Most efficient Martial Arts to defend against multiple opponents?

I've trained in boxing and brasilian jiu jitsu, but even with both of those I can only work one opponent at a time. Now, being reasonable and not a Bruce Lee movie, what would be the most effective martial arts to fight two or more opponents at a time? Taking practicality into consideration, I don't want to completely destroy everyone, I just want to defend myself against multiple attackers. Let's assume these guys are mildly experienced; gone out mugging many a dozen times, know how to fight a little on their own, but nothing amazing a blue belt in TKD couldn't do.

i used to do 2 on 1 and rarely 3 on 1 at TKD.
if you remember the bruce lee films where there is a circle of opponents (not cheesy pacing round lol) and 2-3 come in at once. Thats what we used to do every blue moon.

quit in the summer but it was good for some self defence against multiple attackers. You just have to line them up so they get in each others way = good footwork

Best sport for that situation = track

[QUOTE=bjjwraslter7;13061800]Best sport for that situation = track[/QUOTE]

Agreed :) If you can find an opportunity to escape, take it. That being said, if you're in a situation where you face multiple attackers, yuo're going to have to rely on footwork to try and manoever (sp?) around until escape presents itself. You could deal with the 1st attacker closest to you, say grab him and palm heel his nose and throw him into the 2nd attacker. You then could quickly deal with #3 and get the hell out of there.

Also, use whats in your environment, (i.e if in a bar, pick up a beer bottle, ashstray, barstool. Be aware of your environment, and always keep looking for the opportunity to escape.

Grappling is also very important for multiple attackers believe it or not. Knowing how to defend takedowns, throw people off of you ect. is a good skill to have, as well as the general balance and ability to stay on your feet that you gain from grappling. Also the abiltiy to quickly get back up if you do go down. I think it would be a lot harder to jump a grappler and keep him from getting away than a striker. The grappler will be able to scramble out of just about anything, the striker may get some good licks in before he goes down but then he's screwed. Best to have both obviously, and to just avoid the situation all together.

We occasionally did 2v1 in BJJ. Surprisingly some guys when on their own lasted a long time, though these were normally the better and stronger guys.

And 100% agree with track being the best defence.

[QUOTE=lolerskatez;13063639]We occasionally did 2v1 in BJJ. Surprisingly some guys when on their own lasted a long time, though these were normally the better and stronger guys.

And 100% agree with track being the best defence.[/QUOTE]

we've done 3v1 at my bjj before, i lasted quite long

Practice Sprawl and Brawl, and don't let yourself go to the ground.

Well then...is there a specific martial arts based on mininal impact and focusing more on evasion?

I agree you have to be smart...like playing football, you have to know where to run by making quick decisions and good judgment. But also you have to be quick and well-managed with your footing.

Is there a way I can practice this?

Smith and Wesson

Assuming I'm just going out to fix my parking for a second and come back right in and some dudes jump me lol
I don't think I'm that paranoid to carry a gun around 24/7

[QUOTE=kensterz;13064675]Assuming I'm just going out to fix my parking for a second and come back right in and some dudes jump me lol
I don't think I'm that paranoid to carry a gun around 24/7[/QUOTE]

Most people don't, that's why I get sick of seing all the "gunjitsu" replies. The average person doesn't walk around armed at all times. It's stupid to rely on a weapon to defend yourself. You could carry a pocket knife, that's reasonable, but even then you won't have it on you every moment of every day.

[url]http://www.defendu.com/multiple_attackers.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=bjjwraslter7;13064783]Most people don't, that's why I get sick of seing all the "gunjitsu" replies. The average person doesn't walk around armed at all times. It's stupid to rely on a weapon to defend yourself. You could carry a pocket knife, that's reasonable, but even then you won't have it on you every moment of every day.[/QUOTE]



I do even WITH my background. More than three guys try to jump me and someone is getting shot.

Also the smart thing is definitely NOT going to the ground in a 3on1 or even a 2on1 for that matter. Getting your ribs busted by a boot when you've taken someones back and have an RNC applied is no laughing matter

[QUOTE=TheBlueDevil;13065679]I do even WITH my background. More than three guys try to jump me and someone is getting shot.

