Do people that take fighting lessons, fight more?

No. I still avoid confrontation at all costs. But if I can't avoid it, I will am prepared to defend myself and my children. It all depends on your personality to begin with. Learning to strike isn't suddenly going to turn you into a hot headed D-bag.

I'd say it depends on your attitude, and your club - where i learned karate, we were taught that running is always the first choice, if confrontation is unavoidable, you do just enough to provide yourself with a chance to run.
but then, my club would ban people who were caught fighting in public. part of training was that you're supposed to learn to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner.

my husband's karate club would go out to bars and start brawls though - so, whilst i like to think people are taught better, it doesn't always happen.

i took boxing , martial arts and wrestling and any instructor or gym worth there salt always teaches you that what you learn in for protection and emergency's. so your attitude should get conditioned when your being trained. the more you train the less you want to result to fighting cause you realize the harm you could easily cause. but those avenues are good sources for exercise and will definitely add variety to your work out routines. .

No. I still avoid confrontation at all costs. But if I can't avoid it, I will am prepared to defend myself and my children. It all depends on your personality to begin with. Learning to strike isn't suddenly going to turn you into a hot headed D-bag.

I agree with this. If it's in your nature to pick a fight, then you're going to fight. However, most schools teach avoidance. I've fought a lot when I was young, but my maturity grew along with my martial arts training. Not only will you learn to strike efficiently, but also have better restraint, control, and use the appropriate amount of force if such an event arises. Of course, there will be schools like the "Cobra Kai". "Sweep the leg!" :laugh:

No. I still avoid confrontation at all costs. But if I can't avoid it, I will am prepared to defend myself and my children. It all depends on your personality to begin with. Learning to strike isn't suddenly going to turn you into a hot headed D-bag.

I agree with this. If it's in your nature to pick a fight, then you're going to fight. However, most schools teach avoidance. I've fought a lot when I was young, but my maturity grew along with my martial arts training. Not only will you learn to strike efficiently, but also have better restraint, control, and use the appropriate amount of force if such an event arises. Of course, there will be schools like the "Cobra Kai". "Sweep the leg!" :laugh:

Both good posts.

In Tae Kwan Do my instructor was asked a question by one of the students, how would you defend yourself against someone with a knife that wanted your wallet? Simple he said, take out your wallet and throw it towards the person trying to steal your wallet but so that they have to go get it. When the person goes for the wallet (because that's what they're after) you run.

Avoidance is important and it's good to know when to fight and when to run. I'd rather know how to defend myself in the event that I'm left with no other choice.

People who get into fights are children who feel that they have to prove something to themselves or to other people.

My father is a martial arts instructor so I grew up sparring constantly. I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone else, so I never, ever get into fights. Learning to fight also educates you in another important way: I know that what looks like a minor brawl could end with someone getting seriously, seriously injured. I don't want to hurt anyone that way, and I don't want to get hurt that way.

Learning to fight teaches you that fighting is pointless.

I myself have not trained for any serious length of time, but I have a couple friends who have trained (to the point they have had amateur MMA fights) and I think it has led to them being much LESS aggressive in everyday life.

I think it is twofold - 1. most martial arts also teach some form of discipline, if not directly, indirectly. 2. It is an outlet for their aggression.

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OP, this could also be an outlet for people who enjoy the art of fighting. UFC is essentially a sanctioned fight club. The desire to practice your technique against an equal opponent and wanting to beat the crap out of someone in a bar fight are two different personalities. Giving your all for (3) five minute rounds of fighting will certainly test your fitness level.

UFC is a sports organization for elite professional fighters.

That's like saying the NFL is essentially a sanctioned hand egg club.

Of course with any professional sport, no John or Jane Doe can walk off the street to participate. But there is a progression if you favor fighting, and UFC originated with the fight club approach and held circuits that you could enter to ultimately end up in a televised event. The NFL has no such opportunities.

This person exudes the personality that likes to pick a fight

I have only used the psychological aspects of Aikido to defuse potentially violent situations, never had to actually use physical skills.

I did use fencing skills once in college to drive intruders (who kicked in my door) out of my room with a foil.

I don't think it makes you fight more. But it allows you to remain calm and not get defensive prematurely in dangerous situations. Remaining calm can help prevent escalation.

PS: I think part of it is that someone spoiling for a fight expects you to respond to them emotionally. When you don't, it goes "off-script" and they don't know what to do next. If they fail to scare you they also wonder why you aren't scared--if you have skills or are secretly carrying mace, taser, or gun.

I like Aikido because the techniques try to avoid damaging your attacker, so you are not afraid to use them if the person you must get physical with is a loved one who is drunk and stupid, or a mentally disabled friend or relative who's temporarily lost their temper.

Look at what martial arts disciplines are available in your area. View videos of each art online to see which most appeal to you. If more than one dojo offers the art(s) you favor, watch one or more lessons before signing up. You most likely will be working with your teacher for several years, so it is important to choose a dojo and an art that suits your innate disposition.

I suggest choosing an art with a philosophical basis that focuses on "conflict resolution" (eg: aikido, judo, jiu-jitsu, shaolin kung fu, wing chun, kempo...) over a modern one that emphasizes "winning" such as MMA, or krav maga (developed for warfare).

Tae Kwon Do is the "Starbucks" of martial arts--there seems to be a dojo on every corner--but quality of teaching varies widely so if that is the art that interests you be sure to do your research before choosing your dojo. Some are good, some others seem to hand out rankings based on how long you have been paying them rather than what skill you've achieved.