How to Win a Fight in Under 30 Seconds

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One definition of winning a fight is to emerge from the fight uninjured, regardless of what happens to your opponent. The easiest way to avoid injury is to avoid a fight altogether. However, if you are being attacked and you are cornered, the next best thing you can do would be to end the fight as quickly as possible. Some fighting techniques can disable an attacker very quickly. Keep in mind that these techniques are not foolproof, especially if you don't have practice or training.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Assessing the Threat

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  1. This can make all the difference in winning. Thinking rationally, even for a few seconds, will help you to remain calm so that you can fight with your mind as well as your body.
    • Determine whether your opponent seems to be angry (at you or just in general), looking for a fight, mentally ill, or drunk. This information can help you decide the best way to quickly end the fight.
    • Before you decide how to fight (or flee), evaluate your opponent's size and strength. Keep in mind the old adage that "The good big man beats the good little man." [1] This doesn't mean that you can't win a fight against an opponent who is larger and stronger than you, but it does mean that you should take these factors into account.
  2. If your opponent is yelling, threatening you, or throwing things, but has not yet attacked you physically, you may be able to de-escalate the situation and avoid a fight altogether.
    • You must remain calm yourself. Responding to anger with anger will only make the situation worse.
    • Tell your opponent you want to hear what he has to say. Listen carefully. If your opponent is in pain or upset, listening quietly may calm them down.
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  3. If your opponent is acting irrationally and unpredictably - such as someone who is drunk or mentally ill - it will be more difficult to de-escalate, but it can be done.
    • An opponent who is impaired might not really want to fight you once he's calmed down. This may influence your decision about whether to fight or to try to de-escalate the situation.
    • To try to help someone who is impaired to calm down, listen to the person, agree with whatever he says, and then tell him what you want him to do (e.g. sit down, leave). The key is to repeat the loop as many times as it takes - even a dozen times. This technique fails if you give up too soon. [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Exploiting Your Opponent's Weaknesses

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  1. If he is rushing at you or throwing a punch, move to the side, then push him down from behind when he has passed you. If the opponent is not a lot bigger than you, you can try sticking your leg in front of him and then pushing him to trip him. This technique uses the opponent's momentum against him.
    • You must remain calm and move quickly to get out of the way. Your instincts to avoid a punch or kick should help, but be aware that you may also 'freeze'.
    • When you push your opponent, try to thrust away from the ground with your legs and follow through with your arms to deliver the most force possible.
  2. Most people will tend to use one style of fighting - punching, grappling, kicking, etc. Don't engage with the same technique.
    • If your opponent punches, try to drag him to the ground.
    • If your opponent seems to want to tackle you, try to stay on your feet.
  3. Fighting techniques such as Krav Maga encourage explosive attacks against the opponent's weakest points. Hit soft, weak parts of your opponent's body (toes, groin, stomach, face, side of the neck) with hard, strong parts of your body (your heel, knee, elbow, heel of your hand, top of your head). [3]
    • Stomp on your opponent's toes.
    • Kick or punch his groin, the top of his stomach (solar plexus), or the belly button area (diaphragm).
    • Gouge your opponent's eyes, or punch him in the nose, chin, or jaw as hard as you can.
    • If you are being attacked and have access to anything that can be used as a weapon, use it. You can throw things, such as keys or sand, gravel, or dirt, as well as using things as weapons. [4] You have a right to defend yourself in any way you can. Just keep in mind this doesn't extend to attacking.
    Target vulnerable areas to defend yourself. "I was walking home late when a man grabbed me from behind. He was way bigger than me. Scared as I was, I remembered this article said to use elbows and heels on soft spots. So I jammed my heel down on his foot and elbowed him hard in the gut. It was enough to get away from him and run for help. I'm not a fighter, so I was glad for the simple tips that may have saved my life." - Mary S.
    Use opponents' momentum against them. "My friend had a few too many drinks at a party and got mad over nothing. He took a sloppy swing at me that I dodged by moving left. He stumbled past me off-balance. I gave him a good shove from behind to end it quick, like the article suggested. No serious injuries, but it could've been bad if I didn't act fast." - Sunday E.
    Stay calm and look for openings. "Some guy on the bus just started threatening me for no reason. I took a breath and didn't engage. When he threw a sour punch, I saw an opening. Staying calm, like it said, I kicked his leg out from under him, hard. He face-planted, and I got away without a scratch. Keeping my cool let me see the opening to protect myself." - Jeff T.
    Understand legal rights to self-defense. "As a bouncer, knowing the law helps me use enough force to remove problem customers without going overboard. This article made me understand my rights better. Now, I'm confident I can keep people safe while staying within my legal limits as a bouncer." - Jarrod A.
    We want to hear from you! Advice from our readers makes our articles better. If you have a story you’d like to share, tell us here .
  4. If you are good at bluffing or acting, you may be able to trick your opponent into making the fight easier for you.
    • Adopt a martial-arts style stance and put your fists up in front of your face to encourage your opponent to do the same. If your opponent is not a trained fighter, he may mimic your stance, which puts you in control of the fight.
    • Bluff a kick from the side. Make it look like you're going to kick your opponent in the shin. Instead, deliver a strong punch to his face, solar plexus, or diaphragm. Avoid the temptation to look down at your leg, which may telegraph your plan to your opponent.
    • If your opponent does not mimic you, this may tell you that he has some training or practice as a fighter.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Borrowing from the Professionals

