A few pointers on 'being mobbed'

[Loki's Advocate]

1: Make sure you're at least aware of everyone who's within striking distance of you. Most people who are being mobbed, end up being half-killed as the result of a sneaky blow to the jaw which dazes them enough for everyone to really lay in.

2: DON'T allow yourself to be surrounded! Backs to the wall, teamwork with any friends (if you're merely outnumbered, as opposed to being all alone).

3: DON'T just stand there like a sack of crap, trying to decide what to do- pick ONE of them, and fire in as hard and fast as you can! It will make it harder for the others to really get stuck into you.

4: If you get head-locked, keep your feet steady on the ground. Do it anyway, but... The greatest danger from a head-lock is when someone is able to drag you about by the neck, whereas if you're stationary and firmly grounded, they won't be able to do near as much damage. Struggle like mad (but be sure not to hurt your neck unduly in doing so), attack the groin, attack the kneecaps, do what you can do to inflict as much pain as quickly as possible, because if you stay in a headlock for more than a few seconds in a situation like that, you're gonna get hurt, and badly.

5: If you're stupid enough to believe in 'a fair fight', try to forget it for the duration. You're being mobbed, stupid, so any obligation of honour you might feel has already been thrown out the window. Headbutt, elbow, knee, gouge, throw people down flights of stairs... just do what you've got to do to get through, not to preserve your 'honour'.

6: Try to make yourself as small a target as possible, bearing in mind that your vulnerable areas are all the more vulnerable in such a situation.

7: Get mad! You'll need that adrenaline.

I've just gotten back from work, and my nuts hurt, my collarbone hurts, my skull hurts, and my eyes hurt. But, I'm in good enough shape to sit here and type this, so I think this is good advice.

Has anyone else got any advice along these lines?

[Der Einzelgänger]

Sound advice.

Don't be afraid to use any object around you as a weapon. Trash can, garbage bag, stick, anything so long as it can be used as a weapon to defend yourself.

[Loki's Advocate]

Yes... and don't forget, your surroundings can be your most potent weapon, and your most potent defence. If you're properly aware of them.

The best piece of advice I could give would be 'don't GET mobbed in the first place'. If not for my hard skull, blinding rage at being mobbed by a pack of cowards, and for my having been alone only for a minute or two, I could have easily ended up in the hospital. I fought well (though I say so myself), but it was more luck than skill that brought me through without permanent injury.

But if you can't run, and can't otherwise avoid such a situation...

[Liffrea]

I have had a few bad experiences like this. Most advice has been covered above. I would reinforce though the need to forget fairness in a situation like this. Do anything and I mean anything to get a gap in them and then run. There is no dishonour in running when your out numbered. There is nothing heroic when your in a comma or your folks are cremating you. Run and shout for help. The important thing is not to freeze, this is the worst thing you can do. I would also say learn yourself a few moves. Now I am not a big fan of martial arts and I would say against an experienced brawler there a waste of time but there are self defence classes that can teach you basics. I was lucky an old chap in a bar I used to drink in had 30 odd years of fighting in bars from his days in the RN onwards he taught me a few tricks I still have the pain :D . The best advice though would be try not to put yourself in a position where you might be attacked in the first place, especially in todays times, it just is not worth the risk.

[Cottatt]

If 'mobbed' go for the appearant leader, there will always be one with more mouth than the rest....make him/her your priority target.

If you are taken in an 'inescapable' headlock, where you can't get to your opponant's key target areas (groin, instep etc.) drop to the ground, this will throw your attacker onto his back with you near his head.....

Should any authority figures turn up, always make sure you are underneath your attackers......not only will they automatically 'capture' the people 'on top' in any given situation, buy you, the appearant 'victim' will always recieve first-aid, free ride home etc. as needed. (This works with Police, MP's, bouncers etc)

Above all, always be the one who walks away afterwards.

I am working with the Norroena Society, particually on the 'Combat Fundametals' project...go to the Forums site:
http://www.norroena.org/index2.html

[Cottatt]

Extra 'sneaky' tip...

Find your collar bones with your finger and thumb...

Find the spot in the middle....

(Gently) push spot with finger.....

