What is your understanding of "circumstance" when it comes to unarmed combat?

Question

I've heard martial artists say that fights are as much as 50% circumstance. Circumstance meaning things like location, sucker punches, etc..
What do you think?

Answer 1

When I refer to "circumstances" what I am trying to convey is the "dynamics" of that particular situation.

Examples:
(Trouble starts and you must deal with................)

Poor lighting
Wet surface
Wearing tight fitting clothing
You are at a wedding
You are at an event & don't know anyone there
You are with your kids,(like a 4 & 6 year old)
Your car won't start & you're with your wife
You're forced off the road in the middle of nowhere
A family member flips out & you have to not injure them
You don't speak the language of the trouble makers
You are miserable with the flu & get jerked around in the parking lot of the drug store.
Bad weather (pouring rain,freezing cold,etc)
You have had too much to drink or eat
Wearing the wrong shoes
Your opponent is an off duty cop that drank too much
You are talking your way out of trouble when struck from behind
etc,etc,etc,

Answer 2

By my understanding of circumstance as a matrial artist is not so much what you question but situations in general which may provoke a physical confrontation such as people egging on a fight the stubbornness of the fool who wants to start the fight with no reason other than to be a bully etc...
Now I'm not saying that your understanding is wrong but this is my personal understanding.

Hope it helps.

Answer 3

In this case circumstances are anything which is outside your control, or your opponents. so anything which have little or no control over (except for the actions of your adversary)

Answer 4

They are speaking of "luck:".....alot of people arent going to agree with me but....anyone who can throw a decent punch, has a very VERY VERY small chance of beating Chuck Liddel or a Shaolin monk, luck is a big factor. If you shoot missles at missles.......something is bound to be hit.......and its not always the intended target

Answer 5

all fighting is a result of circumstance. decisions, choices, scenarios, situation, location...

if you have to fight you have failed to protect yourself by thinking smart.