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My First STREET Fight

Written by

Eric Wong

in

On Thursday nights, my friends and I used to go to this bar called Philthy Mcnasty’s (weird name I know).

The only reason we used to go to that bar is because their nachos were pretty good for a decent price.

And here’s a pic of the staff:

Anyway, let’s not get off track, this is also where I got into my first (and only) street fight.

Here’s what happened:

It was around the year 2000 or so and myself and about 4 of my buddies went out.

My friend Pete is this hot-headed Italian who’s got a touch of the Napoleon complex (especially when he gets drunk).

So we were hanging out at some tables and talking.

Then, this one guy walks by, a little too close to Pete, and he says something to him.

Next thing you know, they’re on the ground going at it.

It’s 1-on-1 and I see the bouncers on their way so I stay out of it because nothing is really happening.

Then, I guess it’s the buddy of the guy who’s fighting Pete decides it’s a good idea to throw a full cup of beer in my face.

Man was I p’od!

THAT WAS A FULL CUP OF BEER WASTED!@#!  🙂

Well I just snapped and without thinking dropped him with 2 right hands in a row (I had no boxing skills but I was in good shape so I guess it hurt).

I knew I had to leave so I grabbed my coat and left the bar.

As I was walking to my friend’s car to go home, I saw the guy I’d dropped inside and at the same time he saw me.

So he starts walking towards me.

He’s fairly far away so it gives me time to think.

I just stood there and waited for him.

We were about 20 feet away and he yells, "Let’s go."

Uhm, thanks for stating the obvious buddy.

I got into something that resembled a fighting stance, then once he got within range, I threw a straight kick with my rear leg and connected with his jaw.

Should’ve learned his lesson – didn’t – and down he went.

For the second time.

I’ve got to admit, it felt good.

I’m not proud of it (I’m also not ashamed of it).

But in retrospect, it was stupid and I should’ve done my best to avoid the situation.

Who knows? 

He could’ve had a knife, a gun, or he could’ve learned some dangerous techniques (like those found in this book by my friend Jeff).

Either way, the next time something happens, I’m going to do my best to deflate the situation or run away.

I don’t care how I look, I’ve got nothing to prove.

But there are cases where you’re caught in a situation you can’t get out of.

My buddy Pete (again) was in a situation like that, where he could’ve been killed.

Seriously.

I’m going to share this story with you tomorrow, so come back to the blog and you can read all about it.

But for now, I want to hear your street fight story. If you’ve got multiple, leave your best one.

Share it in the Comments section below:

UPDATE: Part II is now live. Click here.

 

Comments

53 responses to “My First STREET Fight”

  1. Jeremiah Avatar
    Jeremiah

    Names j would like to share my recent story of fight I was at my freinds house sitting in car with him guy pulls up runs up to me starts hitting me we have past issues anyways he’s throwing punches they do not hurt I brush them off his girlfriend picks up twenty pound brick throws it at my head hits me leaves a mark and blood on side of my face hits my nose also cracks it also my leg guy hit me ten times no damage except his girlfriends brick I hit him once or twice split bolth bottom and top lip if wasn’t for his girl throwing brick at me I would have beat his ass I left after brick number two was bout to come my way and these were no small bricks huge landscape blocks inches from my Tempe I was hit and didn’t go down this was not at all a fair fight in my opinion what do y’all think

    Reply
  2. Clayton Avatar
    Clayton

    my first street fight (outside of school or family) was when i was 11. It was after school and these kids from the school down the road where standing on the train tracks about 100 metres from my school, one of my mates told me that they were here to staunch us out, he also said he knew them and that they weren’t that tough so i thought “we’d” go and suss them out. They didnt look that big so i started yelling at them, stepping them out and stuff but as we got closer i automatically regretted it. I wondered what the hell they were being fed cause they were big. one of the kids walked up to me and i guess i just went blank, apparently he was telling me to hit him but i coulndt hear a thing. i was scared, hoping one of my friends could jump in and calm everything down so i could walk away still looking touh. He threw a punch at me, hit me in the chin, i was rocked but then the adrenalin kicked in. i started fighting back, throwing punches all over the place like an amateur, i don’t really remember much cause i was blacking in and out of the fight, all i know is i was getting f#%&ed up. I then tried to wrestle him , he threw me to the ground and got on top of me, scared that he’d do some real damage i bit him. Clutched on to his arm he was screaming and his mates broke it up. i know that it was a dirty way to end the fight but at the end of the day who won??.

