Man On the Street Survey: Facing Off Against a Punch

Some of you animals have too much time on your hands.

This week I ran a survey. I started it with Kajukenbo people but opened it up to other fighters outside Kaju. The question was:

“From a neutral standing position with your hands down, what do you think/hope would be your first reaction to a stranger suddenly throwing a street punch at you? Can you break down your initial chain of movement in response to an attacker?

Would you (personally) try to go for a takedown? A knockout? Create space and calm things down? In a split second, is it better to focus on getting your hands up first or moving your body to a better position? Would you draw a weapon? What strike/takedown/combo would you (specifically) go for?“

The results are below. Which ones do you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with? And which of these names do you think is actually an alias for Batman?

Robert Ezell (Kajukenbo): Head movement then hands up is always my first thing, and then a simple forward kick for space if possible.

Dan Tyrrell (Kajukenbo): Probably an elbow to their face as that would lead to hands up for me, knee strike, then run. Cocktail hour to follow that scenario.

Chris Burton (Kajukenbo): Bob, weave, strike with a split punch. (A split pinch consists of slipping to the left of the punch while your right hand overhand punches to the face. It’s not, as I had hoped, Van Damme’s punch to the groin, from Bloodsport.)

Eric Coleman (Kajukenbo): Anybody that thinks that they will block from that position needs to invest in dental insurance. The fastest thing to do is move your head then bring your hands up. The second thing I'd probably do is shoulder roll to a shoulder check, and if my initial reaction is to move in I'm going to smother him. If my initial reaction is to move back, I’d throw a front kick to create distance.

You’re not going to have any time to get anything up as a guard except your shoulder, but you only have to move your head three inches to avoid the punch.

Toby Ericson (Kajukenbo): My initial motion is the same whether I am drawing a gun, blocking, or throwing a strike. Hands go up and then out. But it’s situational.

I’ve drawn on people when I was in law enforcement and never had to pull the trigger. In all of those situations, I was within my rights to fire, but I chose not too. If we’re talking open hand: I close in and control as my initial intent, but everything goes, if needed. I’m very verbal in self defense situations and in most cases I’ve been able to use reason instead of force.

Geordie McCredie (Judo and Shootfighting): Head movement and then give them a shove with both hands and say “What the fuck?” or something like that. I’m not likely to try and engage with them at all until I know what’s going on.

Sean Liddle (Okinawan Shotokan): I don’t generally let people get too close by instinct but, Shotokan influence here, my first reaction would be a forearm block and deflection, followed by quick step or jump away from the attacker, taking an upright fighting stance and saying “dude what the fuck”?

Lou Klaff (Kenpo, Jiu-jutsu): Don't get hit. You should have tools in the basket if nothing else, knowing how to move and not get hit. All the other techniques in the world won't help if you are dazed or knocked out.

I stress body positioning (Tai Sabaki, 体捌き), moving and alignment with the attack. I prefer parries, but if I do block I do it more as a strike. For me parries are quicker than blocks, and for me personally, I like to get the choke as quick as possible. So striking, moving in, taking away the attack and choke for me.

Daniel Harmeyer (Boxing, Tang Soo Do, Karate, BJJ, Kendo, and Sambo Classics [the shoes]): As a bouncer, I would either jam the punch or dip the corner of my forehead into the naked fist, breaking or spraining the hand. This would get me into lapel control or clinch, where I can proceed to “make hamburger”, being extra careful to not throw any visible punches (for legal reasons). Instead, utilize elbows and short knees until I can gain standing control, preferably with an RNC.

I guess in a street situation, I will take a few steps back so they wouldn't be able to drop their base. In the club setting, I would walk them backwards towards the nearest door. And had they spat on me or bit me, previously, I would go for what we used to call a "ringer." It involved careful aim and the fire hydrant, which stood outside the front door to the club.

Bryan Russel (Muay Thai): Slip, close in and throw elbows.

I guess it depends on the punch, but if I were caught completely unaware I feel like my instinct would be to slip inside and close the distance and throw elbows. It's hard to say because I feel like in a scenario that could go south, I probably wouldn't have my hands all the way down in the first place. I naturally talk with my hands, keeping them a little high like a fence (and keeping some distance from the person). If it's a sketchy situation I can't avoid that’s where I'd tend to start from. In this case though, I might deflect a sucker punch with a Thai style guard and then drop elbows.

