[ChandieSavage]

When is an altercation specifically a "catfight" in your opinion? Big emphasis on the word opinion there as I think we all have differing definitions and as what is technically a slang term, it can certainly be open to interpretation.

Even a simple verbal spat between women can sometimes be reported on as a catfight - but for me the personally it comes down to one simple thing - tactics.

We aren't boxing, we aren't kicking and punching with skill and technique - to me two women fighting in that style are simply 'fighting' - a fight no doubt, but a catfight? In my opinion no.

Same with grappling - skilled MMA practitioners going for submissions - while impressive - does not say "catfight" to me - again women fighting with these tactics are skilled and labeling their martial arts bouts as "catfights" is kind of demeaning and dismissive of the hard work and training they've put in to fight with such technique.

To me for a catfight to be a true catfight there needs to be a lack of technical fighting and more raw emotional and feral tactics - hairpulling is a must, but grappling in a catfight is a back-and-forth affair based on strength and determination rather than skill. The strikes are also likewise less technical and involve more slapping than punching - if the women are strictly punching I hesitate to call it a catfight and just based on the intensity alone would refer to such as a fistfight or simply a 'fight'.

The combatants aren't there to simply knock out or make the other submit, there's something inherently feminine in catfight tactics that makes us just go right for the hair or scratching each others faces, shredding shirts and tearing at nylons in an attempt not as much to beat our rival down as humiliate them and damage their feminine image.

Those are my two cents, attached are some examples from some of my matches that I think of when I think "CATFIGHT" - but I'm curious what others have to say!

[Anthony__]

The lack of real technique to start with, lots of trash talk, slaps more so than real punches.
Very basic submissions legs locked around someone, maybe a chokehold of sorts
That's how I define it

[Liza-79]

I don't like the word, but if I had to define it, it's a fight between two women, emphasizing the word "fight." It's not a competition like some wrestling/boxing match or a competition over a job promotion but an actual fight.

[sinclairfan]

First....GREAT topic.

Second....to answer the question....

<1> Name-calling, including the magic Bitch and cxnt words.

<2> Kicking.  Nothing more disrespectful then kicking another woman.

<3> Sexy clothes.  Crop tops, blue jeans, etc.

<4> Hair down.

<5> Sexual rivalry.

<6> in each others' "space"--same cul de sac, etc.

<7> Fighting is 'for keeps'.  Hard yo define, but you know it if you're in it.

[Horny-Jew]

Each woman has to dressed like so: button down blouse/shirt, no bra, skirt or shorts, no leggings, no pantyhose, barefoot
and the blouses/shirts need to substantially ripped (either purposely or accidently) durring the fight.

[ChandieSavage]

Each woman has to dressed like so: button down blouse/shirt, no bra, skirt or shorts, no leggings, no pantyhose, barefoot
and the blouses/shirts need to substantially ripped (either purposely or accidently) durring the fight.

So I mean no offense and to each their own, but these sound more like preferences rather than what I'm asking for which is just the base definition of the term.

If the attire were different than your preference or nothing gets ripped etc - would you still not refer to the event itself as a catfight? I'm sure if you saw two fully clothed women yanking hair in public you'd describe it to others as a catfight no?

What are the things things that prevent it from being or define it as a catfight? That's what I'm curious about more than the background or attire etc. - what are the bare minimum parameters required to meet the definition in your eyes?

[ChandieSavage]

Each woman has to dressed like so: button down blouse/shirt, no bra, skirt or shorts, no leggings, no pantyhose, barefoot
and the blouses/shirts need to substantially ripped (either purposely or accidently) durring the fight.

So I mean no offense and to each their own, but these sound more like preferences rather than what I'm asking for which is just the base definition of the term.

If the attire were different than your preference or nothing gets ripped etc - would you still not refer to the event itself as a catfight? I'm sure if you saw two fully clothed women yanking hair in public you'd describe it to others as a catfight no?

What are the things things that prevent it from being or define it as being a catfight? That's what I'm curious about more than the background or attire etc. - what are the bare minimum parameters required to meet the definition in your eyes?