    Reply
  3. Josemm Avatar
    Josemm

    not my first but my last one like a couple of years ago was really quick thanks to my thai training lol it all starts with one of those mfkers that no matter what you do they want to kick you and if you go like chill man he thinks he can beat you just because you dont want to fight so to make the story short we where in a bar and he wanted me to pay his bill can you imagine hahaha

    then i just said no and he pushed a friend of mine and he went to the floor so i just said to myself ok lets get out of the bar i dont want trouble but if he comes to me again i just gonna land a fucking elbow to his chin and thats what happened i went out the bar and he followed me thinking i was afraid so he got in range and i just elbowed him in the face it was a ko man beautiful he didnt see it coming he just landed flat and i moved forward waiting for him to try to stand up then receive him with another elbow but he was completely out so i just decided to not harm him any further then we leave, it was quick safe and with no further trouble with the police it was a street fight so illegal lol

    Reply
  4. Justin Avatar
    Justin

    My last real fight was about 6 years ago I was 15. I was walking home from the store with some of my friends and a kid started yelling at me (I didn’t know who he was). i didn’t know how to fight nor do i like to hurt people. He threw a punch at me and everything was in super slow motion and I watched a few fists come within an inch of my face i moved my head just enough to not get hit(it was like a movie i still don’t really believe it). I get the kid in a head lock then everything speeds bake up. His mom comes out of the house and tells him to beat me up. I tripped over a parking block and hit my head on the ground. He started hitting me then slow-mo and i pretty much just bench pressed him off of me and his mom got scared and told me to leave him alone then back to normal speed and he ran inside. It was crazy I would not want to get into a fight with somebody that knows how to fight and slows down like I did on that day that is why I have not been in a real fight since then.

    Reply
  5. Bobby Avatar
    Bobby

    David…excuse me, but here we talking about street fight..maybe about something you are right, but about many things you are not. If talk about street fight..it not mean only fight with drunk guy who bother you…sometimes you should save your life…I don’t know for you, but in his head (the man, who make you problem or more) not have free space for respect. And in the moment when you must save your life you respect the guy who want wear the peoples who love you in black dress..(you know what I mean) …if you feel any respect to him then..I hope you never to not be in that situation because the end will be sad.
    You talk that in MMA ”schools” not learn respect ..righ in my club, our trainers want who not respect his opponent , want he make 150 push ups and nobody can’t back home before do the all 150 push ups, sometimes more.
    If you mean that, so you are not right…if you mean that in MMA must hit the opponent when lie down is unrespect, ok, I tell you one more time, we talk street fight, if you respect your opponent on the street when lie down and not hit him, try you lie down and check how much he respect you 🙂

    Reply
  6. David Avatar
    David

    I’ve literally had to many to count in my life time. I guess I’ve got a “yea, come Fk with me face” or something. Growing up poor in a bad neighborhood definitely didn’t help. But thank God for the Marine Corps and all of my martial arts training because it still happens every now and then, only I’m usually the one walking away at the end. That’s the one thing I don’t dig about most if not all MMA “schools”, they don’t teach respect or humility like the old traditional dojo’s. And their are way to many young hot heads out there who think they have something to prove or think their unstoppable just because they “study” MMA.

    Reply
  7. Bobby Avatar
    Bobby

    Mean they can be sure
    😉

    Reply
  8. Bobby Avatar
    Bobby

    Comment by Eric

    Sounds like the old Bas Rutten self-defense videos happening in real life lol!
    But seriously I don’t think I’d go to bars there if every night you were at risk of dealing with ‘maniaks’ and getting stomped out.
    Thanks for the tips they make complete sense.
    And your English is very respectable and your story makes complete sense, thanks for sharing.”

    You are right, many things about street fight I learned from Bas Rutten’s self deffensE video, but also same things I learn also from my expirience (nevermind that i’m 18 years old, my street fights are 30+), because I tested all that see in the video. So all peoples, kids, teenagers and other, if read my post, they can’t be sure that the things that I shared…I shared them because I tested them and know it really works, not only because I saw in video and try look that i’m many informed. And about my english, your reply really make me surprised, because many peoples think very different than you.
    Thank you so much!

    Bobby

    Reply
  9. Youss Avatar
    Youss

    Oh the famous front kick. I have seen it in action myself. It all started when this Asian guy named “Eric” invited a few of us to visit him at his university (Waterloo). We were a mixed group of friends but once out In his university night scene we quickly realized that all the groups stuck together. Good luck trying to talk to any girl. Frustration built up after we ran into some dickhead bouncers. On our way walking home we called a Cab. Out of nowhere a group of 3 dudes tries to steal the cab. When we came to stop them the cab drove away. We faced off. At this point we were so frustrated and now I’m looking up at this huge goon who wanted to fight. So I lost it. I started yelling at everyone about how much I hated the place. Inside I was thinking “dude, that’s a big guy”. At that point Eric starts a fight with this huge recycle bin. It called him out. Little did the bin know about his front kick. Once unleashed, the recycle bin had no chance and was KOd. The sound of glass flying everywhere and my angry voice I’n goons face made them back down.

    Lessons:
    sometimes making lots of noise scares people. Even ones that look like they can beat you up.
    Never underestimate the power of a surprise front kick
    Don’t party At U of Waterloo (back then) unless you are willing to be separated by race

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Bahahah I forgot about that one… Yeah kicking that recycling bin was hilarious and definitely shook that guy up!

