How not to be afraid before a fight: what to do to overcome and overcome fear?

Fear of a fight is a natural reaction of the human body , especially when there is a risk of attack. The degree of fear may vary.

In some cases, people may not experience anxiety even when facing a stronger opponent. An important role in the formation of fear of fights is played not only by physical strength and the presence of certain skills, but by the level of self-esteem.

If a person is initially not confident in himself and his abilities, then in a clash with the enemy he is doomed to failure . So how can you not be afraid of a fight?

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Why is a person afraid to fight?

The main reason for the fear of fighting is the elementary inability to use physical force for self-defense .

The second most common factor is having had a bad experience (for example, being attacked by bullies, causing serious injury).

In some cases, the reasons for the occurrence of such fear may be embedded in the subconscious and due to certain character traits of a person.

provoke fear of fights:

Children's fears (fear of fighting can be provoked not only by bad experiences in childhood, but also by punishment from adults for any attempts to repel the offender with force).
Fear of injury and pain (at the subconscious level, a person begins to think how much discomfort a bruise on his face or other injuries will cause him).
The presence of fear of causing pain to another person (at such moments, fear of excessive use of one’s strength and pity for other people, even those with an aggressive character, may be combined).
Innate mental properties (fear of a fight may be due to certain character traits, for example, modesty, excessive vulnerability, etc.).
Fear of consequences or ignorance of them (fights can be punishable by law and entail many negative consequences; ignorance of the outcome of events becomes the cause of psycho-emotional discomfort).
Suffered physical and mental violence (if a person is intimidated or has been subjected to regular beatings, then it will be extremely difficult for him to cope with the fear of a fight).

You will find a list of the most common human phobias on our website.

Reasons for fear of fighting

In case of the slightest threat, the instinct of self-preservation kicks in. The body begins to release adrenaline, brain activity becomes dull. In such a state, a person must quickly make one of two decisions - to flee or to repel the blow. When he hesitates, a person is enveloped in a panic attack, and in such a state it is not easy to escape or defeat the enemy.

You shouldn’t be ashamed of your own fear; you need to learn to get the better of it and get rid of it. You need to admit to yourself that the fear of a fight is present and start working on it. But first, it is important to understand the reason why you become scared before a fight. Only then will it be possible to answer the question of how not to be afraid of a fight.

Fear of hitting a person

There is no such person who would not be afraid of pain. But often a person is afraid not only to experience pain on himself, but also to inflict it on another, even an aggressive opponent.

Psychology identifies real phobias, because of which a person will never be able to cross the line and respond with force to force. For example, hemophobia is a fear of blood, in which the skin turns pale, a person begins to tremble and may lose consciousness.

Algophobia is also classified as fear of experiencing pain. Algophobia occurs if a person has previously experienced severe pain. Algophobia in most cases stems from childhood, when a person was seriously injured or faced physical abuse at a young age.

Fear of pain

Often the fear of experiencing pain comes from childhood. As a rule, memories are associated with physical violence that was once experienced.

We are talking not only about those who faced the use of force for misconduct in the family, but also about those who, as teenagers, got into fights with peers and were beaten.

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Fear of conflicts

There is no such person who would not find himself in a conflict situation. Often the conflict that begins escalates into assault. Of course, this situation does not happen to those who believe that any dispute can be resolved through dialogue. But unfortunately, in the absence of arguments, for some, the use of force becomes the only option.

It is especially difficult to find a compromise in adolescence and resolve conflicts with children raised by the “street”.

Psychology of street fighting

Street fights have some peculiarities.

First of all, the nuances concern the psychological aspect. Fights on the streets are most often provoked by a crowd of hooligans .

In this group of people there is always someone on whom all other participants in the conflict focus. Participants in a street fight do not rely on their physical capabilities, but are motivated by the potential protection of their comrades.

Such nuances have a powerful impact on the self-esteem of each group member. to resist an aggressive crowd .

Who usually wins?

In most cases, the winner in a fight is the one who literally thinks less and acts more. Combat skills play an important role .

If you have experience in numerous street fights, mastering boxing, wrestling or martial arts techniques, then it will be extremely difficult to cope with such a person.

Victory is guaranteed to those who do not allow the enemy to comprehend the situation and find ways to retreat or attack.

Why do intelligent people lose?

A good, intelligent person is initially less likely to win a fight.

The reason for this forecast is numerous factors, including the nuances of upbringing, certain character traits and the principle of thinking.

