The Three Battles You Face When You Defend Yourself: What Really Happens After a Fight
At Goldbar Defense, we believe in your right to defend yourself—but we also believe in being prepared for what happens after the fight. Because the truth is, once you’ve had to physically defend yourself, your battle isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning.
If you’ve ever wondered what the real-world consequences of self-defense look like, here’s a breakdown of what we call “the three battles” you’ll have to fight—and why training, awareness, and preparation matter more than ever.
1. Battle One: Winning the Fight
The first battle is the one everyone thinks about: the actual fight.
You may be facing a bully, an attacker, or someone who is threatening your life or the safety of someone else. When you’re forced to defend yourself, the goal is not to “win” a brawl—it’s to survive, escape, or stop the threat.
At Goldbar Defense, we teach you to:
Recognize the threat quickly,
Use only the necessary level of force,
Stay aware of your surroundings, and
End the situation as safely and quickly as possible.
But once that moment passes, you enter the next two, often more complex, battles.
2. Battle Two: Winning the Criminal Case
After a physical altercation—even in self-defense—law enforcement gets involved. You may be arrested, questioned, or even charged with a crime. Now you're in criminal court, where the question becomes:
"Did you use force legally?"
To prove your case, the law will look at factors like:
Who started the fight,
Whether you had a right to be there,
Whether you tried to de-escalate,
Whether the force you used was reasonable and necessary.
This is where having a solid understanding of self-defense laws in your state and being able to clearly explain your actions is crucial.
And it’s why at Goldbar Defense, we don’t just teach you how to protect yourself, we teach you how to stay within the law while doing it.
3. Battle Three: Winning the Civil Lawsuit
Even if you’re cleared in criminal court, the person you defended yourself against (or their family) can still file a civil lawsuit against you. They can claim you injured them and try to sue you for medical bills, emotional trauma, or other damages.
This is where it becomes expensive, stressful, and often unfair. You did what you had to do, but now you're fighting a battle in civil court—which has a lower burden of proof than criminal court.
Again, preparation is key. Having witnesses, video evidence, and being able to clearly explain your actions will help you in this fight.
Bonus Battle: School Disciplinary Action (For Students)
If you’re a student and the incident happened on school grounds, you could also face school discipline, even if you were defending yourself. Many schools have “zero tolerance” policies that punish all parties involved in a fight—regardless of who started it.
That could mean:
Suspension,
Expulsion, or
A mark on your permanent record.
This isn’t to scare you—it’s to make you aware of the full scope of consequences, and to help you make smart choices when conflict arises.
Goldbar Defense: We Don’t Scare You—We Prepare You
We’re not telling you this to make you afraid to defend yourself. We're telling you this because you deserve to be prepared.
At Goldbar Defense, our mission is to help you:
Avoid a fight if possible,
Defend yourself effectively if necessary,
And understand the legal aftermath so you can protect your freedom and your future.
We use real-world scenarios to train your mind, body, and voice to respond the right way in high-pressure moments. Because when you know what’s at stake, and you’ve already trained to handle it, you don’t freeze—you act.
Remember this:
The fight is only the beginning. Preparation is how you win all three battles.
Want to learn more about how to defend yourself and your future? Join a training session at Goldbar Defense—where we prepare you for the real world.
Remember when seconds count and help is minutes away you are your own first responder.
Stay safe my friends.
Pastor Bart Goldbar
Goldbar Defense LLC
