How to Survive a Street Fight: Part 2

February 6, 2014 By Mike Cernovich 48 Comments

In Part 1 of our How to Survive a Street Fight Series, we laid down some practical rules to follow on “the street.” In Part 2 we’re going to look at some YouTube videos to see where guys followed those rules and where they broke them.

Let’s look at a recent video where two white liberal beta males failed to follow the rules of the street.

Six thugs beat up two hippies in downtown Austin, TX

Let’s look at Rule 1: “Do not fight unless your life or health is at risk.” Is the guy’s life at risk? You bet your ass.

Whenever multiple attackers are involved, your life is at risk. A one-on-one fight is a fair fight. It’s how men of honor fight.

When two men approach you, they have said they do not have honor and they have no respect for civilization or the social contract. They are not men. They are hyenas. They deserve to be shot like the filthy animals they are.

When your life is at risk, you must proceed with extreme violence (Rule 2) and then get the Hell out of there as soon as it’s over (Rule 3).

Even though there are 6 thugs in the group and only 2 hippies, the hippies could have won had they attacked first.

Look at the Group Dynamics.

Look at how spread out the six thugs in the video are. They are in a single file line and some of them even have their hands in their pockets. They are not Spartans arranged in a disciplined, well ordered formation. They have no group cohesion or unity. They are six individuals rather than one team. Use this to your advantage.

If you’ve ever watched a boxing match, you’ve heard about fighters “finding their rhythm.” The same is true of groups. A group, if given enough time, will find its rhythm. Do not let this happen. Attack before they find their base.

Smash the Alpha of the Group

The alpha of the group is the one who is in your face. The others who are talking shit and egging him on aren’t alphas. They are hecklers.

Remember your Bible classes? “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.” That is also Rule 42 of the 48 Laws of Power:

“Law 42 Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them.”

The alpha of the group is the shepherd. Smash his face in and the other guys are neutralized.

Watch what happens in the video. Rather than strike the shepherd, the white hippies try talking their way out of the situation. Because they do not proceed with extreme violence, they get smashed.

Learn from those disgusting hippies. The streets are not the place to talk or chat or make friends. When thugs approach you, they aren’t trying to be pals. They are trying to hurt you.

Strike them first. Strike them hard. Violence of action.

Now let’s watch a video where the rules of the street are followed.

Boxer v. Two Men.

Here, as with 6 Thugs v. 2 Hippies, we have multiple attackers. This is not going to end well for the boxer unless he strikes first.

The boxer proceeds with extreme violence (Rule 2). He then leaves the situation (Rule 3).

The only thing the boxer did wrong was not following “Pride Rules” by stomping the guys’ heads in while they were down. This allowed the two men to regroup. What if one of the men had a knife? Now the boxer has lost his offensive advantage and is at the mercy of two petty criminals who have nothing better to do with their day than smoke cigarettes and hit women.

Maybe the boxer will get stabbed. Maybe he’ll bleed out on the sidewalk while the two men rape his girlfriend. He left his life in the hands of two criminals. That was a potentially fatal mistake.

Do not do this. When you attack, be ruthless. Take your life in your own hands. Do not allow the person who initiated the attack to decide if you will live or die. Take him out of the fight before you leave.

If two men attack you, you can legally do whatever you want to them. You can almost kill them. Soccer kick them in the head. Remember, they are the ones who dictated the appropriate use of force. When two men attack you, they are telling you they have no honor and are scum. Show them no mercy. Hurt them. Maim them. Cripple them.

Pride Rules!

Rule 0 of Street Fighting.

In my 3 Rules of Street Fighting Post, I omitted the most important rule. “To win without fighting is best.” (Sun Tzu, The Art of War.) Get big and you’ll find that people are much less interested in fighting you.

You should also avoid negative situations. Leaving the bars early is an easy way to avoid a street fight. If I’m out with friends, I leave before last call. At last call the streets fill with drunk losers who have no game and who lack the self-discipline to not get piss drunk.

In sum, don’t fight. It’s not worth the risk. If your life is truly in danger, then smash the people in the face with violence of action and get out.

Comments? Questions? Post them below.

James d’Anconia

Great post.

The only street fight I’ve ever been in was when I was jumped a few years ago at a party by a group of posturing tough guys, mainly due to:

a) Trying to talk down the alpha of the group and find a peaceful way out, even though it was clear this guy was not letting me leave without a fight

b) Allowing enough time to pass so that what would have been an initial 2 vs. 2 fight turned after 10 minutes of attempted negotiation into a ~20 vs. 4 fight.

