Sucks, right?!

The answer isn’t to “fight” his grip and wrestle your way out of it.  You don’t have time to go strength vs. strength.

Try this instead…

Self Defense Technique Against Multiple Attackers:
Rear Arm Grab Escape & Counterattack!

I’m currently working in a high-crime area where I frequently come upon gangs of older teens and young twenty-something’s hanging out in a crowd on the street corner having a good time.

Sometimes that “good time” involves one of them stroking their own ego by hassling someone walking by that “doesn’t belong there”.  Someone like me!

This can be a pretty scary situation when you’re in an unfamiliar area and are faced with the very real possibility of becoming an easy target for street crime.

The best advice is always to be smarter than me and don’t walk around in high crime areas.  But the time may come, no matter where you are, that you find yourself in a situation where you’re going to be walking past a gang, whether real or “wannabe”, and need to know how to react.

While dealing with how to physically defend yourself in a “multiple attacker” situation is too large of a topic to deal with in the same article, here are some tips to dealing with your BEST defense…avoiding the conflict altogether:Do A Quick “Recon”

As soon as you notice a gang from a distance, don’t immediately look away in an attempt to avoid being noticed.  Just as you would conduct a reconnaissance of a military target, you want to size the group up to know who and what you’re dealing with.

For example, are there any stores nearby that you can duck into if needed?  What “environmental weapons” are around them that could possibly be used as weapons or obstacles if needed?  Can you safely turn around and walk the other way or cross the street to avoid them?

And if there’s no other alternative but to walk past them, the most important thing I look for is whether any of them have noticed me and is motioning the others to check me out.  That immediately changes the scenario!

Are You A Target?

If a gang is preoccupied with each other and don’t notice you, act preoccupied with something as well: dialing on your cell phone, fumbling through your pockets, or just look straight ahead without looking like a victim – chin up, shoulders back, stand tall – without looking like you’re auditioning for the next Superman movie.

Your goal is to exude confidence without being confrontational.  Regardless of how big a gang may be, it will always be one individual that has to make the first move.  That person must first decide whether you’re worth the risk of them being embarrassed in front of their friends and if you look like someone who may be a problem, they’ll most likely leave you alone.

But when you’ve been noticed and it looks like they may have sized you up as a target, this is your time to establish your ground game quick.

Eye Contact

Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually ok to make eye contact with a gang…if it’s done the right way.  Looking briefly to show you recognize their presence and even giving a quick nod to one of the members should they make eye contact with you shows you’re not some “easy target” who’s so afraid of them that you’re just hoping they’ll leave you alone.

The main thing is to understand that the LAST thing a gang will put up with is disrespect.  If you look at them in any way that communicates contempt, disgust, conflict, or that you’re “better than them”, then YOU’VE practically put them in a “must act” position.

Many gangs have members who’ve been arrested at one point have spent time in jail or prison.  In lock up, they’ve been programmed that the very LAST thing they’ll stand for being taken from them is their RESPECT.

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”

If the gang feels you’re disrespecting them in any way, then their most likely to feel that there’s no other option than to gain it back.  And for you, that typically means the “hard way”.

Even if confronted, you want to make sure you convey respect for their status…by telling them so with something like, “Hey, I mean no disrespect at all.  I’m just on my way to work and was looking your way.  No problems here.” and then keep walking.

This shows them that you recognize their superiority and gives them a graceful exit that they can brag about later.  Walking away after making such a definitive statement also forces them to make the next move.

99% of the time, they’ll take the “out” and feel good about themselves that they got the best of you.  But if they don’t and continue to walk after you or take the confrontation to the next level, then you at least know that the danger has increased and can plan your next steps.

Beware Your Own Ego

Remember…your goal is to simply get past a gang WITHOUT confrontation.  Even when they’re seeking it!

If you’re walking past a gang and they start to taunt you by making fun of you or even making sexual comments toward you or someone you’re with…IGNORE IT!

For example, if you’re a guy, you may feel the need to “defend your woman’s honor” and turn back to speak up.  DON’T!  You only risk your own life and the safety of your companion by taking on perhaps insurmountable odds of going up against a larger number of attackers who could possibly be armed.

It always cracks me up when self defense instructors recommend to their students that, when faced with a violent attack, they should “just run away”.

C’mon…is that REALLY a sound self defense strategy?

No, I’m not saying that running is “sissy-like”.  You should ALWAYS avoid a fight if you can.