[Flamingo]

Hair pulling 
Desperate tactics like  tit grabbing and pussy mauling help too

[suhmann]

When is an altercation specifically a "catfight" in your opinion? Big emphasis on the word opinion there as I think we all have differing definitions and as what is technically a slang term, it can certainly be open to interpretation.

Even a simple verbal spat between women can sometimes be reported on as a catfight - but for me the personally it comes down to one simple thing - tactics.

We aren't boxing, we aren't kicking and punching with skill and technique - to me two women fighting in that style are simply 'fighting' - a fight no doubt, but a catfight? In my opinion no.

Same with grappling - skilled MMA practitioners going for submissions - while impressive - does not say "catfight" to me - again women fighting with these tactics are skilled and labeling their martial arts bouts as "catfights" is kind of demeaning and dismissive of the hard work and training they've put in to fight with such technique.

To me for a catfight to be a true catfight there needs to be a lack of technical fighting and more raw emotional and feral tactics - hairpulling is a must, but grappling in a catfight is a back-and-forth affair based on strength and determination rather than skill. The strikes are also likewise less technical and involve more slapping than punching - if the women are strictly punching I hesitate to call it a catfight and just based on the intensity alone would refer to such as a fistfight or simply a 'fight'.

The combatants aren't there to simply knock out or make the other submit, there's something inherently feminine in catfight tactics that makes us just go right for the hair or scratching each others faces, shredding shirts and tearing at nylons in an attempt not as much to beat our rival down as humiliate them and damage their feminine image.

Those are my two cents, attached are some examples from some of my matches that I think of when I think "CATFIGHT" - but I'm curious what others have to say!

Catfight is an ordinary women's fight of ordinary women, in my opinion. Especially classic examples are old school fights . And I completely agree that punches and painful techniques - levers on legs and arms should not be in classic catfight. There are a lot of catfighters working out in gyms and practicing bjj and grappling, and they also have a lot of botox, tattoos, and piercings. I like it when two ordinary women fight, like a woman, pulling each other's hair, rolling on the ground, swearing trash words, when they entwine and lock themselves in for a while to rest. Also, classic female techniques, they are done by all the girls fighting back in school, such as school pin and protection from it, when a pinned lady throws her legs and crosses them in front of her opponent.And in fact, the usual half-hour catfight is hard work. And the more beautiful both women are, the more emotional and dirty their fight will be. They do everything, including hunting for the charms of a rival. But on the other hand, it is catfight that is less traumatic, just like amateur submission wrestling. That is, when two women are fighting adequately, and they are not hitting in the face or scratching the face. And after a good fight, the bruises and scratches on the body are not visible under the clothes.And of course, no less epic are the fights on the street, when the ladies will definitely fall down and roll around in mud and puddles. And they don't care what they're wearing or where they're fighting. Women's fight - no rules

[JT Edson]

Suhmann,
I absolutely love your definition of a catfight.

[JT Edson]

When is an altercation specifically a "catfight" in your opinion? Big emphasis on the word opinion there as I think we all have differing definitions and as what is technically a slang term, it can certainly be open to interpretation.

Even a simple verbal spat between women can sometimes be reported on as a catfight - but for me the personally it comes down to one simple thing - tactics.

We aren't boxing, we aren't kicking and punching with skill and technique - to me two women fighting in that style are simply 'fighting' - a fight no doubt, but a catfight? In my opinion no.

Same with grappling - skilled MMA practitioners going for submissions - while impressive - does not say "catfight" to me - again women fighting with these tactics are skilled and labeling their martial arts bouts as "catfights" is kind of demeaning and dismissive of the hard work and training they've put in to fight with such technique.

To me for a catfight to be a true catfight there needs to be a lack of technical fighting and more raw emotional and feral tactics - hairpulling is a must, but grappling in a catfight is a back-and-forth affair based on strength and determination rather than skill. The strikes are also likewise less technical and involve more slapping than punching - if the women are strictly punching I hesitate to call it a catfight and just based on the intensity alone would refer to such as a fistfight or simply a 'fight'.

