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Original Source: military-fitness.military.com |
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time ago, I posted an article DEFENSE AGAINST TWO ATTACKERS.
Because we spar so much in the striking arts with a single opponent, we often
develop – and train - within a certain comfort zone.
Sparring = one partner.
I just have to handle her or him. In fact, I have the time to think and plenty
of room to manoeuvre. No problem, I can do this with my eyes closed.
That same comfort zone can be rattled when
faced with an actual self defense situation where there are more than one him and her.
I
just like to re-iterate some of the points made in the first article. My
students as well forget some of the important details of facing a mini-mob when
they haven't practised for a while. Let’s then call this post a quick refresher.
STAY
AWAY FROM THE CENTRE
For
those who enjoy being the centre of attention wherever they go, a multiple
attacker situation is the unhealthiest way to gain notice. Rather than
applause, those are kicks, punches and possibly weapons coming in from all
angles. If you decide to deal with a punch coming at you from a 9:00 angle,
you’re back is turned to the knife coming in from 3:00.
Try
staying at the centre when you spar a group of friends. See how quickly you
become entangled, as though they’ve drawn a net around you. Notice how quickly
one or two of them have managed to grab you. See how fast you’re going down.
SOLUTION
– always move out of or away from the centre.
STRIKE
WHILE ON THE MOVE
If
you stop, plant your feet and then punch, the others will catch up with you. As
well, you’re only doing one thing against many.
SOLUTION
- Hit while moving. Now you're doing several things at once – striking, moving away
from the others, and looking for an escape route.
KICK
WHILE ON THE MOVE
We’ve
discovered the hard way that if you use those high kicks and spin kicks that
work so effectively against one or maybe two opponents, they tend to quickly
lose their effectiveness against three or more. As that kick rises toward
Attacker #1’s head, the other attackers are still moving toward you. In close
quarter combat, what was once five feet away can turn into a swarming session
within a second and a half. And against grapplers? No chance.
SOLUTION – Move and kick low at the same time…perhaps the groin at
the highest point, certainly the knee in most other cases. Your mission: break
their legs.
Using
low kicks also allows you to use your hands at the same time. It’s well nigh
impossible to punch someone at the same time as you’re delivering a roundhouse
kick to the head.
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Source:www.randylahaie.com |
ATTACK…THIS
IS NOT “SELF DEFENSE”
Since
you're caught up in a potential swarming situation, your mind set can’t be the
same as when you spar. Watch two people spar – they start shuffling about, sizing
each other up, and eyeing each other’s defenses for openings. There is no such
luxury in the brutal world of combat.
Just
utter those words “self defense” to typical students and they immediately go
passive, waiting for the other to attack.
The same holds true on the ground.
SOLUTION – Close quarter combat
means exactly what the term implies…combat.
As soon as you know that you can’t escape, attack. It’s a switch in mind
set…instead of being the one attacked you turn things around by becoming the attacker.
UNFORTUNATE
NASTINESS
That
brings me to the next point, freeze-framing the mini-mob’s intentions. If you
consider this bit of advice to be unduly harsh, let’s look at some of the
alternatives…
Six
men attacking one woman. That’s happened a few times near where I live. Six men
attacking one man, leaving him with the
aftermath of having to undergo brain surgery. And so on.
SOLUTION – Since you’re now the
attacker, you attack in a manner that makes the first assailant you strike
scream out in pain. That may…just may…freeze the others in their tracks. And you may have time
enough to escape.
ATTACK
ONE, LOOK AT THE OTHERS
Recently,
one of my students became so wrapped up in taking an opponent down during
multiple sparring practise he forgot about the other one striking him in the
back of the head. I call that entanglement.
SOLUTION – Practise striking while looking at the others. Act like a
football quarterback…look at the entire field. Combat is fluid. If you thought
the others were positioned at 11:00 and 2:00 a second ago, think again. It’s
not like the movies where all the bad people wait their turn to attack.
STAY AWAY FROM THE GROUND
I
don’t want to sound like a know-it-all which I’m not but try sport grappling
(not close quarter ground work) with two or three opponents. While you’re placing one gentleman into an arm bar, the others are kicking you in the head.
SOLUTION – If you slip or are
knocked down, immediately go on the attack. Targets: the legs. Get up as soon
as possible.
AVOID
BEING ENTRAPPED OR CORNERED
Smart
fighters will try to cut off your escape routes while cornering you at the same
time.
SOLUTION – Shift to one side and
away from the corner. This is why it’s so important to always be aware of the
field…where the obstacles are, where the escape routes are.
SIMPLE
TECHNIQUES
Don’t
go fancy. You don’t have the time for complicated throws or take downs or kicks
that look really great but get you entangled in a mess of bodies.
SOLUTION – Strike or quick simply
and precisely. Employ only four main target areas – head, throat/neck, groin
and knees.
EVERYDAY
WEAPONS
When
faced with a mini-mob, especially against opponents who may be armed, you may
need some additional armaments.
SOLUTION –
Use what the terrain offers you – a chair, a stick, gravel and dirt. Or your
car keys, pen, the edge of a cell phone.
Here’s
the math – your two hands against six hands in case of three attackers. Now
you’re suddenly armed which may help the odds in your favour.
THE
HUMAN SHIELD
Grabbing
one of your attackers, wrapping a hand around his throat in a choke hold and
using him as a type of human shield may work…for a while. Again, combat remains
forever fluid. For now, the shield’s balance may be broken but as you manoeuvre
in the field, he may be able to regain his balance.
SOLUTION – A human shield is
often just a temporary bonus in your favour. Use him…then drop him hard. A shield dropped correctly can be
used as a two to three second obstacle that may allow time for escape.
As
always, there are countless more solutions to a multiple opponent attack. The
best solution is not to be there. The next best is to run away. Solution number
three is to talk your way out of the situation. Number four, is to fight and
escape.
As I say so often, please
be aware of your rights to self defense. These may vary across the world. You’d
be surprised about what seems like common sense – I’m outnumbered here and I
have a right to defend myself – may be interpreted differently in a court of law.
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