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  1. In the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, 8 fights have ended in 10 seconds or less. [5] You probably don't have the training that these fighters did, but that doesn't mean you can't try to copy or borrow their techniques.
    • Professional mixed martial arts fighters train in multiple fighting techniques, including boxing, wrestling, and several types of martial arts.
    • Professional fighters train full-time for years to be able to fight effectively.
  2. This approach, popular among UFC fighters, can stun your opponent and knock him down. Knowing the proper way to punch can make the difference between you hurting your opponent and you hurting your hand.
    • Make sure your thumb is on the outside of your fist.
    • Punch with your knuckles - particularly those of your index and ring fingers - and keep your wrist straight. This will deliver a more effective punch and will also make it less likely that you will break any bones in your hand. [6]
    • While UFC fighters like Gray Maynard, James Irvin, and Todd Duffee took out their opponents by throwing punches to the head [7] [8] [9] , less trained fighters may have better luck landing a strong punch by aiming for the throat, sides of the neck, or ribs. [10]
    • Even though some fighters such as Ryan Jimmo have knocked opponents out with one blow [11] , keep in mind that single-punch knockouts are extremely rare, even in professional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA).
  3. British kickboxer Mark Weir beat his opponent, Eugene Jackson, by kicking him and then following up with a perfectly timed punch to the mouth. Jackson fell, ending the fight in 10 seconds. [12]
    • Don't copy Jackie Chan. A low, strong kick to the knee or shin is much faster and more effective than a high kick to the head.
    • Aim the side of your foot toward the side of your opponent's knee - this will help you maintain your balance while doing maximum damage. [13]
    • One advantage to kicking is that it keeps you farther away from your opponent, thereby making it harder for him to hit you. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    I just don't want to get hurt, what should I do?
    Dany Zelig
    Self Defense Trainer
    Dany Zelig is the Founder and Owner of Tactica and the Tactica Krav Maga Institute headquartered in San Francisco, California. He is a 2nd generation Israeli Krav Maga instructor of Imi Lichtenfeld, certified directly by Imi’s most senior disciple and Head of the Rank Committee. He received his Military Krav Maga Instructor certification from the Wingate Institute in Israel in 1987.
    Dany Zelig
    Self Defense Trainer
    Expert Answer
    You should always try to de-escalate the situation as best you can. The chance of not getting hurt in a fight is very low.
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    Not Helpful 77 Helpful 154
  • Question
    What can I do to get an edge in a fight?
    Adrian Tandez
    Self Defense Trainer
    Adrian Tandez is a Martial Arts and Self-Defense Specialist based in Mountain View, California. He is the founder, owner, and head instructor of the Warrior Combat Arts Academy, a world-renowned self-defense training center. He started the academy in 2005. Adrian has earned the titles of Guro (teacher in Filipino) and SiFu (master in Cantonese) from his certifications and years of martial arts training. Trained under the renowned martial artist Dan Inosanto, Adrian is a certified instructor in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, and Silat, among other things. He has had over 30 years of martial arts experience.
    Adrian Tandez
    Self Defense Trainer
    Expert Answer
    If you can't escape the fight, look for something in your environment that you can turn into a weapon (I call this an equalizer). It could be a frying pan, it could be a shoe, it could be a jacket, it could be anything you can use to protect yourself.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Remember that being physically injured for the purpose of self-defense, apprehending people who are clearly doing something illegal (especially a felony), or making an arrest as a police officer is legally justified. However, being physically injured for anything else is the perpetrator's fault and, more importantly, illegal. Everyone has the right to go about their business without the latter being done to them.
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      • If you get physically injured by someone who isn't a police officer, and you didn't do something illegal, call Emergency Services ASAP!
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      • If you see someone being physically injured by someone who isn't a police officer, call Emergency Services for more immediate assistance and follow the direction of the dispatcher.
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      Warnings

