Do you consider yourself aggressive or defensive in terms of your actual fight strategy? Please note, I am NOT talking about your attitude towards the idea or concept of violence. I am assuming that regardless of how it happened, you are in a fight - do you have an offensive objective (take it to them) or a defensive one (get away from them)?

Please vote and explain.

Offensive - I'm short, so I have to get onto the inside. I like clinching, I like hitting hard, and I think that the psychological advantage of being extremely aggressive is massive.

In a fight, I think agression and offense is crucial to success. In sparring, I alternate between an offensive style of coming forward, and a defensive countering style depending on what I want to work on that day.

When I spar in competitions, both TKD and Judo, I try to be as aggresive as possible. In the TKD ring, I try to bully my opponents- the result is a more defensive opponent giving you effective control of the pace and range of the fight. In Judo, I like the advice that I have been given to go for a big throw immediatly. It suits the kind of judo I like, the sort that results in ippons, rather than smaller scores winning bouts.

Now for me competition has been the closest I have got to a real fight, and if an attacking mindset works there, I think it will work in a fight as well.

When I fight I am a Counter Offensive there is no pretenses or regret, I take what the opponent gives me. But I don't wait for him to complete his action. I consider myself counter offensive in that when his intent is to strike or move, I pre empt strike (a MA way of saying I sucker punch/stike) him even though I verbally-counter saying, "Man I wish therewas another way to resolve this", (as I kick him in the balls and move in with elbows) here I try to make him give me an angle either way I don't stop attacking & controlling him until I see or feel his body goes limp.

Sparring I practice all kinds of fighting strategies testing my weakness and strengths, you need to be skilled at all ranges and principles against skilled opposition.

Now more skilled doesn't = More tenacious or dangerous all the time, when you have someone that can put all that together you got a mean SOB. Even though he's smiling or cursing.

All depends on who I am fighting, and I am only addressing sparing.

If I sense even a hint of fear or confusion then I come in like a bull offensive. If I am fighting a good or better fighter I wait them out and hope they make a mistake.

IF they are better then me I will usually be offensive and take my beating.

Well considering my sparring experience (since I dont have a real fighting experience) I am an offensive fighter. I like to hit them before they get to hit me. I dont want to take the risks of getting hit, so I like to make the first strike (after they have started the fight).

Prefer not to be involved one micro second, not one iota longer than required! AVOID the first time it is viable, and get away go elsewhere...

Jeff

I'm a defensive kinda guy. Although I am very aggressive, my defence is built on being first, feinting, and being very unpredictable.

If I'm actually in a confrontation I'm completely offensive. Since I look to avoid trouble, if someone has been a big enough knucklehead to actually get me in a position where I have to fight, I'm coming right and end the situation.

Offensive.

Like Supremor said, I go for the big throw right away.

My most natural range is the clinch range, where elbows and knees are my main weapons. Then I have my throws, so naturally, I will need to be aggressive to get into my comfortable range.

Also being build short and stocky, does not lend well if I try to be defensive.

Counter-fighting? Useless idea in my opinion. Get in, get it done. If I'm there waiting for the guy to throw something at me, I might get jumped from behind while anticipating something from my first opponent.

Defensive? Has it's uses in competition. In real fights, good offense is the best defense.

These are entirely my own views, and also they have been instilled because the arts I practice are pre-dominantly offensive with not much emphasis on defense (MT, Judo, Wrestling, Boxing).

-Taison out