Fighting Myths

[Skott!]

Also, there are no martial arts that will prepare you against fighting multiple attackers. The only way out is to run like hell, or you need to be a BMF that can punch through a brick wall

[tylerm]

Also, there are no martial arts that will prepare you against fighting multiple attackers. The only way out is to run like hell, or you need to be a BMF that can punch through a brick wall

I disagree. You can definately train to be more effective at fighting multiple attackers. In my Silat training we work at addressing multiple attackers, even if it is something as simple as moving one of your attackers in the path of another oncoming assailant so you can turn and run. However, I agree that it isn't realistic to be all Bruce Lee and take on half a dozen guys with ease.

[prenna]

Also, there are no martial arts that will prepare you against fighting multiple attackers. The only way out is to run like hell, or you need to be a BMF that can punch through a brick wall

I disagree with that too. Kali, silat, and many other arts have the ability to fight mulitple attackers. In fact I have fought against more than one person and survived and I'm not a BMF that can punch through a brick wall. It is often a myth perpetuated by those who have vested interests, in arts that can't deal with multiples, that the only thing to do is run away in those situations. Obviously running away is the number one goal but if you can't there are things that you can do.

[Skott!]

In theory it may work, and you may get lucky in one fight, but it's you're going to be in for a rude awakening sooner or later.

I've taken on two guys and came out on top, but it's not that often that it will work. If you get three guys, and any one of them knows a little about fighting, you're screwed 99.9% of the time

[prenna]

In theory it may work, and you may get lucky in one fight, but it's you're going to be in for a rude awakening sooner or later.

It's not theory it's tried and tested tactics and strategies that work. If you don't think it's possible then perhaps you need to seriously analyse your training.

I've taken on two guys and came out on top, but it's not that often that it will work. If you get three guys, and any one of them knows a little about fighting, you're screwed 99.9% of the time

And that is exactly the kind of attitude that will result in you losing 99.9% of the time.

[shadow]

In Ninjutsu we study how to deal with multiple attackers
every single class.

You dont have to beat every last attacker to win the fight. However
if you learn to stay on your feet, conserve energy, keep your eyes open
looking for possible escape routes, and learn to master devistating
techniques.. then the prospect of fighting multiple attackers is
not nearly so frightening.

Multiple attackers is reality. If you dont know how to handle it then
your going to go down if you ever get into a real situation, enless
you are planning to bring a bunch of friends with you, but thats a whole different story.

The ninja will always choose the path of survival.
If that means running away, so be it.
If that means waiting for your opponant to come outside to pick up his
morning paper while still wearing his pajamas, so be it.
If that means fighting your way though 6 opponents because your cournered in the gym locker-room, so be it.

Any style that does not teach you how to survive is only
giving you a false sense of security, and in the end that can
be as dangerous as not know how to fight at all.

[Cuguacuarana]

the more a person knows about the vulnerabilities of his/her opponents, the easier it is to fight multiple attackers. Sure if your're fighting five guys who know as much about fighting as you you are at a disadvantage, but imagine getting in a fight at a bar with some guy and four of his friends back him up. In all likelyhood they don't know that much about fighting and you can elevate your chances with a little strategization. Knowing where to fight and where to strike and where to run makes all of the difference.

[shadow]

If the fight is 100% unavoidable then take down the closest
agressor before he realises whats going on, and run for your life.

One more reason I dont go to bars.

[Cuguacuarana]

Been to lots of bars and never seen a bar fight. I was just trying to imagine a situation where one would face multiple agressors.

For those who think it is not possible to face multiple agressors should remember where the martial arts come from. War is facing multiple agressors. The best warrior was the one who killed the most agressors the fastest.

[GenTDuke]

As long as you stay on your feet there is only so much surface area available for your attackers to target!

If you use your surroundings to engineer the situation, even less surface area can be exposed to the enemy, such as in a tight alley. In these circumstances a skilled fighter can win against many people; but very hard.

For my gradings I have to fight 4 plus people full contact, as long as you don’t fall and keep moving, never turning your back; except to run it is possible to come out victorious from such encounters.

In my area all the yobs smoke, are pathetically weak, are small from bad nutrition and are shit fighters.

No doubt some of you come from areas were the hooligans may have trained a little, but were I come from they are laughable.

I was asked to escort a guy home once and a mob came after him and his friends, the mob knew not to touch the guy I was looking after but then they started on another group, it was laughable, all these guys can do is swing super wide hooks. I have witnessed other street fights with similar techniques used. But I know that its sods law I will be attacked by a boxer or something, so I never et cocky in these situation.

[tylerm]

...all these guys can do is swing super wide hooks. I have witnessed other street fights with similar techniques used. But I know that its sods law I will be attacked by a boxer or something, so I never et cocky in these situation.

By far the most common 'fight tactics' I see from bar fights, etc is the super wide hook, telegraphed from a mile away, and the ever popular 'charge with lowered head and grapple around the waist), which is a bad choice. I think the tackle type move is from people who played american football or something, I don't know why you would use it. Some guy attacked my friend like that, and my friend simply brought his beer bottle down on the guy's head as he was charging at him and ended that pretty quickly.

With the wide hook, in bar fights you also get people grabbing you by the shoulder or shirt before swinging, which is just stupid. Then again, I used to think I knew how to fight before training in JKD, Kali & Silat, so I guess people just don't know better.

[Prodigy]

I think the tackle type move is from people who played american football or something, I don't know why you would use it. Some guy attacked my friend like that, and my friend simply brought his beer bottle down on the guy's head as he was charging at him and ended that pretty quickly.

... or a nice Muay Thai knee to the head

[Cuguacuarana]

Another classic is the headlock. Anyone who's grappled for fifteen minutes knows how to turn that around on someone.

[Mary]

the more a person knows about the vulnerabilities of his/her opponents, the easier it is to fight multiple attackers. Sure if your're fighting five guys who know as much about fighting as you you are at a disadvantage, but imagine getting in a fight at a bar with some guy and four of his friends back him up. In all likelyhood they don't know that much about fighting and you can elevate your chances with a little strategization. Knowing where to fight and where to strike and where to run makes all of the difference.

Funny that Séamus figured this out himself! He was mugged recently, and went for the bigger kid, the fourteen year old, knowing if he beat him then the eleven year old would run away. It worked. He is only yellow belt, but had the confidence to use what he had learned, believing that he could defend himself.
When I have had to defend myself while sabbing, or on demos, etc, I have found that you can defend against multiple attackers, but you have to be alert. And staying clear of trouble is still the best option!

[Mary]

I've been exposed to some Silat.

Interestingly, one of my best friends is Indonesian and he claims that there is some "black magic" element to a certain sub-part of Silat. I'm somewhat skeptical...

I would use my magic to show you that I can turn invisible, but it takes years off of the life, so I would rather not

Well, I have just used my magic powers, and guess what... You can't see me!