Most Martial Artists will agree with me that there is one question that we will inevitably be asked. We are always annoyed by this question, and there is seemingly no right answer to it. The question takes one of two forms. The first form of the question is, “So, do you think you could beat me in a fight?”. The second form of the question is, “So, do you think you could beat {Insert Name Here} in a fight?”. Let’s look at the most obvious answers to this question and go over why they are both bad answers.
The first popular answer is yes. This is a bad answer because it will cause confrontation and escalate the conversation with the other person. The “Yes” answer may start a fight and in an ironic turn of events, cause trouble with the instigator. Being involved in a fight as an adult is nothing to joke about, because in the case of mutually agreed conflict, we are in another unwinnable situation. We can suffer physical harm, legal consequences, or both.
The second popular answer is no. This is a bad answer because in saying no, we are putting ourselves down. We are feeding ourselves unnecessary negative self-talk and undermining our self confidence. When we speak negatively about ourselves we will eventually come to believe these negative statements as truth.
On the surface, it can seem like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place with this question. We either start a fight with nothing to gain, or we put ourselves down. Neither of these are what we want, but there is a less obvious and more intricate response that maintains our confidence without confronting the person asking the question. Recently, Black Belt Magazine reprinted 20th Century Warriors Prominent Men in the Oriental Fighting Arts, a book originally written in 1971 portraying short biographical chapters on contemporary martial arts pioneers including but not limited to Mas Oyama (founder of Kyokushin Karate), Jigoro Kano (Founder of Judo), Gichin Funakoshi (Founder of Shotokan Karate), and the person who’s chapter I will reference – Jae Chul Shin.
To me, as a member of the World Tang Soo Do Association, I know Jae Chul Shin as Grandmaster Shin. He is also famously known as being Chuck Norris’ first Tang Soo Do Instructor on Osan Air Base in Korea. There is a story detailed in 20th Century Warriors about Grandmaster Shin that provides a great answer to the impossible question I mentioned above. Shin was walking on the streets of Seoul, South Korea late at night when he sensed a few people were following him. He spoke words of affirmation to himself that he had the ability to handle himself in the situation. Finally, when the people following him had caught up and cornered him, he calmly and confidently said, “I’m not a street fighter. I don’t want any trouble. But I’m not afraid of you (Smyser 66).” Shook by Shin’s confidence, the attackers changed their mind and ran away.
Shin’s response in his altercation serves as a perfect response to the impossible question, “Do you think you could beat me in a fight?”. “I don’t want any trouble, but I’m not afraid of you.” simultaneously avoids instigating a fight, while also instilling confidence in ourselves. After all, these are our two intentions when asked this question. The next time you are asked this question, try this response and watch the person asking the question freeze.
Sources:
Smyser, Steven W, editor. 20th Century Warriors; Prominent Men in the Oriental Fighting Arts, from the Pages of Black Belt Magazine and Karate Illustrated. Illus. by Geraldine Simon. Ohara Publications, 1971.
