Multiple Attackers Response

Responding with Multiple Attackers

by Keith Pascal

Do you like the idea of of pretending that your opponent’s strike did some damage? Do you continue to defend yourself while injured?

Make sure you practice this during multiple-attacker exercises as well.

It’s really important that when the lone defender strikes one of the enemy, that the enemy responds as if it were a full-power hit or kick. This gives the single defender a better idea as to how he (or she) is doing. It also helps for true positioning in your follow-up hits to the multiple attackers.

It’s also important for the lone defender to pretend to receive hits at full power.

Imagine in a real fight:

One of the multiple attackers punches you in the torso. In your mind, you are thinking, “Shoot, I get hit a lot harder in martial-arts practice. That wimpy punch was noting.”
It’s OK to “think” that …

But outwardly, you roll with the punch, as though it knocked you back with a lot of force … into range of (or “into”) another of the multiple assailants.

Are you dazed, or will you be able to use the element of surprise?

You may be able to fall into the attacker a bit, knocking him off balance. Is this fall completely unintentional or semi-planned?

You could be shoved into your “next shield.” You do use injured attacker’s as body shields, don’t you?

It’s up to you to be able to take advantage of the situation. This is especially true when you develop responses against multiple attackers.

Conclusion

I am not suggesting that you play the part of a clown, and bounce from attacker to attacker.
Jackie-Chan type of antics are fun to watch, but not very practical in the real world.

It’s not practical to think that you’ll be able to use this tactic more than once. And if you look for it, the opportunity may never present itself.

You have to let it happen. Take advantage of the fake, if it presents itself.

But if you should get the opportunity, and can over-act for a single fake or being knocked off balance once, it could give you a slight edge.

And a slight edge may be enough.

Tags: multiple attackers, self-defense response, taking advantage of the situation