Fighting advice for a novice

[plifter]

Let's say someone has limited martial arts experience of 2 years and achieved rank of green belt. However, they haven't trained in 10 years. What's the best strategy for protecting themselves in a street fight. Let's also add that said fighter is about 200 pounds with well above average strength and is fighting a weaker opponent of equal size with no martial arts experience. Does this fighter come out flailing with fists first or does he immediately try to take the fight to the ground and work for a choke hold or pound the opponent with fists while on the ground. The fighter in question does not know any submission holds other than choke holds. It seems like throwing punches isn't very affective while both fighters are on the ground. You can sting your opponent but it's almost impossible for a rookie to land a knockout punch.

Added: the fighter with the limited martial arts experience is also at least 10 years younger than their opponent. One is in their mid 40's and the other in their mid 30's.

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

Let's say someone has limited martial arts experience of 2 years and achieved rank of green belt. However, they haven't trained in 10 years. What's the best strategy for protecting themselves in a street fight. Let's also add that said fighter is about 200 pounds with well above average strength and is fighting a weaker opponent of equal size with no martial arts experience. Does this fighter come out flailing with fists first or does he immediately try to take the fight to the ground and work for a choke hold or pound the opponent with fists while on the ground. The fighter in question does not know any submission holds other than choke holds. It seems like throwing punches isn't very affective while both fighters are on the ground. You can sting your opponent but it's almost impossible for a rookie to land a knockout punch.

Added: the fighter with the limited martial arts experience is also at least 10 years younger than their opponent. One is in their mid 40's and the other in their mid 30's.

So you are younger and stronger. Is your green belt in Judo? Throw him. Fight over. Always come in with your fists flying though to create a distraction for entry. Punches on the ground, provided the puncher is on top, are easiest for a rookie to score a KO because the target moves less.

 

[plifter]

So you are younger and stronger. Is your green belt in Judo? Throw him. Fight over. Always come in with your fists flying though to create a distraction for entry. Punches on the ground, provided the puncher is on top, are easiest for a rookie to score a KO because the target moves less.

My greenbelt was in a mixed style of Kenpo and Ishin Ryu. It's been so long that I only remember basic techniques but I did a lot of free sparring in pads. Our Friday class was strictly sparring. Even though we had the open hand gloves, I still learned to take a good beating as well as dish out a beating. I once knocked a smaller opponent unconscious. I didn't mean to hurt him but I threw an upper cut that landed directly on his chin. I felt bad after that but the paramedics came and checked him out and he wasn't hurt bad. He went to a doctor later as a precaution and he checked out fine.

When I watch the UFC pros, it seems like the punches thrown by the guy on top do very little. Of course their opponent is an expert at defending against those punches. I did see one where a guy was standing up and threw a big haymaker at his opponent on the ground and scored a KO.

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

My greenbelt was in a mixed style of Kenpo and Ishin Ryu. It's been so long that I only remember basic techniques but I did a lot of free sparring in pads. Our Friday class was strictly sparring. Even though we had the open hand gloves, I still learned to take a good beating as well as dish out a beating. I once knocked a smaller opponent unconscious. I didn't mean to hurt him but I threw an upper cut that landed directly on his chin. I felt bad after that but the paramedics came and checked him out and he wasn't hurt bad. He went to a doctor later as a precaution and he checked out fine.

When I watch the UFC pros, it seems like the punches thrown by the guy on top do very little. Of course their opponent is an expert at defending against those punches. I did see one where a guy was standing up and threw a big haymaker at his opponent on the ground and scored a KO.

Truthfully I think the lack of ground KO's are due to quick standups, knowledge of the guard, and the rule prohibiting hair grabbing and downward elbows to the back of the skull. Someone untrained in guard work will not even think to use guard on the ground, nor would it be difficult to pass or strike them even if they did leg scissor your torso.

 

[the_alcatraz]

Psyche him out by drawing first blood.