No matter how big/muscular/flabby they are, this is just as sensative to attack, finger, pen, stick etc....all can put even the biggest guy down instantly, as there is no muscle tissue in this area (hence it's the spot they use for emergency trachio...).

[Loki's Advocate]

That is excellent advice! Come to think of it, that is probably why my collar bone is still so sore, even through the fog of Finnegan's Irish. Not even being punched in the groin hurt as much as that still does (though it caused me to be sick, a few minutes after it was all over).

8: Know your physiology, particularly things like, how joints work, how tendons work, vulnerable areas. (The thing about tendon injuries is, they cripple anyone, also).

9: NEVER, EVER assume that any martial sport or art you are conversant in, will be effective in such a situation, UNLESS it includes specific information about how to deal with multiple attackers!

[Loki's Advocate]

That Norroena Society site looks great, I should have looked at it sooner!

[calumthug]

If you are taken in an 'inescapable' headlock, where you can't get to your opponant's key target areas (groin, instep etc.) drop to the ground, this will throw your attacker onto his back with you near his head.....

http://www.norroena.org/index2.html

Is there anything else one should do? I personaly would hate to be on the ground with my back exposed to the rest of the mob.

[The Mersey's Watcher]

The only advice I can give is to make as much noise as possible. Scream your lungs away, chant, sing, whatever just make alot of noise. If this fails to intimidate your opponents it may alert a passer-by to your presence and thus gain you some help.

Never been mugged myself, however it I was the first thing that I would think of is, 'go for head shots', and 'use your fists'. When you're facing multiple opponents you can’t win in a fight of attrition. Best to punch them in the jaw, temple, nose or eyes were you'll do most damage.

[Sigurd]

Sound advice.

Don't be afraid to use any object around you as a weapon. Trash can, garbage bag, stick, anything so long as it can be used as a weapon to defend yourself.

I remember being attacked by two people who knew how to kickbox when I was a third year old kid. The note stand for violin became handy....but well, not a good idea, despite it made them go away - this incident was in a boarding school, and had I been less lucky, this could have been blood feud forever. So, well, consider your situation at that.

[Cottatt]

That is excellent advice! Come to think of it, that is probably why my collar bone is still so sore, even through the fog of Finnegan's Irish. Not even being punched in the groin hurt as much as that still does (though it caused me to be sick, a few minutes after it was all over).

8: Know your physiology, particularly things like, how joints work, how tendons work, vulnerable areas. (The thing about tendon injuries is, they cripple anyone, also).!

I have a PDF File of Bruce Lee's work on vital areas, if anyone would like a copy, email me on cottatt@aol.com


9: NEVER, EVER assume that any martial sport or art you are conversant in, will be effective in such a situation, UNLESS it includes specific information about how to deal with multiple attackers!

Always assume that any attacker has a basic knowledge of martial arts, attempting to fool them does not work.

Backing down from an attacker with a firearm is not cowardice, if 'necessary' fight him later on equal terms....

[Cottatt]

When you're facing multiple opponents you can’t win in a fight of attrition. Best to punch them in the jaw, temple, nose or eyes were you'll do most damage.

A simple technique that works well is 'clapping'..striking both ears with the palms of your hands...it can render the opponant senseless/unconcious.

[Cottatt]

Above all, the best advice I can give:

Walk Softly....
....but carry a big stick!

[Liffrea]

I would add though that going for the little guy is not a safe option. He is the one who probably knows how to fight. The great big buggers hardly get hassle because their.... well great big buggers, so they do not learn to fight.

N.B. This does not always work though as I can tell you. So can a mate of mine who spent a night in casualty have glass removed from his face.

In general the quiet ones you need to be more warry of. You can normally ignore the mouthy gits. You will brick yourself though I can tell you that. I have had three attempted muggings on me in the last 4 years and each time I was scared.

[Der Einzelgänger]

Any man would be afraid, just don't let the fear rule you, and keep your head about you and make quick decisions, hesitation could get you killed.

[Loki's Advocate]

Funny. I wasn't afraid during the fight, I was much too mad... it was after I'd 'come down' from the adrenaline, and after I'd vomited, and had time to 'chill out' a little, that I realised just how lucky I was to have come through relatively OK (well, there was some blood, but from them). Then I was afraid, alright.