Daryl W Edmondson (Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do): I come from Tai Chi roots, so I bring my hands up and create space at the same time. If it's their right hand, my left does a deflection, and my right is locked at the hip ready to go. I'm not gonna stop em, I'm just gonna change the punch’s direction, but you can follow that by closing behind the arm they just threw with.

If there's not enough time, I may block outward. I'm not even bringing my hands up, I'm just popping my elbow up and rotating my shoulder similar to the chicken dance, lol, blocking with what is essentially an elbow strike to the bottom of their arm.

Anonymous Participant: Step back and shoot ’em.

Bill Logan (Kenpo/Kajukenbo): Shift position as hands come online...attack the attack (i.e. the incoming punch) with a redirection and counter to the neck or throat, preferably with a tiger mouth or forearm strike followed by knee strikes to break down posture. Then take control with a lock or takedown and pin.

Roberto Elias (Muay Thai, BJJ, Wrestling, Doc Holliday): I have a lot of trouble switching between any kind of 'social' mode and any kind of 'combat' mode. If they didn't set off my bad vibes beforehand, my reaction would probably be to take a nap. And my intuition is not great.

The reaction I train for is to shell up, and either throw short hooks or elbows into a collar tie, and control the situation from there.

Jeff Lotas (Kickboxing, Wrestling): My go-to move is shattering my attacker’s fist with my skull, multiple times if need be…when done correctly I have a 100% success rate of getting punched in the face, not that I mean to brag…

Nick Striebich (Kajukenbo): Hit first.

Before they can connect, I would rather strike first. Snap kick to the groin is my best option. I also like stepping to the outside of the punch, parry, series of strikes to face/head. But at my age, my kick is my best bet, lol.

Justin Bailey (Tang Soo Do): No weapon, hubud lubud pass and strike hard, then take down.

Erik Puckett (Kajukenbo): Hands up to an eye poke and try to move past and away. Unless there’s a reason to stay, like a person to protect.

James Alexander (Boxing, Judo, Krav Maga, mma): If my hands are down when the punch is thrown, I'm relying on head movement. Which way the punch comes from dictates whether I strike or grapple.

Ryan Waggoner (Aikido, Kyokushin, Kickboxing, mma): Slip the punch to the outside and parry the attacking limb across their body, followed by entering and an elbow to the jaw. But honestly any strike that works for the range is fine.

Jacob Shell (BJJ): I think my reaction would probably be to close the distance and try to wrap him up - if the sucker punch doesn’t get me, that is.

I think my instinct would be moving to an inside position and crowding him to make his strikes less effective. I’m not sure I’d have the wherewithal to shoot for a single or double - just a body lock and then look to take down from there.

Stacey Knapp (Judo, Kickboxing, Karate): Doesn’t it depend on which direction the attack is coming from? I mean, it’s one thing if the attacker is coming straight down the pike and quite another if they are throwing a punch at the back of my head.

I’m old, crippled, I’m not moving. My hands are going up, maybe, but from personal experience, I’m more likely saying something along the lines of, “my 96-year old grandmother scratches her ass harder than you hit” and letting him hit me again while I come up with another pithy response.

David Fulvio (Kajukenbo, Aikido): Probably move my head out of the way first. If the punch is very sudden, that’s all there is time for. Then hopefully my instinct would be to move into a fighter’s stance and I would assess from there.

Is it a robbery? A drunk guy? Give them space if possible, because especially here in Japan I am not trying to fight.

If I had to fight for whatever reason, I would probably throw a 1-2 because I feel like I can land that on most people who aren't trained. And I likely don't want to go to the ground or grapple in a very unknown situation. If I am with a group of my friends, it could be better to grab the person, because my friends would hopefully be ready to assist. But again, it's better to de-escalate if possible.

Simon Joseph (Krav Maga): In this situation the only instruction to give yourself is “fight”. Everything else takes too long to work out and the fight has moved on without you.

My first instinct is probably bringing my hands up into a block (remembering that every block is a strike) and then striking off the fence.

