How to Efficiently End a Fight

Co-authored by Ross Cascio

Last Updated: September 30, 2019

This article is designed to help you end a fight as quickly as possible in a dangerous situation once all hope of peaceful resolution has gone. The following wiki is assuming that you have tried to end the confrontation peacefully, but it has unfortunately escalated to the point where physical violence is unpreventable. These instructions are written assuming that the opponent is intent on doing serious damage to you, and you must incapacitate the opponent for your own safety.

Steps

1
The moment you realise that the opponent is serious about doing damage to you, put yourself in a position where your vital points (see step three/tips) are offline, meaning that they are not easy targets for your opponent.
2
Examine your opponent's vital points. Vital points are places around your body that are not naturally protected by muscle, making them the best places to aim for. Vital points run through your center line- which runs from top to bottom of your body. See "Tips" for more.

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3
Get yourself in a low stance, one that is not easily shifted by your opponent. This gives you a good, solid base to launch effective attacks from.
4
Attack whatever you can logically get at. If it means that your opponent isn't going to recover in order to keep yourself safe, then by all means do it.
5
Remember the axiom "the best defense is a good offense." If you have made every attempt to avoid the confrontation, you can reasonably assume that any sudden movement on the part of your opponent is the start of an attack. The moment he initiates his attack, attack him. In all likelihood, he has initiated with the thought that he will simply drop you. So when you beat him to the punch (literally), he will be caught by surprise, and give you an opening to catch him with a follow through.

EXPERT TIP

Tsahi Shemesh
Self Defense Trainer
Tsahi Shemesh is a self-defense expert, specializing in Krav Maga. He began learnring Krav Maga in 1988, and trained directly under Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of the sport. Shemesh is the Founder and Program Director of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. He has certified hundreds of instructors, trained a wide variety of professionals (including EMTs and NYPD officers), and his curriculum is taught in over a dozen countries worldwide.

Tsahi Shemesh
Self Defense Trainer

If you cannot avoid the fight, make sure you get the first hit. If you're going into a fight, you're going to get hit no matter what, so it's better to hit first. You want the element of surprise so that you can throw your opponent off, creating space for you to escape.
6
Dynamically respond to what your opponent does. Say your opponent throws a right punch at your face and you block/dodge it, think about what is easy to get at, in this case, assuming you blocked with your left hand, his/her stomach, solar plexus, throat, groin and eyes will all be open to you. All you need is one scoring shot and he/she's going down.
7
Manipulate your opponent's body weight. If your opponent is punching you, that would usually mean that he/she is lunging forward. Grab their arm with one hand and pull them into your attacking free hand.
8
Your surroundings contain surfaces much harder than anything on your body. If you are able to smash your opponent against a wall, tree, rail, or the ground, and you must do so to end the fight, then there's another option. Try to remember, though, that self-defense only goes so far.

EXPERT TIP

Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer
Ross Cascio is a Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense, fitness, and fight instructor. He has been training and teaching Krav Maga self-defense, fitness, and fight classes at the Krav Maga Worldwide HQ Training Centers in Los Angeles, CA for over 15 years. He helps people become stronger, safer, and healthier through Krav Maga Worldwide training.

Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

The best way to end a fight is by using whatever technique is necessary. Use the technique or combination of techniques that you need to end the fight quickly. Basically, you need to do whatever it takes.

Warnings

Only use these techniques when you have exhausted all opportunity for peaceful resolution or escape.

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Always assume that your opponent knows all of these techniques, even if they probably don't.

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Keep in mind that "escalation of force" is a very real consequence. If you are found guilty of a crime because you went too far, you will go to jail, and you will be housed with violent offenders.

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Only use these techniques if the attack was unprovoked and the opponent is serious about harming you.

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