I was very glad that they were sportsmen (and so had an inflated opinion of how tough they were, which is a common complaint with Australian sportsmen- 'you want some of this?' actually came out of one of their mouths), not fighters, or I'd have been done like a dinner, let me tell you.

I've had to defend myself any number of times, other people a similar amount of times, and been involved in scuffles at work quite a few times, some involving large numbers of people: but this was the only time I felt like things were completely out of my control, afterwards.

(Any time you have that feeling after an ugly incident, LEARN FROM IT! Don't let it happen a second time. In fact, don't let it happen a first time if you can at all help it. Be like Napoleon and learn from other people's mistakes.)

[Katia]

That Norroena Society site looks great, I should have looked at it sooner!


Yes, Loki, you should have! :D

[calumthug]

From my experience both in my youth, and in corrections, and as an instructor for the state in Advanced Physical Control Techniques and the Monadnoc Defensive Tactical System, I have a few points to make on the subject.

I have avoided several group attacks. Most of these were avoided because I didn't show any fear. Each group is comprised of scared individuals. When I didn't show fear, they backed down (probably because they thought that I was crazy). I'm not saying that this approach will work in every situation. It just seemed right at the time.

Stay alert at all times. Maybe its just my job, but I am often appalled at how unobservant those I love are. By staying aware, you may totaly avoid these situations. Signs as subtle as body language may tell you the proper course of action to take. Learn how to read body language an learn how to manipulate your own. Remember, every group is made up of a bunch of individuals. When backed into a corner, if your body language says that you own them, they will believe it.

Self-defense courses are all well and good, but practice what you learn. Most of the course will cover staying away from dangerous situations. Most of this is good advice. One of my problems with these courses is that they teach a few moves and after a week or a month, they send the people along thier way with a false sense of confidence.
In a charged situation, the cerebral cortex shuts down with the decision making process. The amygdala hijacks that process. The amygdala deals with reactions. In short, in life and death situations, if something isn't a reaction, you probably won't do it. It takes on average 1,000 repetitions to turn a decision into a reaction. Even then you should practice so that you don't loose the reaction. What you practice is what you will do in real life.

Take a martial art, I don't care which one as long as it teaches you how to move your body. Balance, Timing and distancing are the most important skills, more important than any back spin kick or such. For this purpose many sports will work as well.

Once in the situation don't graple on the ground. Once you are on the ground you are vulnerable. If you do wind up on the ground, cover-up with someone else if you can't get up or scramble out.

Thats my 2cents
Ryan

[BerserkrKin]

If you can avoid it in the first place.
I have ben in situations where the simple appearance of a weapon can make people about face.
I was jumped in my old neighborhood once and having a knife was enough to give greater numbers second thought.
If you have no weapons broken bottles are pretty nasty.. not to mention the sound of the breaking glass alone has a psycological effect.

[pinlighter]

How well are you recovering, Loki's Advocate??? :)

[Loki's Advocate]

It would have had to have been a really bad beating for me still to be recovering!

I'm just fine now, thanks: the lump on my head went away after a few days, and my collarbone stopped hurting after a similar time. I'm a difficult person to hurt with a blunt weapon; I'm not ugly just for show, you know! :D

[Teufelhunden]

Keep it simple , quick and violent..
You need to dissable one of the following swiftly..
the ability to breathe, see, stand.
Forget all that Ma hopping around. In a "mob" fight you should care little for the damage you inflict, here in the states there is the law of escallation.. 3 men with bats ? you are more than justified shooting one or more. more than 2 assailants with weapons? an knife in the right hands is justified. I myself if it comes down to my life, or the safety of my family will not hesitate to take lives. I have a NV CCW permit and always carry a knife. Use what you have at hand and do not try to get fancy. like I said quick deadly and violent. The faster you end it the better off you will be,
Teufelhunden

[Loki's Advocate]

Not bats, a couple of them had little glass lolly-water bottles. The kind that don't break easily, more's the luck.

