So, what if a friend were to run up to me and tell me that a bunch of burly, tough guys were about to kick his ass. I would tell him that he is going to get the shit beat out of him, and to run. There is now way that you can learn how to fight in only a day. It's obvious, but people fail to realize that it takes a lot time to 1. Gain strength, 2. Learn techniques, and 3. Learn how to react in fighting situations. Muhammed Ali did not become the best boxer of all time in a few days, bodybuilders do not become ripped in a few workouts, and you will not kick anybody's ass with only a day's training.

However, there are a few things that you can learn that can really save your life in threatening situations. First, can you name the three weakest spots in the human body? Spots that will hurt with minimal pressure? No, it's not the nose, the stomach, or those hard to find pressure points (although knowing some can help). They are the eyes, groin, (male) and throat. These spots are relatively easy to locate and I doubt anyone can take a hit there without feeling pain. There are some who can withstand the pain much better than others, but they are rather rare. Some may consider eye poking and ball kicking dirty fighting, but hey, if you really need to, do it.

Two situations that you absolutely have to avoid is getting pinned on the floor or getting both arms wrapped up. Both situations limit you mobility, pretty much killing off your chance to escape and also possible letting multiple opponents get hits on you. Let's explore some these situations.

Knocked down: Get up. As fast as you can. A smart attacker will go right after you as soon as you go down. A dumb victim will lie there stunned, then get pinned to the floor. Now let's say it's too late, and you are pinned. What should you do? First, see if any weak points are open to you. Can you poke them in the eye? Knee to the groin? Stab to the throat? Don't panic (I know, easier said than done) and look for those open spots. A hit to any one of them should give you enough to time to throw em off, or launch a counterattack.

But let's say none of those spots are open. What else can you do? First, if there's an arm or leg pinning you, just push it out. If not, try pointing your elbows towards them by flexing your biceps and keeping your arms close to your face. This way, you can defend yourself from punches with your elbows, prevent movement closer to your precious face, and also allow you to rest for a bit. If you're in this position, you're already pretty screwed without some serious training. Just hope your attackers gets tired enough for you to launch a counter attack or throw em off by using your hip power (a little more advanced; don't worry so much about this if you don't understand it).

Wrapped up: Your attacker has his arms wrapped around yours. Like before, see if you can reach back and grab the head for an eye attack, or any of the other three weak points (groin, throat). If that's not possible, try ramming your shoulder into his chest with short, quick hits. It won't hurt the attacker, but the goal here is to try and create space. As soon a small space is created, stick your arm in it so you can use your hands again. If that doesn't work either, try bending forward (if you're tall) to tip them over, or sinking to the ground by bending your knees (if you're shorter than your attacker) to make it harder for him to keep a tight hold. If someone is trying to drag you away, just drop your wait and get your ass to the floor. Even if you're a twig, there is a relatively high chance of you being able to break the hold. Just be sure to get your ass off the floor as fast as you can as soon as you're free.

Remember that the above two points are really there only if you get stuck in that position. It's really important to prevent ever being there. I know it sounds really stupid sometimes, but you should really avoid trouble. If you sense that there's trouble brewing, get your ass out of there. If someone approaches you in what you think is a threatening manner, hold out one hand and tell him assertively to back off and keep your feet apart. With one hand up it'll be hard for anyone to grab ahold of both arms, and with the feet apart its harder for anyone to shoot (grab your legs) at you and helps your balance. Also, try to avoid eye contact if you can. This can mean a challenge to other people.

If you're about to fight, analyze your opponent. Try to see if he has any weapon. If he does, um…don't fight. Even as a trained fighter, you're at a severe disadvantage if your opponent has a weapon, whether it's a fork or a gun. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but if you're getting robbed at gunpoint, it's recommendable to just give them what they want with your life intact rather than risk your life. However, if you really, really, want to take that gamble…there are a few tips. First, use both hands to control the hand with the weapon. Ignore the other hand, you must make it absolutely certain that you will not die by that weapon. Second, if you make the first move, your reaction will always be faster. What I mean is that say, someone is pointing a knife at you. If you make the first move by quickly grabbing the attacker's knife hand with yours, you will almost always get if off before he reacts. Ever try the ruler experiment? When someone drops a ruler and you catch it, then reading the mark? You never catch the ruler by the end, always in the middle. The same concept applies here. But really, only fight an armed fighter if you really, really, REALLY, have to...because it's not smart.

So, with these tips, you're not going to be beating anyone up, especially if they come in large numbers (in which they usually do) or if they're stronger than you (which they usually are). But, they will save your skin if you get caught in ugly situations. Fighting is all about reaction and instinct, get off the floor as fast as you can and attack at the right time. It takes a long time in order to be really good at fighting just like any other kind of activity or skill. Always prevent a fight if you can especially if you can't win it.

By Assistant Instructor Marvin Go