I agree with this notion totally. When I was training in Wing Chun, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing back in my 20's there was a lot of talk from the trainers about not using these techniques unless forced to do so. One of the gyms would actually kick you out if it was discovered you started a fight in public, win or lose said fight. This says a lot about their devotion because this particular gym was struggling financially but would still kick you out.

Now if we are talking about a good defense is the best offense, I agree with this also. I was once in a bar fight where i got struck from behind and then turned around and covered up to suss out my unknown opponent. He took a few more swings at me and then I just locked him up in a choke. Other than render him incapable of striking anymore I did zero damage to him and that was the point because I had no idea who he was.

Turns out he had the wrong guy and he wasn't even trying to fight me. we had never met. He did realize very quickly that he was bested though and stopped resisting after being in the lock for 10 seconds or so.

A lot of people don't realize this, but the puncher has an opportunity to take as much damage as the punchee, especially on the head. If people don't believe me go and have a go at punching a piece of wood attached to a spring... because it is essentially the same thing.