Also the smart thing is definitely NOT going to the ground in a 3on1 or even a 2on1 for that matter. Getting your ribs busted by a boot when you've taken someones back and have an RNC applied is no laughing matter[/QUOTE]

I wasn't recommending taking the fight to the ground. I said grappling is good for multiple opponents because it enables you to stay OFF of the ground. It allows you to scramble away from people trying to bring you down and escape the situation.

just curious, (i wrestled in HS), but how would you deal with 3 guys coming at you all at once? we never learned much about that when i was wrestling in HS

quite simply A GUN

they practice in krav maga but even if i was a blackbelt id still run(i havent even started yet)

[QUOTE=cellshot;13066605]just curious, (i wrestled in HS), but how would you deal with 3 guys coming at you all at once? we never learned much about that when i was wrestling in HS[/QUOTE]

You just have to improvize and use your balance and movement. Of course you didn't specificaly train how to wrestle 3 people at once, but you learn how to deal with people trying to take you down and how to react quickly to situations. I'm not saying it will allow you to hold 3 people down at once and beat them up, that's just rediculous.

When I've gotten jumped my wrestlings helped me a lot. For example one guy tried to spear me and tackle me to the ground. I sprawled my legs back, hipped into him, got a front headlock, and triped him down with my leg. The takedowns called a bulldog headlock I think and it all happened in about 2 seconds. Went from him tackling me to him getting tossed on the ground, and I was up and ready for the next attacker. Then when I did get knocked on the ground people were kicking me and I caught one of their legs and used it to pull myself up to my feet and at the same time knock them down with a double leg. I don't remember every detail but I did ok considering the situation. I mostly just kept moving, getting people off of me, and rolling around and avoiding taking any real damage. I also only wieghed about 140lb at the time, and I'm 5'6.

I'm not saying I won or anything, I got the crap kicked out of me, but I held my own and walked away with nothing but some bruises on my back. I lost, but those guys had respect for me afterwards that they didn't have before that happened. The guy that started it thought he could just easily beat me up and that would be it, I only got jumped because his friends jumped in after they realized he was going to get his ass kicked. I at least managed to land a few good hits, a takedown, and a knee to the groin before I got jumped.

I actualy see them every now and then at the bar and am cool with one of them now. The one that started it I will never forgive though, and he steers clear of me. He won't even make eye contact with me, can't say I blame him because I've made it clear that I would love a rematch. I'm also 20lb heavier now.

Its easy to train VS three guys at once but in the end they arent trying to hurt you seriously like on the street.

And in training you cant do what you need to do to survive.



Best thing I've ever seen work is wait for them to get close and just stab one of them... Dont even let them see the knife untill you've stabbed one of them. Repeatedly stab him to the torso 2-3 times. Shove him away and start circling the others, make it hard for them to get around you.
They can either
A) pull weapons
B) run
C) help their friend (By calling police, either way you should be able to get away)

Either way they will sort of go into shock when see there friend bleeding. ( if they dont see the knife untill one of them is getting stabbed they will be supprised, and hopefully panic).

If you have a problem with killing someone unfairly or without warning him and giving him a chance to reconsider attacking you more then likely you dont have what it takes to fight multiple opponents.

For it to work they cant see the knife untill the last minute, if they are close enough you may be able to stab two of them before they even realize you have a weapon.


This is a last ditch suggestion however, if you CANT run and if you have no choice. Isnt advice for a schoolyard fight but a serious street fight with people who intend to do you harm. If you allow multiple people to beat you on the street because you are hesitant to hurt someone seriously you may end up getting seriously injured or even killed.

I've seen this work BTW 1 guy V 6 "Gangsters". They scattered like sheep when their friends stomach got ripped open.

If you are old enough to carry a gun (and its allowed where you live) Thats your only "sure" method of defence VS multiple people.

