There's something about raw, unedited street fighting videos -- or any violent acts caught on tape, for that matter -- that appeals to us all on a visceral level. It's an ugly truth, but it's there nonetheless; as often as we barbarize the ancient Romans for their gladiatorial games, they never produced a "Faces of Death" video, or watched a football player break his leg 20 times over in ultra slow-motion, or downloaded a YouTube clip of Kimbo Slice knocking some poor bastard into the next millennium. They would've done all that, and enjoyed it, if they could -- but that really just serves to emphasize the point. Perhaps we haven't come as far from those times as we'd like to think...
Why does street fighting hold such a macabre attraction for us all? One possible answer is that it's for the vicarious excitement, that we all would like to get our aggression out in such a fashion but lack the skills, the opportunity, or the nature. Another, and one that Freud would like, is that subconsciously we feel more in touch with our animalistic roots when we watch something as purely physical as street fighting. Whatever the reason, the attraction is there, it's real, and yes, sometimes, it should just be guiltless fun to give in to it.
Where a problem arises is with those who allow their affection for screen violence to blur the line between entertainment and reality. There are plenty of people who watch street fighting videos and then stage their own amateur bouts in the backyard, or worse, wander the streets looking for someone poor sap to be a punching bag. If you live in an urban area, you already know this, although you may not know that you know it... Have you ever taken an extra bus, taxi, or subway ride, just to avoid a particular area? Have you ever made plans for an evening around what neighborhoods you'd have to pass through? You made those plans and took those extra trips to avoid the people who think street fighting videos are slice-of-life, rather than cheap thrills. Even if you don't live in an urban area, you've come across these people -- the guy who has to flex his beer muscles every time you go out, the woman who is overly confrontational at the slightest provocation.
We all deserve to go through life without the fear of being assaulted by someone who is barely in touch with reality. The problem with life, though, is that when events are left to chance people rarely get what they deserve, whether they deserve good things or bad. As the saying goes, God helps those who help themselves -- or if you prefer, Allah, the Way, kismet, whatever your persuasion may be. So help yourself, train in self defense, keep yourself in good physical shape, and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Look at this street fighting article to see some tips about styles and training that may help you in a real-life situation. And when some clown who spends his Saturdays immersed in street fighting videos decides to practice on you, you'll be ready to make a highlight reel of your own.
Captain Chris Pizzo has dedicated his life to not only spreading the "truth" about martial arts and self defense, but also to teaching the very same simplistic, and easy to learn answer he discovered after nearly being stabbed to death during a road rage attack. You can learn more about him and take a no-obligation "test drive" of his award winning Close Combat Training system absolutely free at http://www.CloseCombatTraining.com
Source: www.articletrader.com
