightshift and have seen crazy things going to work at 11pm on back roads😂

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

@@charlesclawson3445 My mum would say the say thing.

[@wulf67]

I don’t know which bars your dad frequented, but I’ve had quite a few good experiences at bars after 10.

[@filipebeat]

nonsense 99% great thangs happens, u took d 1% bad 🤦‍♂ i do it daily for 16 years actually, only bad thang dat ever happened is my subs keep blowing up 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂ bitches broke my bed a couple times too

[@goldilocks913]

@@wulf67😂

[@MrBass233]

I come from a place in england with the highest knife and gang crime in the EU at one point, and I've never had trouble, I don't drive, and I walk the streets. Not because I'm hard or tough, but because I don't give off a victim vibe, predators don't usually attack others whom they think will give them a chance of causing them harm. Fights are never equal. There's always someone who thinks he's superior, you don't have to be superior to others, you just have to appear tough enough to not be worth the effort. 99% of avoiding being a victim is your body language and how you hold yourself. Not to mention your intuition for unfolding events

[@MrBass233]

@johnnychopping3655 exactly my friend, alot people don't realise they give off a victim vibe and persona, it takes a level of self awareness to carry yourself in any moment with relaxed readiness, your always being watched and sized up, if you know this you can appear alot more dangerous for what it's worth to others even if it isn't entirely true. It's all psychological

[@AFCAjaxAmsterdam]

This is so true, i´ve walked around on the streets in colombia, mexico, brasil etc. I always walked around whith high self confidence as if was ready to fight. I never had a bad altercation, because its a mental psychology game. If you walk around scared without confidence, you are an easy target!!

[@theboyisnotright6312]

If you look broke crooks leave ya alone😂😂.

[@frederickcraft1772]

When I see someone looking at me as if they want to approach me with violence I put on my evil smile and start looking around like I'm checking for witnesses and walk like I'm ready to crack at any moment

[@veronica_._._._]

In the median then, neither shrinking, nor looking for it. I call it "not getting snagged on the undergrowth" haha - works for women too, nondescript and purposeful.

[@drew8979]

I spent years working in corrections and law enforcement and your advice holds true. I tell everyone to just walk away. I dealt with so many guys who went to prison for alcohol and drug-related violent incidents. You can ruin your life for nothing and have a lifetime of regret over one bad night. It's why I never go out anymore because I hate being around drunk idiots. This is why training in martial arts is important because it teaches you the self-discipline to walk away.

[@OoLiiMiiT3D]

Best comment. I agree with all. Jesus bless you 🙏🏻

[@big_red_machine3547]

I did too and I agree with your advice and everything you said. My addition to that would be that 9/10 times, there was a woman involved in one way or the other. Bar fights that I was in was always because there was a big shortage of women around to keep men occupied

[@beowulf_of_wall_st]

@@big_red_machine3547 the kind of woman who gets a thrill from a guy being tough will ruin your life and move onto the next tough guy, I had a girl who would talk shit to random guys because she loved it when they saw me and my size and backed off, I dumped her the third time she did it because it is not worth the cost

[@user-ys1jr3et9i]

Thanks iv been saying what you said. To NY nephew's for 30 yrs

[@markbryant4641]

I only ever had one friend who liked to fight. He trained for it and was absolutely fearless. When he was 18 or so he got hooked on heroin and speed. He went through rehab but kept slipping. One time when he was 21 or so he was up on speed for a few days and drinks too. He murdered the most important person in his life. Fast forward nearly 30 years and this guy summarises your point. One act of violence and that's it. Your life is literally ruined. I see this guy now and then. He's a broken man. Every day is guilt and grief. I can't imagine the weight of grief compounded by guilt. A friend of my wife. Her brother was punched out of the blue. He was standing with friends watching a band at a town festival. Daytime. Families everywhere. A drunk angry guy walking past him punched him. No warning. No altercation. Nothing. He died because of the injuries from his head hitting the concrete. The guy who killed him got three years. This was also around 30 years ago and sometimes I wonder how this man feels. Consequences. Violence is the worst we can do.

[@user-uk3xc3vv1x]

I shudder when i remember being in my twenties, absolutely no fear, walking or often stumbling around Dublin on my own late at night.

[@Andy-xt3mh]

I've talked my way out of more fights than I've even seen the biggest liability to this is the people you hangout with.

[@Lisekplhehe]

My group of friends was really cocky, as i stopped a lot of confrontations for them with a smile and good word ("c'mon mate, they're just drunk idiots, have a beer with your friends and don't waste your time"). One time they go to the club without me being loud and tough and they meet someone tougher all of them getting knocked out. One good thing is it humbled them, so i don't think it's always a bad thing getting your ass kicked.

[@geniferteal4178]

I totally agree with this. I've been great at diffusing situations. One time I was with some guys and they immediately talk back to someone. granted. It was him against all of us but still the situation started to get out of hand until someone spoke Some reasoning about the numbers And he walked off. It made me realize how Many guys tend to Escalate a situation.

[@jeremystreeb1737]

Same. Talked my way out of getting stabbed twice and a few fights as well. Saw quite a few, but only had to engage in a few because there wasn’t really an option. Most situations were diffused verbally though. I second the idea that it’s more about who you surround yourself with, as once I changed my friend group up after realizing they were unhealthy for me, all of that stuff stopped.

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

That is so true.

[@blingbling574]

Most of the fights I got into (30+), were squared up. Others involved alcohol or arrogance but they were one on one. The ones I talked my way out of were with total stranger(s). You don't know what kind of weapon they have or how many of their friends will help them.

[@DoveringFifths]

Mobility is important, I do like to walk in the city at 3 or 4 am, been doing it since I was a teen and I'm in my 50s and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. I take a bike or escooter for a walk, I stick to the backstreets, I wear dark clothing and avoid lighting so I don't get spotted. I try to spot others first, and then I use my mobility to avoid them from several blocks away. I don't care who they are, I don't stick around to see what kind of people the silhouettes are, I see them a long way off and I take a different route. An animal will just avoid all humans and try to stay undetected. Even predators behave this way to avoid unnecessary injury.

