KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

About twenty years ago, I was voraciously reading everything martial-arts related; especially books and magazines dealing with tactics. One day, I was focusing on multiple attackers.

My two references were the *Strategy of Unarmed Combat*, and some notes that I had taken from my teacher -- I often reviewed my martial arts classes by taking notes.

The book offered one tactic, and my teacher offered another that seemed completely juxtaposed. Let's see if you come to the same conclusion,that I did.

OK, you're on the street. You see a small gang of thugs heading your way. You have a choice: You can either head out into the middle of the wide, exposed street, or you can rush to the side of a building.

If you choose the middle of the street, your opponents could surround you. One could strike at you from behind your back. They could all pounce from opposite directions, at the same time.

Or you could run to the side of a building, thus protecting your back. No one could get to you, because there would be a wall directly behind you. You could further your safety, by finding a corner to stand in.

If you could picture it, standing at an inside corner, where two walls meet, would offer protection at either side. It would definitely limit their approach to an all frontal attack.

By the way, this is the tactic that the book recommends -- go to the place that offers the most protection. A wall is fine, a corner is better.

**STOP******STOP******STOP******STOP**

I am NOT advising that you use the above tactic. It's dangerous. Let me repeat that: Backing up against a wall could "back you up against a wall".

Why is this a dangerous tactic? Let's see:

All my notes and practice sessions with my teacher suggested that I look for an open space to fight. That's the way we had always practiced. So, me being who I am -- if you know me, you know exactly what I am talking about -- I decided to try the tactic from the book.

I waited until an end of the year picnic at my teacher's house. Six of us were playing a multiple attacker game.

As usual, when it was each of the students' turn (I say "students," but all held blackbelts in several styles), each would work his or her way toward the double driveway or towards the open meadow -- not ol' Keith Pascal.

When it was my turn, I made a fast move to get my back to the closed garage door. Nobody was going to get behind me. And nobody did -- they all rushed me from the front. They had a field day on me. I tried over and over again.

They loved it. The more I tried, the more they wailed on me. They were grinning from ear to ear. They hadn't had that much easy fun in a long time.

I'd like to say that I instantly understood -- that a Gestaltian "Aha!" occurred in an instant, but it didn't. I had to get hit over and over again for it to sink in.

By backing up against the wall I was limiting myself. I couldn't make use of timing and distance. I had nowhere to go.

I couldn't keep one opponent between me and the rest; I wasn't able to use him as a shield.

I couldn't maneuver and misdirect to always stay one step ahead, and just out of reach of most. I couldn't choose which attacker to defend against first.

I learned. I was skeptical. I had to have first-hand knowledge. Over the years, I have learned not to back myself up against the wall. Even though, the book's advice still seems logical, I have lots of practical experience to prove otherwise.

Now, when my students ask to learn to fight against multiple attackers, I always say, "let's wait for a nice day, so we can go down to the park where there is lots of room."

Note: Yes, the State of Oregon does occasionally gets a nice day or two ... per month. It doesn't rain ALL of the time.

Bonus:

Beginner's Exercise for Multiple Attackers

Get a few of your multiple-attacking friends or martial arts buddies together. The object of the game will be for your opponents to tap you (lightly) with their palm on your forehead.

That's it, for now. No fighting -- no kicking or hitting.

Did I forget to mention, you get one BIG ADVANTAGE . Before you start, you get to put a wrist lock or arm bar on one of your attackers. Pick your victim, agree on the amount of pressure, before verbal or physical "tap outs." You want to be careful.

Don't accidentally harm your new "shield" while energetically and enthusiastically keeping your other attackers away from you.

That, by the way, is your tactic. Once you have your one opponent locked, you use him (or her) as a shield. Try to keep your shield between you and the rest of your attackers at all times.

It will be hard for the other attackers to get around their friend, if you do it right. It takes a bit of practice.

Of course, eventually you'll want to broaden your experience into learning how to get someone into a wrist lock who is NOT cooperating (see my book), how to switch shields--to go from one attacker to the next, and how to hit and kick while all of this is going on (practice practice practice)....