How to get better at fighting?

Demystify

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So I'm interested in getting better at fighting. I want to be able to throw stronger and harder punches without flailing my arms. I want to have a better stance and be able to take punches. And most importantly I want to look like someone who would win in a fight. I already lift weights. Anyone?
 

jocca

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take up boxing, muay thai something of that nature.
 

Evzone

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You're going to need to get into a martial arts gym or a boxing gym; nothing that you read on the internet will help you or replace hands-on training. I was fortunate that my university had a pretty active ju-jitsu club, which was free. Are you in school? If so, maybe your rec center offers something similar.
 

Kerpal

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First of all, what kind of fighting are we talking about here? If you're worried about being attacked on the street, the best advice is simply to pay attention to your surroundings, not go into bad areas where things like that happen more often, etc. If you do that, chances of being attacked etc. are pretty low.

When it comes to true self defense, unarmed fighting should be a pretty low priority. I suggest applying for a concealed weapons permit, purchasing a firearm, and getting training in how to use it. Real life isn't like the UFC, there isn't going to be a referee there to make sure everyone fights fair, and there's no reason not to use the best tool available for the job.

BJJ is great, but outside of BJJ gyms, people throw punches and gang up on other people. You need to learn how to hit and be hit, and training one vs. one without strikes while learning how to choke someone with the collar of something they'll never be wearing outside of a BJJ gym isn't going to help with that.

If weapons aren't an option, learn how to box and combine that with some basic wrestling or BJJ (no gi only), with emphasis on takedown defense. You don't need to learn how to do the spider guard and escape from arm bars and stuff like that if you're just learning to defend yourself on the street.

Lifting weights is great, but it's pretty low on the priority list when it comes to self defense. I've never seen a barbell throw a punch or pull a knife on someone.
 

thedude4242

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I know some guys who won a lot of fights because they didnt back down and were willing to fight. you just gotta have it. because if no one thinks your tough after 21, they probably wont. some people have that bad ass look. start strength training and doin cardio. with good cardio you can fight longer and becoming stronger is a must. do forms of hybrid training that involve cardio and strength training.
 

Pie in the Sky

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First of all, you should do everything in your power to avoid a fight. It can get ugly really fast if someone grabs a weapon. To your question, take some boxing lessons. Martial arts is good and all, but the vast majority of it has no real place in a real fight. Most fights are broken up right away anyway so you might as well learn to get in your licks as fast as you can.
 

MSwrestler

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how do you get better at math?
how do you get better at sex?
how do you get better at anything?

Nike - just do it.
 

Colossus

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I agree with Kerpal.

Strength is always an asset, but it only goes so far in fighting. If I weigh 230 and can bench 400 lbs, I could certainly hurt somebody if I hit them, but it doesn't necessarily translate to me knowing how to fight and move effectively.

Some boxing, wrestling, and basic no-gi BJJ are awesome tools and will give you great confidence. But like he said, a street fight happens so fast and it's probably going to be several guys ganging up on you or someone pulling a weapon. In either case your priority is to get the fvck away from that situation as fast as possible.
 

Evzone

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Definitely agreed that you should avoid a fight when possible, but generally when these threads pop up, which is usually about once a month, it's just some kid who got in a bar fight or a drunken brawl at a party and nothing too serious. Now if the mob was after him, then he has bigger problems than we can figure out.
 

Xx1

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I always slap-box with my friends, it's the best way to realize how fast you are on your feet and hands. It's a good idea if you don't want to commit to a martial art or whatnot.

Golden advice: Make sure your nails and your friends' nails are cut short.
 

rocksoff

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Drive down to Skid Row in LA....bring a few bottles of liqour, a wad of cash and a various assortment of heavy drugs....walk around skid row flashing the cash and taking swigs/hits....youll get that hands on fighting expirience you crave for free
 

BananaSmile

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Why do u need to get better?

its pretty useless to be truthfull

i got into a fight with a maori once
i thought i knew how to fight (i not big or anything but i though i knew)
:d i didnt
i gave up

then i also got in trouble with schoool :mad: (what my dad said kinda made me regret it)
NeEDED to learn self -defence and ****, did half a year of kickboxing, did lots of sparring to get better fast (and i quit cbs driving there was pretty far)

AND NOW? i didnt have 1 fight after that day because im not scared of anyone. I did get heaps of threats, lot of fights arranged but when i showed up nothing happened.