[@mrmcfc2010]

Creepy bastard 😳

[@djcolter5732]

Pro tip, Situational awareness

[@veronica_._._._]

Make that a 3D picture. proximal awareness.

[@williamweb9782]

I could never understand how the OODA loop would even work against multiple opponents.(especially if those opponents simply appear behind you.)

[@NoNowwwell]

Just my story of the one time I nearly died. Walked my g/f (now wife) back home about 1/2 mile away, midnight ish. Quiet walk to hers, and I had to walk back to mine. We were 19 at the time but her mum didn't let her sleep round mine if she still lived at hers. I get it, but was annoying lol. On my way back 5 guys were up a road I HAD to take. They already clocked me and I knew gut instinct wise if I took another much longer route they would see I changed direction, and I would be further from home. Anyway, where I lived was one of those places where 3-4 avenues all sat parallell and alleys in the middle, so basically a gridlike system. I walked past them and they verbally threatened me, said give us all your money. I ignored them and walked past. They didn't do anything. Heart was racing. This road was a busy one though. I turned into the middle avenue where I lived - quieter road. As I entered it I started power walking home - just 200 metres or so left. I was walking FAST. I heard a noise and realised 3 of the 5 were tailing me, and that they were trying to speed sneak. As soon as I turned I saw 2 come out the middle alley. The heart really started popping. I live in a rough area. Lot of younguns just getting randomly stabbed. I knew if I started running the 3 behind would block me and the 2 in front would head me off, I was pinned. It was a risk but I saw it as the only viable option - play dumb and react last second. I got very close to the 2 near the alley, and realised one was fucking tall as shit, 6'4 odd. I am 6ft. My plan was last second run, but even thickos know tall people run faster even without training. I did the plan, suddenly ran, and the 2 took chase. The other 3 seemed quite far behind. The tall one was CLOSE. CLOSE. Heard him stack it on a slab of ice - I knew the pavement and ice spots better as lived there and had walked down it a few times that day. That slab of ice likely saved my life. Ran down my drive and opened my door and they left. Few nights later some guy was stabbed to death down that alley and was in the news. Police arrested a few peope and 2 I recognised as the ones I had passed. I still have nightmares on it and still get sudden panic attacks when outside. My wife (then g/f) knows this and we don't go out at night much and use cars/taxis as much as we can. Many years later we were at a concert in southampton and had a taxi booked etc but it didn't arrive. Taxis were overburdened and basically noticed people just said "yes" to any name just to use it. So ours was clearly taken. Kept ringing for one, people got less and less and before I knew it just my wife and I were left in a city, 2 am, all alone. Full on panic attack. Got a taxi eventually and oh boy they got a bad review on the one I had booked, lol.

[@ST-yc7uj]

You need therapy. You are missing out on life.

[@DanR-kc1yt]

Thanks for sharing your story man.

[@paulwally9007]

Was this in the UK?

[@veronica_._._._]

​@@ST-yc7ujTherapists? What they gonna do? He was talking with his community, stop shilling for Big Med.

[@ST-yc7uj]

@@veronica_._._._ theres therapy without meds

[@noneofurbusiness906]

I've never lost a street fight. Because I instantly run away at the sight of danger.

[@Beef8Cake]

You win every battle, you don’t fight.

[@bobmathews9072]

“He who fights and runs away , may live to fight another day . But he who is battle slain , may never rise to fight again”

[@Jonesylad142]

Excellent advice, I just dont go to places where i know there is a history of violence and tend to stay in after 7pm, nobody is bulletproof but common sense will always keep you mostly safe..

[@RaveyDavey]

You’re too scared to go out after 7pm?!?!

[@dc4lcorkscrewpatdaGIGA]

@@RaveyDaveyyea that’s extremely inappropriate

[@Provocateur3]

Reminds me of a famous quote over here: Don't go stupid places, With stupid people, & Do stupid things. • Masaad Ayoob

[@heidi22209]

Kinda limiting. I don't know where you live. Whatever you gotta do to think you're safe.

[@heidi22209]

​@@dc4lcorkscrewpatdaGIGADave's comment?

[@ligyron2835]

As someone who has a long history of boxing, been in a LOT of street fights, and also worked “security” for a while..my advice is never get involved in things that have nothing to do with you, don’t hang around places close to closing time, and avoid fights at all costs. I was PAID to be there, hence it was my “responsibility” to handle the problems. In my personal life, I avoid it all like the plague. Only time I got involved was a guy hitting a woman and that was just because as a son and brother I feel a “moral” obligation to protect the defenseless BUT I also possess the SKILLS to reasonably do so.

[@DnBastard]

Used to live in a council estate. After getting mugged a few times I started walking around with one hand in my pocket making a fist sometimes with my thumb out. Didn't get mugged once after that.

[@eduffy4937]

Same here man. Boxer for 21years. I'm not a big guy at all(5'11",175lbs) but I can handle my own in every hand to hand street beef if no weapons are involved, but I still know better and choose to not fight unless absolutely forced to. Turns out you get into very few situations if you don't go out drinking or hang out with idiots.

[@carltoncotter2614]

This must be the first video in 20 years where no MMA or BJJ types have jumped in to say boxing is useless in the street and / or all fights go to the ground? Long live the sweet science.

[@ligyron2835]

@@carltoncotter2614 absolutely adore the sweet science. I got into it as a young boy because of my uncle who boxed and watching Tyson fights with him and my folks as a “child”. It is amazing but I will admit it is “limited” in the bar environment. When I worked security there were still plenty of times things ended up on the ground but there was also plenty of times a few quick “jabs” had a drunk guy decide he’d rather throw in the towel before I had to get real serious lol. Any of the times it went to the ground was because of being in a tight spot. I’ve never had a guy take me to the ground in the actual street regardless of their size since I had the room to move and actually utilize the real “art” of our sport which is the footwork.