Ironic thing about my story about getting jumped...I had a knife in my pocket the whole time. I fukin forgot it was there! lol

See you can't count on weapons all the time. :)

Whoa bjjwraslter7 you sound pretty ****ing experienced. With some more specific training in multiple opponent fighting, you'd probably own...unless you already do

Yea guest89 you kind of read my mind...I like to think real street practical...I mean I'm not going to run into the ghettos and pick a fight with a bunch of guys who are probably strapped with firearms just for practice. I don't live in a rough area, but just sometimes it happens and sometimes it happens to other weaklings and I want to help him out.

[QUOTE=bjjwraslter7;13066969]You just have to improvize and use your balance and movement. Of course you didn't specificaly train how to wrestle 3 people at once, but you learn how to deal with people trying to take you down and how to react quickly to situations. I'm not saying it will allow you to hold 3 people down at once and beat them up, that's just rediculous.

When I've gotten jumped my wrestlings helped me a lot. For example one guy tried to spear me and tackle me to the ground. I sprawled my legs back, hipped into him, got a front headlock, and triped him down with my leg. The takedowns called a bulldog headlock I think and it all happened in about 2 seconds. Went from him tackling me to him getting tossed on the ground, and I was up and ready for the next attacker. Then when I did get knocked on the ground people were kicking me and I caught one of their legs and used it to pull myself up to my feet and at the same time knock them down with a double leg. I don't remember every detail but I did ok considering the situation. I mostly just kept moving, getting people off of me, and rolling around and avoiding taking any real damage. I also only wieghed about 140lb at the time, and I'm 5'6.

I'm not saying I won or anything, I got the crap kicked out of me, but I held my own and walked away with nothing but some bruises on my back. I lost, but those guys had respect for me afterwards that they didn't have before that happened. The guy that started it thought he could just easily beat me up and that would be it, I only got jumped because his friends jumped in after they realized he was going to get his ass kicked. I at least managed to land a few good hits, a takedown, and a knee to the groin before I got jumped.

I actualy see them every now and then at the bar and am cool with one of them now. The one that started it I will never forgive though, and he steers clear of me. He won't even make eye contact with me, can't say I blame him because I've made it clear that I would love a rematch. I'm also 20lb heavier now.[/QUOTE]

well i could see if you were on the ground already, u could go for a john smith (where u grab ankle and drive ur shoulder into thier shin), but i'd expect to get kicked by the other two pretty hard.

All great advice...I think I maybe need to buy a knife or something. Something small enough to conceal, but effective enough to stab through thick clothes and through the stomach.

[QUOTE=kensterz;13067505]Whoa bjjwraslter7 you sound pretty ****ing experienced. With some more specific training in multiple opponent fighting, you'd probably own...unless you already do[/QUOTE]

Nah, like I said I held my own and gained some respect but it's very hard to win in that situation. By the end of it I was literaly getting kicked around like a soccer ball. After the initial brawl which wasn't that bad I walked away talking **** as I left. 3 of them followed me around the side of the house and that time I was just like fuk it and went to the ground and balled up. I rolled from one to the other showing my back each time so they would kick me in the back. I'd ride the momentum to the next guy and roll so that my back faced him, and so on managing to take almost every kick on the hard part of my back and roll to the next guy. Literaly like a human soccer ball lol. Then when they were leaving I was sitting on the curb. I started to get up as they walked by and one of them was like "stay the **** down!". Needless to say I laid my ass back down.

[QUOTE=kensterz;13067568]Yea guest89 you kind of read my mind...I like to think real street practical...I mean I'm not going to run into the ghettos and pick a fight with a bunch of guys who are probably strapped with firearms just for practice. I don't live in a rough area, but just sometimes it happens and sometimes it happens to other weaklings and I want to help him out.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I've been attacked three times by a few guys. 1st time I was alone. Three large black guys walking towards me talking ****. (Take into account I was young and foolish)

Them "You should be scared white boy, you all by yoself"
Me " Whats that?"

I start walking towards them skateboard in my left hand ready to swing, knife in my right hand

Them " Its cool man, its cool. "
They turned around and left. Im pretty sure they would have kicked my ass if I wouldnt have started walking towards them with a knife. (Looking back on that it was probably dumb but since they where on bikes I couldnt outrun them anyways).

