Straight Blast and HKE

[Domstarr]

Broken elbow,

I have a friend who trained with Paul for many years back in the eighties. He used to go to the "bad" part of town into bars, make racial comments and go outside to fight a bunch of guys. He had his friends waiting in the alley with video cameras. He invited some of his students to go, (my friend among them ) The students had too much sense to join him from what I'm told. He used to be the kind of guy to take road rage to the limit and pull over and get out of the car to fight. I do admit that some of this would be considered hear say, however I know the people well who said it. He personally told me he was hospitalized and arrested numerous times for starting fights. He did say that he was over that stage and that it's been a few years since he's been in a real fight.

[Thai Bri]

If he keeps ripping people off he may get in one again before he knows it.

[brokenelbow]

Thanks Domstarr. I'm just always dubious when someone says that they've been in hundreds of fights.

Vunak is a strange duck, he's obviously talented at what he does and is a good instructor, but every once in a while he leaves me scratching my head over something he says or claims. Oh well, and so it goes.

Ryu, have you heard these stories?

[Domstarr]

Broken Elbow,

I'm sure that things get exxagerated. Who's to say what the real number is or how stories change over the years. Strange duck is still accurate, however.
The story about the video camera in the alley is true because I am VERY close friends with the guy who told me that.

Domstarr

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Yes I've heard them, and he told me a couple of things himself. I really don't want to discuss it on a public forum though because I do still have respect for him. Hope you understand.

I will say this. People who continually get into streetfights suffer emotionally and morally from it. It's just the way it goes. "Streetfighting" is really "street assaulting." And it's nothing to brag about or admire. Paul does NOT admire or condone some of the things he's done. And he says so if you talk to him. However, that kind of lifestyle leads to hurtful aspects of your humanity, dignity, and mentality.

I've been in my own share of altercations, and have struggled with anger issues, etc. Fighting doesn't quell anger or hatred, it just gives it more ammo and fuel.

I honestly think the more you think about "streetfighting" and less on moral issues and legal issues it brings up, you end up dead, in jail, or mentally suffering.

That's about all I'll say on it.

Ryu

[Domstarr]

Ryu,

I know what you mean about the legal issues. I served a guy with a restraining order to stay away from my girlfriend who he had been stalking. While I was giving him the papers, he started threatening to kill both of us and called her every name in the book. He tried to attack her. I could have kicked the living shit out of him, but instead, just grabbed him by the neck, threw him like a rag doll into his apartment and left the scene. He filed an assault charge against me, which never went anywhere because there were witnesses, but the point is, you never know. You can get out of the car and have a fight with someone and witnesses could tell the cops you started it. With a martial arts background judges don't look too highly on us fighting.

[brokenelbow]

I honestly think the more you think about "streetfighting" and less on moral issues and legal issues it brings up, you end up dead, in jail, or mentally suffering.

I hear you Ryu, but where does that put those who make videos on street fi... um I mean self defense, and those who buy them?

With a martial arts background judges don't look too highly on us fighting.

You have that right. Intercepting a punch is great but it can leave you holding the who started it bag. Some solutions include using something like PPCT to pre-empt the fight which could still leaving you holding the bag, or learning how to start or draw the fight without making it noticable so everyone witnesses him attacking first. There are some sweet tricks just for that purpose.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Well it all depends on the motivation and how its sold too. Videos on street assault and how to realistically deal with it are fine just as long as you do not promote the myth of the deadly streetfighter who has no moral obligation or legal worries.

The whole "streetfighting" craze takes a bad name because you have a lot of people who talk about stabbing people, pulling eyes out, and such, and talk nothing about moral issues or legal issues of this type of behavior (whether justified or not).

I greatly respect people like Richard Dimitri and Marc MacYoung who make great efforts to talk about the realities of violence, and the realities of legal issues and how such violent lifestyles effect morality and human emotions.

People who haven't really experienced violence usually are the ones who talk about ripping eyes out, killing people with no remorse, etc.

Ryu

[Kali]

Both Head butts, knees and elbows, plus the striaght blast tapes are very good. His others are quite good too.

[Nutz]

Yup. The Advanced trapping was pretty good for the drills, but the tape I really value is Mass Attack. MA is a true life-saver if applied and is required material for anyone I teach.