[@tamielsabazios530]

The best thing that I’ve gained from years of martial arts, is that, I can stay calm in an escalated situation and walk away, or if I can’t, then I have the confidence to de-escalate the situation. Fighting and restraining isn’t fun, especially when people are tanked up on alcohol or drugs. But this gentleman has quite rightly said that self defence classes aren’t going to work from doing them for a few years, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t, because there is a lot to learnt, i.e discipline, exercise, self and spacial awareness, just naming a few.

[@binaryfairy4197]

TY *so* much for all of your *great* advice! When I was 28, I was @a club w/my friend/roommate & had a good time. My friend had met a guy who was with his friend. The 3 of them met up w/me & I immediately had an unexplainable bad feeling about it-obviously was my intuition. It was so strong that I knew I didn't want to go w/them. They were all upset @me for saying that I wouldn't be going home w/all of them. I called a taxi(this was b4 Uber) I went to & crashed @a nearby friend's place. Unfortunately, those 2 guys robbed my friend @knifepoint b4 they all got in her car, thank God they ran off w/only her wallet & phone. She wasn't injured physically. They were caught & each did 3 yrs. in prison on a plea deal-bc they both already had similar criminal convictions. I lived w/her for a few more yrs & she never questioned my intuition again. It's *imperative* for everyone to always trust their gut feelings(intuition) in every situation, even when it seems trivial at the time.

[@thatgearguy]

100% and glad you listened to your inner voice.

[@StevenKeery]

BinaryFairy: Very sensible of you. I'm glad you listened to that inner voice. I'm surprised your friend didn't listen to you.

[@veronica_._._._]

​@@StevenKeeryYes she broke the go out together get home safe together rule, and 2 onto 1 ...

[@williamweb9782]

We are all born with it and it is imperative that we use it. And being drunk immediately dulls the senses.

[@dprcontracting6299]

You are so right about the 'walk away' strategy. Much less dangerous or expensive or embarrassing - or all three. The other problem with you responding is that even if you are doing well in the altercation, if one of them has a knife or a gun all of a sudden it's a different ballgame. Your life can change forever over some ridiculous insult by a person who you'll probably never see again.

[@thepragmatist]

Exactly.

[@scottfoster9452]

I totally agree with everything you have said. I have recently experienced other men try and attack me in the street. I acknowledge to myself that I felt scared, however I did not blame them for how I was feeling, and I did not take their harassment personally, as it did not have anything to do with me. I had compassion for them and myself. I stopped talking to them and sprung over under a cctv. They followed me and kept huffing and puffing at me, until they got tired of this and they decided to walk away from me. So it was a victory for them and myself. Peaceful interactions with my fellows, is the acme of military victory and it is available to each and every single one of us, at a very reasonable price. Thank you for this timely wise advice. 🙂 👍

[@garynicholls1448]

Situational awareness: in the street, especially after dark, never walk and talk on a phone in the street. If you must use the phone find somewhere with good all round view, STOP, speak and keep it brief. Never cross a road or street while on the phone. It's common sense but I see plenty of examples everyday where people are Cooper Code White.

[@theflamingone8729]

There was a young woman walking the opposite direction to me, she was talking on her phone, as she got within earshot she said into the phone "Oh, you can see me? Ah yes, there you are!" My first thought was she was pretending to be on the phone, but I still think it was a good strategy.

[@bobmathews9072]

Was going to say , I’ll save everyone half an hour and just recommend reading Geoff Thompson’s books “Watch My Back” & “Dead or Alive”, great video though for those who might not be aware of Geoff

[@b-art6098]

I have been in several street fights, bottle fights, stone fights, fist fights and these were the stupidest thing I did in my life. I hate the "street fight self defense" gurus on KZbin. The only time you should probably fight and not run is if you are defending your woman, girlfriend, mother etc.

[@garybennett5645]

Mate your one of the rare honest security guards. Unfortunately many are just thugs and narcissistic and are friends with criminals. I have you seen a disabled person in a wheelchair attacked with a sharp object from behind I was. Keep telling these stories and stand up for women against violence in particular.

[@mosespray4510]

This is a great, sane video. All of your content seems to be really solid. Thanks.

[@thatgearguy]

Glad you think so!

[@AF-O6]

I’ve been attacked when I was young and small, attacked when I was a 2 meter tall body builder, and now I expect to be attacked because I’m in my 60s and look grey and vulnerable….and I am because my body and joints aren’t what they used to be. Fortunately in the States we have defense options, but still best to just avoid if at all possible.

[@craigchamberlain]

As a UK citizen, I agree with your first point but regarding the "we have defence options" part, unfortunately one person's defence is another person's offence. If the UK had similar gun laws to the US, I personally would ensure I was very highly trained to responsibly use such weapons for defence, and I think that I would be safer as an individual as a result. However, I think most lawful people would not invest the time and money to achieve that level of skill and therefore would become a liability. Add that to the unlawful people who have easy access to guns and the net effect is a more dangerous community as a whole. I don't expect you to agree because our cultures around gun laws are so different, but I respectfully believe that society as a whole is safer here in the UK with the gun laws we have than if we adopted the US model. Gun violence is very rare here and I hope it remains that way. We have other issues such as knife violence which can be just as deadly, but thankfully we don't tend to have nutcases running around with AR-15s. I'm not saying the UK model is perfect but neither is the US model in my opinion. btw, I hope you are wrong about fearing being attacked as a 60+ year old and I wish you a healthy and peaceful future. I'm only 10 years younger so I find it unsettling to think of myself as a "soft target". Take care. 🙏

[@Bridgercraft]

We have defence options in the UK too, they just don't involve using a gun to kill the person you're defending against.

[@RovexHD]

We need non-lethal weapons like pepper spray legalised. It would save a lot of victims of violent crime without the downside of lethal means of self defence like guns.

[@kc1973able]

@@craigchamberlainunfortunately as we get older we do become that little bit more closer on the Menu for predators. Predators pick on the young and the old. Your 20,30,40 and in shape 50 year old won’t be attacked compared to our 70 to 80+ year old self. Not my words but words of Rory Millar and that statement has stayed with me even though I’m in shape and 51 . It doesn’t ever mean it’s going to happen to us as we get older but if it does it’s when we are way older than we are now it’s just a horrible fact. And if forbid we do get attacked in our older age in years to come very good chance our attacker is not born yet 🙄. Don’t mean to give a such a doom and gloom out look it’s just how it is at times for us humans and animals .

