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Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture
Striking to escape multiple enemies

I thought folks here may be interested in this footage. It’s a 2 vs 2 MMA fight from Russia. While I’m not convinced of this format as an engaging spectator sport, this footage does illustrate an interesting point.

The fight begins with two couples squaring off such that there are effectively two one-on-one fights happening. Maybe that’s what the rules demand? Anyhow, at 1:22 there is a submission. The post of the cage is in the way, but it looks like a sangaku-jime / leg-triangle. The submitted person is then made to leave the ring, the fighters reset, and we then (from 2:00) we have a two-on-one situation.

The fight is over 2:05 with the team of two on the floor.

It does show that with solid evasive motion, solid punches, and not fixating on one person, that it is possible for one person to out-fight two. Certainly not easy, but possible. It’s only possible with striking though. If you engage with one person through grappling, then the other has as many free punches as they need. Your arms are tied up so you can’t strike the third-person, or defend yourself from their strikes, and the much-needed mobility disappears because you are tied to another human being.

While this is a sporting example, here is a widely circulated real-world example of strikes and mobility being used to deal with multiple enemies:

If you follow the link below you can see what can happen if you are locked onto one person when a third part gets unexpectedly involved.

In this graphic case, a person is repeatedly stabbed in Brazil when an armed third-party gets involved in a “street fight” that hits the ground (does not look like legitimate self-defence to me and it seems like both are consenting to the initial fight).

WARNING: This video is graphic and may be disturbing to watch. It is not suitable for under 18s.

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=caf_1425147486

What the above video does show is the ground is a very bad place to be when third-parties can get involved; especially armed third-parties. It also shows that what starts as one-on-one may not stay that way … so we should treat all situations as if third-parties could get involved.

Some thoughts on multiple enemies generally:

1. Always assume the presence of third parties and act accordingly.

2. Don’t ‘fight to win’, but ‘fight to flee’. The aim is not to win the fight, but to ensure we receive the minimal amount of injury.

3. Striking is the way to go, and good striking skills are a must to effectively deal with multiple enemies.

4. With multiple enemies, you need to divide your attention between them. Hit one and immediately switch and hit another. Don’t fixate on one person.

5. Keep moving at all times.

6. Avoid grappling, and especially ground fighting. The resulting lack of mobility makes you extremely vulnerable and drastically reduces your ability to escape.

7. If grappling is forced upon you, then grapple to free yourself from the grapple. Don’t try to grapple to a conclusion. If you end up on the floor, then get up as fast as possible. Don’t try to “win” on the ground. Grappling skills are needed to escape grappling.  

8. Don’t think about dominating individuals, but about dominating the situation.

9. Practise delivering rapid strikes (including pre-emptive strikes) to multiple targets in a way that ensures sound tactical positioning and rapid flow.

10. Make live drills with multiple enemies – where the goal is effective escape – a regular part of practice. Such live drills will enforce the right selection of techniques and tactics and bring home the inescapable fact that one-on-one tactics don’t cut it in self-protection where more than one person is always a possibility.

For more information, please listen to this podcast: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/multiple-enemies-podcast

All the best,

Iain

calaveraz
calaveraz's picture

Yes, thats a very good collection of rules to follow. In terms of ranking I would see rule 5 nearly the most important. And its the most problematic when forced into close quarters or tight spots where you have no room to move or if you are forced to protect another target. But if you have some space, use it and never move on a straight line back or forth. Always prefer side steps to create a circular movement. This makes it nearly impossible for a team of uncoordinated attackers to get access at the same time.

But from my experience, when squeezed into a corner (and that will happen in a closed room like the dojo) do something preemptive to escape. Select the weakest link in the attacking line and hammer your way out of the encirclement. Dont stand there and try to defend...its impossible even against far less experienced fighters. The more unexpected your attack is the better. For instance use the triangle jump from Meikyo...its very surprising for the selected target ;) 

Interestingly this is a topic where Kareteka with sport competitive background can be very good in, since they are conditioned to keep at least the striking distance, never get into a grapple situation (since its forbidden) and always keep moving.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

calaveraz wrote:
when squeezed into a corner (and that will happen in a closed room like the dojo) do something preemptive to escape. Select the weakest link in the attacking line and hammer your way out of the encirclement

Good post. Totally agree. Using strikes to create an escape path is definitely a skill we need. This is yet one more reason why the “attacks along the compass points bunkai” is flawed. When surrounded, we should move and fight so we are not surrounded. Ironically, what the angles actually represent is very useful when facing multiple enemies. It’s the angle we take in relation to the enemy and if we apply the rule of “never be in front of the enemy (enemies), but keep the enemy (enemies) in front of you” to the group we will keep moving and striking in a sound tactical way until we can flee.

The podcast I linked to covers pre-emption against groups and that is also a skill that needs practised and drilled. There’s additional tactical considerations that need factored in for groups.

calaveraz wrote:
Interestingly this is a topic where Kareteka with sport competitive background can be very good in, since they are conditioned to keep at least the striking distance, never get into a grapple situation (since its forbidden) and always keep moving.

I’d agree with that. The grappling can be forced more easily because the situations tend to be a lot closer by nature. However, the ability to cover a lot of ground very quickly is a skill that is transferable. Not so much in closing the gap, but in creating one. I’d agree that the footwork of competition karate is definitely useful for escaping groups when applied in a tactically relevant way though. There still needs to be the removal of control, scanning as opposed to fixing the gaze on one person, working to escape and not “win”, etc. So, as always, we can’t move things unaltered from one context to another and expect them to work. The technique of competitive footwork is useful, but there needs to be tactical alteration.

All the best,

Iain