It's a bit harder to 'deal' with a situation like that when you've got a duty of care to all concerned and can't at all be armed, even in such circumstances. To tell the full truth: I had a small utility knife in my back pocket, as I always do these days (more for the tools than the blade, mind you) but I am not going to slice open some stupid young bastard for drunkenly having a go at me for removing his friend from the premises. I did defend myself, but one thing that SICKENS me more than anything else about this job is watching supposed 'mates' leave their mates in the lurch when they're being beaten up by other patrons, or being restrained and removed by us for some stupidity of theirs (well, more the former than the latter, really).

The WA Police Act is very strict on crowd controllers ('bouncers'). I could only be absolutely sure of not being charged at some point if, for example, I waited until I was struck first before I struck back. (On the force continuum over here, unarmed grappling is ranked lower than unarmed striking... makes sense, doesn't it?)

Also, it was a tricky sort of situation... for various reasons it could not be dealt with as hastily as it should have been.

[Somerled]

This thread brings back memories of highschool.

[Loki's Advocate]

Where did you go to high school?

In D.C.?

[hrolf]

I am a bouncer too, but have never had much problerm. Most of the fights are quickly taken care of, and the party(s) are removed from the club. I am always armed to the teeth.

[Loki's Advocate]

Armed? You're allowed to be armed when you are working?!? Lucky so and so.

Oh don't get me wrong, that was an anomaly of the normal order of things, much like it would be at your own work. People sometimes wonder how you can do this job week in and week out, but when everything is properly worked out in advance and when the staff are (mostly!) very professional, it's not a hard job at all.

[hrolf]

I am not supposed to be armed, but I always am.

[Hveðrungur Kveldúlfsson]

Some replys have been deleted for violation of forum rules :)

[hrolf]

Hved, which ones were in violation, and in violation of what rule? I am curious, so that I may learn for the future what not to post. How shall I learn, if I don't know what I did wrong?

[Somerled]

Where did you go to high school?

In D.C.?

Oops...

In that area. Northern VA.

[hrolf]

Which school did you go to, Somerled? I went to Quander and West Springfield. I was in The Dominion school for most of High School though.

[Somerled]

Hmm, I went to a few, lol. The one I'm talking about is Herndon High. Such lovely memories... :D

[hrolf]

Yeah, I've heard stories about Herndon.

[Loki's Advocate]

Such as? (I always enjoy a good tale of innocent school yard violence... so long as it doesn't involve gun-play! :( )

[hrolf]

Gangs, competing gangs, violence. The usual in northern Virginia. I watched my high school go to crap, over the course of a couple years, mainly because of a sudden influx of immigrants.

[Loki's Advocate]

Nasty business, man. (Was there ever any shooting or threatened shooting?)

Cops started getting put at my school by and by, but a few years after I left the place, thankfully. Don't get me wrong, there were battles with other schools in my day, but the worst that ever happened at one of those was a guy from Kewdale bashing a guy from my school over the head with an iron bar. Not too hard though, but he still went to hospital. A few years later it was knives, pepper spray, canola-oil* flamethrowers...

And this from a RC school, too.

*: The thing about aerosolised canola oil is, it sticks and burns for some time. Light a spray of canola oil and it's like napalm. Some bright spark came up with it from something in science class, allegedly. :D

[Thomas]

I have never really been bothered to be honest, probably because I am big 6'5, 6'6 in shoes (although my dad says big guys get bothered mostly by gangs).

As much as these two points will make me sound a bit mad they are what I would use if I had to.

1. Listen to some fast and / or aggressive music. (Might not work for you but it works for me) When you are confronted recall the songs in your head, get your adrenaline rushing. Nothing gets my adrenaline rushing more than "Ruptured In Purulence" by Carcass or "Lucid Interval" by Cephalic Carnage.

(This is something I thought about a while ago, you will think I am crazy for suggesting this :eek:, haha).

2. If you get the chance, purposefully vomit into the enemies eyes, as many of you will know, vomit is acidic and will burn the eyes.

Thomas

[Tinsoldier]

There's very good advice on this thread.

The most important survival rule in a streetfight, in my humble opinion, is to forget the classic boxing techniques. Streetfights are all about grappling generally. Very few fights in the street end by a knockout punch, rather the opponents rush each other, and the fight is decided on the ground, thru superior technique and/or strenght. Hence, chokes, submission holds and so forth are the key. With regards to 'striking" , headbutts are more likely to be decisive rather than punches. In close, headbutts can be devastating, always think headbutts when you're grappling your opponent.