[@artyomarty391]

Just move to an area that has few blacks and problem solved. My city has like 5% blacks. You can drop your walled with $500 and people will go out of their way to find and return it. If you’re assaulted for some reason, the city will spend millions to find the perpetrator. A few miles east, however, is Washington DC, with 50%+ blacks. It’s a 3rd world country out there

[@hfvhf987]

Every 18 year old lad needs to watch this!

[@paulrichardspencer]

Absolutely great advice, speaking as someone who has lived in the most deprived area in England, where these kind of people will leave you alone if you're from there but if you aren't, you are getting mugged, no doubt about it. The best protection is to get a taxi home, to not engage with these kind of people and overall be safe!

[@joeambly6807]

What area of england?

[@GU5S]

Another great video. But just to throw my two cents in as someone who got my tae kwon do Black Belt and then has trained for the past 12 years in Muay thai and had a handful of fights. You are absolutely right that no amount of training will save you from someone coming out of nowhere and attacking you. Even if they attack you from the front and you do see it coming and have a second or two to react you could well freeze. Having no build up of adrenaline to that moment leaves you very vulnerable as even us that train and compete build up to fights or even a hard spar and our body gets ready to fight. BUT, training still carries some huge benefits. Someone who trains seriously will have the physique and carry themselves with a confidence that tells would be attackers they are not an easy target. They are almost always looking for victims, not someone who looks like they are capable of fighting back. This alone will likely save you from most potential escalations. And if you do find yourself in a violent situation, been a trained martial artist (be it thai boxer, BJJ, boxer, wrestler, karate etc) will put you in a 100% better state to defend yourself than if you had no such training. I think like you say though, its never like in the movies, getting into a fight is always going to ruin youre day, whether you win or lose. You win, great, now youre likely facing legal ramifications. You lose, you could have a couple of sore weaks ahead if youre lucky. If you aren't so lucky you could have life changing injuries or worse. Its never worth it and as you quite rightly said, almost all situations are avoidable, jist our ego that sais otherwise.

[@graham13clark]

One of the most sensible and realistic videos on the subject on KZbin. I have decades of martial arts training (sports and self defense) under me at this point and my advice to everyone who asks me about defending themselves is "if you can leg it, leg it!" No need for heroes, just get safe and enjoy tomorrow. Great content, big man. Much respect.

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks for watching and for your experienced opinion.

[@trollunderbridge2292]

There's a reason why I don't go out to drink. I really only drink at home, or with family now.

[@yathongleung]

First minute I learned as a martial art study... Walk away from trouble! Pretty much the only thing you need to know in life 😂

[@RCFrizz]

This is wise advice and it even applies to the US when carrying a concealed handgun. Even in a situation where there is a clear threat to your life, there is no telling how the evidence will look to investigators -- or a jury. The best way to avoid legal problems and a heavy conscious is to avoid trouble.

[@charlesclawson3445]

I agree, the only fights I've been in are the ones I had no choice, I go out to have fun, not fight, I will be whatever and walk if you let me, no matter how drunk I am, If I said something you don't agree with, explain why, open my mind?

[@AbirTarafdar]

Being a small bloke, it’s a different world. You learn to get by smiling and making people laugh and diffusing situations. Of course it’s a perpetual concern if you come across proper psychopaths. We all gotta be aware.

[@unacceptableviews6231]

Great video 👍. I also see a lot of people walk around staring at their phones with ear buds in, not even aware of their surroundings. Not good.

[@Okgeneric]

ive been all around the block multiple times. rode freight trains, all that. your best weapon, your best defense, is your mind, your intellect. your intuitive essence is important as well, as is your heart. if you ever *have to* engage you have failed to train yourself properly

[@joeperry7891]

A couple of points you talked about reminded me of an Asian guy on KZbin recommending what to do if you encounter street violence: he said 1) get out of there, 2) if you have to fight, do not punch. Use an open hand to try and smack the s#!+ out of your attacker, then run. His point was always to gtfo there as quickly as possible. As far as martial arts or fighting techniques, I’ve always heard that unless you are fighting someone using the same techniques and following the ‘rules,’ it’s probably not going to work. And blaming the victim: I’ve had women tell me that they will dress any way they like, NO MAN will dictate what they wear. I tell them that the people they have to worry about aren’t ‘men,’ they are predators. They don’t care about your ‘rights’ or ‘feelings.’ They will assault you and go about their business like nothing happened. The girls just get mad at me. It always puzzled me that a woman will clutch her purse in a parking lot with a death grip terrified that someone will try to snatch it, but then put her body on display and get made if someone says something. Oh well. Great video.

[@ligyron2835]

I absolutely agree with you on basically all of this. Even when dropping off my guy friends home, I would sit and WAIT for them to get in their door before I’d pull off. You never know what might happen, ten seconds to wait is worth not having to live with the knowledge that someone ran up on them and harmed them. I don’t personally “ask” for people to escort me places BUT I have a high level of awareness from my training and prior profession and I carry a firearm on me at almost all times. Luckily I’ve never had to use it, but I have had to draw it on more than one occasion in my life.

[@BobbyChariot]

I fell for the old chestnut - took a shortcut through a quiet alley in an unfamiliar part of town when I was a student; net result was getting jumped by three locals and having my jaw broken in a couple of places - my wing chun, fencing lessons etc. etc. didn't help all that much when two guys basically clothesline-d me from behind... Good advice yet again 👏 👍

[@keifer7813]

Don't think wing chun would've helped even if you had a whole day to prepare for a fight lol

[@williamvoorhees3888]

MMA/Boxing would get you better results than Wing Chun. Be aware.

[@DG-EditsYT]

Fencing? How is that going to help other than fencing?

[@RIPbob]

​@DG-EditsYT fencing teaches you to get in to the red zone and out again very quickly. And I found it did help when boxing as I'm quite tall.

