Can you get by now-a-days w/o knowing how to defend yourself physically?

[JEDI]

Martin Luther King said "TV teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing"

I disagree. The hero is the one who knows how to defend himself.

However, assuming you live in a relatively safe middle class area, do you even need to know how to defend youself?

I know many people who lived thru life not knowing how to fight, and they've never gotten into a fight in their life.

sure, they've probably backed down from bullies, and other people that caused trouble. but that's my point. you dont aggrevate the situation, they dont escalate.

So do you need to know how to fight in today's world?

 

[lokiju]

In typical middle class America it's not really needed.

 

[EGGO]

Now-a-days you just need a lawyer.

 

[Jeeebus]

I don't get what the "now-a-days" or "today's world" is comparing today to.

Compared to 1860 Arizona?

I can't recall any recent decade where knowledge and training in the art of fight was somehow a necessity to the survival of mankind, regardless of whether we're talking upper, middle, or lower class. There's always been certain exceptions to that, but I don't think you can generalize the way you are.

 

[wheresmybacon]

i'd say if you plan on going to jail yeah you need to know how to fight. otherwise, no. just get a gun.

 

[K1052]

Your brain is always your first, best weapon.

Physical force is usually only required either when you alternatives have been exhausted or the other party resorts to it first. It certainly does help to know how to employ it if required.

 

[Kyle]

I havent been in a fight since grade school (out of college now)
Never backed down from anyone either.
Fighting usually is not needed.

 

[Lonyo]

I haven't had a proper fight ever. Had a rather one-sided fight when I was like 10 though (20 now).

 

[iamme]

when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

 

[SpanishFry]

i think it's good card to have in your hand.

 

[bobdelt]

Originally posted by: iamme
when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

almost anytime you go to a dive bar in a major city

 

[DaiShan]

Meh, I'm not saying that you should go out and fight, but there are times when it is warranted. My GF said this weekend "I don't like fighting, but it's nice being with someone that could protect me. In all of my other relationships I felt like if someone hit me, they (previous bf's) would try to talk about it"

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: iamme
when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

almost anytime you go to a dive bar in a major city

I would think that is when you need to use your brain and realize you may not want to go to such places. Thinking FTW!

 

[Kyle]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: iamme
when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

almost anytime you go to a dive bar in a major city

Not in Seattle- I love dive bars =)

 

[BrownTown]

Honestly I've been in maybe 3 "fights" in my whole life, and none of them lasted more than like 20 seconds before they were broken up. However I understand that I am in a social group where this is the norm, if you are in another group where fights routinely happen then you will pretty much be required to learn to fight.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: DaiShan
Meh, I'm not saying that you should go out and fight, but there are times when it is warranted. My GF said this weekend "I don't like fighting, but it's nice being with someone that could protect me. In all of my other relationships I felt like if someone hit me, they (previous bf's) would try to talk about it"

How many times has she been hit?

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: iamme
when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

almost anytime you go to a dive bar in a major city

EXACTLY. I think people in this thread are thinking about needing to defend themselves walking down the street on their way to lunch. Try going to a bar in a college town packed to capacity an hour after winning homecoming and the beer is free until midnight. Something is gonna happen, whether or not it happens to you might be another matter, but it doesn't hurt to at least know that you could defend yourself.

 

[SpanishFry]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: iamme
when was the last time in America that you need to defend yourself physically on a regular basis??

almost anytime you go to a dive bar in a major city

mine was Dallas. I retired at 1-0

 

[PrinceofWands]

There's no way to know, but if you ever need it then it's too late unless you're ready. My family was middle class. I didn't grow up in an inner city. I'm not a minority or other 'problem demographic'. Yet I've been attacked since elementary school. For me it was a combination of being overweight and intelligent in a redneck sorta town. *shrug* Since there's no way to be sure who'll need to fight it seems more reasonable to teach everyone, just in case.

 

[Xyo II]

It's not really needed, there are tazers, mace/pepper sprays, handguns, etc. I have never been in a fight my entire life, but I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't get the crap beat out of me.

 

[MisterJackson]

I'm a verbal assassin.....on the microphone!


YYYYYEEEAAAHHHHH BOYYYYYYYY!!!!! /Flava Flav