Have You Ever Been on Queer Street?

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Some of you saw this articles headline and may have thought, not me, I’ve never been to Queer Street! Some others may have thought well, yeah, I’ve been there, but it’s nobody’s business! Others yet, may have thought, sure, and I’m proud of it! But enough of joking around, that’s not what the headline is about.

Today, the word queer is mostly thought of as having to do with homosexuality. But back in the 20’s and 30’s, probably up to the early 70’s it was a boxing term used when someone got punched hard and got rocked. You know dizzy, goofy and a bit out of it. While teaching martial arts and mentioning someone being on Queer Street I’m sure I puzzled some students but I’d quickly explain its context.

So, have you ever been on Queer Street, either in boxing, martial arts training or during a street fight? I have and it’s dangerous. In training, not so much because a teacher will stop a sparring session if someone’s rocked but on the street it’s different.

I had it happen to me on the street and it made my entire physical confrontation a nightmare from that point on. I survived with a scar or two but I learned a few lessons that as a teacher, I can pass along.

If you’re rocked in a fight and it happens from a sucker punch or a strike in the beginning of your street fight, it can be curtains for you. You might be unable to protect yourself very well or as well as you might have been able to before being rocked. The good thing with being on Queer Street is that it goes away. Usually 5-10-15 seconds and its gone and you’re back together.

So what should we do if we get rocked and get dizzy or goofy? Hold on to your opponent, cheek to cheek, body to body, like an anaconda holds on to its upcoming dinner. Become one with the person who put you on Queer Street. Let your body recuperate while you’re holding on and don’t let him hit you anymore because that’s where the danger lies. If you’re on Queer Street and they keep hitting you—oh boy, that can be a nightmare! The other way to clear our heads is by keeping our hands up and moving around blocking anything coming at our heads. Be all defense until we clear our heads and then proceed to properly and clear headedly protect ourselves.

Furthermore, don’t talk crap at someone on the street if it may lead to a fight. Walk away or if you’re going to talk smack be sure to be ready to fight—either you starting it or making sure you’re ready for his initial blow. Many street people know how to fight and they know that striking first can be a huge advantage, so, if you’re arguing and hollering and you think that it’s only going to be a verbal thing or you think that you’re intimidating the other person, forget about it. Some people don’t intimidate and some people are sneaky. Always be ready in those circumstances to strike or block so you don’t end up on Queer Street.

Steve’s latest book: https://tinyurl.com/zcbkkyy

Steve Kovacs
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Steve Kovacs

About Steve Kovacs

Steve's the bestselling author of 'Protect Your Kids! The Simple Keys to Children's Safety and Survival'. He's written many articles on a wide variety of topics and has three published books. Steve's a three-time survivor of violence in his youth, a former police supervisor and a graduate of The Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) and was also an award winning part-time college Criminal Justice instructor. For several years, Steve did written and radio political and current event commentary and was the former host of the long running 'The Kovacs Perspective' Internet radio and TV talk show. Steve presently owns a small businesses in Ohio--The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense.

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