Originally Posted by Eric3237

No, I'm sure he doesn't mistake the movies with reality.

Even someone like Jackie Chan, who was trained in the Peking Opera as strictly a "performance" martial artist would tell you the movie fighting is entertainment and bares no resemblance to real world martial arts.

Anyone who has actually been kicked in the face, as I have (I had a broken nose) to prove it, will tell you that a kick is a very effective weapon when weilded with descretion, power, and speed. But even a kick specialist is not going to throw 40 kicks in a row in street fight or whatever.

My uncle, who holds a master's belt in Shotokan Karate, could easily take out someone with a kick. I watched him take out two guys outside a tournament in Mobile when a fight broke out. And the range of technique in Shotokan is relatively limited, although allowing for unlimited permutations. In the real world, you kick the average guy in the head, and the fight is over.

But what 0311 has said is still pretty much right on the money. I've been around enough fights to know that there are basically two kinds. Two people pushing and circling for show, and then grappling and rolling around inconsequentially, both people just trying to avoid being hurt. Or, two people pushing and circling for show, and then one or two punches thrown and the fight is over. Someone goes down - or may as well be down for all the fight that is left in them. And yes, I'm talking about the average guy who thinks he's a martial artist.