Swarming

Not all attacks by multiple opponents are the same. Some groups are more dangerous than others. Every now and then the conditions are right for the group to swarm the individual. Sometimes this happens when the individual has copped a few knocks, gets a bit disorientated, and the rest of the group can see an easy target. It’s not always the case though; some groups just attack harder than others.

If you are serious about training multiple attacker defence then you need to have an answer for these ‘higher functioning’ groups that can swarm the individual. The only way you can train for these types of groups is to spend some time getting the ‘attacking’ group up to standard, so that they can give the individual a much more challenging training experience.

Swarming by the group will pretty well destroy any technical approach the individual has to offer. Yes, I see more than a few martial arts touting their solutions for multiple attackers but against a higher functioning group, none of it is going to work. Technique is garbage at this level and your attackers manoeuvre faster than you do and come at you from different angles simultaneously. One or two of the attackers are sure to be hanging off you, slowing you down. Some gangs are actually proficient in working together to get the outcome they desire; they have had plenty of practice.

Every art usually has some multiple attacker curriculums, but most exponents cannot even get out of a corner when the group is only mildly dangerous. The Corner Trap is an exercise that gives you a reasonable indication of whether your skills for defending against multiple people are up to scratch. It will also inform you as to whether your group of attackers needs more training. You can find more about this exercise on the following link.

http://www.endofmartialarts.com/the-corner-trap-exercise/

There is lots of fun to be had in wrecking the delusions of students of the arts who believe they can effectively deal with multiple attackers. If your training group is good enough then it’s not a matter of if you can make the individual go internal (mentally) but how long it takes you. Still, it’s all in a good cause.

As always with group work, train safely and under the supervision of a qualified instructor