I have no real good advice if you get rushed by far superior numbers (mobbed), except run....discretion is the better part of valor. Remember you could save your life, if you stand up your ground, you risk your life. If you have to fight, I agree with the advice given elsewhere, use everything, and I mean everything to survive, bite, kick, gouge, headbutts, protect your throat as much as possible, and your head in general.

Another general rule of thumb, never fight unless you are directly threatened (or yours). Fights caused by an insult or a comment are ridiculous. Remember, street fights are often deadly.

[Fenris]

I'll second (or third, or fourth, etc) the statements involving the rapid debilitation of your opponents being key to putting them down and ending a confrontation.

To this end, I agree with the statement of casting the notion of "honourable combat" to the wind, as your opponent surely won't be fighting with said notion in mind. Thus I give the following advice (some may or may not be reiterated from above posts):

1: Learn a fighting style that deals with up-close and personal conflict, such as wrestling, aikido, muay thai and the like. Fights usually wind up devolving into grapplefests or groundwork, and knowing how to move when grappled or grappling, or when on the floor, is extremely important to your continued good health.

2: Study - on your own body - where it hurts to prod or press with an extended finger or knuckle, areas such as the armpit and the ribs beneath where the bicep rests when the arm is relaxed really, REALLY hurt when struck even lightly. Use this in fights, preferably along with the extended-middle-knuckle punch, where your middle knuckle protrudes forward slightly, providing a much smaller area of impact that will translate into greater force applied to a small point, it hurts like Hel.

3: Know your surroundings, ensure you're aware of where everything and everyone is in relation to you, otherwise you could trip, stumble into something, become flanked by opponents or worse.


4: Cripple the opponents ability to breathe, an opponent without air will panic and run out of oxygen rapidly, taking the fight out of them. Good ways of doing this are blows to the solar plexus (whether it be a knee, a punch, a jab with a big stick, etc) and throat. Taking the wind from an opponents sails will end the altercation by dint of either him realising he's in a dangerous spot now, or by allowing you to place him in restraint.

5: Cripple his ability to see. Thumbs or knuckles in the eyes will temporarily rob him of the sense of sight, and thus also provide you with ample time either to land a more decisive blow, instruct him to desist or restrain him. Splitting his eyebrow with an elbow will also work to cripple his ability to see, as it will introduce a flow of blood down into the eyes

6: employ your surroundings at all times, whether it be putting a car between you and an opponent or snatching a half brick up to use to add weight to a punch, which leads into...

7: Environmental weaponry is something your opponents are likely to use, so make use of it yourself. Anything from ploughing an opponents head into a lamp post to picking up a trashcan and belting them with that, and everything inbetween.

8: Aggression is important, adrenaline helps you physically and mentally, it bolsters your mind against fear and steels your body against pain, it also temporarily enhances your physical prowess, make use of it wisely, rather than flailing wildly direct your anger into violent bursts of directed fury. Make every ounce of rage count.

9: Make use of your innate advantages. Small guys tend to be quicker than large guys (though not always), and often tend to be slippery opponents, while a large guy should overbear and physically dominate his opponent by coming at him like a ****ed off bear.

10: In a fight for your safety, there's no such thing as cheating, employ every dirty trick you know, spit in the eyes, knee in the groin, bite the arm trapping you in a headlock, choke the guy or gouge your fingers in his eyes, yank his ear off.

11: Legally, you're usually required (unless in your own home) to make a cursory attempt to retreat before engaging, and if you fear for your safety and life or the safety and life of another, you're technically permitted by law to use as much force as is necessary to put down the aggressor, up to and including lethal force, and as long as you can support the claim that you feared for your life or the life of another, there's not many juries that will look down on your actions.


I also applaud in particular calumthug's educated input regarding attitude and body language, which too is key in averting or dominating a confrontation. Arrogance is dangerous as it over-inflates your opinion of your abilities, but visible self-assurance and confidence is intimidating to ones opponents. If you "look" like you know what you're doing, that's half the battle right there, because your average mob - or even singular thug - has no combat training (or rudimentary, at best) and thus they may well decide that attacking you wasn't such a good idea to begin with.