I was lucky to escape without getting seriously fucked up. I learned then that the fear of being the one to throw the first punch is far preferable than the fear of not knowing if your next conscious moment will be waking up with brain damage in a hospital bed after being swarmed on.
Simon

Am I the only one who uses street fight videos instead of preworkout supplements?
Nothing puts fear in me like seeing man almost beaten to death.
- Mark
  
  Damn, that’s a great idea. Watching these fills me with nervousness and adrenaline. Makes me want to hit the gym.
  - rivelino
    
    great post, great idea. this shit gets me pumped.
Wald

Thanks for these two posts.

The best advice is often the most simple, I find.

Wald
BB753

Definitely, try to avoid the fight at all costs. Prevent escalation of the conflict. Never show fear. Smirk, in a way that shows you are fearless and they have something to lose. The Alpha smile or the crazy smile: you choose. Body language should project aloofness and alertness.
Some thugs are just plain subhuman, or too drunk or drugged to respond in a civilized way. Then act swiffly and with the utmost violence. And then flee. And don´t call the cops. Never. You´ll be charged with assault or a hate crime or whatever. Cops and criminals work in the same business, remember.
Fight dirty and win.
- Fisto
  
  There’s only a matter of seconds or less that takes place for the window of opportunity to close to hit first and hit hard.
  
  The reason people miss this opportunity is because they are caught up in the “avoid the fight at all costs” mindset.
  
  You have to always be willing to switch gears into battle mode.
  
  The reason many men aren’t able to do this (like these two peaceful dumbass hippies) is because they are untrained or inexperienced or both and therefore lack the confidence needed to step into that role.
  
  Every man should know how to handle himself. If for no other reason than bullies like those thugs wouldn’t last very long running around starting shit.
  
  Those guys sensed weakness and decided to look tough by picking on total pussies.
betatopua

D&P I’m interested to know at what point in the hippie video you would launch your attack. Let’s say you’re the light haired hippie. When do you first strike. The reason I ask is because I can tell exactly what these guys’ mindsets were because I share the same: If we don’t attack there might never be a fight, but if we do attack then there will certainly be a fight.
- Theodore Logan
  
  As soon as the AMOG starts invading his personal space within a three foot radius..
- Danger & Play
  
  The second you’re close enough to hit me is when I hit you.
anon1

great advice but i’m wondering if this will work in the uk [re:use of force]. we’ve had high profile cases of farmers shooting burglars when they tried to ransack his house, and instead the farmergetting put in jail. we’ve had situations where the burglar got injured all kinds of shit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053806/Ken-Clarke-strengthens-rights-victims-protecting-homes-burglars.html

heck even i have a family member who was hit in the face with a cricket bat by someone who rang his door bell for no reason and the guy only got ABH [acutal bodily harm, versus grievous bodily harm] because he had mental health issues.

The scars on [my family members] forehead took years to heal.

even the new laws are bullshit and amount to nothing more than ‘rugby tackling’ assailants.

heck even during the uk riots in 2011 [dont believe the shit they tell you, the reason for the first set in 2011 in tottenham may have been protests at death by cop, but the reason for the other ones was because it was a notoriously hot august, and kids/teenagers had shit all to do so they just defaulted to ransacking and pillaging, because there was a valid enough excuse to do so] there was shitall protection for small business owners and members of the public.

the unique thing about that riot was the one unifying factor was how low class and chavvy the people doing the theft, firebombing and such were. there was the equivalent of white trailer trash, ghetto kids, and asian yoot too. credit though some tribes got together and fought and defended their land and their businesses [east london the kurds defended their area and the whites around them, birmingham the sikhs protected the muslims and the muslims defended the asian areas], but absolutely none of it was sorted out by the government

the point i’m trying to make is the police did shit all, and our rights are very limited as far as recourse is concerned.

how can the ‘fight extremely to save your life, and get the shit out of dodge’ be adapted to britain and its highest amount of surveillance cameras per capita, as well as extremely unfavourable right to self defense laws?
- Danger & Play
  
  Yeah, we had the George Zimmerman case here in the U.S.
  
  If it’s my life at risk, I’ll worry about legalities later.
- betatopua
  
  I’m in the UK too,
  
  The farmer case wasn’t all the press made out. There were a number of factors that meant he got convicted:
  
  1. The gun he used was owned illegally
  
  2. He shot them whilst they were running away
  
  I remember I read an article about people who have killed intruders over the past couple of decades in the UK, which was written when that farmer’s case was in the news. Basically, the vast majority of people that kill intruders don’t go to prison. IIRC, there have only been 3 cases over the past two decades when people have:
  
  1. The farmer already mentioned
  2. A guy saw an intruder in his flat. Grabbed a knife from the kitchen. The intruder fled, and the guy caught up with him in the hallway just outside his flat and stabbed him to death there. Convicted because the guy was running away, and had left the premises at the time the guy killed him.
  3. Someone caught a burglar, tied him up, threw him in a pit and burnt him alive. I think you can see how this is illegal…
  
  So the law is not as good as in the USA, but isn’t horrendous.
  - Danger & Play
    
    Thanks for the clarification.
  - anon1
    
    glad to hear its not as bad as i thought
Mark

I could read stuff like this all day.