Brian Bales (Limalama): My current methodology is to step back and get my hands up. Create space and time whenever possible.

Jack Ketch: Going straight to my no-touch chi knockout. I am unable to provide video footage, since it is so dangerous that you’d basically be watching a snuff movie. (Ketch has studied under several masters including Yanagi Ryuken, Frank Dux, George Dillman and Ashida Kim, and synthesized his own style. I wanted to ask for more details but he threatened to chi blast me into the liquor store before asking for bus fare.)

Angelo Ferrer (Kajukenbo, BJJ): Hands up. Clinch and/or take down, depending on the context.

If it’s a drunk uncle, hold down/pin until he gets tired.

If it’s an aggressive assailant, ground and pound from a standing position (head stomps etc). Check and cover. Run home before the cops show up.

Bryan Adams (Kajukenbo): If you don't see it coming and he hits you, you better know how to ride it out and take a punch, and then react.

If I see it correctly I always close the gap and control the person. My 1st choice is to parry his punch and get to his outside, put him in a single-wing choke, or even better get behind him and put him in a rear naked choke.

If he's throwing a wild circle punch, I step straight in as I stop the punch, a nice chop in the correct direction to the carotid artery knocks him out, or he ends up in a guillotine choke, or arm bar shoulder lock.

Anthony Miele (Kajukenbo): Staying alive is the most important thing, and staying conscious is key to that. So, a combination of moving/ducking and putting hands up to prevent a knockout is critical. Depending on the threat and if you can, maybe also strike, use a weapon, neutralize the attacker. A Judo throw is a good option because it’s likely to put them “out”.

Aaron Miller (Kajukenbo): I had something similar happen to me. I recognized the fact he was coming at me with ill intention. I know many techniques but I instinctively used the good old fashion front kick (picture "this is Sparta!"). This created time and space.

When he re-engaged I stepped back to avoid the punch and then stepped in and took him to the ground with a pseudo hip toss. I then controlled him on the ground until security arrived.

Marky Balboa Kline (Kajukenbo, Muay Thai, BJJ): I recently experienced this. I was attending a hardcore/heavy metal show. A few of my students are in the band. I was standing there and I see a fist coming out of the corner of my eye. Turns out the kids were just moshing, but my first reaction was hands up, chin down, get into a stance. Then I realized nothing was going on so I stepped back. One of my other students was laughing, she saw what I did. In that compact environment I would have went with striking. I found my self covering up several times that night. It was totally automatic.

Timothy Bruce (Kajukenbo): Shoulder roll/wing block to initially prevent getting knocked out, then a high guard moving into the person to slow things down with clinch work.

Bobby Cottle (Aikido): Yeah, first I'd block his punch with my face...Then I guess I'd just see red and bodies hit the floor…

Sean Gransden (Muay Thai): In my experience an attack like that is usually sloppy, telegraphed and only threatening for a fairly small section of its range of motion. Step in and use my head or elbows to encourage my new friend to take a little siesta, assuming no context and I see it coming. If I don't see it coming, I'll probably take a siesta myself and hope for the best. I grew up trying numerous styles, but as I really came into my own as an adult I fell in love with Muay Thai, and I generally use those instincts to pick my distance and method of response.

The Artist Known as Kekoa (Kajukenbo): I have 3 go to reactions depending on who I'm dealing with and the seriousness of the matter.

One, take a slight step back and let the first punch swing by a couple inches in front of my face as I stare them dead in the eye, slow-motion. Yes, I stare at them in slow motion. Then I ask if they're really sure they want to try that again. Two, tuck my chin, tilt my head and slightly step into their swing and eat the punch on my cheek, un-phased as I stare at them again in slow motion and ask if they really think that was a good idea.

And three, if I find them to be an actual threat, I'll lunge in while pulling my hand up to my ear, thrusting my elbow into their chest or face. Straight line beats an arc.

Aaron Dodson (Kajukenbo/Hawaiian Kenpo, Sambo): The "Rhino" defense. Use your arms to cover the sides of the jaw, the ears, the back of head and your temples - an area called the “knockout triangle.” It serves as a shield against strikes to either side of the head as well as a protected entry to crash in against a striker. So, it can be used either defensively or offensively.

