“It is your own bad strategies, not the unfair opponent, that are to blame for your failures. You are responsible for the good and bad in your life” – Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power
The information presented here is the result of thousands of dollars and countless hours of trial and error invested by the author to illuminate and refine this holistic, simplified, and powerful system of effective street combat.
Avoid the Trap of Partiality
Partiality occurs when you focus too heavily on one aspect of the equation, losing sight of the bigger picture. It can manifest as an overemphasis on forms, basics, push hands, historical reenactments, or similar practices, instead of prioritizing a comprehensive plan for dominating street fighting scenarios.
Another form of partiality is overemphasizing rule-based dojo or sport fighting. This approach often demands more effort and time to secure victory and you could take a beating in the process.
Both approaches tend to falter against larger, stronger opponents or those with superior skill within the same rule set, highlighting their limitations in practical combat situations.
Be aware of confirmation bias, which limits growth by focusing only on information and people that support your beliefs. The Dunning-Kruger effect can lead to overconfidence and poor decisions in areas of inexperience. Stay open-minded and reassess regularly.
Focus on the Essence.
At RAT Synthesis, we focus on the 40 essential techniques, peak fighting condition, and a comprehensive and adaptive street-fighting battle plan. This strategy maximizes the likelihood of victory in even the toughest situations, and includes targeting vital points and using proactive aggression as defense instead of passive methods.
This streamlined system combines elements of Paul Vunak’s Rapid Assault Tactics (R.A.T.), the Joe Lewis Fighting System, and Denis Decker’s Gung Fu, all influenced by Bruce Lee—a shorter, lighter figure who was not just a movie star but also a nearly undefeated street fighter, with methods proven effective against larger opponents. The R.A.T. is a streamlined version of Bruce Lee’s fighting system and has been taught to Navy SEALs.
Here is the RAT Synthesis Solution, the Street Fighting Battle Plan:
In combat, there are two main approaches: power (Yang) and finesse (Yin). Power uses strong, decisive strikes to overwhelm, like Mike Tyson. Finesse relies on precision and technique to outmaneuver, like Muhammad Ali. Both can be effective depending on the situation and the fighter’s strengths.
The RAT Synthesis Battle Plan is built on five principles: PAIN, PRESSURE, TERMINATE, FOLLOW UP, and FINISH.
Offense: Strike first, targeting vital points like the eyes to cause pain and disrupt focus. Follow with a straight blast to unbalance your opponent. Use headbutts, knee strikes, and elbows to terminate the threat. Escape if possible; otherwise, neutralize with powerful moves like Bagua palm strikes or western boxing power punches. Finish with a rear naked choke if necessary to fully control the situation.
Defense: We focus on interception—striking or disrupting an attack by targeting vital points—and destruction, which disables or fractures the attacking limb. This strategy uses proactive aggression instead of passive defenses like block-counter or bobbing and weaving, which can be risky. By intercepting or destroying attacks, we take the initiative, apply pressure, and neutralize the threat quickly.
The block-counter strategy works if you have internal power, but it takes two beats of time, is mastered by only 5% of martial artists, and relies on the opponent’s actions, giving them an initial advantage. It does not immediately induce pain. RAT Synthesis focuses on proactive aggression instead.
Seconds, not rounds.
The fight could conclude during the pain-infliction phase. An eye jab, an elbow destruct, a leopard paw strike to the metacarpals, or a swift kick to the groin could end the fight in seconds, not rounds of back and forth action.
Overcoming Obstacles: Opponent Types
Opponent types are identified by their footwork:
- Jammers: Aggressive, relentless attackers, common in street fighting and grappling.
- Blockers: Defensive, waiting to counter, but often ineffective, especially against stronger opponents. Most martial artists fall into this category.
- Runners: Agile and elusive, relying on speed.
RAT Synthesis uses Bruce Lee’s Five Ways of Attack, focusing on Attack by Combination (ABC), Attack by Drawing (ABD), and Immobilization Attack (IA) to handle any opponent. If you can’t penetrate their defense, attack their extremities (IA). For example, for runners, grab them (IA) to stop their movement, then strike or sweep them.
Denis Decker Integration:
In this strategy, we use specialized Denis Decker Gung Fu techniques for maximum impact, like leopard fists (destruction), bear palm strikes, and black feather and golden peacock. We also use Bagua strategies, such as attacking from the sides and blind spots. If proactive aggression is not an option and we are forced to block instead, our focus shifts to disrupting the opponent’s structure and balance using the internals by strategically manipulating their centers.
If tackled and taken to the ground:
Use Bagua internals to prevent it. If you end up on the bottom, follow this plan:
- Employ counter-grappling techniques: Focus on disrupting your opponent’s control by creating pain and exploiting openings to escape.
- Adapt standing techniques for ground defense: Many techniques of stand up combat can be modified to work effectively in ground fighting situations.
- Prioritize mobility: Work strategically to regain your footing and return to a mobile, upright position. This is the best position for street combat.
That’s it. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. As Confucius wisely said, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
For more information on an impartial approach to life and combat, please refer to the book The Art of War Codified: Coded Version.
Beyond the Cage: The Art of Real-World Combat Mastery
MMA, popularized by the UFC, is a widely accepted fighting style focused on controlled one-on-one matches with opponents of similar size or skill. However, it’s not effective against multiple attackers or larger opponents. You can’t fight on the ground if the attacker’s buddies are stomping on you. If techniques like eye gouges, biting, and throat or groin attacks were allowed, fights would end almost instantly, losing the excitement that draws audiences. Why rely on sport techniques that can demand enduring prolonged punishment to possibly later achieve victory, or depend on being bigger, stronger, or better conditioned than your opponent?
In real-world situations, where survival and protection are paramount, you need a system that is fast, effective, and adaptable to any scenario. That’s precisely what RAT Synthesis delivers.
ALSO SEE:
This is one of the most powerful, simple, and effective street-fighting instructional videos ever created by Paul Vunak the world’s most dangerous man according to Black Belt Magazine and inventor of the RAT (Rapid Assault Tactics) taught to Navy SEALs. The core of the RAT system is on full display—interception, destruction, straight blast, and termination (headbutt, knees, and elbows)—battle-tested principles that make up 40% of RAT Synthesis. These aren’t just techniques; they’re survival tools.
Thanks to Sigung Vunak for sharing this invaluable material. When I discovered the RAT system, I immediately recognized it as a crucial component of Bruce Lee’s street-fighting methodology. With it, I had the missing pieces needed to complete the puzzle.
Notice how the approach is inherently defensive—using interception and destructs to neutralize threats before they escalate. But in RAT Synthesis, we take it even further. We seamlessly integrate offense, incorporating Bruce’s Five Ways of Attack, the Three Types of Fighters, and an arsenal of advanced combat principles that elevate your game to the next level. Like Denis Decker gung fu fighting and Mike Tyson inspired kickboxing.
MORE:
- RAT Synthesis Offense: https://ratsynthesis.com/rat-synthesis-the-art-of-relentless-offense/
- RAT Synthesis Defense: https://ratsynthesis.com/rat-synthesis-defense-attack-the-attack-end-the-fight-master-the-art-of-proactive-domination/
- RAT Synthesis Vs. Gun: https://ratsynthesis.com/rat-synthesis-gun-disarm-confronting-a-gunfighter-or-multiple-gunfighters-with-unmatched-skill-and-strategy/