      FYI – Youss is one of my best friends and he can be one of the scariest guys you’ve ever met if he gets upset or someone wakes him up before he’s ready lol!

      Reply
  10. cork_boi Avatar
    cork_boi

    Yo
    I’d be similar to Eric in the sense I was 1 of 4 non-white kids in a school of 800. I had my share of playground “scuffles” and earned a bit of a reputation. However i had my first real street fight when i was about 19: 2 dudes jumped me outside a pub. It was far more vicious and scary than anything i had experienced before: they were literally trying to kill me. Luckily i was eventually able to fight them off. After that i went through a phase for about 4 years, where i would often encounter unsolicitated agression from scumbags. Most times i was able to diffuse the situation but about 3-4 times these resulted in actual fights: with mixed results for myself.
    Every one who studies martial arts/MMA does so because they want to learn how to defend themselves. Well if I may plug someone on your website Eric: I strongly recommend Geoff Thompson’s book ” Dead or Alive”. Street Fighters , muggers and rapist select their victims. Geoff book shows you how to avoid being a target to these people. Self defense starts long before there are any punches thrown. Geoff was also screaming at the martial arts community to train in grappling martial arts (and this was back in the early 1990’s: long before the UFC)for realist self defense.
    Anyway the outcome for me is that since i read this book and incorporated the lessons in it, I have never been in a fight. I can see “trouble” coming a mile off and I am able to diffuse very hostile situations using body language and “verbal fences” as opposed to blows.
    If Eric is the guru for strenght and conditioning, the Geoff is the guru for realistic self defence.
    Thanks and good luck.

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Will check the book out – thanks for the recommendation.

      Reply
  11. Bobby Avatar
    Bobby

    Hi Eric…so before share my story..will tell ”sorry” for my english, because it is not perfect.
    So…
    i’m from Bulgaria , little country with big guys. Here almost everyone is maniak if talk about fight, doesn’t matter he is fighter, fitness maniak or other. Here to have street fight is tooooo easy then in the every other country. Here not need to have any reason to have stret figh…just fight. It is only enough in bulgarian disco to just look someone in eyes for 1-2 seconds, and in the moment you hear ”wait you outside”..and you can think he will be alone or not.

    My story look right that…
    One friday night I was in disco…drink my little wiskey and in one moment see one guy (around 120kg and biger than 190 cm) and say to him ”hi, what’s up?”..because look same my friend but in same moment I understand he is not…before to say ”excuse me I wrong” I heard ”wait you out”. He look same drunk and I go out to check what he wanted. Wen I go out, he was alone and wait me on the street…look very angry…I was ready for fight, hited him 2 times, right and left hook right to the chin, then I hited him stronger than everyone before, but he not feel nothing, wen try hit him (right cros) with the thinking already will send him to sleep …feel in my chest very very strong knee..oh my God..I fought many times but that knee was amazing, nobody never not hitt me like him. So after that knee I was out, after that knee was followed with 2-3 stomb kicks and around 8-9 football kicks in body and head. So ..wake up in hospital.

    After one month, I saw him again on street…he saw me too and tell me something like ”oh I see you again”..until he say that..I kick him midle legs and after that kick – uppetcut to chin – Knockout. So from my big expirience in street fights I can say – THE MOST EFFECTIVE TACTIC IN STREET FIGHT IS THE ”SURPRISE” with hitting to the chin, groin, nose and the addam aple. Then nevermind how many kg is he or how tall, if is surprised..he is aout, he is not ready.
    Also many times I am used chairs, but not to hit, I used it to keep the guy who attacked me from distance from me.
    Used also bottle, but hit him with all bottle, not try brake the bottle, because have chance in your hand to have very little part glass.
    And for me the gold rule is wen have street fight, bar fight…to be sure that backside me have only ”wall”. Then i’m sure someone can attack me only front side.

    I have many stories, because here is hard to skip fight if someone want (that happen often) ..

    Greetings from Bulgaria and all the best!

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Sounds like the old Bas Rutten self-defense videos happening in real life lol!

      But seriously I don’t think I’d go to bars there if every night you were at risk of dealing with ‘maniaks’ and getting stomped out.

      Thanks for the tips they make complete sense.

      And your English is very respectable and your story makes complete sense, thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  12. Borge Go Avatar
    Borge Go

    I dont street fight; havent had to really fight since way back when I was in the Army. But I saw a need to defend myself once at an Irish pub in the DC area. I was meeting some friends for happy hour and there was a band playing. I went belly up to the bar to wait for my friends and I ordered a beer and took a seat at the stool. The lead singer came up to me and said “You’re lucky I’m a nice guy because you’re in my seat.” I’m thinking ok, whatever, blew him off and sipped on my beer. He came a second time and said the same thing. All this is happening between songs and by now I’m starting to worry so I move to the next stool. The third time he said the same thing, put his hand on my throat, and and I grabbed his hand to take pressure off my throat, pulled his arm and I did a Judo foot sweep. He fell and hit his head on the stool as he fell. I bolted….my friend later informed me that this so called “singer” was recently released from a freaking mental institution! The lesson? You never know who you are dealing with….

