I don't know how to fight
Odds are good that neither do they.
I get a feeling these online how-tos aren't really effective.
Very likely.
Here's my advice:
1) The kind of person who goes around looking for fights is able to smell fear like a dog. If you're afraid, they will know. And being afraid will make you a more attractive target. Be annoyed. Be angry. Don't be scared.
2) Go to a gym. Spend time punching a bag. If you don't know how to punch, you're about as likely to hurt yourself when you try to punch someone as you are likely to hurt them. I cannot stress this enough.
Spend time on a punching bag. Do not use gloves. Get used to the feel of hitting something. Don't let your wrists buckle. Learn to breath while punching. Practice punching continuously. Not just one punch, five punches or more at a time. Never throw only one punch. Get used so used to throwing groups of punches that after you've thrown one punch it's natural to keep throwing more without stopping.
2) If you get into the typical standoff, them pushing and yelling, trying to goad you into a fight...honestly, it's best to throw the first punch. If they push you, that's an attack upon your person. Respond with a punch. And keep punching until the fight is over.
Do not throw a punch then stop. Keep throwing punches. It's more important to keep throwing punches than whether any of them actually do any damage. So long as you're punching, they're on the defensive and less able to retaliate.
3) If you can't bring yourself to throw the first punch,
don't let them push you in the chest. What happens here, is that they push you in the chest, you get knocked back. They push you in the chest again, you get pushed back. They push you in the chest, and now you've been conditioned to accept that they're only pushing you in the chest. So then they punch you and you don't see it coming because you're expecting a push. Don't let that happen. If they try to push you in the chest, knock their arm out of the way. Also, don't stand with your feet together, allowing them to move your whole body. Put one foot behind the other and rotate your chest to the side. Make fists. Whichever of your fists is further away from them will hit hardest.
4) Guard your head. Keep your arms high, and tuck your chin down slightly towards your chest. Even a glancing blow to the face can result in dizzyness and disorientation. If you let that happen, you're probably going to lose. You can take punches anywhere else...but
not the head. Even if you get kicked in the balls, you'll still have a good couple seconds before the pain hits you. A punch to the head can be much worse.
5)
Don't hold your breath. If you tense up and stop breathing, not only does that make it harder on you, one punch to the stomach or chest and you might get seriously hurt. Remember to breathe. Keep your stomach muscles tight to reduce the force of blows to the body, but don't stop breathing.
6) When you fight, be sure to make fists. Don't have loose fingers. Broken fingers are not pretty. Keep your knees slightly bent and your feet somewhat apart with one behind the other. Don't worry about looking like an idiot. Focus on looking like someone not to be fucked with. Be ready to move. And by that, I mean be ready to
be moved Anticipate that you may be knocked over, they might grab your shirt and yank...don't set up a plan in your mind to stand there taking turns punching each other. Fights don't usually go that way.
7) Most fights end up on the ground. Be ready for it.
In particular, one very common thing to happen is for one person to end up on their back with the other person straddling them, holding their shirt to immobilize them while repeatedly punching them in the face with the other hand. This is
not as bad as it sounds, because while they have one hand holding you, you have two hands free. If you should happen to end up in this position, don't cower, don't close your eyes, don't panic. Wrap one hand around the back of their neck and punch them in the face with the other. Alternately, a firm push with an index finger into the base of their throat will either get them off of you or end the fight. Keep in mind that just because they're holding you with one hand doesn't mean that they can't let go and hit you with it instead. Don't plan for the fight to go a certain way. Simply be prepared for what might happen.
9) Whoever you're fighting, keep an eye out for their friends. If you get stuck playing the "push in the chest" game, the others are more likely to get involved than if you're actively fighting back or rolling around together on the ground. Don't assume that the fight is over just because they stop throwing punches. If you're able to choose your target, go for the loudest, most vocal of the group. He is the leader. If you take him out, the others are less likely to try anything. Once it's over, don't linger. If you win, the guy on the ground is going to be angry and want to restore his dignity. Don't give him time to do that. Look the others in the eye, and walk away. Don't run. Walk. Listen in case they follow.
10) Whether you "win" or "lose" be sure to put up enough of a fight that they learn that you're not an easy target. Predators, be they lions or humans, prefer easy prey. Give them some bruises so they know you're not easy prey.
If you have specific questions, I'm wiling to answer.