      • If you are attacked by a violent predator whose primary goal is to hurt or kill you, you will have to take control of the situation by choosing the location and moment for an explosive action - either fleeing or fighting. Predators tend to be calm compared to thieves and angry or psychotic opponents. A predatory attacker may try to “herd” you to a private location. Once you know this, the element of surprise passes from your opponent to you and becomes your greatest advantage. Whether you choose to flee or fight, creating or taking advantage of a distraction first can give you another edge over your opponent.
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      • If you are attacked or threatened by a thief, the fastest way to get out of the situation is to give him what he wants. A thief does not want to hurt you; he just wants items of value. While you do have the right to resist, you may make the situation worse than it needs to be by escalating a property theft into a violent confrontation. If the thief does not threaten you with a weapon, you can try throwing the thing he wants in one direction and running in the other direction. This is an effective distraction, and a thief will probably go after the thing he wants instead of going after you. However, if you are being threatened with a knife or gun, keep telling the thief that you will give him what he wants, and follow his directions to avoid a fight. Once he has what he wants, he will most likely flee.
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        Helpful 12 Not Helpful 5
      • Never do something illegal, because it's legal for someone to physically injure you right away to stop you from:
        • Committing a violent crime (e.g. in self-defense)
        • Leaving after you clearly did something illegal (e.g. by a citizen's arrest), especially when it's a felony, and
        • Resisting arrest if that person is a police officer who is arresting you, which is illegal, even if you're innocent.
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        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3Oi2jxIEc
      2. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298202/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/j6NTEit2raM
      4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/is-psychology-making-us-sick/201605/do-you-know-how-defend-yourself
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429464/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKLBMN-HOzA
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKLBMN-HOzA
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2pIOYENdPDw
      9. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24404907/
      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7739747/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ticJpFe4Ozc
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4187584/
      4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4187584/
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5571909/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To win a fight in under 30 seconds, try to avoid your opponent’s first kick or punch by stepping to the side, then use their momentum to push them down from behind. Give them the strongest push possible by thrusting off the ground with your legs and following through with your arms. You could also try striking weak parts of your opponent’s body, such as their stomach, groin, or the side of their neck, with kicks or punches. If you have some training as a fighter, try bluffing to catch your opponent off guard. For example, pretend to launch a kick at your opponent’s shin, then strike them with a hard punch on the jaw or in the ribs while they’re distracted. If you’d rather kick your opponent, aim the side of your foot at their knee, which will cause the most damage while allowing you to stay balanced. For tips on how to de-escalate a situation before a fight breaks out, keep reading!

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      • Mary S.

        Feb 8, 2018

        "I was walking home late when a man grabbed me from behind. He was way bigger than me. Scared as I was, I remembered ..." more
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