Hey D & P, what kind of training would you suggest for a guy that isn’t looking to become a world champion, bullet proof UFC fight but just wants to feel safe walking down the street. I want the peace of mind in knowing that I can hold my ground in a fight better than most guys.

Boxing? brazilian jiu jitsu? A combination of both?
- Danger & Play
  
  One year (2-3x a week) at a legit MMA gym and you won’t be a world beater but you will handle the asses of the vast majority of anyone you meet on the street. Also, do a competition or two as a white belt in BJJ. That will teach you what an adrenaline dump feels like.
Chris

I really want to know if I am missing something in the second video because the quality is a bit gritty. It looks to me like the boyfriend overreacted. I liked his pugilistic composure and execution but, wasn’t it a bit much for an arm in the face of someone walking behind a man gesticulating for conversation? If I were the guy nearest the street, I would have gone back to beat that guy’s ass too.
- Nick
  
  The guy wasn’t gesticulating, he saw a woman walking by and tried to clothesline her. As D&P said, the thing the boxer did wrong was not stomp the attacker to ensure he wasn’t going to get up and attack again. As a general comment, using your fists shouldn’t be your primary weapon. Your legs are much more powerful and have longer range, most people don’t expect a kick either. If my life is in danger, I’m making a powerful kick/knee to the groin or stomach. Turning a life or death situation into a boxing match compounds the risk.
Permakulturnik

I can confirm rule nr 0 is spot on. I live in a very “international” community in UK. The street I live used to be the worse, we’re talking around 5-6 murders a year (until they installed CCTV). Because I am quite big 6’2, 220 pounds I don’t get even a bad look.
RevLifestyleDesign

Wow,

So first of all great post, you’re dead right on all points here. With that said the amount of mistakes these guys made in the video is staggering, they literally did everything wrong they could:

1. Walking through the wrong neighborhood late at night, especially looking as out of place they did
2. Trying to diffuse the situation well past a reasonable point
3. Showing fear
4. Leaving the situation, theres no shame in running when you’re in the ghetto at night with 6 thugs, this was not a smart fight, a street fight at night in an urban city is life or death
5. As you mentioned, if they were going to fight absolutely right to attack the alpha savagely and viciously, his friends looked like wimps and didn’t even get into the fight until after he was destroying these guys

*love the pride compilation, definitely miss those days, definitely a completely different ground game needed when someone can kick you in the head, much closer to real fights
BodiPua

And there are unspoken rules as well…
In London I’d walk a mile to avoid even making eye contact with a group of black or asian males hanging about on the street.
- Nick
  
  I’d rather be politically incorrect than dead, good advice here: http://takimag.com/article/the_talk_nonblack_version_john_derbyshire/print#axzz2sxPviyWK
  - Danger & Play
    
    I avoid poor people of all stripes.
I.A.A.M.

Excellent Article D&P. I agree whole heatedly. I grew up in the Ghetteo and full force attack on the ghetto, street punk hood rats is all they understand. If people follow the typical liberal bull crap where you talk it out, then you deserve to have your ass handed to you. I work in the school system where the feminized metro sexual candy asses along with the filthy hippies believe the crap about talking things out. I do not!! The only thing evil understands is strength and power. This is what I continue to teach many of our male students much to the dismay of the feminized beta losers. They believe in that environmental support crap. I do not. I believe that it is up to me to handle things when the crap hits the fan.
I.A.A.M.

Also, Notice that the police shower up after the incident happened.
Liam

Your knowledge truly shines through.

A slightly off topic question, but if you were to train at the gym for improved punching power, what and how would you train? Is it as simple at squats?
- Danger & Play
  
  Punching is 90% technique, 10% power. A proper punch starts at your toes, goes through your hips, and ends at your fingers.
  
  That said, any explosive moment that involves all of your joints can improve punching power – power cleans, snatches, high pulls, hand cleans, etc.
  - Liam
    
    Ok, thanks.
steve

loved both posts. surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of thugs packing heat. still throw the 1st punch?
- Danger & Play
  
  You might get shot. You might be beat to death. Plenty of deaths from those Knockout Games.
  