[SkjaldarUlfr]

I agree with a lot of this advise however.

1. never use a weapon unless you now how to. because there is a good chance it will be taken away and used on you.

2. if you are mobbed swing at everything as fast as posible. if you can get then all swinging at you they are almost as likely to hit each other. though you will still get hit.

3. in a situation with more than one opponent grapling is stupid. If you go to the ground the others will kick the snot out of you.

SkjaldarUlfr

[valaskjalf]

Heres something to kill someone in self defence.

First hold your hands out like your holding a (invisible) box

Get behind them (If you can) and viciously start clapping so your palms go over there ears, This will cause severe bleeding to the brain.

Another is to get the bottom of your palm and smack upwards at there nose, This will cause the bone to be pushed into the brain causing severe brain damage or even death.

One more. Eye gauging the easiest and most known track of the trade today.

First off if your fending off (Or you have a blind shot at them) Push your finger in at the top of there eye (Do this to yourself) Close your eye and push in, Not hard dont injure yourself, If your push hard enough the finger will end up going in, And whilst bending your finger, Pop goes the weasil! Dont viciously do this, As it might not hit the right spot and you could end up with a broken finger, Do it when your hand or finger is resting on there face while defending or after a hit you have just given.

Hopefully I explained these right

[Crazy Cowboy]

the nose trick doesn't work.... the ear trick can make them deaf but unless you're incredibly strong it will not cause hemmorhaging in the brain. if anyone is interested in learning so excellent combat techniques for armed and unarmed as well as multiple opponents. it's being used by SEAL's and Army SF so it's combat tested and VERY effective

http://www.scars.com/SCARS/dacMain.jsp

oh yea and when there's more then 1 person NEVER go to the ground

[Schwarzesonne]

The advice offered by Fenris & SkjaldarUlfr is sound. And from my experience training in marital arts (mostly wing chun, but also a bit in bagua) I discovered—quite to my surprise—that fending off multiple opponents is usually easier that single combatants because they generally tend to get in one another’s way. Furthermore, the biggest/toughest guy in the group usually bears the group’s luck/confidence, so if he’s taken out the rest will usually back off out of sheer fear.

That being said, however, all the techniques & strategies are not as easy to employ as they sound, and none of them are guarantees. No one is going to read a book or the comments on this forum and turn into Bruce Lee. Suppose I try to stick my knuckle in some guy’s eye but before I can do it his buddy jams a knife into my back! Will I be there to support my family and my faith as I should? Chances are I’m going to end up in a hospital room feeling sorry for myself!

Our Volk need to have priorities that guide our lives. Our families and our faith ought to come before everything else. Any time I put myself in a position that may potentially inhibit me from doing what I can for those 2 priorities I am wrong.

[Don vonMilikowski]

Two shots from a .45 makes people nervous.

Do the Watusi (sp) they will think your are nuts and stay away.

Rape the first MAN you knock down, causes psychological damage on your enemy.

Eat the flesh of your enemy.

Give ritual enimas.

Sorry, that is how silly all thse posts looked to me

Either you can handle a mob or you can't (right now all I have going through my head is Macho Macho Man, I want to be a Macho Man) I know I can't handle a "mob" per se after four people at once I know I get a little tired and sore....... Best way to avoid danger - Don't put yourself there. If you work security, law enforcement, military, you should be compitent in some sort of "riot control". Stay in teams and/or packs (learned this being a Punk in the 80's, harder to get one target).

Now to get ready for work, heh, speaking of Village People - I work with a Native American, Biker, I wear a hard hat, any cops want to join in or sailors? :help:

[Don vonMilikowski]

I do appologise in advance before I write.. See the humor first before you get angry





oh yea and when there's more then 1 person NEVER go to the ground


Levitation is a good thing, they cannot hit you if you are in the air, tends to cause muscle strain to hit in an upwards motion. Say you are the ghost of that little lady from Poltergeist and give a schrill "Carol Anne, stay away from the light" as you stomp downward.

Sorry Cowboy, I personally thought it was funny

[Don vonMilikowski]

1. never use a weapon unless you now how to. because there is a good chance it will be taken away and used on you.




