Facing multiple attackers is one of the most life-threatening encounters you could ever face.
Most training for street fights is done focusing on one-on-one attacks.
This isn’t realistic.
The REALITY is that, on the street, you are much more likely to be outnumbered.
Criminals choose odds that favor them.
Given the chance, they WILL outnumber you.
So who do you target first?
I talked to combat expert Moni Aizik about this scenario, and here is a summary of the advice he gave me.
Self-Defense Against Multiple Attackers: Who Do I Hit First?
Obviously, when you are facing multiple attackers, you have to choose someone to hit.
You can’t hit them all at the same time.
So who’s it going to be?
Some instructors recommend attacking the “leader” of a group.
Some say to attack the loudest guy, who is probably the biggest bully.
Some say to attack the one who is armed.
While it varies from situation to situation, there actually isn’t a single right answer.
Here are three tips for facing multiple attackers.
1. Choose Your First Strike
If one attacker does seem dominant, it MIGHT be helpful to strike that person first.
Taking out the perceived leader of a group of thugs might take the spirit out of the others.
They might be taking their cues from the worst of them, and when he goes down, their resolve falters.
Then again, you might do just the opposite.
If one of the attackers seems quite weak, you might choose to hit him first in order to break through and escape.
It won’t necessarily cause the other attackers to pause if you take down the weakest one of them, but if it gives you the escape route you need to run through their ranks, then it doesn’t matter.
Whoever you do hit first, do so with maximum aggression.
Your life is on the line and you can’t afford to waste any time.
2. Know HOW To Hit
If you did hit someone in a multiple attackers scenario, are you confident they would go down?
Hitting someone ineffectively in that situation might make it that much WORSE for you.
If you just make them angry but don’t take them out, you’re in for a good stomping-to-death.
You absolutely need to know how to hit hard enough to knock someone out.
Knocking someone out puts them out of the fight as quickly as possible, allowing you to deal with the other threats.
It’s possible to do this with an open palm, which prevents you from breaking your knuckles.
Use fakes and checks, drawing attention or pushing the attacker in one direction, then hitting from another.
It’s all about learning to move in and around multiple attackers quickly.
3. Stay Mobile!
To do that moving around, though, you can’t afford to get rooted to one spot.
It’s the simplest thing in the world to say, but you MUST stay mobile.
Don’t stand in one spot!
Moving targets are better able to avoid attacks while seeking a better position from which to flee.
Keep moving so you’re a harder target to hit… and when you find your opening, make a break to escape.
Remember… failure means getting stomped to death!
Don’t let it happen to you.
The time to train for a multiple attacker scenario is now, before you face such a threat.
