10 Facts About Fighting That Action Movies Always Get Wrong

4. A Stand-Up Fight Doesn't Last Long

The beginning of a fight is a lot like the beginning of sex. It might be initiated while standing up, but within a few seconds it becomes clear that, out of necessity, things are going to the ground. Just as Hollywood is still holding onto that old trope that involves a passionate young man pressing his lady up against a wall and holding her up while they bang away like a pair of sweaty cymbals, the movie industry isn't ready to concede that by the end of just about every real fight, everyone involved will have spent some time on their backs. Even a movie like Oldboy, so dedicated to making a fight seem realistic that they refused to have the actors pull their punches, has their protagonist fighting from the ground for about one-tenth of the famous corridor scene. All it takes is one missed punch or ill-timed kick and someone is going to be taken down into an armlock or have their leg swept out from underneath them. Even before the whole world became obsessed with MMA, a couple of amateurs weren't going to simply trade blows and box it out for ten minutes. Even experienced fighters--nay, especially experienced fighters--will spend more time off their feet than a gold-digging housewife. And that's a good thing, because...