An intelligent person, at the time of a conflict, thinks how to settle it with words , how to avoid beatings, what consequences a fight will have for both sides.

Modesty, indecision, shyness and other traits can prevent you from giving the right rebuff to an ill-wisher.

A bad, ill-mannered person at such moments relies only on his instincts and reactions.

What to do if you are afraid to hit someone else ? Psychology of a street fight:

Why is fighting scary?

In cases where a fight is unavoidable, many people who are not accustomed to inflicting or experiencing pain are seized by a panic stupor, which automatically leads to defeat, even if the enemy is obviously weaker.
This panic can look different and is not always directly related to fear of pain or fear for your life. Sometimes it can take the form of moral worries or fear of the law, but the basis is always a psychological unpreparedness to get into a fight. Most often, fear of a fight is associated with the lack of necessary experience of physical conflicts, generated by modern upbringing. From an early age, a person is taught that fighting is bad, therefore, in situations where physical contact cannot be avoided, many have to overcome a difficult moral barrier, while the aggressor, as a rule, is completely devoid of worries about the impending conflict, which allows him to win. The willingness to fight is one of the most important things that makes it possible to get out of a dangerous situation, and in many cases, one demonstration of this readiness is enough to extinguish the conflict.

Even the most formidable self-defense weapon cannot protect you if you are not prepared to use it. On the other hand, a person who is in the mood for a fight can win without a weapon.

How to stop being afraid?

The most effective way to combat the fear of fighting is to master self-defense techniques. Women, men and even teenagers can enroll in such courses.

Working with students, the trainer teaches fighting skills, works with the psycho-emotional state and uses some psychotherapeutic techniques of influence.

After a course of such classes, a person’s self-esteem increases , confidence in their abilities appears, and the ability to protect themselves with the help of physical strength is developed.

Several ways to overcome the fear of fighting:

You need to mentally imagine a conflict situation and play it out in your imagination to the end (you should pay special attention to your actions in the presented situation, you should see yourself as a brave, dexterous and decisive person).
Fights should not be constantly expected and feared (feelings of anxiety in some cases can materialize and literally attract troubles into a person’s life).
Mastering the skills of controlling your own emotions and the basics of breathing exercises is very effective

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How to overcome fear? 100% way to learn how to fight:

Tips before the inevitable fight

There are situations when a properly structured dialogue does not give the desired result. Or the person doesn’t have time to say a word at all, and the opponent is already rushing at him with fists. In this case, no matter how much you would like, it is impossible to avoid a fight. Therefore, it is worth learning to repel and fight back an aggressive opponent.

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These tips will help you before the inevitable fight:

No matter how much fear envelops you, it is absolutely forbidden to show it to your opponent . If your opponent feels insecure, it will give him more strength. You need to learn to hide your own emotions. Seeing a worthy opponent in front of him, the opponent may become frightened himself, and then the fight may not take place at all.
It is worth considering not only your own state, but also the mood of the enemy. It is likely that he himself is anxious and afraid of feeling physical pain. Given his behavior, the person himself will be able to decide to ignore the attacks or to strike first. By the way, professional fighters claim that the one who strikes first has a greater chance of winning.
Apply smart image tactics . Aggressive gestures and a belligerent posture can frighten an opponent, and he himself will hasten to run away, because even the bravest opponent does not want to be beaten.
It is necessary to soberly assess the situation and your own strengths. To do this, it is worth assessing the chance of victory and, if it is minimal, thinking about a way to retreat. Ending up in the hospital with serious injuries is not the best decision, and therefore if your opponent is superior to you in all respects, it may be worth running away.
A good solution would be to purchase any of the self-defense means available to citizens and learn how to use it. You should not purchase a knife for safety, since using it risks killing a person and incurring criminal liability.

How to prepare?

The risk of a fight may come as a surprise, so you need to start working on yourself in advance. First of all, it is necessary to understand the object of fear and identify the specific cause of its occurrence.

In some cases, doing this yourself is problematic. Psychologists or psychotherapists will help determine the exact nature of the fear of fighting. These specialists can select the best options to combat such fears.

How to become brave and confident?

How to prepare yourself for battle?

Before you begin to develop self-confidence in your own abilities during a fight, you need to understand what courage is .

This concept does not mean the absence of fear, but implies the ability to carry out the task despite the occurrence of anxiety.

