2019-09-30_11-40-54

Have you ever been to a restaurant and seen a fight?

No…me neither.

But I can tell you where I have seen a lot of fights take place, at bars and the tables in bars.

The nightclub scene is a thing of the past, and now pubs and bards are the places to go.

And this article looks at why you need to learn to fight at a table.

Seated Position Is A Losing Position

If you sit down in a chair or on a stool, you are immediately in the worst position for fighting.

Your hips are no longer engaged, your quads are switched off, and you have limited rotation.

If you are on a stool, you are usually completely off the ground with your feet resting on the stool.

All in all….you are about as vulnerable as it gets and in a place where violence occurs.

The Stand Up Is The Second Worst Position

So, you are sat at the bar or a table, and someone starts giving your grief.

At some point, recognising your vulnerability, you decide to stand up.

This is often necessary but is perhaps the worst thing you can do because as you stand you not only give the person the chance to attack you but also as you rise, you do so with your hands down.

Giving them a clean shot.

So what should you do?

The Science Of Fighting At A Table

Defence Lab is one of the few self-defence systems that has created an entire area of study around table fighting.

So, you have a few areas of study to investigate.

(Note: I will not be teaching you how to fight at a table, this is inside the DL virtual academy, I will be discussing tactics and considerations, to learn how to fight at a table, please join DL Virtual Training or a DL Class).

So let’s go through a few things to consider when dealing with an attacker when you are seated.

Table Objects

It sounds so obvious, yet many miss this. You often have at the table both weapons of defence and offence in the hands of the aggressor.

Glasses, (ashtrays depending on the country you are in), bottles, vases, candlestick holders, salt and pepper pots, knives, forks, napkin dispensers and maybe even some more.

Basically a complete arsenal of weapons.

Things to consider: Can you use any of these items? Are you prepared to use them? Can the attacker use them against you?

Number of Attackers

This is a big issue, there you are sat, and there could be more than one attacker. 

Their positions also matter, 1 each side at a bar, maybe 1 behind you and 1 in front when you are at a table.

When sat down, you have limited flexibility to see behind you and to the sides.

Things to consider: If someone is behind you, then you are incredibly vulnerable, the back and sides of your neck are exposed. 

Your Intoxication

Yes, you are at a bar or pub, and you are likely to have consumed alcohol.

So you need to consider your levels of alcohol intake because while you may be Bruce Lee in your head, you might find your skills are enormously diminished.

Their Weapons

Do they have a glass in their hand? Could they be armed with a knife? Have they just picked up a steak knife from a table?

You need to look at their hands to see if they are carrying or perhaps concealing.

Exit Points

Where is the exit of the bar?

Do the attackers have associates at the exits? Are they planning to force you to leave and then get you outside?

Indeed, how are you getting home? Do you need to get a taxi?

A Lot To Consider….Take The Short Cut

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when fighting from a seated position at a table.

So perhaps you should take the hard work out of this and learn from those who have investigated this area already and created a range of cutting edge techniques that will help you to survive.

Defence Lab has an entire system for seated fighting called Table Manners, and it can be accessed either by joining our online training or by joining a class.

The thing is, we spend way too much time focusing on sports scenarios in self-defence and not enough time working from realistic ones.

So, your job is to close that gap and start to look for situations your training doesn’t cover.

You need to be able to fight while sat down if not, it is a considerable gap in your training. 

Thanks for reading.

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