  I teach men to not think like victims. Strike first. Kill or be killed.
  - steve
    
    thoughts on packing heat yourself?
    - Danger & Play
      
      If it’s legal, get a conceal carry permit and undergo the proper training. I myself am a deadly weapon. 😉
Mike

I understand the need to take the opportunity to strike first and hard, but it’s easy to say, harder to do. Let’s say the blond guy took the alpha down with a swift punch to to face, what if one of the other dudes pulls out a gun ?

Watch this video, it’ll make you think twice about it
- Danger & Play Blog
  
  That was an avoidable situation. How does that video have anything to do with what I teach?
  - Mike
    
    It definitely was. I meant to show it as a reply to the person who was saying that the blond guy should have initiated attack. Granted bit what if the others had guns and did like in this video. The two hippies in your video gut bruised but walked to live another day.
    - Danger & Play Blog
      
      On the other hand, the two hippies put their lives in the hands of savages. Putting your life in the hands of savages and hoping they will do the risk thing is a poor exercise of risk management.
      
      The hippies are alive because they got lucky. Lots of people have died from the Knockout Game.
      
      I don’t put my fate in the hands of savages. I take action, proactive and violent action.
      
      Is that foolproof? No. But life is about risk assessment.
      
      Ask yourself what is smarter: Attack with violence first, or hope barbarians will take mercy on you?
      - Mike
        
        True that at some point action is inevitable. It’s really a jungle out there.
      - Nick
        
        I think this video with the guy getting shot in the end is just two savages butting heads over nothing, and one pays heavily for it. At the very least, the guy who decided to throw the first punch needs to keep punching and kicking until his target is neutralized, not standing and pissed. If I’m in a violent altercation I’ll take my chances by using extreme force rather than hoping for mercy from people with little to lose.
- WreckTom
  
  Taking offense and looking to fight someone who bumped into you is an excuse to get your shit beat.
  
  I get the point of you posting this because you never know who could pull a gun on you, but if the dude in the black top didn’t act all bitchy about it he would not have been shot.
  
  In this video what I see is a guy in a sports jersey being attacked by a seemingly unpredictable peacock and reacting with extreme violence to end the threat immediately.
  
  Tough looking dude slightly bumps into you, keep walking, nothing to see here. Save face, remain alive, bullet free.
Charles Murphy

Hey D&P,
Question on the face stomping you mentioned in the second video. What the legal issues with that? I’ve been told that even if I’m attacked by multiple attackers if I attack someone who’s out of the fight, say on the ground I can’t claim self defense because the threat is gone. Legally, whats going on?
LIBTARD_SLAYER

“Pride rules” lol

Next time I get into a fight I’m going to shout that before I soccer kick them
Nikolas Watson

Let me make this clear as a liberal and a martial artist. I have successfully talked my way out many many situations that could have gone violent. I get that you don’t to talk shit out. Thats fine. But for fucks sake violence should NOT be glorified and held as the only way to deal with an asshole. Yeah i have gotten into fights and i can tell you all of them could have been avoided if would have just swallowed my fucking pride and walked away. The article is very well done and i agree with most but for me as of now all it takes is a strong posture a straight face a soldiers gait and strong eye contact to discourage the wannabe predators around me.
- Nick
  
  Don’t invent things just because Mike highlighted two liberal guys getting their asses kicked and the use of the word “liberal” offends you. There’s no glorification of violence in this article nor is it held as the only way to deal with people. Good for you that you haven’t been attacked by predators, but posture and eye contact aren’t going to protect you if someone wants to assault you. As rare as the situation may be, a man must be prepared to violently injure and possibly kill his assailant if his life is in danger.
  - Mike Cernovich
    
    He saw what he wanted to be true – Law of Reflection in action.
    - Nick
      
      I just read your new piece on ideas after I made the comment. It reminded me that arguing is rarely useful. People will believe their ideas are sacred and original, defending them to the last. I need to remember not to let my own convictions go to my head either and incorporate new information into my life if its useful and discard what’s useless.
WreckTom

Good read.

Would pride rule again.
kooter

Mike,
This was the first red pill article i ever read. When i began to read your site years ago it was to much for my beta self as if i felt you were full of shit and you didn’t know what you were talking about.
Fast forward a few years after being an intolerable beta white night for far to long i dove in reading everything i could from ROK,GLL,BAD,QC, Roosh and many others it has been only more recently that i came across Danger and Play again.
You are an inspiration with your outlook on life and how you grab it by the balls. Your podcasts are great and i hope you keep them up, Between you and Victor you guys are a power house.
Gorilla Mindset was a game changer!!
Would be awesome if you planned a meet up in Canada.

Mike Cernovich Presents Danger & Play

For those who want more out of life.

How to Survive a Street Fight: Part 2