But if THIS is your primary self defense strategy then you’re most likely going to get killed.

Sorry…had to say it. And here’s why…

1. Arthritis, Bad Knees And Hip Replacements…OH MY!

63% of our members in the International Society of Close Quarter Combatants are over the age of 40 and many are up in their ’70’s.

Some of these guys have had to face the hard fact that they may have NO CHOICE but to stand and fight if they’re ever attacked.

Being “over 40″ myself, I can attest to the increase in creaks, cracks, and reduction in mobility that comes with getting older.  Sucks!

So your chances of outrunning a younger, stronger, more agile attacker are pretty much next to nil.

The answer is to learn brutally effective close quarters combat techniques that DON’T rely on strength or speed to get the job done.

2. “Running Away” Is Just Plain DANGEROUS!

When you’re running from an attacker (or attackers!), your adrenaline is pumping, your heart is racing, and your judgement is even MORE clouded than if you were standing toe-to-toe.

Fact is, especially in an urban setting, if you’re in the “lead” while running away, YOU have to be the one to watch for obstacles and pitfalls.

It’s easy to trip over a box, curb, trash can, bicycle, fence, bystander, or any number of other environmental challenges…especially if it’s dark out.

The guy running behind you only has to follow you and if YOU jump over something, he already knows what obstacles are in his path.  When you trip…he has you!

Worse still…run into the street to escape and a mack truck might have you!

3. Training For Gang Olympics!

Why in the world would I want to put my fate in the hands of whether or not I’m a faster sprinter than my attacker?

Besides, gangbangers and professional criminals get WAY more “running practice” than I do from:

• running from the police
• running from other gang members
• running from their 3 girlfriends and 12 kids
• running from the boyfriends or husbands of their 3 girlfriends

I think I’ll just assume that he’s faster than I am.

How To Win A Running Contest…

Ok, all that being said…running away DOES have it’s advantages!

Sticking around to fight also means that you’re open to attack by other “bad guys” in the area who come to help your attacker out.  Not good!

If you DO have a safe exit…go for it!

1. Strike FIRST…Run SECOND!

You can use any headstart you can get so…

…shove your fingers in your attacker’s eyes and he can’t see where he’s going

…stomp on the top of his foot to crush the small bones there and he won’t be able to run

…shove his testicles up into the deep recesses of his guts and he may run…but a bit “lopsided” and damn slow

…you get the picture!

2. Use Your Environment!

When running, look for something…ANYTHING…you can throw in the path of the guy running after you!

A garbage can, a bicycle, a shopping cart…anything they’ll have to maneuver around that can trip them up or slow them down.

3. Worst Case Self Defense Technique…When THEY Are Faster!

There’s always the real possibility that you WON’T be able to outrun your attacker.

You’re huffing and puffing and you can slowly hear the sound of his stolen Nike Air’s getting closer and closer.

You know the inevitable is going to happen and running away ISN’T going to help you out of this one.

So you stop and turn around to go face-to-face, right?

WRONG!

Here’s a little trick I picked up in 1st grade as a somewhat brutal game we played on the playground.

Some call it “Johnny Tackle”.  We had a less politically correct name for it, but in my opinion, it’s a GOLDEN MARTIAL ARTS LESSON for self defense and it goes like this…

Someone is “it” and has a ball.  “It” runs around the schoolyard and everyone else has to try to tackle the guy with the ball or kick their feet out from under them until they throw the ball up in the air for someone else to catch and run away with while everyone now attacks the new “it”.

One trick I picked up when I had the ball was to wait until the mob that was trying to smear my face into the ground was so close that I could hear their feet close to mine and could practically feel the snot from their nose dripping down the back of my neck.

Then I would quickly drop to the ground, covering my head and curling up into a tight “ball”.

The closest person behind me would never be able to react in time and would inevitably trip over me and land flat on his face.

If there were others right behind him, they often fell over me also and there may be a pile of bloodied 1st graders lying on the ground.

Then I’d hop up and begin running again!

YOU can use this same technique if YOU feel the hot breath of your attacker getting closer and closer and you know you can’t outrun him.

Just wait until he’s nearly on top of you and has no time to react.

Then quickly drop to the ground so he trips over you and lands flat on his face.

From that point, you can either continue to run away in a different direction to escape (hopefully)…

…or take advantage of his unfavorable position and follow up with your own close combat tactics, like a nice football kick to the face, to finish him off.

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