The combatants aren't there to simply knock out or make the other submit, there's something inherently feminine in catfight tactics that makes us just go right for the hair or scratching each others faces, shredding shirts and tearing at nylons in an attempt not as much to beat our rival down as humiliate them and damage their feminine image.

Those are my two cents, attached are some examples from some of my matches that I think of when I think "CATFIGHT" - but I'm curious what others have to say!

Catfight is an ordinary women's fight of ordinary women, in my opinion. Especially classic examples are old school fights . And I completely agree that punches and painful techniques - levers on legs and arms should not be in classic catfight. There are a lot of catfighters working out in gyms and practicing bjj and grappling, and they also have a lot of botox, tattoos, and piercings. I like it when two ordinary women fight, like a woman, pulling each other's hair, rolling on the ground, swearing trash words, when they entwine and lock themselves in for a while to rest. Also, classic female techniques, they are done by all the girls fighting back in school, such as school pin and protection from it, when a pinned lady throws her legs and crosses them in front of her opponent.And in fact, the usual half-hour catfight is hard work. And the more beautiful both women are, the more emotional and dirty their fight will be. They do everything, including hunting for the charms of a rival. But on the other hand, it is catfight that is less traumatic, just like amateur submission wrestling. That is, when two women are fighting adequately, and they are not hitting in the face or scratching the face. And after a good fight, the bruises and scratches on the body are not visible under the clothes.And of course, no less epic are the fights on the street, when the ladies will definitely fall down and roll around in mud and puddles. And they don't care what they're wearing or where they're fighting. Women's fight - no rules

Love your definition as well.

[ChandieSavage]

Suhmann,
I absolutely love your definition of a catfight.

I agree, and I like that you separated what you "Like" from what a catfight actually IS.

Let's say I like ice cream, but I prefer rocky road. Vanilla, strawberry, mocha chip are STILL ice cream, just not the kind I prefer.

To me the emphasis again is on technique (or lack thereof) being more untrained amateurs fighting rather than with skilled holds or strikes.

Again I think the women who employ those types of tactics should not have their fights labeled as "catfights" as it implies a lack of skill on their part and honestly diminishes the term itself.

There's nothing wrong with a classic rolling hairpulling catfight, but when karate kicks, punches and advanced grappling holds take place however, I would be remiss to refer to those fights as 'catty' - it's dismissive of the hard work they've put in to fight with such skills.

A good example of this is the fight scene at the end of "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" - it starts off as just a high kicking martial arts fight - and then as they decide to change tactics (for laughs) it turns into a catfight. The fact that I'm saying "turns into a catfight" is kind of the point here, when they switch to hairpulling, slapping, and rolling around as opposed to martial arts striking. To me that's the primary distinction - and while it's played off as a joke or a commentary on 'women can't fight so they just have catfights" - I think it's important to look at the distinction objectively and without judgement.

As you said a "Classic Catfight" is nothing to be ashamed of, it's a relic of a different era when women weren't allowed to fight - it wasn't considered 'lady like'. In the very rare instances where things did come to blows there was no technique to speak of because it simply hadn't been learned.

I fight this way as a throwback - I've done some matches that employ more technical wrestling holds but I always find myself going back to the classic Bettie Page style tactics of pulling hair, wrapping our legs around each other, slapping and spanking etc. "Classic" is a great way to describe it Suhmann - it's not because we CAN'T employ other more advanced tactics, we fight this way now because we CHOOSE to fight this way, and I'm glad that others are on board!

[sinclairfan]

I would maybe de-emphasize the skilled/unskilled angle.....in WMMA, where both women are obviously ultra-skilled, the tension/ "edge" in the fight is noticeably different when the women have a real-life feud, versus when they are friends....

A catfight is all about that underlying tension....

[suhmann]

Suhmann,
I absolutely love your definition of a catfight.

I agree, and I like that you separated what you "Like" from what a catfight actually IS.