If you want to beat up other people THEN YOur a loser who cant use words (i hope ur not)

the only reason it might be used for is street situations which you can avoid by being smart


i want to looks like someone who can win a fight? just act like one , it will definitely help
 
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Step 1: Go learn some kickboxing and jiu-jitsu.
Step 2: Lift weights and get stronger.
Step 3: Think you're tough, get in fight and have knife pulled on you.
Step 4: Run like hell.

Seriously though, fighting is pretty pointless, however as a man, you should have at least a basic idea of how to defend yourself. Some kickboxing and bjj is good place to start. Just don't go picking fights unless you are aware of the potential consequences.
 

Bible_Belt

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Demystify said:
So I'm interested in getting better at fighting. I want to be able to throw stronger and harder punches without flailing my arms. I want to have a better stance and be able to take punches. And most importantly I want to look like someone who would win in a fight. I already lift weights. Anyone?

Where do you live? Find the nearest gym with fighters who are winning actual competitive matches, and that will lead you to the best trainer, which is the most important part.

There is a local "sensai" near me who just invented a martial art, declared himself a red belt, and opened a school. He is younger than me. He says he fights in his home country (no films or witnesses) and that he is an expert in about a dozen martial arts that he can barely spell. He won't ever grapple or spar with students. His fighters are about 0-10 in mma so far; no one has won a match yet, or even come close, all been horrible one-minute ass-kickings. That is the type of school to avoid.
 

Demystify

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The reason I want to get good at fighting is because I've just noticed that most guys who do well with women look like they could easily win in a fight and would probably hit really really hard. This seems true regardless of the guy's height or weight. Nearly every ladies man I know could stand their ground and do well in a fight. I've known short and skinny ladies man who could still easily win in a fight. I'm not saying that if I become a professional boxer or start succeeding in gang fights then I'm instantly going to start getting girls. I just think the type of guy who looks like he could win in a fight is more appealing to women than the type of guy who looks like he'd lose in a fight.
 

T-Mack

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The safest way to get better at fighting is to spar and fight with many different styles of fighters as possible within your weight class. If you are feeling real bold, spar with guys 50 lbs heavier than you and you will really know what it feels like to take hits in the face. You can forget learning any kind of boxing, karate, etc.

It’s completely useless to learn, unless you are actually using your skills to fight/spar someone during your training. I can guarantee that you will get your face stomped into the ground the first time you get into a fight; no matter how good you think you are if you don't have any actual fighting experience.
 

Matt281

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The reason I want to get good at fighting is because I've just noticed that most guys who do well with women look like they could easily win in a fight and would probably hit really really hard. This seems true regardless of the guy's height or weight. Nearly every ladies man I know could stand their ground and do well in a fight. I've known short and skinny ladies man who could still easily win in a fight. I'm not saying that if I become a professional boxer or start succeeding in gang fights then I'm instantly going to start getting girls. I just think the type of guy who looks like he could win in a fight is more appealing to women than the type of guy who looks like he'd lose in a fight.
Although I don't really see guys who look like they can fight getting all the girls, the reasoning behind guys like that doing better with women makes sense. There's a certain sense of confidence that comes with feeling like you could win a fight.

The two most important things for now are:

1. Find a club or gym where you can actually get experience. Get a set of boxing gloves and box your friends. Get used to doing submission wrestling. I literally have no formal training, but I've just wrested/boxed my friends and got into a non-structured jui-jitsu group when I got to college. That's really all you need unless you want to get into competitive fighting.

2. Don't buy that "don't bother lifting, it's all about skill bs". A strong guy who knows how to choke someone and punch will generally beat the **** out of a scrawny guy who's taken a years of martial arts. I love rolling with guys who've been taking a class for 2 years but that no actual experience or strength - they're just terrible. Don't get me wrong, skill makes a big difference and someone who really knows how to fight will beat someone who's bigger and stronger, but just don't fall into the illusion that you can win a fight just because you've been instructed in martial arts.

That being said, yeah, knowing how to fight will probably boost your confidence a little. I beat a few marines wrestling and it definitely made me feel pretty good about myself. However, don't ever think something like working out or learning to fight will get you hot women without some game. Only way to get better at that is go out and talk to a few hundred of them =)
 
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englishman

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A lot of martial arts are a long drawn out way to learn to fight and they often are only really effective if your fighting in a competition against an oponent following the same rules for eg; no kicing in the balls, eye gouging or biting.

If you really want to learn how to be a bad ass mofo I would suggest Krav Maga

http://www.commandokravmaga.ca/
 
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