How many of you train to have a specific plan with regards to H2H combat? I think that good fighters often have a fairly defined objective or goal, and will shape their strategies and techniques to work efficiently towards it.

My specific objective in a fight is to gain the opponent's back. Stand-up or on the ground, I feel that being in that position offers the greatest amount of safety, the most control, and very good targeting options. Once there, I will typically directly target the opponent's head, but will take arm or leg control as the situation dictates.

Do you train with a specific objective in mind, and if so, what is it?

excellent question. yes - being evil.

doing the most damage as quick as possible and as soon as possible. tactic: hit hard and clinch/throw to the ground....then get the F atta there.

Agree with both you guys. Get the back..if possible or angle if not so possible.

Get out as soon as you can. Don't, repeat, don't duke it out squared up if you don't gotta...

I train and teach to go for control. Control the mind and or body. Use angles and deception while keeping control of our own mind and body.

i agree. i fight to get the other guy on the ground. catch them off balance, catch a kick, or just go in and take em down. what ever it takes, once they're on the ground, its over.

I agree with all you guys, I also like to control the head, control the head and you control the fight.

Positional control, whether standing or on the ground, and anywhere else in between.

Brute force my way through it. Plain, simple, pretty effective, easy to remember, easy to train for and well-suited for someone like myself.

I don't have any grappling skills nor training in grappling, however my plan still works in some situations involving the ground.

I suppose I don't really fight with an objective because I'm not very good offensively it is something I have to work on. I fight very defensively, I anticipate and react to my opponents moves, I rarely take the "first swing." This approach as worked very well for me while sparring but I'm quite positive it won't turn out well in a self defence situation. I suppose my fight objective right now then is to force myself to play the offensive sometimes.

I disagree. Going to ground as soon as possible is really not a good idea. Especially if the other guy has any friends around him.

While you are showing off your latest BJJ move his buddies are lining up to stomp on your head.

Ask any night club bouncer if they would want to take a person down to the ground. There is too much risk and you are an easy target there.

A quick punch to the throat or eye jab will stop most fights in their track.

My main objective is surprise. If they don't see it coming, they can't defend and its all over before it began. If you know its going to happen, get in first and fast.