[PunchDrunk]

You are entirely correct. That is why we spend so much time learning Martial arts. However, the FIRST option is to run instead of diving into trouble.

[graham1]

Your first option is to try to see it coming & try not to get into trouble in the first place.

Originally Posted by PunchDrunk

You are entirely correct. That is why we spend so much time learning Martial arts. However, the FIRST option is to run instead of diving into trouble.

Running is not always a good option for you to use. You might be out with your partner, your kids or your parents. You might be in some place where your exits have been blocked off. You could be ill.....

[Bloodybirds]

I have studied mostly bird styles: Ying jow pai eagle claw, Ba mei southern white crane, Wudan Ba Quen Nine Bird Style, Northern Long Fist, and Yang style tai chi. Many years ago, in the late 70s, I watched several exhibitions of different arts plus I had watched the series Kung Fu as a teenager and saw 5 Deadly Venoms. I fell in love with kung fu for two main reasons at the beginning: I loved the imitation of animals and how they faught in nature and then extrapolated to humans, and secondly, since I am small I enjoyed how effective and powerful small people could become once fa jing, silk reeling, iron skin, qi gong, etc were understood and applied. However, I also was amazed and in awe of footwork and how it was employed in the Chinese arts instead of just standing there....at my size, gotta get out of the way. All three of my masters in the different Shaolin/traditional styles have awesome footwork and could move fast, though one is a skinny white boy of 6'1" and 155 lbs, another is a big, fast black man of 5'11" 285 lbs, and the third is a short, old (now) Chinese man who looks like Mr. Miyagi but fights like an eagle with talons!

Soooo....the ability for a style to adapt to one's build and attributes and its applicability no matter what body, race, size, or group appealed to me more than anything!