2nd time. three black guys, me and my friend we were walking to a store.

Them "WTF you doin in our part of town"
they start babbling a bunch of racial stuff and cussing at us.
"We gonna beat yall asses"

we were in a parking lot and there just happend to be an iron pipe about 3 feet long laying on the ground next to the building, my friend picked it up and puts it over his shoulder and I grab my knife. We just stand their waiting, not saying anything. They got real quiet and turned and walked away, they looked back and tried to make some comments to save face as they were walking away.


Third time. Im all alone working on a job site and three guys walk up (white guys this time) the biggest one grabs me and shoves me up against a wall. I pull a knife, grab him with my left hand by his shirt, my right hand puts the knife up against his throat.

I spin him around and push him against the wall and tell the others if they dont back off I'll cut his throat. They backed up, I looked him in his eyes and told him if he comes near me again I wont even warn him before I attack. I pushed him away and he starts backing up "You a crazy fxcker man I was just fxcking with you"


They backed off and I never saw them again. I have no doubts I would have gotten ass beatins all three times (and perhaps robbed) if I wouldnt have had a knife. Im lucky all three times it didnt come to blood shed. The last time was the closest to it since I actually put a blade against someones throat.

As soon as I turn 21 im getting a CCW.;) Im not a very good fighter so I try to avoid it. The types of training I have is combat training/paramilitery training. I feel more comfortable in a street fight then in a ring, because I can do what I need too to win.

[QUOTE=bjjwraslter7;13061800]Best sport for that situation = track[/QUOTE]

yep!

[QUOTE=guest89;13067987]Yeah, I've been attacked three times by a few guys. 1st time I was alone. Three large black guys walking towards me talking ****. (Take into account I was young and foolish)

Them "You should be scared white boy, you all by yoself"
Me " Whats that?"

I start walking towards them skateboard in my left hand ready to swing, knife in my right hand

Them " Its cool man, its cool. "
They turned around and left. Im pretty sure they would have kicked my ass if I wouldnt have started walking towards them with a knife. (Looking back on that it was probably dumb but since they where on bikes I couldnt outrun them anyways).

2nd time. three black guys, me and my friend we were walking to a store.

Them "WTF you doin in our part of town"
they start babbling a bunch of racial stuff and cussing at us.
"We gonna beat yall asses"

we were in a parking lot and there just happend to be an iron pipe about 3 feet long laying on the ground next to the building, my friend picked it up and puts it over his shoulder and I grab my knife. We just stand their waiting, not saying anything. They got real quiet and turned and walked away, they looked back and tried to make some comments to save face as they were walking away.


Third time. Im all alone working on a job site and three guys walk up (white guys this time) the biggest one grabs me and shoves me up against a wall. I pull a knife, grab him with my left hand by his shirt, my right hand puts the knife up against his throat.

I spin him around and push him against the wall and tell the others if they dont back off I'll cut his throat. They backed up, I looked him in his eyes and told him if he comes near me again I wont even warn him before I attack. I pushed him away and he starts backing up "You a crazy fxcker man I was just fxcking with you"


They backed off and I never saw them again. I have no doubts I would have gotten ass beatins all three times (and perhaps robbed) if I wouldnt have had a knife. Im lucky all three times it didnt come to blood shed. The last time was the closest to it since I actually put a blade against someones throat.

As soon as I turn 21 im getting a CCW.;) Im not a very good fighter so I try to avoid it. The types of training I have is combat training/paramilitery training. I feel more comfortable in a street fight then in a ring, because I can do what I need too to win.[/QUOTE]

Wow, that's cool man...I wish I were that confident in the street.

If one of the enemy or all the enemies pull out a weapon also...then are you basically screwed even if you have a weapon of your own? (If it's not a machine gun or something, or something extremely better than what they have) Unless you can run away somehow...running away from guns is a different issue. But I think in my case it's mostly talk and fists. Maybe a knife, not too common but not too uncommon either.