Historically, the effectiveness of any given martial art was “proven” via argumentation, demonstration, and anecdote. Argumentation is for example “legs are stronger than arms, so Taekwondo, which emphasizes kicks, is obviously better.” Demonstration is waving hands around on stage dramatically, while entirely complaint students fall to the ground and don’t move. And anecdote is “sifu fought ten armed skinheads, crushing all easily, his abs are so defined.” Then, in 1993, UFC 1 debuted a concept as simple as wheels on luggage – to find out what approach works best, have exponents of various arts fight each other.

Over time, the parts of each martial art that work against a trained opponent came into view. Today, martial artists have readily available the best of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, muay Thai, judo, kickboxing, sambo, sanda, taekwondo, and karate. Call all that martial arts in the arena.

However, the rise of cell phone video and security camera footage has opened up a second means to determine the efficacy of any particular martial art or technique. Call that martial arts on the street. These incidents can be roughly categorized as:
•Self-Defense: The proportional use of force to protect against an unprovoked attack that objectively threatens imminent injury or worse.
•Mutual Combat: Legal in only a few states in the US, this is when two people decide to fight each other outside of any organized sporting context. There are typically some rules, either explicit or implicit, that include no weapons, and can extend all the way to punching only, with no kicking or wrestling.
•Dojo Storm: These typically involve a skeptic or rival, who wants to test his or her own skills vs. a coach or fighter at a gym.
•Bouncer: Part of the job involves dealing with aggressive behavior or non-compliance with statutory or establishment rules.
•Informal Fight; Participants engage in contests held, often loosely, under boxing, wrestling, MMA, etc rules, outside of any recognized sporting organization. Location can range from the gym to the backyard to the beach.
•Style vs. Style: MMA was born from these, and although the practice has largely died out, they can cast clear light on reality.

This author has broken down over 1,000 incidents caught on video of martial arts being used on the street, as defined above. In the case below, the martial art being showcased is boxing. When it went viral in 2015, the video was presented as an Irish professional boxer on vacation attacked by over a dozen Turkish shopkeepers. The truth is a little more complicated, but the basic facts are straightforward.

THE BACKGROUND

The hero of the story is a Kuwait-born and raised, Irish citizen of Muslim faith, named Mohammed Fadel Dobbous. He was on vacation in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey, when he went to a shop, and approached a shaky refrigerator to remove a bottle of water. When he opened it, perhaps a little roughly, a number of bottles of water fell out to the ground. For reasons that are not entirely clear, the shopkeeper became enraged, and tried to assault Dobbous with a stick.

The Irishman fought back, with success. In response, other shopkeepers came to the defense of their fellow small-business owner. Then the tourist took his glasses off, put them on top of his head, and took out multiple attackers. When they realized things were not going their way, the shopkeepers called for more help. The crowd of attackers swelled.

The tourist sought temporary refuge in his hotel, but then went once more into the fray. The crowd by then was armed with clubs and wooden chairs. The tourist retreated to his hotel more than once, gathered his strength, and waded again into the swarming shopkeepers a final time.

Eventually, the shopkeepers retreated. You can see why:

THE AFTERMATH

Senol Palan, 32, owner of the shop with a tippy refrigerated case, offered an implausible explanation. Palan said the tourist wanted to buy alcohol and when he was told there was none there, he left and returned with a friend, opened the case roughly, and caused the bottles of water to fly out. We all saw what happened next.

“The man was so strong. He was toppling anyone he punched,” said Palan. “Then nearby shopkeepers rushed in to help. It was like he was made of stone. He was not punching like a human.”

Another shopkeeper, who is seen on video being one-shot dropped and then stumbling off, asked reporters for 10,000 Turkish Lira (around US$600) to replace the nine teeth he lost. When asked if he lost all nine teeth from just one punch, the man replied, “Brother, did you not see the man, he is like Mike Tyson.” Palan himself lost two teeth.

Dobbous was interviewed shortly after the incident, and offered his perspective. Wearing a sling, he reported he suffered a broken hand, dislocated shoulder, and a knife wound to the back, plus lost his phone, watch, and gold chain. Other reports cite a fractured skull.

“I wasn’t drunk, I don’t drink,” he said. “I went to get a bottle of water. When I opened the door they fell all over me. I said I was sorry – accidents happen. But I was shocked at what happened next. … They should fight like men. You don’t have to come at me with weapons. Come at me with your hands. I didn’t come looking for a fight. I am a Muslim, like yourself. My hand [is injured] and my shoulder is dislocated from when someone hit me in the back.

“All this for water?”

Dabbous was acquitted in court, with the judge ruling that he acted in self-defense. Palan, was convicted of “deliberate injury” and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, later reduced to 26 months. Two other suspects received fines only, as their attacks did not result in injury.

The shopkeepers in the area are predominantly Kurds, rather than Turks. Relations between Kurds and Turks are not typically warm and fuzzy. Support on social media in Turkey for the Kuwaiti-Irish tourist was widespread.

“Should we write a novel titled ‘The Irish tourist?’” quipped noted Turkish novelist Ahmet Ümit. A woman named Bakteri Plaa, proposed marriage. A game called Irlandalı Boksör [Irish Boxer] was developed in Turkey. In it, a character looking like Dobbous stands next to a refrigerator full of water bottles, and then beats up angry shopkeepers wielding clubs and chairs, among other objects.

THE LESSONS

Watching MMA fights is compelling, but the greater meaning is learning what’s real – which martial arts techniques work against a capable attack, and which fail. Likewise, the application of martial arts on the street can be compelling video content, but the greater meaning is learning which techniques and methods actually work, on the street.

Dobbous was widely reported to be a professional boxer, but the reality is he just trains in the sweet science. The tourist speculates he won the fight, “because he is fit.” That of course parallels one of the great truisms in combat sports, explained succinctly by Karl Gotch: “Conditioning is your best hold.” That’s one of the vital lessons imparted here.

Across the globe, hopelessly out-of-shape martial arts teachers delight in fleecing the credulous, offering to teach “deadly” techniques without the requisite conditioning. For example, in far too many aproaches to Kenpo, it often appears that the two primary teacher requirements are being overweight and holding a 10th degree black belt. If you are not in decent shape, do not expect your skills to work.

Mr. Dobbous’ amazing performance also reflects having naturally heavy hands. As any striking coach will tell you, much of great knockout power is innate. Anyone can increase their punching power dramatically, but some people are born with heavy hands. Dobbous absolutely was. That’s another important lesson – some vital skills in self-defense are innate.

It should also be noted that the tourist received a lot of injuries, could have been killed, and might well have been better off if he just ran into his hotel and stayed there. Watching and appreciating video of martial arts on the street shouldn’t extended to thoughtlessly glorifying it.

The two martial arts with the highest demonstrated level of success on the street are jiu-jitsu and boxing. For a one-on-one altercation, jiu-jitsu has demonstrably proven to be the best, and all the more so because the level of damage can readily range from a hug to face-smashing. However, the efficacy of jiu-jitsu against multiple attackers is much more limited. This is obvious, but more importantly, is borne out by the record of jiu-jitsu being used on the street. Boxing, on the other hand, has a tremendous record via security cam and smartphone video of working very well against multiple attackers.

On the subject of lessons, no generalities should be drawn from this single incident about the nation where it took place. Turkey is most deservedly a beloved destination for over 40 million tourists worldwide each year. The beauty of the nation and the kindness of its people are known and cherished by all who visit.

And lastly, the next time you are in a store, wherever you are, and remove a bottle of water from the refrigerator, take care that they don’t drop to the ground. No good will come of it.