I learned to fight later in life after I also came to the realization that being against violence won't stop someone from beating me up.

I avoid violence, except in the boxing gym where I train for nearly 20 years. I don't ever plan to start a fight (swing first), or even get in a fight. I try to avoid violent situations. But if I can't get out of a fight, I plan to win.

Will Smith started the violence. There is no excuse for taking a tame joke about GI Jane and responding with violence. Even if Chris Rock had known that Ms. Pinkett Smith has alopecia (he claims he didn't), it wouldn't give Will Smith the right to resort to violence.

Back in 1991, Will Smith made a joke about the bald head of a bass player in the band of the Arsenio Hall show. Will Smith claimed he didn't know at the time that the bass player had alopecia. Did that bass player have the right to go assault Will Smith? Of course not. Will Smith's fame and fortune do not grant him the right to assault people.

Will Smith created a violent situation. Would I have reacted as professionally as Chris Rock in that situation? I don't think so. I'm happy we'll never know.

What we do know is that Chris Rock's life will never be the same again. Will Smith's life won't be the same either.