Friday, October 2, 2015

Fist Fighting Street Deaths

Friday Knight News

“The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.”  Miyamoto Musashi

The importance of martial arts is not only about surviving death from a fist fight on the street. Although this type of situation can occur with anyone, anywhere as single punch or sucker punch fights happen all the time. These single punch and sucker punch fights are largely ego driven fights. Grown men and little girls have fallen prey to these types of fights, and the victims range from untrained participants to martial artists from any style. The senseless loss of life from these situations affects the families and friends of the victims for the rest of their lives, but this is true from weapon fights as well. Fighting skills alone are not enough to survive street encounters, but learning the martial arts is far more important than just mere self-defense, although it is reason enough to begin training.

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Street fight deaths are more common when multiple individuals are throwing strikes to a single person. Sometimes death comes from a blow that constricts or crushes air passages or destroys neurological function, but these are not the normal cause of death especially in single blow fights. While a highly skilled martial artist may have the power and skill to cause internal swelling, bleeding, or create nerve shock trauma that leads to death, this is rare. It is rare because most trained martial artists with this type of skill are not easily provoked into these situations.

Generally speaking, a single strike blow from a powerful punch that happens to land, or a skillful strike from a trained martial artist that results in death, is most likely because of one of the following reasons. In random order they are: Traumas that stop the heart from pumping causing unconsciousness and often result in a fall. A blow to the head that causes unconsciousness and often results in a fall. Another way is from shock that stops breathing, causing unconsciousness that also often results in a fall. While some people have the power, skill, and accuracy to end a fight with one strike, most of the one punch deaths occur from the fall after the knockout, and the resulting impact with a hard surface. The street itself is the main killer, remember ukemi will not help you if you have been completely knocked out.

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I counted an average of 812 deaths per year from a five year sample of the FBI records for personal weapons. Personal weapons consist of hands, fists, feet, etc. While the same comparison for strangulation resulted in 110 deaths over a five year average. Nationwide that averages to just over two and just under three deaths per day from unarmed encounters. Martial arts can help protect you, but even so the best defense is not to get into a fight; but we do not always get to make this choice. Learning to develop awareness is vital for surviving these types of assaults, which includes not running around with certain people. Learn to trust your instincts as social status, money, and influence alone do not determine character. Be careful with whom you socialize and remember that even a fist fight can be a life or death situation. So remember to check your ego, evaluate the situation, and ask yourself if the situations warrants dying or killing over?

  “The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them.” Miyamoto Musashi


My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.


Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.       

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