Time for a story

Heh, We were towing my suburban to a buddy's house. Stopped at a gas station to pick it up on a Saturday night. Some kids were doing a beer run (grab beer from the case and bolt) the shop keeper was running yelling "stop them". My buddy pulled his .45 and did panic yells (sssstop or) as the kids drove away, I told him, "is insured beer worth being away from your family and getting a boyfriend in prison, and they might have stopped if your holster was not still attached to your pistol."

[Crazy Cowboy]

lol actually I was referring to peoples advice on grappling or ground fighting when mobbed suppose I should have said willingly go to the ground

[Loki's Advocate]

Best way to avoid danger - Don't put yourself there.

I couldn't agree more.

I apologise if it sounded like an ego thread. It wasn't- I was pretty terrified once I realised just how lucky I'd been not to get the stuffing beaten out of me.

And it was because I wasn't working quite as quickly as my colleagues that it happened.

[Vallen]

I have a good story.

My friend and I were once decked out in a full ninja uniform at night, with a bokken a piece... (I know it sounds strange, but bare with me) We ended up sneaking onto some church property nearby, where this "teen night" was going on. We went in through the back door, and snuck throuhout the entire church. There was this loft type of thing over the door to the teen room, and we climbed up on top of it and waited. AS soon as everyone started leaving the door, we jumped down and bolted outside. We then hid behind some bushes and trees and waited.

For quite a while, we plaued around with these people, doing mock runs around them (they always made a tight little ball, curious). They were pretty much scared as all get out. then some of the older people came up and made this little approaching pack and started making threats to us. (probably about 12 in total). oh, man it was funny. We stood up straight as we could, both of us measuring about 6'1"- 6'3". WE then executed a really fast strike, and successfully surrounded them (just TWO people!!) they were scared, oh man, they were scared. Then we stopped on either side, and ran straight through the middle. One of them hit my friend, so I came back and sweeped his leg, then I made a quick strike right over his head. (I didn't hit him, I stopped above his head) Then someone started calling the cops... so we ran.

Anyway, this just reminded me of it.

I think that some of the best advice I can give is this:

Do not invest in a martial art if you are not ready to commit to training as often as you can. If you start and quit a few days after, it will not be worth it. It is my personal belief that (arrogance aside) that a black belt through my system is more than capable of defending himself in an physical combat situation. I have fought many different people, from talented street fighters, to world class martial arts champions, and there is a big difference.

Another thing, Do not forget about your legs! don't even try to hit their heads, but to start things out, you plant a strong kick to their knee when they charge, you reduce the chances of being taken to the ground a good bit.

3: When approached by a mugging group or unit, if escape is not capable, do not be afraid to take a few steps back to get them moving in on you, rather than two forces colliding. by moving away and then engaging, you can cut the number of opponents dramatically that you have to fight at a time.

Anyway, rant over.

-Vallen

[othala]

Here is a story:

I was hanging out in front of the neighborhood pizza shop waiting for some friends when an unexpected friend pulls up. Two people that I was familiar with get out of the car and they are very angry. I could tell that something was wrong. These two guys are in the 6' 5", 225 pound range and I was 5'9" and 160. I immediately recognized one of the guys as an individual that I experienced some tension with due to a girl in common that we had. I could tell by their facial expressions and body language that they were looking for a fight. They became even angrier when I maintained a good ten feet of space between us and wouldn't let them get any closer. And then I seen what proved to be the equalizer: out of the corner of my eye I spotted a brick that was loose in the patio and I swooped down and picked it up and put it in my flannel shirt. I started swinging it like a mace and quickly took control of the situation. It was very tense for a moment but they walked off and got back in the car and left. The next morning, one of them called me up and apologized because he said that he came after me due to a combination of drinking too much and wrong information. The ******* that had the
problem with me over the girl fed him the wrong info. A mutual acquaintance of ours was not so lucky. He let the two guys walk up into his personal space and was knocked unconscious by a punch only fifteen minutes before they seen me. They figured that since I was his friend, then I was going to pay as well. The things that helped me were that I read their body langauge, I did not let them into my personal space, and I have a knack making weapons out of normal everyday material. BTW, remember the scene from the movie Bad Boys when Sean Penn put the soda cans in in his pillow case? I remembered it that night. LOL.