No one can simultaneously fight multiple opponents without getting hit or grabbed and possibly taken out. It only works in the movies. The key to fighting multiple opponents is to fight them one at a time. There are a couple of ways to do that, which I’ll describe below. But first…
Before you can successfully fight multiple opponents you need to be able to effectively fight or defend against a single opponent. You need to have effective techniques, realistic training methods, and a solid strategy. If you’re missing any one of those things, you may get lucky against a single individual, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll succeed against multiple opponents. So the first step is to have solid skills. If you haven’t already read it, read my web page on self defense training. All of that applies equally and even more so in multiple opponent scenarios.
So how do you fight multiple opponents one at a time?
Line Them Up
No matter what technique you attempt first, you need to use footwork that causes the opponent you’re currently dealing with to block the other opponent’s path to you. If you’re facing two opponents this isn’t that hard, however, it becomes harder and harder to maintain as time progresses and/if you get bogged down with one. You need to train this to get accustomed to it. A good drill to start is to face two training partners, tell one of them to try to touch you, and use the other one as a shield. Quickly move to put the “shield” between yourself and the man trying to touch you. You’ll see that this gets tiring very quickly, and becomes harder the more it goes on.
Progress to doing boxing style sparring against two partners, where you train to line them up so you only fight one at a time. Then add kicking, clinch, ground, etc.. Obviously you’ll want to avoid clinch and ground against multiple opponents, but your opponents need to be able to try to grab/clinch you, and you need to be able to defend against those attempts. My grappling defense works very well to stop a clinch/takedown attempt.
Using techniques that incorporate triangular footwork can work very well against multiple opponents, as the footwork allows you to attack and line up the opponents simultaneously. Here is an example of a single stick triangular footwork drill in pictures. You can see it in video on this page. Obviously using a weapon would be a great advantage against multiple opponents (more on that soon), but the same footwork can be used with a variety of techniques. In the pictures below I’m using triangular footwork with an eye strike and a groin slap, both great potential initial techniques to be used in a multiple opponent scenario:
Eye Strike
Groin Slap
Many techniques that aren’t typically done with triangular footwork can be, or you can strike and then quickly use such footwork to get you to the opponent’s outside.
Another way to line up opponents is to force them into having to line up for you. If you’re standing near a doorway or hallway for example, you can quickly sprint through it and stop, creating a situation where the opponents can only get to you one by one. Training to blast through a “line” of opponents, escaping to a strategic position, can also be a great training exercise.
Quickly Take One of Them Out
If you’re up against two opponents and you can quickly take one of them out, then you’ll effectively be fighting only one. If you’re up against three and you can quickly take one out, then you can line up the other two. This is a great strategy in theory, but unless you have the element of surprise on your side (and hopefully you set things up that way), it’s not easy to take someone out with one shot, particularly if they’re moving, defending, or attacking you at the same time. Of course you should try to eliminate each opponent as quickly as possible, but make sure to still attempt to “line them up” in case your take-out-move fails.
Use a Weapon
Using a weapon that you’ve trained to use well can vastly increase your odds in a multiple opponent scenario. See my weapons page for more on using weapons in self defense. A weapon will allow you to take out your opponent’s quicker, and depending on the weapon you may be able to extend your reach, allowing you to more easily line them up. Projectile weapons (pepper spray, a bright tactical light at night, or a gun) and long range weapons (stick, machete, etc.) are the best choices for multiple opponent scenarios.
When I first started training in traditional martial arts I had what I realize now was a misguided and silly idea, that weapons weren’t for real martial artists. Many people who write me want to be able to use their unarmed martial art in all situations. But that’s just not realistic. There are many situations that would be difficult if not impossible to survive without the use of a weapon. For that reason, I highly recommend learning to use them, and using them whenever you need to. If you’re attacked by multiple opponents, that would certainly qualify.
Don’t Fight Multiple Opponents!
The best option if you’re facing multiple opponents is not to fight them at all. If you can avoid fighting, then you’re guaranteed not to lose. Remember, we’re talking about self defense here, not sports or movies. If you follow the advice on my awareness and prevention page, 99.9% of the time you’ll never have a problem…you’ll be able to stop the fight before it even starts. But if it’s unavoidable, then you need to use the element of surprise, take each man out as quickly as possible, ideally using a weapon, and line the opponent’s up so you can deal with them one at a time.
