[agu0001]

In a streetfight what are your opinions on weapons, I personally hate them, Im a fighter and like to fight fairly 1 on 1, but these days everyones got a blade. I am strongly opposed to knives, knucks, chains all that other shit even If i get the chance to use them in my favour I would only do so in a life or death situation...what about you guys?

[Kyryllo]

It's normal in street fights nowerdays. Streetfighting is not a sport, you cannot expect to some rules to be followed. I find it stupid to fight on the street anyway. But if you are so stupid to do so, you maybe have to deal with a blade in your chest.


PS: It's an other point why grappling doesn't work on the street, if anything does at all.

[GarouMAX]

They're called street fights for a reason! Anything goes my friend.

[King Kabuki]

Weapons have a place in conventional warfare, it's just a different level of self-preservation. Depending on the social norm I think carrying and using weapons with certain tact and etiquette is perfectly fine. The thing to consider here is there are a lot of people who are not just free-roaming individuals. They have families who depend on them and therefore they must defend themselves with a certain amount of zeal and maximum level of ability to deal with conflict (especially that which may be life-threatening) quickly and with a certain amount of finality. When your life is on the line and you have very short moments to react, there are very few rules or regulations that need be considered IMO.

[pistachio22]

I despise the use of blades, but have no problem wrapping a bat around someones head if i'm threatened.

None lethal force, if you've got a weapon you must be alot more restrained.

[CowboyPete]

A weapon should only be used in a "lethal force" situation, in my opinion. And that's also the only time you should be "street fighting." Sure it's fine to throw knuckles back and forth with your friends in your backyard but you shouldn't be fighting strangers in the street unless you have no other option. And if that's the case, you certainly don't want to lose because your opponent(s) may want you dead. I urge you to whip out your knife, chain, bat, taser, swat shield to defend yourself and get out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible. It goes without saying that I don't think you should be looking for a fight so you can take out your knife and jig someone up but good. But when it comes to defending your life or the lives of the ones you love, any advantage you can have isn't enough.

[Gregster]

I believe in proportional force, responding to a thread with approximately equal force of my own. The court system does also, which is one big reason why I abide by the philosophy.

I don't carry weapons on my person; the whole reason why I have trained MA is so I wouldn't need one or be caught without one. Also, here again we have legal considerations-- if I crack some dudes orbital bone punching him with a knuckle duster, I'd be willing to be that if the issue of the fight comes to trial, the opposing attorney is going to ask why the hell I was carrying around a hunk of ****l which serves no other function than to be slipped onto a clenched fist for purposes of beating the right to be out of someone.

I do have a two-handed extendable ASP baton riding in the drivers'-side door of my car. If I find myself motivated to use it, it will be because

1) I'm in a situation where even being behind the wheel of a car, I can't escape
2) I'm confronted by a threat that I do not think I can adequately deal with using only kicks and empty-handed techniques (being 6'3", 225 pounds, and trained means that this would be a pretty dire situation).

Beyond that, you can use all sorts of improvised weapons; anyone who can handle a short staff can go to work with a broom handle, pool cue, or similar item in a pinch. Bar stools work great against some pissed-off guy wielding a knife of busted beer bottle. That thing around your waist that holds your pants up (assuming you wear one...I almost always do) can be rapidly deployed as a ranged weapon (a ****l belt buckle moving at high speed will gouge skin off your head) or, wrapped around both hands, a good way to block attacks and tie up the hand of an opponent that has a weapon in it to the point where he can be submitted.

Then there's yet another time-tested dirty trick for streetfighting: a roll of coins in your pocket. A roll of nickels is nothing but legal tender if a cop sees you with it; clenched inside your strong hand for punching, it's the best $2 you'll spend all year.

[KennyG]

I personally carry a firearm on my person most of the time (I do occasisonally leave the house in a hurry and forget it). I have a concealed weapon permit so it is perfectly legal. I would only pull it out if I thought my life was in danger. The rule I try to follow is to only pull it out if the person threatening me has a weapon, but I did break this rule once when I was surrounded by four other men. I never pointed it at them though--pulling it out and cocking it at my side was enough to make them leave.

[Soulfly]

I never thought people used knives that often in my area until I started looking for them. Lots of people that you wouldn't expect have folding knives tucked in their pockets. It's a scary thought that pretty much anyone could stab you if you were to get in a fight with them.

However, I think most people are smart enough not to stab someone unless they really needed to. After all, they'll get hit with jailtime / electric chair otherwise.

[KOU In3]

Originally Posted by agu0001

In a streetfight what are your opinions on weapons, I personally hate them, Im a fighter and like to fight fairly 1 on 1,

Not to single you out but you touch on an interesting point... the definition of 'street fight'. On one hand I agree with you. I grew up in a cushy suburb and a 'street fight' was pretty much your 'behind the bike rack at 3pm' scenario. Back then (in that area) even your standard "step outside" was pretty much a dual with your fists.

That's pretty much your standard "mutual combat" streetfight. You can't really enforce any proper rules but I hear where you're coming from. There's the whole other type of streetfight though where you are an unwiling participant being assaulted.

Some guy starts shoving you around for money, drunk guy and his three buddies decide to pick on you in a dark parking lot, random lunatic takes a swing at you, etc. You get the idea. The rules change pretty fast there. You're no longer looking to settle a difference of opinion, but rather get home safely.

I pretty much agree with the guy (and the law) who mentioned escalating force in these scenarios.