Mass Attacks
By Athos Antoniades
Athos gives an insight on dealing with multiple attackers in 'No Brain' mode.
Disclaimer:
Strikes taught on this website are extremely dangerous and should not be experimented with as they could result in serious injury or death. These strikes should only be used if your life or the life of your loved ones is at risk. They should never be used to hurt or intimidate another person. All those involved in the production of this site assume no responsibility for any injury or damage resulting from the execution of the strikes taught. The techniques in Kenpo Taiji syllabus should not be seen as an end in themselves which is how they are taught by most instructors, but as training methods.
When attacked by more than one attacker we have to assume that they intend to kill us or cause us serious injury,and must therefore act accordingly,each and every one of our strikes must count and must be a potential KO strike or worse!
Kenpo Taijii is the perfect system for dealing with multiple attackers
Obviously,if possible,our best option in a mass attack situation would be to try to avoid it by escaping,because even if we come out of it victorious it is unlikely that we will come out of it completely unscathed.
In this article we will deal with the situation where escape,is not an option.
Sudden violence maximum aggression,strikes to Dim Mak points, ,explosive speed and power,and subconscious reflex action become imperative,much more so than when dealing with a single opponent. However this will not be our natural reaction unless our martial arts training has prepared us to make it so.
Systems which teach logical pre arranged techniques as a way of dealing with multiple attackers are asking for trouble! Such techniques require thinking ,something we do not have the luxury off in a one to one confrontation let alone one involving multiple attackers!
Using techniques such as 'No Mind' and 'Fa Jing' will enable anyone to cope with multiple attackers at once.
In a conversation with an MMA fighter recently,he was trying to convince me that his was the best system to deal with a mass attack situation.There are many reasons why this is not so,but I simply advised him that MMA is an excellent sport as it includes so many different aspects if the Martial Arts,but, nonetheless a sport,and therefore has rules ,out on the street there are no rules.I also pointed out that MMA involves grappling ,a definite no no against multiple attackers. When you're rolling around on the ground with one of them ,his mates will be kicking your head in.Excuse my phraseology but I am trying to be as realistic and practical as possible ,something alien to those instructors who confuse the dojo with the street.
The speed and rapid succession of strikes inherent in the Kenpo Taiji System make it very adaptable to dealing with multiple attackers.
In a one on one confrontation I always teach my students that,'as he attacks -attack first !'In other words wait for him to commit to the point where it would be too late for him to change direction,and, he is within your striking range,and attack first with maximum aggression,power and speed. However a pre emptive response is imperative when confronted by multiple attackers.After striking the first one with maximum force,we don't wait for any of the others to come to us,but we instead we also pre-empt their attack and go to each of them in turn,attacking each of them with maximum force.Take care of the first and second etc.and go back to the first and so on,be totally violent using the Reptile brain.
Same as fighting one person but obviously quicker and far more aggressive and violent,always aiming our strikes to dim mak Points. Keep going back over them until none are left standing.Don't wait for them to come to you GO OUT AND GET THEM! You can use kicks ,but,always low kicks to vital targets such as the groin and knees.Always moving at full speed and therefore never giving them the opportunity to surround us.To attack first is our only chance,as to actually defend ourselves against multiple attackers by allowing them to attack us first would be almost impossible,especially if two or more of them are striking us simultaneously. If we stop moving,thus giving them the opportunity to surround us,we are likely to be defeated.We should not,under any circumstances turn our back to them.Ideally positioning ourselves in such a way so that they are,as far as practically possible,in a line in front of us,thus enabling us to only fight one at a time.As the 'leader' of the group approaches us ,we position ourselves in front of him at such an angle so as to keep the others in line in front of us,rather than allowing them to move to the side of us or even worse behind us.By positioning ourselves in this way would allow us to attack the leader whilst keeping the others in plain view,ideally in a straight line,continually moving and attacking all of them,one at a time in a continuos manner.