    Reply
  13. My First STREET Fight – Part II | EricWongMMA.com

    […] My First STREET Fight – Part II […]

    Reply
  14. Chas Avatar
    Chas

    I was young about 15 with a friend in a middle class neighbourhood we got bailed up by two guys for nothing ,threatening us ,my friend wasnt much help asking for passing people to call the police,I eventually just went off grabbed one guy by the face and smashed it into the pavement, big adrenaline rush and he was screwed ,other guy backed off we walked back home my friend was still scared to walk home a kilometre by himself so i gave him a Bowie knife for protection (which he never returned lol).

    Reply
  15. lam Avatar
    lam

    a fine mix of the wise,the true and the ones that watch too much tv.Violence is fast,brutal and primal.If you feel the need to boast about it you’re unable to understand the matter and probably a lot more besides

    Reply
  16. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    I haven’t been in a straight up fight, but as a women of 22 I have been mugged.
    I have the basics down in boxing and taijitsu so when I was grabbed from behind by a larger individual who pinned my arms down I reached down and pulled his legs through mine and out from under him. Then I dropped hard on his diaphragm and took an elbow backwards to his head. That pretty much ended the encounter. I made sure I hadn’t done serious damage and then left.

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Nice move!

      Reply
  17. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Here is an “amazing” lesson I learned. All of my street fights involved alcohol, crowds and late nights. “Amazingly” I have not had a street fight in over 10 years since I stopped going to crowded places, too late at night, that sell alcohol. How do you not get in a street fight 99% of the time? Don’t put yourself in situations that are naturally ripe for fights. Maybe I should write a book……

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Amazing!

      Reply
    2. David Maswary Avatar
      David Maswary

      That was gold!!!!!

      Reply
  18. dragonmamma/naomi Avatar
    dragonmamma/naomi

    Well, I’m a chick…women don’t get in very many street fights (not that it doesn’t happen!) but we DO get assaulted more often. I was once working after-hours at a dept. store, and a co-worker followed me into the stock room, pushed me up against the wall and started sucking on my neck. Quick, hard knee to his crotch and a shove into the next shelving unit, and that was all it took. He didn’t bother me any more after that. This was more than 30 years ago when I was a teen; it never occurred to me to file charges and there was no such thing as “sexual harassment” counseling.

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Even though you’re probably the most active comment-placer on this blog I never expected you to drop one on this post but damn – another surprise and GOOD ONE! Interesting point about where society has gone to now as well – oh the days when a swift knee to the crotch settled these matters – but then again the psychologists and lawyers would all be broke.

      Reply
  19. Ken Avatar
    Ken

    The fight I remember the most is because I can’t remember it at all. When I was a kid I was being mercilessly taunted by a group of kids (for no particular reason, just because) and one day I totally lost it and went after the nearest guy. I remember becoming furious and I remember the guy crying and his friends looking nervous, and a couple of passing middle-aged ladies telling me I had done just the right thing, but I absolutely cannot remember throwing the punches in between. It’s like I blacked out. It has always seemed strange to me that the actual fight never appeared in my consciousness. Anyway the taunting stopped.

    I wholeheartedly agree that street fights should be avoided if at all possible, but sometimes it is not possible. There is a small fraction of the population that is sociopathic and criminal violence can come from them. And it is not always true that being in a nice area makes you safe.

    Anyway, this is an interesting thread and I’ll be looking back in, to see reports from new posters, what happened to Dave, etc.

    Reply
  20. steve Avatar
    steve

    i actually take pride in the fact i wont be goaded into a fight but it was a hard lesson to learn and one that took time to realise was the right decision!! seeing red changed the outcome of many a night out .having a drink in a pub to standing outside standing toe to toe with nearly the whole pub what can you do? in retrospect i like so many others who blogged here am lucky to be alive i have been bullied at school and had to fight to survive then you have the peer pressure of the football crowds, football was a big part of my life and through the 80’s /90’s it was the violence that kept us all going..I am not proud of myself its not clever i am just glad i am alive and that i killed no-one i just love to keep it in the gym /ring i love life and respect others we all have to grow up sometime

    Reply
    1. David Maswary Avatar
      David Maswary

      Did you see someone get gravely injured? I’ve seen a lot of that and it really drives home the consequences of the difference between ring and street when someone cracks their head or worse, gets shot.

