Fight of the Week - Almost

I thought I'd start this off gently by highlighting one incident a few years ago when I did a bit of work as a bouncer in an illegal 'warehouse party' (the term 'rave' was about a year in the future).

Strictly speaking, it was not 'a fight', but I thought I'd start things off on a slow, uncontroversial note. Anyway, a couple of guys had been needling each other, having carried an argument from outside onto the premises and a real fight had just started. So, having seen who threw the first punch, I stepped in and grabbed both his arms (as in ryote juji nuki) and walked him backwards whilst my colleague calmed the other one.

As I did so he struggled a bit, but as I was heavier, stronger and calmer he did not manage to break the grip. Clearly he had no concept of juji nuki. As I walked him to the door someone came flying past me, seemingly horizontal in the air, and landed on his back knocking him to the ground where they both ended in a brawling heap.

My response was quite predictable. I grabbed the collar and lower jacket of the flying perpetrator to pull him off, and lifted, hard and fast. Unfortunately, I had misjudged his size and weight. I had assumed he was about ninety kilos and applied the kind of force necessary to pull him from the fight. In actuality, he was probably less than seventy, and rather than sliding him up and off, as I had intended, I found him flying up to my own shoulder height and knocking me off balance.

As I started to fall backwards I executed a perfect taisabaki, spun us both in a circle, and I ended in a kneeling position with him flat on the floor face down. At the same time from the crowd I heard one someone shout: 'Don't hit him Dirk, he's innocent'.

Not that I would have anyway, because he was under control. I did not even need to lock him, and they were both ejected efficiently, although what happened outside I have no idea. So, it all ended happily on that occasion.

And the lessons? First and most important. In a fight keeping balance is crucial. I remember feeling quite pleased with the perfection of the taisabaki even as I executed it.

Second, maintain awareness of what's going on around you. When my 'client' was jumped I had clearly failed to do so. The second time I succeeded and managed to pick the piece of advice on non-violence from the background noise.

Third, in class practice being the attacker properly. It was not juji nuki I used, but the attack that leads up to it. And uke, in this instance, did not know enough to free himself. (Even if he did, I could have neutralised it, but it would have been much more unpleasant for him).

Finally, even though you may be hyped up, take your time.