Most, check that, ALL school yard fights are pretty pointless given that they're usually over something really trivial like verbal insults, stolen girlfriends, pissing contests, et al.
For anyone preaching the non-violent, civilized method of talking one's way out of every dispute or confrontation probably hasn't ever been mugged or is either completely familiar with the concept of war when diplomacy fails (and it does), or is of the notion that one should just capitulate and hand over anything and everything every aggressor wants to take by force.
There are reasons when violence is the only appropriate response, but school yard scraps rarely ever quality.
#1: And I can't stress this enough: learn to let that which really doesn't matter slide.
#2: Si vis pacem, para bellum.