      Reply
  21. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I bounced at night clubs to help pay for school back in the 80’s. I almost never went out and never in the same town bounced in. But I went out with a few guys to celibrate my 23 birthday. Details are a bit hazy! But what I know for certain is I hit on a married woman in a south chicago bar. Her husban took offence and the fight insewed. He was a Jolilet prison correctional officer. We both ended up injured. The next morning I was washing up and one of his front teeth feel out of a cut on a knuckle of my right hand! I found out from some one who new him that he took a lot of time off to heel because both his jaw and an elbow were broke in the fight. I have to say he was a stand up guy. When the cops could have hauled us both off he flashed a badge and we went our seperate ways. I got a $2300.00 bill for damage to a car that got in our way at some point! Ok now if you have just read that truth is it was scary as hell, costly and real dumb!

    Reply
  22. Jose Avatar
    Jose

    When asked if he got pushed around a lot Frank had this to say:

    “I carried a schoolbag, and you just didn’t do that. And I got pushed around and pushed around, and it was eating away inside me— because I wasn’t a fighter. I was an Artist! And this went on till I was about fifteen, when I decided I’d been pushed around once too often. I vowed, “I’m never gonna let this happen again.”I just couldn’t live with it anymore. So I saw this snot-nosed tough guy on the street one day, and I provoked him— I threw a rock at him. And he came swaggering over, and he said, “Did you throw that?” And I said, “Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?” He wasn’t a big guy, but ugly, snarly and mean. He leapt at me, and before you could snap your fingers I had him on the ground screaming for his life. [Grins]…

    …I got into an awful lot of scrapes. I developed a reputation during those years— but not as an artist.”

    Reply
    1. Jose Avatar
      Jose

      Note that frank is not actually proud of his past. It defines him, but in a deplorable sort of way (as with his closing comment. I don’t want anyone to read this and think that Frank was glorifying his teen years as a brute.

      When he told this story it was in fact with a lot of humility. His little narrative brings to light why some people, other than professional fighters, are drawn to learn martial arts and the prospect of developing a superior physique.

      Not everyone on this site is a professional fighter, or seeking to be one, some just have lost pride and confidence to bullying.

      Reply
      1. Eric Avatar
        Eric

        Interesting story – thanks for sharing.

        Reply
  23. Will Avatar
    Will

    I had a few skirmishes. Can’t really say it was an all out fight. I have trained in hapkido and boxing since I was in elementary school. The most memorable one (because it scared the s#!t out of me) was one of the jocks at my highschool (almost 10 years ago now), got upset because I sent flowers to his ex girlfriend. He just came out swinging. He landed the first one and I dodged and covered a lot. He tried to takle me, and I wizzed him to the side, and caught him in a rear naked choke. His buddies came and started to kick me while I was down. Since I pulled him so my back was on the ground, he caught the worst of it, but I still got kicked a lot. It felt like forever til security showed up to break us up. It sucked, he got expelled, but I still got suspended. His buddies said I did more than defend myself, because he was bad off. Panicked, maybe, but I am almost certain that I didn’t throw a single punch or kick. Still, in hind sight, being suspended is better than being bullied, or worse, hospitalized.

    Reply
  24. David Maswary Avatar
    David Maswary

    Well, it’s a little different for me because I have been a martial artist my entire life. I am currently in Rio de Janiero, Brazil preparing for my first professional MMA fight and very close to my Jiu Jitsu Black Belt.It’s a little late here, 4 am and I can’t sleep so I’ll finish the story tomorrow when I can tell the funniest parts. Incidentally I will have gone entirely from white belt to black belt here in Rio and I am hoping to have 8 professional MMA fights before my next birthday. In other words I came to Brazil with every itentionof becoming a succesful MMA fighter

    In my second week here I was on the beach at 2 Am in a neighborhood shouldn’t have been in. My first (of many to come) would be mugger walked up to me and told me he had a gun. Not knowing any better I figured I was heading to the big Tatame in the sky. I made an instantaneous decision that if I was going to die, I was going down fighting. I double legged him, mounted him, and began pounding the ever-loving beejezus out of him. His reaction surpirsed me. He started to cry!!!!!! He started screaming that he didn’t have a gun and he was just trying to fool me. Naturally, I coldn’t take hom at his word, so I kept pounding the holy hell out of him til he was in, well, pretty bad shape. Turns out, he didn’t have a gun.

    I was too full of adrenaline and I was convinced that he had a partner (in Rio muggings usually occur in groups of three – 2 muggers and one watcher)so I got up and frisked him, saw no weapons and started looking for the look out man. My shirt was ripped, my face looked like Hannibal Lecter enjoying fava beans and I was scratched and bleeding.

    Suddenly I saw the lookout man, he was slowly jogging in my direction. I sprinted at him full speed figuring if he had a weapon, I’d best get there before he could raw it. I yelled to see his gun or I was going to rip him apart.

    Sadly, he wasn’t actually a look out man. He was a poor, innocent jogger who nearly soiled his pants and ran away……..from me. Now I was the violent criminal.

