Bad Neighborhoods, Taking the Plunge and Protecting Yourself

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Why do people from bad neighborhoods generally, street fight better than those from good neighborhoods? The reason is twofold—experience and necessity.

People who live in the cruel trenches of society where dog-eat-dog mentality prevails and who live near those who prey on the weaker have three choices growing up. They can live in a closet, become a continuous victim, or learn how to fight.

Fighting is certainly a guttural way of solving issues however, it is done every day in most every corner of the earth. Those who live in areas where fighting is a regular occurrence and where human violence is a real way of getting by each day, understand that to survive in their mean, ugly and violent world they must know how to throw a punch, when to throw a punch and when to take physical advantage over the cruel and violent.

They understand these things and have a distinct advantage over those who are not surrounded by violence. These people understand that the basics of street fighting has much to do with “going for it”. This means it has to do with taking the plunge to hit someone. It means taking the plunge to attack someone when needed. And it means taking the plunge to hit someone back if they’re attacked or struck. Many people fear doing these things but that does not mean they are cowards. What it does mean is that they’re not familiar with a base, mean, ugly and vicious part of life. Many are simply not in tune to that part of the world because they have not seen it in their lives. Not so with those who grow up on the mean streets. They often see the necessity to take the plunge to protect themselves.

When one takes that first plunge they get to know how it is done. Really done, in reality. Not in theory or in a classroom setting. They get the feel of it working for them. They get to know that they succeeded and that they are on their way to being able to fight and survive. Furthermore, in the tough bad neighborhood streets of the world where children have cried or cowered when bullied or attacked parents will oftentimes tell them to go back and kick their attacker or bullies ass and not come back home until they do! This stark reality of the street and street justice is forced on many of them at an early age. This has been the way of the tough poor neighborhoods of the world for eons. It has no color or ethnic distinction. Its distinction is cultural based.

What can those who did not grow up having to physically fend for themselves in the land of the jungle do to be able to street fight? They too need to take the plunge. A different plunge, but a plunge nevertheless. First, they must learn some basics of physical combat. Punches and the like. Then they must literally learn how to go for it. How to throw that first punch. How to react and what to do when punched in the face. They have to plunge forward in the basics of fighting. The first step—that first plunge is the hardest. However, when accomplished it gives a huge boost of confidence to any human being wanting to learn to physically protect themselves.

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If you are one of those who never had to live life on the mean streets of a bad neighborhood yet want to be able to learn how to fight, it is not that difficult. Find a school or trainer that will teach you the core basics of how and what to do in actual combat. In how to take the plunge in a real street situation. The more akin to actual combat the better. Taking some actual punches or kicks is good and some full contact can only be a good thing. When students take shots and are coached by a good instructor on what to do when they’re hit helps them to learn realistically. Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit.” True words to remember. Importantly, one should learn how to handle being hit as Tyson certainly knew quite well.

Those who grew up afar from the continuous violence of bad neighborhoods can learn how to fight just as good if not better than those who grew up in the rough and tumble of the streets. Find simple realistic fight training which, very importantly, is coupled with psychological training as well.

When you understand physical and mental basics of fighting and incorporate them in training you’ll be on your way to fighting well and truly protecting yourself.

Steve Kovacs
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Steve Kovacs

About Steve Kovacs

Steve's the bestselling author of 'Protect Your Kids! The Simple Keys to Children's Safety and Survival'. He's written many articles on a wide variety of topics and has three published books. Steve's a three-time survivor of violence in his youth, a former police supervisor and a graduate of The Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) and was also an award winning part-time college Criminal Justice instructor. For several years, Steve did written and radio political and current event commentary and was the former host of the long running 'The Kovacs Perspective' Internet radio and TV talk show. Steve presently owns a small businesses in Ohio--The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense.

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