This is a true story. I have changed the participants’ names to protect their privacy.
Brandon had good reason to trust his self-defense abilities; his father had trained him in the no-nonsense Chinese martial art of Wing Chun Kuen. Brandon’s father was an expert in the style, a full-contact champion who studied directly under disciples of the late grandmaster Yip Man.
Last month, Brandon’s Wing Chun was put to the ultimate test. A heated argument with two neighborhood residents escalated into a full-blown fistfight, and Brandon was forced to defend himself from their savage attack.
Brandon beat both men—but the fight was not over.
Hours later, his assailants returned, and shot him three times at point-blank range.
As Real As It Gets
Luckily, Brandon survived the ambush. He is currently recovering from gunshot wounds to his leg, shoulder and head.
Although the striking art of Wing Chun was unable to end this conflict, that should not be taken as proof of an inferior style. Muay Thai boxing or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves would surely have fared no better in this situation.
Though the multiplicity of martial arts techniques might suggest otherwise, there is only one way to end a real fight. The method is a simple one, but as it requires great strength, few people can use it consistently and effectively. Do you know what it is?
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21 responses so far ↓
1 Rick Matz // Nov 6, 2007
Sue the pants off of everyone in sight?
2 Dean // Nov 6, 2007
The simplest technique in martial arts is to avoid a fight in the first place. In this case, it would be to do anything to keep the conflict from escalating. If it gets to the point where blows are exchanged, you have already lost. If you fight, not only do you have to deal with the consequences to yourself of having hurt someone, but you have to worry about whether they’re going to sue you or get a weapon and/or friends to escalate the conflict further.
The Karate Kid comes to mind:
Miyagi: “So why study Karate?”
Daniel: “So I don’t have to fight.”
Miyagi: “Now use head for something other than target!”
Of course…knowing is one thing, and applying is a different animal.
(paraphrased from B. Lee: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply; willing is not enough, we must do.”)
3 karrie // Nov 6, 2007
Walk away if at all possible.
4 Zee // Nov 6, 2007
Hi! I came over from NaBloPoMo. I’m challenging myself to comment on as many blogs as possible this month as well as post.
Avoidance. Dean’s right: knowing and applying are two different tasks altogether. One never knows how crazy a person is.
Happy Posting!
5 Thomas // Nov 7, 2007
The only way to end a real fight would be to not get in one in the first place, obviously. But what if one is forced into the situation? Sure, we’d all like to act high and mighty and say that we’d diffuse any situation before it escalates to that point, but we’re all only human, and even we make mistakes sometimes. Heck, it may not even be a mistake and we just run into someone who’s determined to take our lives, whether for the color of our skin or for some other reason. What should we do then? Try and kill them all?
What can we do in this turbulent world of ours but try our best to survive?
6 Chris // Nov 7, 2007
My question was about ending a fight, not avoiding one. I think this is a critical distinction that some of you missed.
7 taijiquestion // Nov 8, 2007
Ending a real fight you said. A “real” fight ends when one side or the other is defeated. The “realness” is specifically about this intent, this resolve, to do real harm.
What constitutes defeat may vary. In “street” situations, the range could be from “got run off, turned tail” to “hurt and bleeding” to “killed him dead”.
Sometimes in novels we read that the true way to end a bullying/dominance type of fight is to hurt the initiator so bad that not only is that fight ended, but he will not attempt a future rematch.
But I don’t think I have the answer to your question. Interested in what it is, though.
8 Chris // Nov 8, 2007
What constitutes defeat may vary. In “street” situations, the range could be from “got run off, turned tail” to “hurt and bleeding” to “killed him dead”.
I would argue that all of these are deferrals. See Brandon’s case above, where his enemies did turn tail and run–only to return with a force multiplier. When did that fight end? Has it ended at all?
Sometimes in novels we read that the true way to end a bullying/dominance type of fight is to hurt the initiator so bad that not only is that fight ended, but he will not attempt a future rematch.
There is a danger that if you strike too hard, your would-be bully will become genuinely afraid for their life, and change tactics accordingly. Then you’ve started the very fight you hoped to prevent!
9 Steve // Nov 9, 2007
While I can’t imagine wanting or needing to do so, killing one’s opponent is the only way to make sure he doesn’t come back with a gun.
10 Joseph // Nov 9, 2007
Like some people here have said if you get in a fight you can’t get out of and he might come back and kill you then kill him first.
11 Emlyn // Nov 9, 2007
To lose with no-one being hurt. Very difficult to do…
12 taijiquestion // Nov 10, 2007
I just realized that the title of this post is very well-put. “His Wing Chun Couldn’t Win A Real Fight”.
It seems that a “real fight” is one with no rules. And no cap on the damage.
There are some fights where if one guy gets knocked down and doesn’t jump right back up, but lies there rubbing his jaw, then the fight is over, more or less. I’ve been that guy, rubbing my jaw, surprised that I went down but vaguely glad that my nose wasn’t broken, or some such.
If the other man had commenced kicking me in the ribs or stomping my hands, that would have been another story.
What with all the guns around nowadays, things can get fatal real fast.
My son is not allowed to have a plastic “picnic” knife in his school lunch, or any other edged implement whatsoever. There is a zero-tolerance policy. A 2-inch pocket knife could conceivably get him expelled.
Some world we live in.
13 Scott in SF // Nov 13, 2007
A fight is only over when you both agree it is over. A fight is a contest that only ends when both sides agree it is finished. Or when one voice ceases to exist. A person’s voice can even continue a fight after he/she is dead, it is usually called vengeance, and is generally carried out by an affiliate.
That is why it is imperative in acts of aggressive domination by an alpha male that the subordinate male says ‘uncle’!
14 Drew // Dec 22, 2007
The title of this is :
“His Wing Chun Couldn’t Win A Real Fight”
Yet in the article you said that “Brandon beat both men”….Tell me what style could stop a bullet…..Not only did he beat one guy he beat two and that was all because he took Wing Chun. ….The title of your story is just SAD.
15 Chris // Dec 22, 2007
Yes, it is sad when people invest so much effort in the study of martial art, and discover too late that their preferred techniques cannot end a real fight.
Wing Chun can stop a bullet, as can most martial arts when applied skillfully.
16 Kyle // Feb 18, 2008
by no means is this statement all inclusive, but i have heard it said by wing chun practitioners that to end a fight you have three options; take their breath, take their consciousness, or take their life. We must be willing to accept these terms when we engage in a fight. It is up to the artist to assess the situation as it enfolds to decide which of three must be done, in terms of one is a little more permanent than the other two. Any thoughts?
17 Chris // Feb 20, 2008
I agree with that statement in the tactical sense. The story above highlights its strategic shortcomings.
18 Kungfuguy // Mar 16, 2008
Well he ended the battle but the war was’nt over. When it is situation like this always remeber it is never over you could beat the crap out of someone think it is over and leave then when your asleep a week later he breaks in your house and kills you inyour sleep. Martial arts was’nt invented for the purpose of fighting people made it to protect themselves and over the years it has become more developed. It has evolved to face newer threats it’s time martial arts teaches how to really end a war not just one battle.
19 Kungfuguy // Mar 16, 2008
Damm key board i meant it was invented for fighting martial arts does mean arts of war after all.
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