As already mentioned we will not instinctively adopt this approach when dealing with multiple attackers unless we have incorporated the following basic fundamental principles into our Martial Arts training:
AWARENESS:
By incorporating some sort of Internal Stillness training into our system ,for instance Tai Chi,Wuji or Chi Kung would enable us to subdue the ego allowing our consciousness to become the Awareness for whatever is happening in the Here and Now.In other words we will be fully present and all our actions in defending ourselves will come from a state of No Mind using subconscious reflex action and not thought,something we definitely do not have time for in a mass attack situation. Being fully alert may help us to avoid the situation in the first place.
Athos shows how knowledge of Kenpo Taijii is vital in a mass attack situation.
MAXIMUM AGGRESSION:
Training in these internal methods will allow Chi trapped by the ego in the head to be released and along with the bodies other Chi which may have been trapped by tension in the body,sinks and is rooted in the lower Dan Tien ,our psychic energy centre,situated 3 inches below the naval.There it will be refined to Jing and when the situation warrants it will rise up to the Gb20 points at the base of the scull , the doorway to the Reptilian brain.This process will release the 'wild animal'within enabling us to fight with maximum aggression,speed ,power and perfect timing.Just like any wild animal doing whatever is necessary,to survive at a subconscious reflex level.We will not be angry but outwardly aggressive whilst maintaining an inner stillness and therefore calmness within.This will enable all our actions to be directed by our inner self at a No Mind level, and not our ego dominated mind.
EAGLE VISION:
Yet a further advantage is that when in Reptile Brain Mode,we use Eagle Vision ,an advanced form of peripheral vision as opposed to focus vision,this will enable us to lock onto the space taken up by our attackers energy,effectively becoming one with them,so that as they move - we move,as they attack we attack first.
FA JING:
This translates to 'explosive energy release'is the Power of the Reptilian Brain because the energy which rises up our back to the Gb20 points at the base of the kneck,to enter the Reptile Brain may be released into our attackers DIM MAK points by using a violent shaking of the waist,causing a Knock Out or even worse.Obviously very useful in a multiple attack situation .By training to aim our strikes to our attackers Dim Mak points would enable us to instantly KO them,greatly improving our chances of surviving a mass attack situation.
Also keep in mind that if you are the victim of a multiple attack,use anything you can lay your hands on which can be used as a weapon ,whether it be a knife,a bottle ,a chair an ashtray a stone or even a stick.
At all costs avoid been taken to the ground,but,if it does happen ,grab a handful of dirt if there is any around and throw it in their eyes.Remember we are dealing with a situation where escape is not an option so what ever you can lay your hands on use it to commit fully,with vicious intent,using maximum aggression.Better for them to be hospitalised than us,and in extreme situations better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6! Also from the ground it may be easier to attack the groin,do not miss a single opportunity to hurt them.Each and every strike must count.Also,if on the ground they are likely to throw kicks to your head ,therefore protect it by placing your arms around it in the brace position,and try to make your way to your feet and continue fighting in the manner pre scribed above.Obviously far better to avoid going to the ground at all costs.
We can therefore conclude that in a multiple attack situation we must not wait for them to attack us ,but must go out and get them,attacking their Dim Mak points with maximum power,speed and aggression, causing maximum damage,hopefully achieving a KO with each strike. We must keep going back over them until none are left standing. Ensure that our training programs us to strike the most dangerous Dim Mak points such as Stomach 9 or 10(St.9/10)on the throat situated just above and just below the Adam's apple respectively,causing maximum damage with each and every strike.Other useful points are Small Intestine 16(Si.16)at the base of the kneck where it joins the body and also Conceptor Vessel 14(Cv14),situatedby the Solar Plexus.
We must also ensure that our training incorporates internal exercises which will enable us to enter our reptilian brain,releasing the wild animal within at the very moment we feel threatened!A Reptile would stand a better chance against multiple attackers than a human! Kick low to vital targets such as the knees and groin and make use of anything you can lay your hands on which will assist you to survive the situation. As your striking them keep moving at rapid speed to avoid being surrounded by them,aligning them as far as practically possible in a straight line in front of us,thus,fighting one at a time.