07/31/2026
Long talk today - but I believe it to be important.
I have been training mentally and physically in the Martial Arts since I began Judo at 13. In these arts including some Wrestling, Judo, Taekwondo,
Isshin-Ryu (Okinawan karate), Boxing, Kickboxing, Kung Fu including some Choy Lay Fut and FMA Filipino Martial Arts - some more than others in the case of Goju and Shotokan - very little - but being martial arts there is usually a combative aspect - fighting in tournaments or matches, at an event, on a card or an inter-club fight or perhaps just sparring within a club. Now, while all this can help you better understand contact - getting thrown or hit in the face - it is all controlled with a set beginning and end so it leaves you somewhat lacking in being ready for the street. Now a training student in combative arts has perhaps a better chance than a non-trainer yet it is still just a chance - to get through a street confrontation with minimal damage. Surprisingly, it may even be a disadvantage if your training causes you to expect a graceful, somewhat controlled entanglement between two people of like mind. No - the street is crazy, definitely not pretty and nothing can fully prepare you for the quickness and ensuing chaos that can develop - no pretty techniques - just survival. Granted not all street-fights are like this but many are and there are no controls, rules or limits - survive less injured than the other or others involved wins the day - legal ramifications can be considered before or after but you had better not during. Focus and adaptability to whatever comes is key - awareness!!
In the boxing ring, I once let myself be distracted by a voice in the audience - why? The fist coming toward my head brought me back but it certainly was not a time for distractions - could have been worse but it was like I forgot where I was!! That can’t happen in the street - you cannot have a lapse of concentration - too much chance of getting seriously hurt! Or worse - dead! WTF!!
Now I am not Sensei Roy so I have not had numerous street encounters - hundreds including his days bouncing I believe is what he told me - for me, probably a handful or so. One - all it took was one stomp kick to put the man down. He was drunk, wouldn’t leave my parents front yard and seemed determined to do me harm - I guess - didn’t last long and didn’t go well - for him. During another I was working a plan in my head but it devolved quickly into a standing free-for-all where I tried multiple techniques that failed and it finally boiled down to me muscling him into something - wall, fence - don’t remember- and taking control from there. Others were similarly chaotic and you are never really ready so quick adaptability is essential.
Now, I don’t go looking for trouble and I do practice avoidance of potential trouble spots as I have suggested many times to students - there is too great a chance that someone will get hurt and that someone might be you.
Thus, street-fighting isn’t pretty and can potentially be lethal. Still, one must be prepared as best one can - even if you are a senior.
So train but don’t expect movie fight choreography and graceful perfection - expect grab, bite, gouge, fingers in eyes, nose, ripping, tearing applying pressure, chaotic, ugly, mayhem. If you fare better than this - great - if you expect & prepare for the worst - hopefully, you will never need it.
In the Spirit of our Master - Sensei Roy,
Sensei Dennis Matheson