Let's say I like ice cream, but I prefer rocky road. Vanilla, strawberry, mocha chip are STILL ice cream, just not the kind I prefer.

To me the emphasis again is on technique (or lack thereof) being more untrained amateurs fighting rather than with skilled holds or strikes.

Again I think the women who employ those types of tactics should not have their fights labeled as "catfights" as it implies a lack of skill on their part and honestly diminishes the term itself.

There's nothing wrong with a classic rolling hairpulling catfight, but when karate kicks, punches and advanced grappling holds take place however, I would be remiss to refer to those fights as 'catty' - it's dismissive of the hard work they've put in to fight with such skills.

A good example of this is the fight scene at the end of "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" - it starts off as just a high kicking martial arts fight - and then as they decide to change tactics (for laughs) it turns into a catfight. The fact that I'm saying "turns into a catfight" is kind of the point here, when they switch to hairpulling, slapping, and rolling around as opposed to martial arts striking. To me that's the primary distinction - and while it's played off as a joke or a commentary on 'women can't fight so they just have catfights" - I think it's important to look at the distinction objectively and without judgement.

As you said a "Classic Catfight" is nothing to be ashamed of, it's a relic of a different era when women weren't allowed to fight - it wasn't considered 'lady like'. In the very rare instances where things did come to blows there was no technique to speak of because it simply hadn't been learned.

I fight this way as a throwback - I've done some matches that employ more technical wrestling holds but I always find myself going back to the classic Bettie Page style tactics of pulling hair, wrapping our legs around each other, slapping and spanking etc. "Classic" is a great way to describe it Suhmann - it's not because we CAN'T employ other more advanced tactics, we fight this way now because we CHOOSE to fight this way, and I'm glad that others are on board!

Anyway, you did a great job, lady! For me, catfight is much more interesting. And I do not know why it is considered that catfight is not a skill- some kind of skill. In fact, it's much more difficult to fight this way, with hair pulling. And I want to say, I can even say that I repeat, in childhood and youth, when boys and girls, as well as men and women, fought (the girls didn't fight much less, they just bring every fight to an end), then both of them have the same actions, since most are not pros - that is - an exchange of blows, came together, grappled, fell... And then the interesting thing begins- many boys panic and try to get up and start saying what's fair and what's unfair in a fight . But girls and women just fight, without any rules, catching and subjugating each other as it turns out. And who's the weaker sex here )))And in fact, it's really difficult to win a fight without using painful techniques, triangles, strangulation, etc. It's just very difficult to subdue in a fight. And if you add hair-pulling, then the struggle goes in a different way. I consider this to be a real art. In our Northern capital, at the beginning of the early two thousandth and until the end of the tenth years, women fought in the namazon club in submission style, and sometimes they added, as they put it, a more feminine version of submission wrestling , that is, dragging by the hair . And the results of the struggle with and without hair pulling were different And many did not dare to fight like that .

[KateA - The Devil In Heels]

What makes a catfight a catfight?

Oh this take will be spicy and controversial…

Clothes
Hair pulling
Scratching
Biting
Kicking
Slapping
Punching
Catballs


Honestly none of the above really matters, in my opinion. What ultimately makes a catfight a catfight is…

*Drum roll please*

The state of mind of us women involved! For me the psychology of what is driving us ladies to fight is what really matters. When we’ve both got a bad case of tunnel vision and it’s just relentless attack, attack, attack - this for me is a catfight! When I’m too focused on kicking some bitches knee while trying to pull her head back by her hair; so that I might punch the bitch in the face. So much so that I don’t notice she’s raking her nails down my left cheek and when I do notice, I basically ignore it and keep on pulling that hair. So that I can throw that sweet series’s of punches, this for me is a catfight.

Or to put it another way…

Violence, rage with a not so healthy side order of reckless self regard is quintessentially for me a catfight.

But of course perhaps the best people to decide whether or not it’s a catfight? Is *Shocker* the two more ladies involved

Xoxo
Kate