african-martial-arts For Your Reading PleasureAs A Martial Artist, Should You Allow Your Opponent The Opportunity To Throw the First Punch?
Concerning the issue of self-defense, I?m sure everyone has at one time or another heard the old saying, ?Wait until after he throws the first punch.? Now you may have heard this from your father, friend, instructor, or maybe even a judge or police officer. What exactly does that mean, and do you really want to wait until after your attacker has actually thrown the first blow, whether it is a punch, kick, tackle, etc.?
According to some ?experts? in the martial arts, just because you are in fact trained in the martial arts, that you as a martial artist are honor bound to let your opponent throw the first punch, kick, etc. Once again, I consider this advice to be akin to taking a 2 x 4 and smacking yourself several times in the groin to see if it hurts. Sure, you?ll find out the answer to that one, but it?s going to hurt like hell and you really didn?t want to have kids anyhow.
According to Nevada State Law; the defender in a self-defense situation needs to have only a reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm before being legally able to defend himself or another person. However, the force used to stop or prevent the attack must not be more than that which is needed to prevent or stop the attack. In other words, if you use more force than what is necessary, you could be the one in trouble with the law.
You are also legally justified in using force against an attacker who attempts to illegally take or injure property in your lawful possession.
Here are the exact statutes as shown on the official Nevada State web site at: www.nv.gov
NRS 200.471 Assault: Definitions; penalties.
1. As used in this section:
(a) ?Assault? means intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension
of immediate bodily harm.
NRS 200.481 Battery: Definitions; penalties.
1. As used in this section:
(a) ?Battery? means any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.
NRS 193.240 Resistance by party about to be injured. Resistance sufficient to prevent the offense may be made by the party about to be injured:
1. To prevent an offense against his person, or his family or some member thereof.
2. To prevent an illegal attempt, by force, to take or injure property in his lawful possession. (Added to NRS by 1967, 1469)
NRS 193.250 Resistance by other persons. Any other person, in aid or defense of a person about to be injured, may make resistance sufficient to prevent the offense.
For example; let?s say you are faced with the following situation. You are walking to your car after a hard day at work when all of a sudden you see a man approaching you. He walks up to you and here is a transcript of what happens:
NOTE: The capital ?A? stands for attacker and the capital ?Y? stands for you.
Worst Case Scenario:
A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?
Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.
A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.
Y. Sir, before you continue with this course of action, I feel that I need to inform you that being a practicing martial artist, that I am honor bound to try and dissuade you from this course of action. However, if my attempts fail, I must allow you to throw the first punch. Or what ever technique you would like to attempt before defending myself.
NOTE: You may or may not be given the opportunity for this much dialogue.
A. Okay. (Sudden undeterminable body movement) BAM! BAM!
Y. (Unable to actually vocalize a response after being punched at least twice in the face. Mentally you would like to say, ?What in the hell was that?? but you are unable to because you?re mind is trying to figure out why you are now looking up at the sky.) CRACK! (Suddenly you realize that the back of your head seems to be imitating a basketball as it is being dribbled down the court by Michael Jordan. Then there is a moment of complete and total darkness followed by the sensation of endless falling which becomes hotter and hotter the longer that you are falling.)
Your next moment of realization occurs when you are on the receiving end of a barb wire covered trident enema dripping with hot sauce being ruthlessly delivered by a being dressed all in red with horns and a pointy tail by the name of Lucifer.
Better Case Scenario:
A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?
Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.
A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.
Y. Sir, before you continue with this course of action, I feel that I need to inform you that being a practicing martial artist, that I am honor bound to try and dissuade you from this course of action. However, if my attempts fail, I must allow you to throw the first punch. Or what ever technique you would like to attempt before defending myself.
NOTE: Once again, you may or may not be given the opportunity for this much
dialogue.
A. Okay. (Sudden undeterminable body movement) BAM! BAM!
Y. (Unable to actually vocalize a response after being punched at least twice in the face. Mentally you would like to say, ?What in the heck was that?? but you are unable to because you?re mind is trying to figure out why you are now looking up at the sky.) CRACK! (Suddenly you realize that the back of your head seems to be imitating a basketball as it is being dribbled down the court by Michael Jordan. Then there is a moment where you see an intense bright light and the sensation of floating.)
Your next moment of realization occurs when you are walking amongst the clouds as you journey towards St. Peter and the Pearly Gates.
If you are a firm advocate of allowing your opponent the opportunity to throw the first strike, I strongly suggest sitting down as soon as you finish reading this article and start drawing up your will. Trust me, your friends and family will appreciate it.
Now I have to put this paragraph in here as a disclaimer to anyone who read this and thought that I was actually serious, instead of inflecting this article with heavily laden sarcasm. If you actually thought that either one of the first two examples was a good course of action, seek professional help immediately before you get yourself or someone else hurt. This type of move is what keeps hospitals and mortuaries in business. On second thought, go ahead and do that as I plan on investing in both businesses anyway. Who knows maybe you?ll help put my kids through college.
If at all possible, I do not under any circumstances recommend that you knowingly allow your potential attacker the opportunity to actually initiate the first strike. Would you allow George Foreman the opportunity to throw the first punch? Or, how about allowing Chuck Norris to throw the first kick? Or, even better yet allowing Royce Gracie to put the first joint technique on you?
As you may well know, the person who lands the first blow is usually the one who wins the fight! Always strive to strike your opponent before he strikes you.
Here is another example of how the above mentioned situation could be played out.
Best Case Scenario:
A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?
Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.
A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.
Y. BAM! BAM! (Insert your favorite techniques or techniques here.) Your attacker is
now either running away, or lying unconscious on the ground while you get in
your car and drive safely away.
Something that must be considered is the value of whatever your attacker wants in relation to your health and well-being. Is your health and well-being really worth the contents of your wallet? On the other hand, does anyone have the right to come up and threaten your life and take from you that which is yours? This is something that needs to be quietly reflected upon by each and every person in order to find out for yourself what is best for you.
In closing, I would like to emphasize the fact that at all times you should try and avoid potentially dangerous or violent situations. However, if you are unable to, always use only that force which is necessary for each given situation. Remember, every situation is going to be uniquely different and what may work well in one situation may be totally inappropriate to use in another. Always try to use your brains before using your brawn.
One final thought, no matter what, make sure that you go home to your family safe and in one piece every night!
Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence? series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com
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