by Chris McKinley on Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:38 am
I've been through a couple multiple situations in my younger years, and I'm curious as to how many of you guys might have experience as well. IME, there are only two real possibilities with two variations each in terms of multiple situations that one is likely to face. They are:
1) A generally unruly, panicked, violent and/or riotous crowd. This is a situation in which the group has given way to mob rule such as a riot, a threat has emerged which threatens anyone in the vicinity creating a stampede, or a smaller fight has escalated to some variation of a bar brawl. This situation is distinctive in that you as the defender are not (at least initially) the focus of the violence. You are swept up in a tide of crushing, panicking, violent humans and your objective is simply to escape unharmed. It is possible that you may not need to harm anyone else in that pursuit. In fact, it may be unjustifiable depending on the circumstances. The exception may be in the variation in which you are not alone, but are charged with the protection of loved ones, minors, friends, etc.
2) A focused group of predators. This situation is usually far more dangerous in that you as the defender are the specific focus of the violence. Additionally, because the predators have prior intent to cause violence, they are likely to use far more damaging tactics and are much more likely to have weapons. If you are alone when facing this situation, your only goals are survival and safe escape. Contrary to what middleway posted, and this is nothing personal, nothing is or even can be "ideally designed to deal with the complexity and constant change of Multiple opponent situations". There is no such thing.
Immediate escape is not only of paramount importance, it may be the only hope you have of surviving the encounter at all. Further, there is a considerable likelihood that you may be required to kill or injure one or more people in the process. If you are carrying a weapon, presentation must be considered. Sometimes it is more valuable to take off running as fast as you can if you have opportunity rather than presenting a weapon, even a firearm. Other times, it will be vital that you present your weapon as soon as possible or you may not get another chance to do so. Once your weapon is presented, if you have not yet effected your safe escape, it may be possible that you will be required to kill or injure at least one of the assailants in order to both achieve the freedom necessary to run and to create an escape route.
Sticking around long enough to fight several opponents at once is dangerously stupid no matter what one's mode of training, and should only be engaged in if you are faced with the other variation of this situation in which your protective charge(s) is present. Unless you are required to remain in the vicinity in order to protect someone else, you should never, ever stick around to fight multiple opponents. Statistically, to do so is suicide or at least a guaranteed trip to the hospital in all likelihood.
Notice, I'm not talking about a bunch of good ole boys trading punches down at the local honky tonk like they do every Saturday night where the risk usually doesn't exceed a couple of loose teeth and a night in the local hoosgau. Such situations are almost always completely avoidable. I'm talking about the far more deadly predatory situations that may be unavoidable and that can occur anywhere, usually but not always in urban environments.
If you are forced to stay and protect a loved one in a multiple situation, it is imperative that you present your weapon as soon as it is clear that hostilities are unavoidable. Further, unlike the variation in which you are alone, the chance that you will be required to kill or injure one or more people goes up dramatically. In fact, depending on the configuration of the assailants, killing or seriously injuring either the alpha male or the closest assailant immediately may be the only sufficient deterrent available to you to prevent you or your charge from being killed, raped, injured, etc.
With this topic, we're a long way from the peaceful world where you have the luxury of thinking about choosing between Shuai Jiao or Baguazhang as the style of your response. The discussion in the thread so far has been a little blase and casual for the subject matter. Real multiple situations are some of the worst, most nightmarish circumstances you could ever hope to face. Keep in mind that, statistically, you will be lucky even to survive, nevermind having the luxury of a range of choices in your response. In all 50 states of the U.S., physical assault by multiple assailants constitutes in se justification for the use of lethal force in response. It's that serious.
Last edited by Chris McKinley on Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:42 am, edited 1 time in total.