Where is it all going to end then , take a beating 1st then defend yourself if you are able too!! rather turn the tables on your opponent myself, I am not a thug and dont condone violence unless its enevitable and cant avoid it .Cut a long story short having been on the recieving end of a fight when I was a teenager, { black eye , broken nose , stiches to my inside of lip} my dad asked me what happened ,Told him arguement had started and I let the guy hit me 1st, didnt tell him he kicked me on the floor untill he was tired! My dad said to me : Allways try and talk you way out if you can , if not say to him that you are not going to fight him at any cost, when he relaxes his stance ie drops his hands down to his side , unclenches his fist, Hit him as hard as you can with the first blow , this will give you and advantage either to run or show him you will not be intimidated!! Best advice I had from my dad, later in life learned Aikido with my best friend who still at the age 56 practises to this day ,taught me a lot about disipline and how to defend myself.PS the guy who beat me up was a school bully he left me alone when he tried to to it again a year later when I gained the upper hand, I never kicked him just used my hands. Things have changed a lot since then thugs carry weapons and use them , please be carefull best to run away if you can and call for help is good advise or try to keep out of harms way.