WARNING this video contains some violent footage, racial slurs, and foul language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Getting Jumped!
The first thing we need to get out of the way is that fights are supposed to be fair, 1-on-1, honorable. Those days are long past. Violent predators routinely attack in packs of 2, 3, 4, 12, or more.
There tend to be two schools of thought on fighting multiple attackers, the first is that you will just use your normal martial arts skills and they will come at you more or less one at a time just like in the movies. Obviously this is a load of hogwash.
The second school of thought is that you can’t defeat more than one attacker, unless you have a gun that is. And while weapons absolutely can help you defeat multiple (or single) attackers far easier, if not simply intimidate them into backing down, we are not going to cover weapon use specifically in this article or video. Just realize anything that we can do with empty hands will work even better with a weapon. Always know the laws in your city, state, nation, etc. around weapons use, carry, etc.
So can we defeat multiple attackers unarmed? Of course we can. That doesn’t mean you would want to fight multiple attackers but I’m sure you don’t want to fight a single on either.
Let’s review the points made in the video.
How to Fight and Win Against Multiple Attackers
- Only Fight One at a Time – attack the closest guy and move on
- Take Out the Alpha (leader) ASAP – take out the leader and the pack will usually crumble
- Don’t Get Surrounded – use footwork, straight blasting a path out, and use objects around you to create a funnel
- Be Mean, Aggressive, and Decisive – the best defense is a good offense
- Stay on Your Feet – if you fall you will get smothered, held, and it is hard to get back up
- Be Intimidating – you may not have to fight them all if you take out a couple really quick and nasty
- Don’t Use Risky Martial Arts Moves – be direct, simple, and attack vulnerable targets
Only Fight One at a Time
A human being’s reflexes simply are not quick enough to deal with 4, 6, 8+ incoming punches, tackles, kicks, etc. especially if surrounded and attackers are out of your peripheral vision (awareness) field. The solution, pick one attacker and blast them into oblivion then move on to the next closest. Ideally use a straight blast attack on the closest attacker, as shown in the video, then clench them and throw them in-between you and the rest of the pack. Eliminate them by striking vulnerable targets (testicles) and then pick your next target.
Take Out the Alpha
Most humans are cowards, full-stop. Even many so-called alphas are cowards and that is the reason they surround themselves with a gang of froggies (followers who will do what they say). Remember this simple principle, most people have an unreasonably high sense of self-preservation unless they are super drunk, drug influenced or psychotically crazy as heck. Thus they don’t want to get hurt. If you can demonstrate that you are capable, willing, and likely to hurt them they will back down. Prove it by taking the first guy out ruthlessly.
Don’t Get Surrounded
Unlike the movies you don’t have a 3rd person perspective of a camera. You can only see what is directly in front of you and part of your peripheral field. Case-in-point; I recall seeing a super-jerk of an MMA fighter in Brazil who sexually harassed and then slapped a woman. Well the woman had friends outside and when the MMA fighter went outside he squared up MMA-style with one guy. Another man ran up behind him and hit the a-hole in the head with a 2×4 knocking him unconscious. After that several men kicked him in the head for several minutes. Look, I don’t care how tough you are, if you can’t see a blow coming you can’t effectively deal with it. Get out of the middle, break free, turn so you can see all attackers and keep doing this while injuring one guy at a time.
Be Mean, Aggressive, and Decisive
Nobody ever won being defensive, trying to protect themselves. Flip the script on your attackers. BECOME the attacker and make them defend themselves.
Stay on Your Feet
I don’t care if you are a master grappler who can submit anyone. If you are on your back or on the top people can kick you, stab you, hit you in the back of the head with objects, etc. A police officer friend of mine once told a story about when they were arresting a suspect. They had the suspect on the ground and were in the process of cuffing them. Then their vision became a dark tunnel, that tunnel began getting smaller and smaller. The officer woke up in the hospital and when he asked what happened another individual came up behind him and stabbed him in the kidney with a knife while he was grappling with the suspect. This officer was only lucky that another officer had just pulled up and intervened of multiple stab wounds may have ended his life.
Be Intimidating
When I was about 4 years old I was out in my backyard when a pack of neighborhood dogs, led by a large male German Shepherd came to attack me. My female cat came running down the hill and got in-between us and postured, hissed, and was ready to give all she had to protect me. Pretty f-ing cool cat huh? Those dogs saw the pure intensity of purpose on that cat and they decided to turn and run.
I usually ask people, “what would you be willing to fight for?” “What or who you would be willing to die for?” Think of someone who you would fight to the bitter end for. Now make you that person. Create that sense of intensity, purpose, and passion. Be still, calm, and look right in the eyes of your would-be attackers as if you will eat their damn souls.
Now practice that look in the mirror until you scare the sh*t out of yourself.
Don’t Use Risky Martial Arts Moves
High kicks, wild swinging punches, and other such moves that will leave you vulnerable are definitely out. In fact they should be out on a one-on-one fight but even more on a multiple attacker fight. Stick to simple, direct attacks targeting vulnerable targets such as testicles, throats, etc.
When asked “What would you like every martial artist to know, that they might not know at the moment?” “The secret to your success lies not in your style or method, its intrinsically connected to your internal beliefs and wiring. This may seem like a cliche, something obvious, but what you think, what’s in your head, is a lot more important to self-defense, to your ability to defend yourself, than what physical techniques or strategies you know.”
Author not known but sounds like something Tony Blauer would say
Final Thoughts
If you would like to learn to defend yourself, your family, and/or friend against multiple attackers then come visit Progressive Combat Systems in Aurora, Colorado today. Jeet Kune Do for real people.
Until next time,
Brian