[@DG-EditsYT]

@@RIPbob Ok I guess I learned something new lol

[@joe-zj8js]

Got blasted on FB years ago when that girl from Stanford and her sister went to a frat party and was roofied/ almost assaulted. I stated that nothing like that should ever happen but this is the real world. Girls should be able to go drink but don't put yourself in that position. Always have your crew watching your drink or take it to the restroom and always get your own drinks. If you do get trashed, have your posse get you home safe cuz thats what friends/ family does....but oh no ppl online think they should be able to do whatever they want, oblivious to the dangers of the world.

[@letsdothis9063]

Some people refuse to acknowledge reality, sometimes, to their own detriment.

[@RichardPoogerman]

I live in a state in the US with one of the lowest crime rates, it also has pretty much zero gun carry restrictions. It might be a cliche but it seems to be true, an armed society is a polite society.

[@keifer7813]

So even violent criminals can get guns?

[@artyomarty391]

Ain’t about the state or guns. It’s about the certain area in the state and demographics . I live in one of the safest areas in US, probably much safer than yours on a per-person comparison,but it’s not because of guns, it’s because there’s only 5% blacks. Don’t look at entire states, look at specific areas/counties

[@theunwantedcritic]

Yeah, until it isn’t. how many school shootings do you have in your state ? or just random shootings.? When you look at the population density and a lot of the red states, do you find that there’s not a lot of people living here. Orange county in California has 30 million people just in that one section. So of course you’re gonna higher crime statistics there. Because more people live there.

[@artyomarty391]

@@theunwantedcritic school shootings represent an extremely tiny fraction murders. Probably more people died in just one street in one city, than all school shootings combined in all of history of the world. Its pretty pathetic to even bring this up as an argument

[@paulatreides0777]

Your right mate, they’ll think twice if they know you have a nice Magnum on hand, we are vulnerable in the Uk and it requires thinking outside the box.

[@andre1987eph]

This is obviously in England. We defend ourselves differently here in the States. Also as a male African American, I AM ALWAYS expecting someone to want to do me harm based on almost 60 years experience. My antennae are up ALL the TIME.

[@thatgearguy]

Sorry to hear that friend. Wishing you safety and happyness from across the pond.

[@doka-jx1yz]

Great video. Its self protection not defence. If you can get gone ,get gone. It takes a bigger man to walk away, only fight when you cant get gone, its about going home safe as Barry Drennan says.

[@geniferteal4178]

Just like when you're carrying protection, you can't just use it Willy-nilly when you feel like it. You wait until you have to use it when there's no other option. Which means retreat if at all possible. There's very few times you're allowed to stand your ground. So don't feel like it's a bad thing to walk away.

[@malcolmgarside3780]

Great advice not just for me as a 47 year old man but something I'll teach my family about the dangers of life. Thank you for this honest information yet again. You're a star ✨

[@thatgearguy]

A pleasure Malcolm. Check out the book "gift of fear" by Gavin De Becker. Probably the ultimate read on the psychology of threat avoidance.

[@simontmn]

​@@thatgearguy Great book. A German female ex bodyguard lent me it. Blackwater was trying to recruit her for Iraq at the time.😂

[@A-Gaming-Memory]

I do like your take on reality bud, proper down to earth guy, thank you, i have been following you for a few months now and you really do know your stuff and what you have experienced during your security work and door work, you're a good guy to listen to for wisdom when it comes to the gritty situations most of us will get into by no choice of our own! i have been i a few situations you describe in your videos with knives, bats, gangs etc but to be able to do as little as possible and try and walk away and do self defence is a hard pill to swallow for a lot of people, ego can be the killer and all it takes is common sense and move on, the drunkards wont even know what they said the night before and are mostly apologetic if you see them again when they're sober, thanks again for your wisdom and life experience, take care 😊😊

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks bud really appreciate you watching the channel! Yep I saw ego cause a lot of problems. Ego and alcohol .. A bad combo!!

[@dleetr]

Yes, alcohol is for the intermediate state between adolescence and adulthood, we all should grow out of it. For many reasons, spiritual and philosophical and biological.

[@flyer617]

Spot on. Lessons on how to have street smarts. Everyone should watch your videos!

[@honigdachs.]

Listen to this man, boys and girls. All very, very sound and real advice.

[@gerardmcquade9102]

with me being in a wheelchair if im out i always put my back against a wall and sit places where i see all round me but im never out alone

[@chrislee4602]

Street Brawls are risky at best. When I did Lyft/Uber I've seen at least 4 gunfights less than 25 yards away. One I was involved in because some jerk tried to shoot me in the back. Don't expect honor or courage from your opponents if you are attacked. Best advice, avoid fights if you can and if cornered and you can't escape, fight like a wounded rabid honey badger that hasn't eaten in 4 days.

[@Buster_Piles]

Jolly good advice that man. Most fights I've been in or seen are over very quickly and sheer speed and aggression trumps skills and belts.

[@NoNowwwell]

Glad you mentioned the "freeze" part. Everyone says fight or flight. I freeze, and it's annoying, lol

[@roobs4245]

Good that you are aware of your own reflexes and not delusional.

[@nightfangs2910]

I'm the same way, I wonder if you can train your way out of being like that in a potential fight situation

[@Krmyas]

i wondered the same thing and actually fought a legal MMA match to see “if it was the violence that made me shake, or the potential for serious legal trouble for illegal street fights.” Turned out- zero fear/shaking before legal MMA. So i now realize much of the “fight or flight fear” is just my realization that i should not be there, not me afraid of a scrap.

[@roobs4245]

@@Krmyas Takes balls to discover your true self that way. Well done.

[@veronica_._._._]

Freeze has situations where it's a winner

[@stevem815]

The number of problems i have in life plummeted after i stopped drinking.

[@onlyonewhyphy]

"Can you identify your аttасkег?" Nah mate, I don't have eyes in the back of my head 😂

[@TwiztedHumor]

I can tell from the first few minutes that you really know your stuff and are one of the few honest educators in self defense.