Questions, comments, or thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
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Greetings.
Thanks for sharing these tutorials. I’d like to bring to your attention, based on my previous professional k/b back ground, that is nest to impossible to land the open hand jab, and that low blow, or upper cut to the genitals. A moving, and experienced opponent will have no issue neutralizing your weapons with an effective, and ferocious jab.
Regards.
In this particular case I’m not talking about using the eye strike or groin slap in a “fight”, against a moving and jabbing opponent, but against a relatively stationary *threat*. In a multiple opponent scenario if the opponents are already pounding on you, then you have a serious and extremely difficult problem. Lining them up can still work, as can blasting through one to get to a place where you can line them up, and triangular footwork can help. But the two images I posted were in reference to a surprise attack against a threat.
With that said, you CAN make an eye strike or a groin slap work against a good boxer/kick boxer, just as you can make a boxing jab work. The key is to have experience in the MMA Base, to know how to deal with the jab, etc. These techniques, in my experience, can work even better than standard kick boxing techniques, because they are more unexpected, and the average kick boxer is not as prepared to defend against them.
I like your techniques when faced with this particular scenario. I personally incorporate a lot of ferocious street/boxing drills and techniques to bear when faced with multiple opponents. I also use a great deal of savage low level leg kicks to soften the opponents base. I think one of the best ways to deal with this matter is what Rex Applegate wrote in his book, Kill or get Killed is to constantly keeping moving by forcing the attackers to constantly change their pattern of attack. I like to employ deceptive techniques to confuse and confound the attackers. thank you.
Informative article!
I took wing chun martial arts for 2 years, they tried to be “realistic” at the school, we got into our stance, waited for the opponent to throw a “punch” then block, then attack back. I’m a bit of a skeptic and like to ask questions. (They don’t like that) Such as what if this punch doesn’t work or kick? (you may be familiar with the Wing Chun punching)and they’re quick to assure you everything works and is highly effective. I’m surprised other students never asked questions, just followed.
Anyway, being a younger woman. I feel I have really no way of defending myself since I’m physically weaker and not ferocious as the attacker. I’d freeze. What are your thoughts?
Hello Anasztazia,
Please take a look at my page on self defense for women. 🙂
Practiced kung fu spent years as a competitive Thai / kick boxer. Some stuff I agree with if you try to line up multiple attackers you’ll soon run out of room energy or both. Keep moving try to put them off their stride. Yes go for vulnerable targets eyes groin throat. The basis of Krav Maga. Why would yoy turn and fight if you’ve broken through too risky. I presently study Jujitsu.
We do this as part of our sparring drills. Lining them up by going to the outside line is good. If you want to make it more effective after you side step; step into your opponent from the side and attack, making the triangle complete. We drill it with double hand pushes (Po Pai). If you use explosive force you push the attacker straight into the second one and you can deside to run or attack further to finish.
And yes it is exhausting, so control your breath and relax while practicing; builds stamina, adds speed and mobility (keep your back straight!).
The finger jab you use is called Bui Sau in Wing Chun and if you keep your shoulder down and relaxed and let it come in from below it is almost impossible to block, because you do not telegraphe your intentions (0.2 second reaction time limitation of humans is the reason it works like that).
I own both of your books. The first I have read 3x. I think it is the best self defense book on the market. I very much like how you have functionalized wing Chun techniques and made them useable for self defense. I know that you are not a fan of solo training. But for me at this point it is unavoidable. More information on how one can best train alone would be useful.
Hello Simon, and thank you for the compliments regarding my books. I have one page with a bit on solo training here: http://www.functionalselfdefense.org/training/solo-forms. I do think there are some benefits to solo training. You can definitely work on speed and power for example. The problem is that the most important aspects of self defense…dealing with a live opponent who is trying to hurt you and not get hurt at the same time, where timing, distance, position, etc., are most important, are impossible to train alone.
I do practice alone a good bit though, just because I don’t always have a training partner available. In those situations I generally use a heavy bag or just “shadow boxing” in the air. When I had a school I also had a wing chun dummy, which I really enjoyed practicing on…but I no longer have one now. Anyway, I would do most solo training either shadow boxing or on a heavy bag, in addition to regular fitness stuff…cardio, weight training, etc..