Defense against multiple attackers: possible?

Question

Is it possible to defend yourself against multiple attackers, wether they are unarmed or armed with knives or sticks, etc? Some say yes, but it is very hard to master it.

Answer 1

Early in my career in LE I responded to a "fight in progress" call at one of the local bars. I entered the bar and was promptly attacked by three a**holes. I was well on my way to getting my butt thoroughly kicked when my back up arrived.
Couple years later I responded to a burglary call. Started checking the building when the three master criminals tried to get past me (3 must be some kind of magic number). The hallway was dark and narrow, they could only approach me one at a time. Some quick night stick work and I got all three.
Lesson learned: Wait for back up.
Can you take on multiple attackers? Sure, but you can only hit one person at a time. Unlike the movies, the attackers don't dance around waiting for a turn at you. If you are in a situation like that, run if you can. If you have to fight, make sure your strikes are as devastating as they can be.

Answer 2

Effective moves against multiple attackers are taught in many disiplines today. You must be profiecient at the disipline you are studying first if you are to train for this situation.
One rule of thumb:

Never spend more than three seconds one an attacker, there may be more coming...


lr


http://www.pacificwingchunassociation.com

Answer 3

I had to answer this one. I'll try to be short and to the point. I am a Martial Arts Instructor and a federal agent. I worked as a bouncer for a while in the past too, and I have been in a few fights with more than two guys, and let me tell you it hurts, I was lucky to escape serious injury, but got hit preatty bad many times. Is it possible, sure, maybe in the right circumstances. But I would not call it a fight, it was more like survival on my part. You will definitely will get hit, and if there is weapons involved, cut or worst. Can you go home alive that night sure, I did. Bruised, beat up and sored but I did. What I am trying to say is yes you can survive, because you got to do whatever it is you can do to make it home alife ( i did a lot of running around let me tell you) and it is not going to be preatty. By the way sometimes you hit somebody with everything you got and they keep coming.

Answer 4

I know it can be done, I've seen it. Ask any bouncer or police officer and they will tell you it can be done. The trick is timing and space more then style. Many bouncers are taught little if any martial arts, yet many can subdue two men at once. Train your art first, then take a police or bouncer course in grappling or self defense. Many of these will include multiple attacker training.

Answer 5

Yes you can defend against multiple attackers , and yes it is hard to do . It is not impossible however, the best idea though is to run .

Answer 6

I take Shaolin Dragon kung fu and we do train for multiple attackers (the first form we learn is actually against multiple attackers). Like MarioL says, it's very brutal, efficient and no name taking exercise. If you make an example of the first one, the others may get discouraged. We're not talking about just lucky knockdown punch or kick here. A joint dislocation accompanied with some screaming in pain is a good starter but you have to master techniques to do this. Of course there are many techniques other than this. Many kung fu styles have been refined during the times when Chinese armies charged at each other and warriors found themselves in the middle of unfriendlies and had to be efficient in disabling enemies in the fight for survival.

These guys who say otherwise below me haven't received instruction on what to do which is understandable. Their best option is to run or scream.

Answer 7

To start : Attack the one nearest to you, if possible, let the
attacker make the first mistake !
Watch the eyes of your enemy, their eyes enlarge, when a move
is forthcoming !
NEVER lose focus, and NEVER waste a move !

Answer 8

Yes it is possible, but the main trick is not letting any one of the opponents get behind you, and keeping them in front of you.

as the former officer mentioned about the guys in the hall way, since they were bottlenecked in the hallway, they could only move one at a time, whereas in the bar, they had more room to move about.

defending against two or more get's very dificult, especially when weapons are involved, so that's why you have to use maximum force to disable one or more opponents I always like to refer to it as the aggression Matrix (just as my instructor calls it as well).

for two or more, you always have to assess the danger of the people and act accordingly, using pain compliance for two or more is good, but you may have to take it up to the next level if they still want to get rowdy, or with three or more you have to do as much damage as possible to the opponents if you hope to survive the encounter, and getting to an area where you can even up the odds from getting help doesn't hurt either (friends or bystanders if possible)

weapons ramp the problem up even further, because you can never be sure how many they have, or how well they'll use them.

Answer 9

I always carry a knife on me in case of multiple attackers, or just any attacker in general.
I have some friends that are cops and they say almost every dirt-bag they search is carrying a blade of some sort. So the chances of some scumbag having a weapon that's threatening you is very good.
Where I train we do alot of scenario training and found it very possible to escape from multiple attackers if you are wielding a knife or some other weapon you happen to pick up (if there just so happens to be one next to you). I never leave home without my knife and fortunately I've never had to use it to defend myself or to protect my loved ones.
But to answer your question in my opinion, yes it is very possible to successfully defend yourself against multiple attackers. It just takes alot of training and even more scenario training with your partners. Your success is obviously greater if YOU have a knife verses being empty handed.

Answer 10

Yes. Many people have done that. If they are armed it of course is much more dificult & you should expect to get injured. Those who say it is very hard to master are telling the truth.