    Still pissed I stormed through the neighborhood (the bad one where you should be….discrete)and started kicking over garbage cans and yelling. I was staying at a friends house, with his entire family – aunts and grandmothers included.

    I walked in covered in blood and my clothing ripped to shreds and , now relaxed and finally settled down – said ” some guy tried to mug me, but I got him before he got me.” I was promptly told to NEVER EVER do that again, as a lot of people have gotten a bullet in the ass for the exact same thing, especially in Rio. The next day everyone was laughing and calling their friends telling them that Dave the foreigner had beaten up his muggers

    In the years to come I realized just how lucky I had been as I walked into many shoot outs, bank robberies, general muggings and saw people get killed doing exactly what ‘d done. I still get into fights down here in Rio but it’s different now. Now I fight just enough to survive if something goes down and get out of there before someone remembers what look like and comes after me later. My funniest story I’ll save for tomorrow. It is funny and then some. It invovles a nasty bar in Honduras, a lot of aguardiente, and accidentally ending up fleeing from a heavily armed gang. That was about the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life and on one hand, I am grateful to understand the difference between my high school and college fights in bars etc… versus my experience in real self-defense where my life was at stake and I did what I had to do to survive. Mae no mistake, I am LUCKY to be alive.

    Nowadays I want nothing more than to fight in the UFC or Strikeforce. I’d love to fight in Japan and I have a lifetime’s worth of martial arts experience in Judo, Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing and more. I will get there, I am sure of that

    I have NO dsire to fight in the streets anymore. Gone, washed out of my system like bad Indian food. If someone asks me “wanna go.” I tell them I’m a professional fighter. If they want to fight me, they need a contract, prize money and preferably tv rights and a contract. I tell them that I am a fight whore and I only fight for money (as a whore only well, you know, for money) This usually puts them of and I continue in peace. Training MMA full-time actually makes me too tired to want to even thin about fighting when I’m out of the gym and not watching videotapes on fighters and fights.

    Screw that, if I am going to punch someone in the face, I want a big ball of cash and not a prison sentence. My dream is to punch someone in the face, and get paid well for it without working for the mafia

    More tomorrow so check out Eric’s blog for a hilarious story where I nearly got my ass shot off in central america – several times

    Dave

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Great story Dave! Might have to bust that ‘fight whore’ line out if the situation arises – good one.

      Reply
      1. David Maswary Avatar
        David Maswary

        It’s not just for situation’s, it’s gonna go on my business card 🙂

        It’s true though. People ask me what I do for a living. I tell them the truth. I want to hit people for money and I am extremely well-qualified to make good money at it. Besides, if you’re good at something, you should be a professional. “fight whore – prices….. televised fight XXXXXXX mid-level show……. and so on. I think I’m a bit of a narcissist. If given a microphone or tv camera, I have and always will, cause problems. Sadly, they laugh at me, not with me all too often.

        Reply
        1. Benji Avatar
          Benji

          So, what do you actually do for a living?

          Reply
  25. Benji Avatar
    Benji

    P.S. I’m all growed up now. I don’t fight at all anymore unless it’s for sport. I train constantly, but I use the principles I learn in order to better myself and the lives of the people around me. I used to be full of hate, sorrow and destructive energy. Now I’m full of love, compassion, and creativity. I love people, and when I feel rage building up inside of me, I react to that emotion in a way other than physical dominance. There’s always a better way. When someone needs to be taught a lesson, it’s my responsibility to educate them. I do that by setting an example and doing my best to show them the awesomeness that is inherent in doing what is best for everybody. Even them, sometimes problems persist because our opinions of what is right are different. But by the time we get to that kind of disagreement, the destruction energy has already shifted and begun to roll into something more productive. Yin rolls into yang and yang into yin.

    Reply
  26. Benji Avatar
    Benji

    I’ve got at least a hundred. It’s hard to decide between the 2-hour beach fight (On the rocks, sand, and in the water) that ended with the other guy having a brain hemorrhage and puking up blood, the sister’s ex boyfriend who made the mistake of hitting her and then breaking two bottles over my face and ending up in the hospital with brain matter hanging out of his open skull and stolen border patrol pepper spray in his eyes, or the pimps and hoes party where me and my two best buddies defended ourselves against approximately 30 men, came out on top, and went back to get our hats and pissed all over their furniture.

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      This story should have come with a WARNING: GRAPHIC SCENES OF VIOLENCE or something… I kinda feel like I should edit it out or something but whatever moral of the story is DON’T FIGHT IN THE STREET because you’ll NEVER KNOW WHO YOU’LL MEET!

      How’s that for a public service announcement rap to communicate with the young peeps?

      Reply
      1. David Maswary Avatar
        David Maswary

        Benji actually sounds as if he has a strong sense of honor and fights for what he believes in. That’s admirable. I’m similiar but over time I’ve learned to try and use Jiu Jitsu and Judo first if it is in any way possible – as you can control someone without spilling brain matter, but when push comes to shove and you have to throw down, it’s time to throw down. As long as you choose your battles and exhaust all the other options you’re good. I think Benji had ample reason to smash a guy who beat up his sister. I’d have a hard time controlling myself in the same situation.

