Peripheral Vision is extremely important, when fighting. When fighting, you want to maintain eye contact with your opponent as often as possible. This not only allows you to see where the less-experienced fighter is planning to aim his attack, but it also keeps you from telegraphic your own targets to a your opponent. When staring at an opponents eyes, you should still be able to see that person's entire body, if they are far enough to use every limb effectively. Do not focus too intently on their eyes, as that will give you tunnel vision. Rather, keep your eyes at eye level, but broaden your awareness to everything within your sight range.
Good Defense vs. Overwhelming Offense - Which is better is up to the fighter, but they are both very important. Do not be afraid to take shots (defending them to the best of your ability, of course). This teaches you a lot about your opponent and his/her habits. Do not simply rush into every situation with a barrage of attacks. This puts too much weight on your being able to control a fight, and is just not advisable, if you don't know much about the person you are fighting. This is most effective when it is more or less an even fight. If you can move, and you can block, you can win any fight with minimal effort. Moderation is key, though. Having a solid defense is only good for you, if you're able to do something with it.
In more extreme situations, though, it's best to come at your opponent with overwhelming force. This not only (potentially) disorients the opponent, but leaves them at the disadvantage of having to structure their attacks to fit your position upon them. Light attacks like jabs and erradic movements and chops allow you to more easily set yourself up for more damaging blows by keeping your opponent guessing as to what angle you will possibly attack from next (a key component in the 'lighter', more speed-based, forms of kung-fu). If your opponent has a weapon, it is said that you never take your time in fighting over possession of the weapon. You position yourself to where the weapon is not a vital and immediate threat, and you unload on your opponent with the most overwhelming/damaging force that you possibly can. Go for the throat, the eyes, the nose, WHATEVER you can, and do it in the fastest and most repetitive way possible. Then, when your opponent is completely overwhelmed, even if just for a moment, strip them of their weapon.
Originally Posted by ClouD
Kicking Tip:
Kicking is not for those without the ability, if you kick on your feet and have not trained to do so (to inflict damage on a target), then I suggest you do not do it unless you are on the floor and trying to fend off while getting up.
If you attempt to kick without proper training then you will likely do more damage to yourself and little to the opponent, also opening yourself up to be countered.
That being said, learning to kick is invaluable. It adds a dimension to the fight that most inexperienced opponents (and even the novice street fighter) is completely unprepared for. It forces your opponent to watch your feet, even when they are wanting so badly to anticipate your punches. Unless they are able to maintain enough control to use their peripherals, they will have to re-adjust their eyes often, leaving you to see where they are focusing, at all times. They legs are also longer than the arms, so a good front or side kick is a great way to push someone off of you. Done hard enough, it will stun them just long enough for you to close range and subdue them. Timing is very important, though. Ideally, you want to wait to use a kick, when your opponent isn't likely to see it coming, because it does leave you off balance, even for a moment, and could be taxing. If you land a good punch, throwing a kick behind it can be a game changer. Also, if you feel confident enough in yourself that you can sacrfice balance, a good front kick to the face, while your opponent is still swelling up his chest at you, should prove both unexpected and critical. Make sure you're up to speed on your kicking ability, though. Don't just throw one out there if you haven't practiced it, or don't know how to recover, if you end up on your back.
As far as personal experience. I've only been in a few short, real fights. I've walked away from plenty, though. I've been in numerous karate, boxing and free-form sparring matches, but people have their own opinions on whether or not sparring counts as "fighting" experience. I've taken a little over two years of karate. A couple of weeks of Muay Thai (officially - plenty of home practice), and a lot of boxing drills on my own time. A large portion of my experience comes from having grown up sparring with my closest friends, in our front/back yards. Had teeth knocked out, gave a concussion or two. Good times.
I usually fight with my left foot forward (dominant hand/foot back, like mindwanderer), and I'm most comfortable with kickboxing. I've got good hands, a good right roundhouse, side and front kick. I'm much less experienced with my left foot, but that's the one I throw my spinning heels with. I'm usually very patient and calculated in intense situations, and am usually not the kind of guy you want to just go balls out on, without a good defense. I don't have a lot of experience with getting punched in the face, though (without gloves, at least), so I often question how well my chin would hold up, were I to get into a fight at present. I don't plant on finding out any time soon, though. Any fight you can walk away from is a fight won, I think.
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