Personal Safety
Fit or Unfit to Fight By Mark Grobbelaar
I often get asked whether you need to be fit in order to be able to fight , but in my opinion , that ’ s the wrong question to be asking . Let me explain why .
In recent columns , I have written about various layers of safety , and how the more layers you have the less attractive you are to would-be criminals . Another possible layer or deterrent is being fit and in good physical shape . Is this as important as some would have you believe ? Does it mean that if you are not fit or in shape , that you cannot realistically be effective in a lifethreatening situation ? Where does this leave the elderly and those who don ’ t want to train every day to fight ? Are they helpless ?
I do not believe this to be true , but first we need to understand what a fight is , and why you want to do everything in your power to avoid being involved in one . You see , a fight is to take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows , or the use of weapons . It could be within the confines of a martial art or sport or in the street where there are no rules , or it could be in a situation where you are threatened or attacked . Either way , fighting is an art , and it ’ s not a skill you automatically have because of your gender !
Up for a Fight
Often , I have asked guys in my training sessions : “ So you know how to fight ?” And I regularly get this answer : “ Ya , of course . I ’ m a guy .” The reality is that unless you have been taught to fight , you actually do not know how to fight … and unless you know how to fight , you don ’ t want to be getting into one , because the consequences can be very serious . You do not know what you don ’ t know , and no-one will tell you they are skilled or hiding a weapon until you find out ( the hard way ), and then it will be too late .
So , when it comes to actual fighting , is being fit important ? Yes , of course , and it could be the difference between winning and losing . That ’ s why professional fighting is in the realm of the ‘ Friss Chris Frikkies ’ who train every day for the day they really need to fight against those who compete . And yes , you need to be extremely fit to play in this space . This is not for the average person , because the average person will never learn how to fight .
I have spent my life in this space and have done many endurance events . Being fit does help when you fight . However , personal protection is not about fighting . It is about not getting hurt . And to avoid getting hurt , you need to know some stuff , and need to have a set of rules , because you cannot make it up as you go along . This stuff needs to be simple and easy to remember , and you need to know what you can and can ’ t do .
Stop , Thief !
Recently , a woman called me and told me of a situation she was involved in . She is fit – an athlete who competes in marathons and also climbs mountains – and she wanted to know if she had done the “ right thing ” in a situation where someone had snatched her phone and purse in a busy street in Cape Town . She had “ fought him ,” she said , and punched him . He ended up getting away with her cell phone , but she ’ d saved her purse . She was a little bruised and battered , but OK .
I told her it ’ s not about right or wrong . I said : “ Imagine , when you resisted , that he had punched you in the face , because he wanted you to let go of the phone and purse . Imagine that he had knocked out three of your teeth , breaking your nose and your jaw . Imagine all that , for a phone or purse that can be replaced .”
This is what can happen when you fight , and being fit means nothing in these situations if you follow my bottom line : Try to avoid a fight , whether you ’ re fit or not .
Mark Grobbelaar is the founder of INpowered , incorporating WIP ( Woman INpowered ) and GRIP ( Guy Responsibly INpowered ), an organisation dedicated to giving people the essential tools to protect themselves . Mark holds a sixth dan in karate , and is also an avid runner and cyclist . He hosts INpowered programmes for corporates , schools and small groups . More info at www . inpowered . co . za .
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