Wow...this was an interesting read.

I would only like to add two things. First of all, I was very pleased to see you (pepto-bismol) finally agree that taking on four guys at the same time might not be the smartest thing to do.

But the thing I would really like to address is the attitude that it is okay to "teach someone a lesson." I understand WHY you want to do it...heck, I've been there myself. But that's supposed to be one of the differences between the guys you want to "teach a lesson" to and a martial artist. You should be fighting because you have to, not because you want to.

There are some people on this board who I am sure have much more experience than me, but, as a thirteen-year law enforcement veteran, I can tell you that real fights aren't like TV. People get hurt. Sometimes killed. Four guys on one...and you look forward to it? That's crazy. I can't even tell you how many fights I have been in, but I was worried every time...because you just never know. There are no rules, no referees, no towels. I ALWAYS tried to talk out of having to get physical, but I understand that sometimes you have to. But it was different because I wasn't able to simply "call the cops." I WAS the cop that other people called when someone was causing trouble and HAD to be dealt with. I am now a civilian, and I can tell you that the first thing I would now do, if possible, is call the police...as you should, too.

But the danger aspect is only one reason for that. If I, as a police officer, seriously injured someone while attempting to subdue them, I was legally protected (assuming I used proper force). If you, as a civilian, seriously injure someone, even if by accident, while trying to "teach them a lesson" (which means you probably could have walked away but chose not to)...you're going to prison. It's NOT a game, and it's NOT television. It might sound strange, but you should be training so you don't have to fight, and if you do have to fight, you only do what is necessary to defend yourself or others. That's the law, and anything else makes for a good movie, but also a long sentence in real life.

Whatever you decide to do in the future, I wish you, and anyone else who feels the same as you, the best of luck.

Respectfully, Jason

Excellent post. Hopefully that will be the last on this subject.

The very second they threw rocks at you, you had the right to attack any of them.
Personally, I would have called the cops on my cell first, and told them about it. Then I would have ran, and if they followed and I had to fight, then I would have done it where there were as many witnesses as possible, due to their numbers.