Zachary Mathews (the streetz [with a “z”], Judo, Shotokan, Boxing, Muay Thai, San Shou, CQC Combatitives, BJJ, wrestling, mma): Just react. Train enough to not think, just trust your muscle memory and instincts. React. Win. That's it.

There are way too many micro-dynamics: angle of attack, distance of attacker, speed at which they are moving, amount of other people around (whether potential secondary attackers, loved ones, random crowd), location circumstances etc… Can you move? Is there a wall/obstruction blocking the side that you could move towards to create distance?

Maybe grapple, maybe make distance, maybe hold position, slip and counter punch while scanning the area. Just react, survive, win. Train enough and you won't have to think about it. Afterwards you can analyze the dope move you just pulled.

Raymond Anderson (Kajukenbo, Okinawan Karate, Kenpo, FMA): My first reaction is moving back and away from the punch because you really can't catch up at that point. A heel thrust to the lead leg would probably be my trained response after that.

Kováts Zsolt (Kempo): I'd hope I have the instinct and training to put my hands up. Create distance, size up the situation: are there others (against or with me), is there an attack coming from other directions, as many times there is. This would be the first: stop the imminent attack, step out of range.

Mike Clark (Olympic Tae Kwon Do, Greco-Roman Wrestling): Duck and cover. Piss down my leg. Hands up, turn my body sideways. Pray they are unarmed. Create space. Look as non-threatening as possible. Keep reminding myself that a sucker punch is really not that bad and remember I’ve taken full on head kicks to the face from top level killers and this rando isnt shit. Stay calm, deescalate, take a few shots from the attacker to see if they know what they are doing or just an, “I see red and will gas out in 10 seconds,” kind of guy.

If they are drunk/high/altered state of mind and I am by myself or with another adult, I’m shooting a hard double and not stopping my drive until we hit pavement. Then it’s game time to look for a top mount. Mark Kerr-esque head butts are definitely on the table. I will be laughing most of the time. It’s an old weird habit I used to have. I would laugh even louder when something like this would happen and I could make out bystanders yelling “ahh man… that’s messed up. Stand up and box like a man!” (As I’m slowly working a top mount progression with knee on belly.)

If my wife and kids are with me I’m staying on my feet as long as possible. I need to know that they can get away or that I can stay between who’s punching and my family at every step. My hands will be up very fast and I would be looking to block with elbows and top of my head to try and hurt their hands. Attacker is going to eventually feel a full hip rotation turning kick from a sloppy out of shape heavyweight. Hopefully they try to block it so their arm will snap. After that, I’m looking for attacking which ever knee is closest with everything I can think of. My family is going to be able to get away, attacker is going to be hurt and have a very hard time walking/running/chasing.

“KO’s are for the movies. ACL/MCL injuries are for life.”- Nietzsche (Probably)

Tony Bành (Karate, Wrestling, mma, Judo, Muay Thai, Pankration): Hands up then out, stepping back to create distance.

Brett McKenzie (Karate): Probably hands up and flinch backward.

Ross Makoske (Kali): If someone’s being aggressive I’ll put my hands palm out, and if they keep coming I’d probably try to force some grip fighting. If they get too wild for that maybe it’s time for an elbow or headbutt.

Daniel Harmeyer (Martial Arts Knucklehead for almost 40 years): Grab his dick and twist it.

Mickey Lopez (Kajukenbo): Train up and rely on your natural startle flinch response. It helps you recognize your initial reaction and build up effective techniques. It’s all that natural reaction.

Ben Bryant (Muay Thai, BJJ): My initial reaction has always been to attempt to turn away or bob and weave, kind of dodging. I know for a fact that after that I’d try to rush them to get a Thai clinch and then knee until I can get them on the floor.

Then I’ll climb to the top turnbuckle and unleash the Big Bad Benny Ball-Basher.

Neil Glausier: Elbow block and step into their space to find the most painless way to throw their ear at the pavement. (When asked for his style, Glausier replied “I just see red bro” and then gave me a demonstration by chasing me out of the Walmart.)

What do you think? Does your answer line up with anybody’s here? Do you want to try something new? More importantly, what do you think these different ideas say about the world of fighting? Comment and let me know.