        Reply
        1. Benji Avatar
          Benji

          Yes, David, that is the case. I have been in a lot of trouble in my life for defending other people. When somebody tries to fight me, I’m the last to take offense. But, when somebody I love, or somebody who has a disadvantage is being threatened, I have always had a difficult time staying out of the conflict. Like I said in my follow up, I almost never fight anymore unless it’s in sport or extremely necessary. When I do feel that physical force is necessary, I usually use joint locks from Tai Chi, Hung Gar, or Balintawak. Any school of martial art has techniques that can be used as strikes, blocks, or joint locks. Every technique in the Hung Gar system is that way. I teach martial art in my town, and the people I teach almost always attain a necessary level of humility within a couple of months of starting. Hours and hours of training will show you who the true enemy is and what your weaknesses are. That enemy is the ego and the weaknesses are associated with it. I feel that by training for combat, I’m able to keep my ego in check just enough to not care when somebody throws jabs at it. Because of that, I never need to fight. If I don’t lose my battle with my ego, then my ego doesn’t come between my and the people around me. Anyway, I always hope my students can understand that. I could go on and on but I won’t. I’m ranting and raving. (P.S. I screw up all the time)

          Reply
  27. Scrap Avatar
    Scrap

    Ya I was in a street fight back when I was younger. There was this bully, Deebo, that was his name. Well one day I had had enough so I stood up to him. And I had a gun but I didn’t want to use it, back then we fought with our hands, and I had this friend named smokey, so I grabbed myself a brick and.. oh wait, that was that movie friday.

    No seriously though there was this one fight in highschool my senior year. We were chilling outside a friends house and we see these guys pull up and park down the street. We ignored them and next thing we know there are 10 guys charging towards us. It was me, 4 buddies of mine and 3 girls. Most of us scattered until we were in a position where we had to fight. Some of us got knocked down but some of us got some pretty good shots in. I remember luckily being able to find a bat to help chase them away. We found out later that they thought we were some people who had jumped their party earlier. That stuck with me and eventually helped motivate my training, I wanted to not have to rely on a weapon or chance.

    And while I agree you shouldn’t encourage street fights, I don’t feel this article encourages them. No way did he instigate that fight, and while yes we need to show as much restraint as possible, the criticism should fall on the person instigating the fight, not the one who shut him up. He even said he should have shown more restraint, but sometimes you simply cannot avoid it and your in a fight before you know it. Plus you know it felt good to see Roger Huerta knock that guy out on 6th street.

    Reply
    1. David Maswary Avatar
      David Maswary

      When I heard Deebo alight went off in my head….well-played sir 🙂

      Reply
    2. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Hahahah Friday was a classic!

      Reply
  28. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    Listen up peoples, sometimes you live in an area where you simply have no choice whatsoever to be ingaged in or from time to time, not be able to avoid a streetfight and adapt to your surrounding or hide in your home for the rest of your early years. This is my case, living on an indian reservation, being a “halfbreed” growing up, was just the tip of the iceberg. ive been in probably 60+ streetfights in my life. No i absolutely do not condone it, some of my friends “never made it” or are in jail or worse. Myself, i am lucky to have survived all this and live a normal healthy lifestyle with two kids who i teach dicipline through martial arts. im giving my son the breaks i never got and hes the most well behaved 4 year old out there. I train MMA on the side of my “normal” lifestyle and have recently connected into the local martial art MMA scene in my area. A community of well known schools and camps that all do not condone streetfighting but some offer street defense. I think this is a great blog for some to get out old memories good or bad. I think we all know that in a perfect world this kind of behavior is unexceptable, but then again, the world is far from perfect.

    Reply
    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      Great to hear that you made it Andy and you can now use your experience to help your kids live a better life…

      Let me tell you I know a thing or two about not ‘fitting in’ – growing up as a kid in elementary school there were 2 other Asian kids – my two older brothers. Once they left for high school I was all alone. I would never consider those ‘street fights’ but I got into a few scuffles here and there.

      98% of the kids were cool but there were always a couple of real pricks…

      Reply
  29. amauryrizo Avatar
    amauryrizo

    Hi Eric Wong!!!! im Amaury Rizo,born in Cuba,Cardenas.
    & now living i Zagreb Croatia.i love your articles,so
    my friends also.plus i F….. love MMA.

    I just gonna say somthing to you:if you wanna make money
    about real tales from fights,to dangerous situations in live
    & a truly dangerous way of live that i had live before i start
    doing NLP,and found out about TONY ROBBINS. i think you will
    realy can help alot young people who dosent have the parent
    who can get them a pice of advice.

    belifme this will be a real deal for everybody-& here to write
    about this its a little bit hard for me.so i propouse that you try
    to see how we can make a BOOK out of it-and this Book will be
    somthing about my live & how finaly i meet you throu sport-what
    its about MMA.