[@kayasper6081]

Spot on! Although I'd like to add something: totally random attacks for no reason at all, DO happen sometimes. When I was younger I got attacked very agressively in several occasions. A few even in plain daylight! I lived in Haarlem, The Netherlands. In all events, the attack was totally unprovoqued, most times I even didn't see it coming. In a few occasions I really had to fight for my life and just by miracle I came out on top or could run in the end. Like you mention in this video, the attackers were always in groups, it were never individuals. Scary stuff. Now I am 54 years old and live in another place. I never experienced that ridiculous aggresive behaviour anymore. Another thing you're completely right about: I happen to be a Taekwondo champion (I won the third position of the country). It hardly had any value in the street. A drunk agressor late at night does not think in a reasonable manner at all, and might do any crazy act at any unexpected given moment, not even to mention his drunk friends. Thanks for your straight forward and honest videos, I love them!

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks for watching. Glad to hear your in a safer area now!

[@rogerhudson9732]

I used to live in Brighton and avoided night clubs like the Plague, though I was a member of the Sussex Pistol Club (under the arches near Palace Pier) and had a CZ75 until 1997(. !). I found Aikido and carrying nothing more than a torch was enough to give me the confidence to walk the streets after dark, assertive walkers are less likely to be victims.

[@rogerhudson9732]

When I was a kid the Coppers used to wear white helmets in the summer!

[@Starborne398]

"...like Steven Seagal, but without the shitty jacket and the big fat belly..." Made my day 😂

[@10halifax]

I had the worst scenario. In a relationship with a girl that would attempt to get me into fights with idiots. Just a tremendous turn off.

[@gaebren9021]

Ex girlfriend. Ex girlfriend.

[@CapibaraWinter]

Curious, did you ever ask her why she did that?

[@10halifax]

Yeah, she denied doing this...... She was oblivious of how unattractive it made her!

[@chox2001]

A friend of mine owns a gym. The young men that go are mostly on steroids, I have spoken to some of them and weekends they go out on the town to literally injure as many people as possible. Some are kick boxers and similar sports but they boost their ego by fighting easy targets. The problem is lots of people are maimed for life.

[@keifer7813]

Why doesn't your friend ban them?

[@chox2001]

@@keifer7813 because he would have no customers left or very few.

[@johnwhite.762]

Thats just horrible, Ive been chased down the road a few times after gobbing off to Gym Monkeys, not been caught, if one of them had a coronary chasing me, would I get done for aggravated injury or causing a really bad deth?

[@keifer7813]

@@chox2001 So money over principles. Not someone I'd have as a friend, just saying...

[@chox2001]

@@keifer7813 not great is it taking money from the roid addicts but he’s a millionaire they will take money from any idiot just like our government so is that really wrong.

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

An excellent video with really wise advice from someone who has been there and seen it all, about how to avoid unnecessary violence. As a teen I remember occasionally doing things, like answering back to people, ( though I never tried to pick fights, and no violence ever took place) that put me at greater risk of violence, and seeing this makes remember why it's always important to try to defuse and de-escalate as you do not want to be hurt or risk hurting someone else.

[@condelaneycd]

Hi I’m con from Ireland done security for 10 years got out of it know what you’re talking about man well said and great youTub content.

[@tecsmith_info]

Great video, with sound advice! Living above a shop in Romford town centre for many years, from Thursday to Sunday each week, I watched a lot of fights out of my window - in fact there are some on my channel - it was always the same routine. You're 100% correct.

[@graemehart9286]

This is the best video I’ve ever seen on this topic. This is a guy who obviously can take of himself. But, his advice on keeping safe, walking away and not being embarrassed to ask for help is gold. Mate, there are probably a few people’s lives you might have saved if they’ve taken the message to heart. Well done.

[@thatgearguy]

Thank you very much for your kind comment. Appreciated.

[@gman5375]

Awesome video. Should be compulsory viewing to any young adult contemplating going out for their first pint. So much of your advice puts me in mind of a great book I read as a young man on this topic - Dead or Alive by Geoff Thompson. A great read.

[@abortedlord]

What if I immediately help you but ALSO talk shit while we go about the business? This is one of the best videos on the topic of "self defense" I have ever seen. And I 100% advocate being ready to respond to violence, armed self and home defense, the whole 9. The real bottom line is that while being prepared for an actual emergency is a good thing, most of the dumb shit that people get themselves wound up in wouldn't have ever become an emergency if they applied their brain for a minute as things started to unfold. Thanks for having this dose of sanity out there.

[@adampeters632]

Great advice! I would also add that there is significant danger of lifelong injury or paralysis from just even being near a fight that other people are having. You could easily get pushed, lose your balance, and fall on a bar stool, concrete, etc. I used to work in manufacturing and had a similar passion for safety that you do. Fights weren’t the issue but just carelessness. Everything in a factory is made of steel and concrete. One slip and fall could mean lifelong injury.

[@JohnSmith-gb5vg]

Knew a lot of guys in the military that found out the hard way; 1) in the streets/bars most likely, no one is going to step in and help, 2) it’s not high school anymore, 3) their is always someone or a group that are tougher than you.

[@phoenixh87]

I was jumped in Edinburgh by four of a group of five guys. They were harrassing a lone guy in an alleyway on my way home so as i approached I told them to calm down and leave the guy be. They put their attention on me after a brief exchange. Two held my arms and another pinned me against the wall by leaning on my front, while the fourth lay hit after hit into my face. He probably only stopped because he hurt his hand. I had dropped my coat when the attack and the fifth guy cam up to me afterwards apologised, handed me coat and pressed a piece of my torn tshirt on my face to stop the blood flow. He then turned around and disappeared. It was totally surreal. My cheekbone was shattered but the funnily the thing that pissed me off the most that night is that it took about 30 mins to get a taxi because well over a dozen refused to help me out. In the end, one let me aboard suggested I go to hospital right away but I was so exhausted I just wanted to go to bed so off I went home. It still all seems so bizarre!

[@thatgearguy]

Sorry to hear that.

