Joe Lewis on streetfighters

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 5/31/2010 3:07pm

Why ruin a good article with this **** story? Why do you have two accounts ninjaboj?

**ninjaboj** · Posted On: 6/04/2010 4:11pm

I thought my story is ok. I mean, im not really supposed to be on this forum and so ive gotta go now.

Take it easy John

Also ps I've not got two usernames, rather my access to the internet has been severly curtailed over the past few months, and is still limited, but my bullshido ban has expired, at least partially for now, enabling me to contribute some more to the forums, allbeit on a somewhat adhoc basis. I hope that clears a thing or two up for you pal.

**BlakkFlame1** · Posted On: 6/08/2010 4:43pm

I'm from SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO CA and EAST SIDE LBC KILLA KALI.I have seen PLENTY of street fights and have had a few myself.I am a lifelong martial artist pursuing my ph.d. in African Studies with zero criminal record and I consider myself a decent person.I largely agree with most of the observations in this article written by Joe;however I think that the term "street fighter" is more a reference as to WHERE A CONFLICT OCCURS as opposed to WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE CONFLICT.If Anderson Silva,Mas Oyama,Rickson Gracie,Floyd Mayweather,any Navy SEAL,cop or the majority of people on this board found themselves in a physical altercation on the street,we would literally be "street fighters" who are "street fighting".

**jerry** · Posted On: 6/08/2010 7:44pm

i wonder why no one has mentioned kimbo Slice, streetfighter-extraordinaire and ring failure. in my mind, the difference between a street fight and the ring is, in the street, you may have no earthly idea who is standing in front of you, whether they have a weapons, friends nearby, etc. in this sense, the street is much difference than the ring, where one can train for months specifically for a set of rules and a particular fighter. of course, anybody who trains for months for a fight in the ring should surely have an advantage in a street fight as well. But it is more about strategy, as joe alluded to, than skills necessarily. as far as the talk about animals, people have little in the way of instincts and first studied animals to see how they were able to effectively attack and defend themselves. We then incorporated these concepts into our own martial systems and, hopefully, modified them in a way that they will work with the human body structure. personally, i believe people evolved with weapons in hand, since we have no sharp teeth or claws, great speed, or overpowering strength, at least for our size. So, along these lines, and because i am the same age as joe, i am never without a weapon, which is a legal carry where i live. one only has to go to any good gym to know an older guy doesn't have the pure strength, speed, and endurance of a lot of younger guys. So one needs better weapons and the right strategy, foremost of which is to stay out of places like bars, alleys, and dark parking lots where lots of stuff happens.

**lpgautogas** · Posted On: 9/30/2010 6:10am

Nice post... interesting !

**Kovacs** · Posted On: 9/30/2010 6:28am

I don't think Kinbo Slice really represents streetfighting, he was a good bare knuckle boxer but, ironically, as the rules were stripped away for MMA events people could easily exploit his lack of experience.

I think it's a brilliant article all round.

**judoist** · Posted On: 10/03/2010 3:28pm

"Usually, their "records" consist of beating up some drunks, a few kids, and even probably a couple of poor bums."

Can you say "Phil Elmore"?

But seriously, awesome article.

**mike321** · Posted On: 10/03/2010 3:53pm

Originally Posted by legomepanda

He meant that you can't claim to be better than professional fighters without actually fighting them, not that everyone who trains should be sparring professionals.

But if you get an opportunity to roll with a world class professional, take it! Seminars, visiting your gym, regardless of where the opportunity comes from, it has to be an awesome experience to have them mess with you (in a controlled safe environment of course!)

**jdempsey** · Posted On: 7/07/2011 7:51am

Great read! I agree with everything in it except for the "no such thing as killer instinct" bit.

**bobyclumsyninja** · Posted On: 8/09/2011 2:56am

Great read, that. Joe called it. (un)Seriously though what was all that bullshit storytime with lil hopeless ch_nner after? Shitting up an awesome truth-b0mb-interview like that.

Take someone who's trained to fight for rounds, and remove the gloves, prohibition on grabbing clothes, or need to pace one's self....and the str33t guy/gal of similar age/size, is likely going to get smashed, or restrained. That's the whole point of combat sports. To better, and test yourself, to know what you can, and can't do.

The str33t fights I've seen were pathetic, and the participants obviously untrained, or mistrained, and often drunk or high. Nearly all the training(ed) combat sports students/competitors/teachers I know don't get in str33t fights willingly. Leave it in the gym, was what we were told. Good advice, that, short of emergencies.

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