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boxer
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:33 am
by cool
not a quiz machine but a neanderthal machine where you hit a punch bag and that registers a score for both men and ladeez.has replaced the quiz machine in a couple of locations.has the pub industry lost it senses? You can hone your skills during the week at a site and then engage in fisticuffs with the bouncers at the same location at the weekend!
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:43 am
by pokerpete
you think hitting one of those prepares you for real street fighting?
clueless
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:46 am
by Matt Vinyl
Er, Pete, I have a feeling that the OP had a hint of jest about his post. You must be able to see what 'could' happen though after many pints and a few lads get a bit egotistic infront of some young ladies?
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:00 am
by pokerpete
a pool table is just as likely to cause fights. Anyone that's spend any decent amount of time around a pool table in a rough pub will know it can be a powder keg some nights.
he does say "hone your skills" which is what made me think he's under the impression that hitting a ball and real fighting are related. If he's not the physical type he may not realise how far apart they are.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:30 am
by Northern Monkey
And your Jean Calude Van Damme self-proclaimed "streetfighting" authority?
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:43 am
by Mattb
I reckon pokerpete has LOVE & HATE on his knuckles, though these are usually covered in brass.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:50 am
by pokerpete
Northern Monkey wrote:And your Jean Calude Van Damme self-proclaimed "streetfighting" authority?
no, I'm a self protection martial arts instructor and I'm not self proclaimed, I'm well certified

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:51 am
by Properpro
Easy boys, don't get drawn in, he's not worth it!!

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:53 am
by pokerpete
actually, if I'm honest, I don't like them being in pubs either. I do think it raises the aggression levels in a few idiots.
My point of contention was that being good / bad at punching these things bears any relation to real fighting.
Hit a nerve.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:09 am
by cool
agree with your last point- they dont see compatible with pubs.Everything is supposed to be more sophisticated particularly with regards to video games XBOX NINENTENDO realism & they introduce a product that really taxes the brain!!! Pool is a great game and attracts trouble because of the misinterpretation of rules & cheating/also they ready made weapons.They will be setting up shooting ranges and introducing stab the hoody machines next.Boxing machines are symptomatic of a violent society to me. Even I can get aggressive after my gym workouts ,the adrennaline rush certain people (particularly with alcohol) will get after this and with taunting (one gets a higher score than the other)will lead to fisticuffs.However,even the people that find this thing entertaining will soon tire of it & I expect their extinction within pubs in the next year & hope the quiz machines they replaced are restored.Also the look of them they look incongruous- saw one in a Jongleurs, weird.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:28 am
by pokerpete
You're not a very physical person are you?
That's not a critisism, just an observation.
"fisticuffs" don't need a reason. The catalyst may vary but young bucks will always lock horns. The more intellectual folk and the physical types that are a bit wiser just avoid it and/or learn strategies to deal with it.
Boxer machines don't make you any more or less likely to get picked on by the 'neanderthals' that you're worried about.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:52 am
by cool
you are correct. Presumably most swp players are.Thats how we have remained in one piece trawling the pubs.Im a flight & fight (when cornered)person.Your points are fair.I'm just talking about the minority.
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:01 am
by pokerpete
sadly, there'll always be thugs and scumbags and there always have been. It's not more violent now than in the past, what ever the media tells you.
In previous generations, there were mods and rockers meeting up for huge tooled up gang fights, race riots, union rent-a-thugs and don't forget football firms.
On a more intimate level, there's always been mugging and street fighting, not to mention violence towards women and children. Just reported and recorded differently now.
pulling back now. don't want to get on my soap box

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:25 pm
by JG
I actually enjoy your posts PP, so would welcome some soapboxery, or detergentfisticuffs, but if you were just sitting down, nevermind.
Out of curiosity, what martial art(s) do you teach?
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:37 am
by pokerpete
it's modern street orientated self protection.
I come from a kickboxing background and still teach that as core skills but not from a sport or semi-contact point of view. Sport kickboxers don't tend to enjoy the headbutts, eye gouges, bites, throat and groin attacks too much
I realise that makes us sound like nut jobs, but honestly we're not. the group includes prison officers, policemen, security staff, but also teenagers and young single mums. we're learnig how to beat nutters and you don't do that with wax on wax off.
I got mugged about 5 years ago by 4 lads. my kickboxing kept me relatively undamaged, but wasn't enough so the focus is more on releasing the animal rather than controlled aggresion like you'd expect to see in a ring.