[@phoenixh87]

@thatgearguy I wrote this mid way through your video and then you explained when you might be most at risk. I had a few drinks in me, I was young and I was walking home alone. I noticed a potentially dangerous situation ahead but I didn't take a different route. I then had an argument with the ringleader of the crew and that led to me being jumped. They were out for a fight and I blindly walked into it like the dope I was. If the same situation were to happen now I might approach, but I would choose my words a more carefully! If I had watched your videos 15 years ago I would have saved myself some bother. In the end, I wasn't badly hurt. I have titanium mesh in my face now but that's it. I count myself lucky. I learned a valuable lesson too!

[@fokkerfilms560]

​​​@@phoenixh87Not badly hurt?! Mate, you got a smashed cheekbone. 😬 I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I was involved in a slightly similar situation (also in Scotland). A friend of mine got his teeth smashed in after a drugged-up guy got angry his drugged-up girlfriend asked my good looking friend for the time. I let out some kind of sound of shock/horror and got a punch in the face from another one of the druggies. Luckily, it ended there but I got a tiny insight into what you poor guys sometimes have to go through (I'm a butch lesbian). Anyway, just like you it took us ages to get a taxi (first to the police station then the hospital)... ☹️ I think that it's appalling that we're not even allowed to carry mace etc. Ideally, I'd prefer a gun but... 🤷🫤

[@neilsutherland7383]

Very good advice. I won't say about the situations I've been in. but knowing and thinking about this advice would have negated a good few of them!

[@Vili-mf4wx]

Whenever you get into an altercation ask yourself this question, "is this worth dying or going to prison?" It very rarely is. Also, you never know who you are fighting with, they could stab or shoot you. Check your ego and let it go. When you are being attacked for no reason,it's a different story...

[@TheRealName7]

So seems like overall good advice would to be aware of your surroundings in general and if you see something dangerous or bad happening to avoid it at all costs

[@Metallicarule1991]

I’ve said that for years when people say silly stuff like “well we should just educate these people better so they don’t attack people” or whatever the argument is, whether it be so women can go out in really dodgy areas very scantily clad at all hours because they should be able to feel safe at all costs, or whether it be the same for me walking around in dodgy areas by themselves and puffing their chest out etc. it’s about situational awareness. The fact is you won’t be able to reason with the nutcases and the criminals in that situation regardless, and spouting off on social media about it won’t change a damn thing. Like when that baroness was talking about putting a curfew on men at 6pm a while back because of the Sarah Everard incident- that’ll never solve the problem because even if you did manage to enforce it, all the law abiding men might stick to it, if it was even possible (I mean how would any man who does shift work or works hours later than 6pm actually operate for one?) then all law abiding and probably decent men would stay home and abide by it, and criminals, the people that they would be trying to stop wouldn’t give a damn about it as they don’t care about the law in the first place and would just ignore it regardless. That would in actual fact make it easier for criminals targeting women whether it be to rob them or to SA them as there would be no decent men around to prevent it from happening as they would all be locked in their houses after 6pm. The social media rhetoric you hear is laughable in a lot of cases. What they should be saying is (and again it’ll sound like victim blaming, but from what I can see it’s just common sense) don’t go out walking around really dangerous, dodgy areas by yourself late at night just because you “should be able to”. Yeah no one should commit heinous acts, but the ones who do couldn’t really give a shit about whether they “should or not”, they’re going to do it regardless. Best advice I’d say as someone who has studied martial arts for many years is don’t be there, if a situation feels wrong or your gut feeling says don’t be there, then don’t be there, get the hell out of the situation if at all possible, and if there is no option but to be there, take every possible precaution possible, be on your phone to someone trusted, tell people you trust where you’re going and what your planned movements are, and yeah take up the self defence/martial art classes for fitness and health and the myriad of benefits they can offer, but don’t assume that will automatically get you out of any situation. Anyways, loving the video content mate, been watching quite a few of them now and subscribed to the channel, keep up the good work and spreading common sense in an increasingly anti common sense world. 😎

[@thatgearguy]

@@Metallicarule1991 agree 100%!

[@jamesclark6427]

There's so much senseless violence and destruction associated with going out drinking. I've never seen anything good come from it. But I have seen a lot of pain and embarrassment and damaged or ruined relationships because of it. And violent crime. The kind women fear most. Every single one of those assaults was connected directly to drinking and being too intoxicated to resist. That injury never really heals. I've seen what it does. There's nothing good about drinking. All it does is hurt people.

[@Lester-hi4ez]

Those one punch kills are lethal

[@RovexHD]

That’s the thing: You can be the victim, but by choosing to retaliate physically, you can be the one who’s arrested because (for example) the aggressor phoned the police first ! It happens all the time.

[@FredCarpenter-pb6bd]

"What if somebody calls my mama a ?" - Steve, Road House (1989)

[@thatgearguy]

Quality!

[@furtrapper11]

Thanks for the insight into UK culture. Tough places make tough people.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

No, tough people make tough places. Tough places make DEAD people. Dead people make room for smarter people. Smarter people invent more destructive, powerful weapons. Repeat ad nauseum. Now the world is full of people that are brilliant at being wasteful and destructive, hence the whole "fighting culture"!!!

[@BitwiseMobile]

I studied martial arts for years. I had just received a red belt in Tang Soo Do and I thought I knew a little bit about fighting. I got into my first street fight over something stupid - ego - like always. It was at that moment I realized I didn't know sh!t. In a street fight with someone who has experience they don't fight by any ruleset you have been trained for. Everything basically goes out the window the first time you get hit in the head with a club they had hidden in the bushes. I mean I did my best to disarm him, and I was definitely kicking his ass prior. He had walked away and I thought the fight was over. You know - two gentlemen and one gentlemen conceding. I learned that day that there are no gentlemen in a street fight. He got a club out of the bushes and swung at me before I even knew what was going on. I was able to block the first two - with significant damage to my forearms since that was how I was taught :). Then I slipped backing up (not a nice empty and bouncy ring - remember?) and he pounced and it was all over. I had some friends with me - Thank God - and they drug him off of me. I was already unconscious and he was proceeding to do more great bodily harm to me. I know remember my Sensei telling us that the best fight is the fight you walk away from. Run if you have to, but avoid all fights. Martial arts wasn't for engaging fights, it was for ending them or avoiding them is what we were taught. I try to follow that rule now.

