Post grading we at London Ju Jitsu spend a few weeks defending random attacks from one or more attackers. The aim is to ensure we can develop Zanshin and our ability to defend ourselves rather than only practising in a choreographed way. When faced with more than one attacker the odds of winning the fight obviously decrease. If you can avoid the fight by reason or flight obviously that’s a sensible option. If you can’t then good strategy is as important as good self defence techniques.
Firstly you should try to get your opponents in front of you. If you can, try and get your back to a wall. This way you can’t be hit or grabbed from behind. If this isn’t possible you just have to accept that an attack from behind may occur and react when you’re either hit or grabbed. There is no point in trying to constantly look in front of you and then behind you. If you’re constantly swivelling you’re head you can’t focus and you won’t see those in front let alone those behind. You’ll also be off balance both mentally and physically. If you’re facing three or more opponents you should try to break out of the circle if they surround you. Again this is to try and get them all in front of you. Whether you attack first or wait for their attack and then break out the objective must be the same.
Secondly you must use your peripheral vision. Don’t focus on any one person or object. Stare ahead into the middle distance.
Thirdly under no circumstances should you go to ground if you can help it. In the UK more people are kicked to death than are killed by either guns or knives so the ground is absolutely the last place you want to be. If you do end up on the ground get up as quickly as possible. Even if you are taking a beating try and stay on your feet. Don’t think they’ll take pity on you and leave you alone once you’re down as they probably will not.
Lastly and perhaps controversially, I believe you have to really hurt at least one of your assailants. In some ways it’s better to hurt them than to render them unconscious. If one of the group is screaming in pain, it may make the rest of the group hesitant to be next. Hopefully this will give you a chance to escape.
