Multiple Opponents
When facing multiple assailants, you must only engage one at time using optimum combatives and movement while putting that opponent between you and any others. Inexperienced assailants will fortunately group together. If you use correct tactical positioning (never between two assailants) you limit the assailants’ abilities to harm you. There is a limitation on how many assailants can occupy the same space to get at you. In select circumstances, you may have to go through them. (Krav maga has techniques for this.)
The axiom that street violence is volatile and unpredictable could not hold truer than when facing multiple assailants. Facing multiple assailants, let alone multiple armed assailants, is an extremely dangerous proposition. Try to recognize the situation as soon as possible, such as if two people are walking toward you and suddenly fan out to your left and right. Running and escaping is your best solution.
If you cannot escape, there are two cardinal rules you must follow: (1) do not place yourself between two or more assailants and (2) do not end up on the ground. Tactically, to defend against multiple assailants, always use flanking maneuvers. In other words, if an assailant initiates to your left or right, engage him while keeping him in between you and any other assailants. If facing three or more assailants, even if you were attacked by the assailant in the middle, still move to one of your flanks. Never engage an assailant if the defense would put you in between two or more assailants. Techniques and tactics do not change, but you must modify your defenses to keep an opponent between you and any other assailants as long and as often as you can.
When defending against multiple assailants, Imi Lichtenfeld and Haim Gidon emphasize using optimum combatives to debilitate an opponent. Be it a kick, punch, elbow strike, knee strike, or eye gouge, every combative must count. The defender must maximize his power to debilitate, maim or, if necessary, kill an opponent both brutally and efficiently in preparation for the onslaught of the next opponent. Of course, if you debilitate, maim, or, if necessary, kill an opponent quickly and decisively, his colleagues may think better of tangling with you; however, you may also increase their motivation to harm you. The bottom line, though, is that you should consider a multiple-assailant assault a threat to your life, period—and act accordingly. One strategy is to target the “ringleader” to potentially sap an aggressive group’s collective will to engage you. If you disable the leader, the others may think twice about pressing the assault.
You must keep your footing and balance to avoid falling or being dragged to the ground. If you are dragged to the ground, you must get up immediately. As the situation unfolds and necessity dictates, it may behoove you to put your back up against a solid object to prevent anyone from attacking you from the rear. This, however, hampers your mobility, so you should only do it as long as it is necessary.
It is paramount that you keep moving. Do not give the assailants a stationary target or any opportunity to coordinate their attack. The key for successfully fighting multiple armed adversaries (and unarmed adversaries) is to neutralize one threat at a time brutally and efficiently. To re-emphasize, you cannot get caught between two assailants. Engage one and disarm him immediately, optimally moving to his deadside. This is where proficiency in technique comes into sharp relief. You must neutralize and disarm the threat and immediately engage the other threat(s). Try always to position the first threat in between you and any other threat(s) to use him as an obstacle or barrier to shield you and buy time for you to gain the upper hand.