Courage must be trained and should begin with small actions and careful work on yourself.

How to remove fear? Methods of working on yourself to develop courage and confidence in your physical strength:

honestly admit to yourself your fear (you can tell your reflection in the mirror about it),
try to find the reasons for the fear of fighting (childhood grievances, character traits, etc.),
regularly perform small but courageous actions (showing initiative in making acquaintances, defending your point of view in front of colleagues or friends),
you need to praise yourself for your success in acquiring new character traits (it is recommended to celebrate even the most insignificant manifestations of courage),
if the fear of a fight becomes an obsessive state, then it is necessary to seek help from specialists (psychologists and psychotherapists) as soon as possible,
You can eliminate the feeling of fear only by long-term work on yourself and your emotions (fear must be realized, accepted and overcome),
you need to learn to scream (fear of speaking in a raised voice can provoke negative consequences if there is a risk of a fight, you can choose deserted places or natural areas to practice screaming),
we must try to show courage with maximum regularity (if possible, stand up for a child in front of peers, save a kitten from a dog or other offender, etc.).

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How to get angry before a collision?

The easiest way to provoke aggression in yourself is to mentally imagine a situation in which you have already shown strong traits of your character or could show them.

For example, an attack by hooligans on a defenseless person, bullying of a child by peers, or other examples of injustice.

You can try to imagine one of your long-time offenders or specific people who cause you attacks of rage and indignation. Anger as a result of such experiments with the subconscious will appear very quickly.

Psychological and moral preparation

How to make a guy jealous and afraid of losing

In order to understand how to stop being afraid of a fight and how best to act in conflict situations in everyday life, you need to consider this phenomenon from a psychological point of view. The psychology of a street fight will help with this. The main principle of this direction is that it is not enough to master the technical side of combat; you also need to be prepared on a mental level. If the opponent has low self-esteem and is morally depressed, you can determine the winner in advance. Only those who are courageous and 100% confident in themselves will win the battle. Often, the causative agents of street conflicts are juvenile hooligans 10-14 years old, who do not plan to fight at all, but simply want to intimidate their opponents with the help of increased intonation and certain gestures. With such individuals, everything is simple: if they understand that the victim is ignoring them, they will quickly fall behind, since they are not able to establish themselves with their fists. A crowd of older hooligans is almost no different from young rebels: they also want to humiliate their victim, hiding behind simple robbery or insults.

Calmness and self-confidence are qualities that determine the winner of a fight

Some tips on how not to be afraid to fight, from a street fighting psychology guru:

You cannot show your fear to your opponent, otherwise victory will be his. You need to learn to hide your feelings in any conflict situation. Daily meditation can help with this. With this spiritual practice, you can take complete control of your emotions, which is an important aspect in street fighting;
When a bully starts throwing insults, you must first calm down and remember that the attacker is the same person as the victim. In most cases, bullies also experience fear;
If the enemy gains the upper hand in a verbal skirmish, it is best to start hitting first - this will discourage him, and the attacker will have a better chance of winning;
Instead of being afraid, you need to engage in brain activity. This means that you need to adequately assess the situation, your chances of winning, and look for ways to retreat just in case. This will prevent you from falling into a panic state completely;
Concentrate on your breathing: take a deep breath and exhale. This will help you calm down and coldly assess what is happening without unnecessary emotions;
A good way to delay the onset of panic is to switch to assessing the attacker’s behavior. You need to analyze his current emotional state in order to understand how to act: ignore the bully or attack him.

Through self-confidence a person suppresses the enemy at the mental level

What is the first thing that will help you win a street fight? Psychologists believe that self-confident people are able to mentally suppress the attacker, and he, in most cases, will begin to experience fear himself. Combat training is also of great importance, but it must be remembered that if a person is fighting against an ordinary bully, he will not need special skills to win. To do this you need to be able to influence the attacker on a mental level. Psychologists advise mastering oriental fighting, which is aimed not only at learning fighting techniques. This martial arts system will also help remove the mental block before starting a fight and get rid of the fear of pain.

Use your intelligence

Intelligence can be used at the stage of trying to prevent a conflict situation. It is important to try to use psychological techniques that will help create the impression that you are a fearless and strong person.

At the moment of a fight, thanks to intelligence, you can identify the weaknesses of the offender and even calculate battle tactics.

However, in street fights, intellectual abilities become powerless. The actions of some people prone to aggression defy logical explanation and cannot be predicted.