[@PurityVendetta]

I don't do martial arts, I don't carry weapons of any sort and I'm a woman. I stick to a simple set of solutions... First, be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Second, always de escalate if possible. Thirdly, keep relatively fit and if necessary run like hell, and believe me, with the urge of adrenaline I'm quite fast! I avoid situations I just know will end well. One example... I ride a motorcycle and occasionally come across road ragers. I find, even if you're in the 'right' a friendly wave and nod might just be enough. I leave enough room for an escape when stopped in traffic. One has to be realistic and I will avoid a situation I'm not comfortable in. I'm under no illusion that I'm going to fight my way out of bad situations. I do not allow myself to be in roomes with men I can't implicitly trust for instance. I forgot to mention not showing fear or apprehension if possible. I'd been for a nice night out with a female friend in london and we found ourselves travelling home on the tube. There was a small group of drunk folks on the tube. My friend was getting a little agitated and nervous. She's from london but I reassures her they weren't, in my opinion, a threat. She chilled out a little and, low and behold they weren't an issue but I believed her potential victim vibes might have precipitated a problem.

[@charlesclawson3445]

I agree, I have trained in different styles of martial arts, but it has to reflexive, I've been bar fights I didn't start and have broke my hand, I grew up smaller than most and that taught me to scrap, situational awareness and resolving conflict is best, I'll walk if you let me

[@jonathanschadenfreude9603]

All i know is the blackout drunks i was raised around in northern vermont inthe early 80's were VERY VIOLENT PEOPLE. It translates later in life when you get into similar situations but you have been down this road sadly 1000's of times

[@MrH1207]

You’re a real one mate thank you for this

[@gregh4284]

I quit going to places where people don't speak coherently and there's litter all over the place.

[@savednorwegian]

Awareness is underrated

[@marcchrys]

Always sense danger and always try to avoid trouble, but always be prepared to defend yourself

[@LeonCouch]

Clearly, you being alive to give advice is evidence of good advice.

[@Soxandnicole]

I just found your channel and I really like it. I'm a girl and took care of myself in a couple of situations. The best advice I could give to other girls is not to act like a victim, don't be polite and mousy. I'm only 5 feet tall and still I got out of 2 situations because I didn't make it easy. I'm not sure if it's always the case but on both occasions the guy was looking for an easy victim, which I'm not, thanks to my 3 brothers.

[@RW7266]

A quote I use frequently is "Absence of body is better than presence of mind." As told to me in the early eighties by a tutor constable.

[@TheRealFamespear]

We have a saying in Thai which translates to: “if you don’t want a stinky shoe, don’t step in shit.” Basically avoid shity people and shity places where trouble lurks. I really like your videos, BTW!

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks!

[@George-nv1ri]

Back when I was a bodybuilder i used to get people starting on me relentlessly when i was out. Im a pretty tame guy and uninterested in fighting. One time someone literally came up to me and spilled a drink on me, i said dont worry about it but the guy kicked off with me! I could tell he was going to try and hit me so I headbutted him in the nose, he fell back and hit his head off a table and had to be taken to hospital, fortunately he survived without major injury even though the entire thing was on CCTV and had loads of witnesses the police officer said if he had died i would have gone to prison, life ruined. After that i stopped going out and if I do go out i always leave before 11pm.

[@thatgearguy]

The Police officer was talking nonsense. Self defence has nothing to do with the level of injury to the attacker. It is completely to do with fear of injury or death and reasonable action to prevent that. The situation you describe is classic self defence all day long no matter the outcome. However it is still a sensible option not to go out late!

[@George-nv1ri]

@thatgearguy that's good to hear I was worried that because he didn't actually strike first that I wouldn't be able to prove self defence, I don't think the policeman beleived me, being a 6 foot 1, 250lb tank with tattoos he just assumed I was the aggressor

[@bosundave121]

I work in private security. I'm a Firearms instructor and instructure on OC pepper spray. I don't teach knife fighting or martial arts or hand-to-hand. I teach self-defense. But not martial arts. I give people options using what you have available: feet to run away, OC pepper spray and a gun is the very very last resort. I teach people how NOT to go hand in hand . I teach them how to avoid confrontation in the first place. You can't believe how much violence can be avoided in the first place through education.

[@BAmerican]

Good stuff

[@6Diego1Diego9]

You are destroying society. People use guns in a road rage and violent situation to get back at someone all the time. All your teachings are bullshit.

[@july9566]

Craziest fight I saw I was in jail . I learned a good lesson that day that many will find controversial. When the threat is down , make sure they stay down . I saw a guy get knocked down , the other guy arrogantly walked away , the other dude got back up and whooped the guy so bad he had internal bleeding in his head afterwards , guy picked up another charge on top of his 12 years for shooting someone . Stay out trouble kiddies .

[@anjahoeck9428]

Great Advice. Your vids are great ! You should crank them out more often.

[@stephennordlinger365]

Smoking cigarettes is like paying for cancer. Drinking alcohol is like paying for cirrhosis.

[@FrankieWildeDJ]

I worked the door in Bournemouth a few years back..Could get a bit tasty on a Saturday night with the stag do's. We had a new lad start who was a Wing Chun instructor, he was a fair old size too. It kicked of on the dancefloor so I called on coms to front door and I leaped In first, head doorman busted through the main doors to help, I clocked the Wing Chun fella on the stairs bricking it and couldn't move, 'Flight' mode had taken hold of him as he had never been in a real confrontation before only controlled environment. ..Door work wasn't for him. I'm only 5ft8.

[@calmlittlebuddy3721]

Best self defense is avoiding places and people where violence could happen. Second best is being in good cardio shape and wearing shoes you can run in. Worst mindset anyone can have is the “winners and losers” mindset when it comes to even a fistfight. You don’t ever “win” a fistfight or other violent exchange. You just lose less than the other side. No one thinks how they can win a car crash, they try to avoid them or at worst minimize the damage.