    Eric thing about it my friend,& by the way i do teach kids Boxing,a little bit of BJJ,and also some self defens.ok thanks alot Eric & i
    hope to hear from you personaly.

    PS:i was born:26/12/1968.

    Reply
  30. Anthony Avatar
    Anthony

    Hi Eric,
    Your emails and blogs have been very good. After many years of relative inactivity after an accident it has been inspirational to receive your info. It has helped me to start training again.

    I just wanted to comment though about this article on street fighting. Even though you stated that you don’t condone it, there are loads of younger, impressionable, egocentric, testesterone overdosed rednecks that will just get off on reading about and writing of their stories. Is this really a responsible thing to be encouraging??

    Working with and training fighters should have already made you aware of this. Or is this your intention?

    Could you please bring attention to the respect for your fighting oponent, the mental and spiritual aspects of training and dedication to power, strength and ultimate personal control. There is nothing more exciting than to be fighting with a highly skilled and controlled opponent. Anyone can hurt or be hurt in the street but who really wants to associate with any of these dickheads.

    Thanks
    Anthony (Australia)

    Reply
    1. Wil Avatar
      Wil

      I agree with you anthony , for me the reason anyone trains a martial art or combat sport is to become better one never wants to look for a fight, but sometimes it just happens.

      Reply
    2. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      I hear what you’re saying Anthony but I just wanted to share my experience and hear those of others and as you can read about I didn’t sensationalize it at all and many of these stories make me want to engage in a street fight even less than I already did, so hopefully that’s what guys can take away from it.

      Bottom line is things happen in real life and just pulling the wool over your eyes and talking about the birds and the bees all day isn’t always the best approach.

      Reply
  31. Wil Avatar
    Wil

    I have had a couple of streetfights ,mostly reactions to people trying to hurt me or someone with me the most memorable was when
    I was a 20 and a red belt in taekwondo at the time it happened,
    I was opening the gate of my house for my dad to park the car in the garage, our neighbour came up to my dad and was very drunk, I anticipated a fight because they always liked looking for trouble when suddenly my neighbours brother came in his car and blocked the car, next thing I know I am getting punched blind,my glasses knocked down and me trying to grab the guy as I block punches with my forehead (still blind)

    When I grab the guy we wrestled for a bit i let go of him and gave him a left roundhouse kick to his liver and the dude was like dazed kneeling ,my brother pulled me of before I could finish.
    That gave me inspiration to train harder and now i will start judo 😉

    Reply
    1. Diego Avatar
      Diego

      this maybe late but wanted to share my scarest street fight story…
      this happen about 7 years ago or so….
      I went to a house party for my friends birthday… She was turning 21 and didnt want to wrry about getting a DUI/DWI(still dont know the difference).. anyway she live in a decent sized on the secord floor of her building… to get to the sceond floor there was a small stairwell you had to climb up maybe 3-4 feet wide. Once you get to the floor the hall way was only slightly wider maybe 4-5 feet wide…Anyway we all drinking having a good time and eventho its still early her apartment as well as the hallway is starting to get crowded. Then some people tried to crash the party and sensing the drama about to erupted she didnt let the kids in….
      thats when shit hit fan.. at this point they was at least 60+ people in the hallway alone… Thekids didnt wanna hear that they could come in the tried to force there way in…. out of no where i see people pulling these big kitchen knives all over the place and my and another friend on stuck in the hall that is so packed that even if there was nothing going on made it difficult to move… But thats not the case there is a roit breaking out!!! we are pushing ,punching,elbowing,ect.. anything we can do to make it to the stairwell… at one point we are attacked by knife weilding opponents i was able to get out of the way and responded with a hard short elbow that landed flush across his nose that instantly busted open as he dropped the ground…my friend tho he didnt notice at the time but he was stabbed in the left side of the belly but dropped his guy as well… we finally make it to the stair well and its just as packed as the hallway so we bum rush thurevery taking and give shots to get down those stairs… maybe a lil bloody a bruised but we both make outside in 1 piece…. we ran to the subway and get the hell out of there… at the end of the day we all survived all except b-day girls brother and 7 others…
      the next day i returnto the building because i left something at my friends house… the walls of that hallway looked like someone painted them pink and the salty smell of blood and death was still overwhelming…. My friend whos birthday it was was kicked out of her apartment along with the rest of her family because it was now a crime scene….. i thank my lucky stars that i was able to survive and look at everyday as a gift cause it could of easily me who died
      i like alot of peopl have be careful in street cause who know what the next guy is carrying or capable of…
      when training for self defense train realisticly cause inthe street there is no ref there is time limit and most importantly THARE ARE NO RULES EXCEPT 1….. SURVIVE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!!!!!

      Reply

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