Surviving A Multi-Opponent Attack

Part 1:
Interfering With And Avoiding An Impending Attack

By Christopher Caile

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles exploring principles, approaches and techniques that can be used when confronted with multiple attackers.

It’s your worst nightmare. You find yourself surrounded by intense, tough looking hoods on the street that aren’t there to talk. Or, maybe the group is approaching. The scenarios are endless, but the bottom line is that you could get hurt, or even killed.

Most people, even martial artists, are not prepared for this type of situation simply because they never prepare or train for it. And don’t think just because you are a good free fighter that against a group you are prepared. You aren’t. In fact, the basics of dealing with a group assault are the very opposite of what you learn against a single opponent.

So, can you survive or escape this type of attack? Maybe? That doesn’t sound very optimistic, but so much can go wrong. If weapons are involved your trouble has doubled. But with proper training, your odds of survival or not getting seriously hurt are greatly increased.

Of course, several cardinal rules or options have already been breached if you are about to be attacked. Rule one is don’t be there. Rule two is run, evade or escape. There is also the option of talking your way out of the situation. But these are subjects of other articles. Here we assume there is no way out. You have a wife, husband, child or other person to protect, or you are trapped in an enclosed space, hallway, or worse, someone has already grabbed you.

If this article or the thought of dealing with multiple attackers is ever going to be more than an abstract concept, you have to practice and drill. The situations are endless — against three or more people who have surrounded you, who are walking towards you, or when one or more has grabbed you. You can create all kinds of scenarios that can be practiced in class and you will find they can create a lot of fun for students.

When you practice there are a couple of factors to keep in mind. The first is space and the environment. If you are in the open, in a field, parking lot, or a large open room, you can much more easily escape if you are alone, or help someone else to escape with you. But, if the space is enclosed, as in a narrow hallway, building entrance, elevator or other area, running has little potential.

Second is barriers. These include trees, shrubs, walls, even cars if you are outside, and inside they include tables, chairs, bar stools and other furniture, even doors. These can be used in your favor, if they are used as a barrier between yourself and others, but they can also block your movement too. It depends how you deal with them.

A third factor is timing. If you see it coming and have a few seconds before an attack, there is a lot that you can do. But, if it comes as a sudden surprise, things are different.

One of the old karate maxims, often said by Gichin Funakoshi and repeated by many others is, “There is no first strike in Karate.” Many take this to mean that in karate, you never take the initiative and that you must wait for the first physical assault before you can defend yourself and strike back. Richard Kim, the well-known writer and author on karate and the martial arts, often points out that this viewpoint is too narrow. In Japan, he notes, many have always held that an attack is actually initiated by intent. If someone has raised his hands to hit you, the fight has already been initiated, even though a punch has not yet been thrown. So, if an attack is imminent and it is clear that you are being attacked, you can respond pro actively for advantage, especially in dangerous group situations. But, here some caution is required. Street sense and experience is necessary. If you suddenly strike out at a leader of potential attackers and he turns out to be a father of a family touring New York City who is only asking for directions…

There are also times when intent to hurt or rob you is clear, but the victim is so afraid of the situation that perception become confused. The person keeps thinking that he has misinterpreted the situation as he builds hope upon hope that he is wrong and that the group isn’t going to attack him — until it becomes too late to take proactive action.

To properly read intent you need some experience, combined with alertness, intuition and the ability to sense body language – things that can be learned on the street or in class when you repeatedly practice group attack situations.

There are psychological tools that you can use to diffuse the situation. If you have a little time you can move, cross the street, or even run. If the attackers are close you can do a loud shout (kiah) or yell, “STOP.” This can momentarily freeze action to give you a window of time to react. As an example, I remember many years ago as a student in Peoria, Illinois, I was in a particularly rowdy part of town late one night at an infamous bar known for its many fights and scuffles. I watched as the owner stepped in front of two drunken men pushing and punching a smaller one around. His psychological ploy was masterful. He jumped in between them, turned to the two larger men and said, “Hold it there.” Motioning to the smaller man, he asked the two aggressors, “Is he bothering you?” Then he handed him a glass of beer to the smaller of the two attackers saying, “Hold this for a second.” The man did and held the glass carefully, so not to spill it. It gave just enough time for the owner and a bouncer to control the two roughs and ‘escort’ them to the door.

You can also react physically. My own personal favorite is scooping a handful of coins from your pocket and hurling them into someone’s face. You can do the same thing with a jacket, books or newspapers you are carrying, or gravel, dirt from the ground, beer nuts, an ashtray, your drinking class, the plate from which you are eating, etc. Furniture can also be tipped over, picked up and used as a shield, or used as a weapon.

Back in 1961 I lived in Tokyo, Japan while studying karate under Kyokushin’s Mas Oyama. One night after dinner at his house we began talking on this subject. He rolled up his left sleeve to show be a couple of scars on his arm and demonstrated how to roll your jacket around the arm to defend against blade attacks. He said, “You will get cut, but this will make it less.” He also demonstrated how to throw a glass ashtray like a “ninja” throwing star. He advocated using whatever weapons you could from the environment — things that could also be used as shields – even pocketbooks and briefcases if a weapon is involved. He walked me around his house showing me things that could be used: pens, pencils, chopsticks, keys, coins, pillows — almost anything.

So, when practicing in the dojo, it is useful also to practice psychological and material interruptions and how to use what natural weapons you have, the space and furniture, etc. to your advantage. If you think it out ahead and practice with these implements, you will be much more prepared to use them if you have to. In Part 2 of this article, while we will not go into detail on the many specific techniques against an opponent that can be used, what will be discussed are the principles of movement and strategy used in encounters with multiple opponents. What the student will find is that many of these are contained in the same kata that are practiced on a daily basis.

Part 2: Principles & Tactics
Part 3: Maneuvering For Advantage: Basics
Part 4: Maneuvering For Advantage: Putting It All Together
Part 5: Maneuvering For Advantage: More Scenarios

About the Author Christopher Caile

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Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 65 years.

He first started in judo while in college. Then he added karate as a student of Phil Koeppel in 1959 studying Kempo and Wado-Ryu karate. He later added Shotokan Karate where he was promoted to brown belt and taught beginner classes. In 1960 while living in Finland, Caile introduced karate to that country and placed fourth in that nation’s first national judo tournament.

Wanting to further his karate studies, Caile then hitch hiked from Finland to Japan traveling through Scandinavia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia — living on 25 cents a day and often sleeping outside.

Arriving in Japan (1962), Caile was introduced to Mas Oyama and his fledgling full contact Kyokushinkai Karate by Donn Draeger, the famous martial artist and historian. Donn also housed him with several other senior international judo practitioners. Donn became Caile’s martial arts mentor, coaching him in judo and introducing him to Shinto Muso-ryu under Takaji Shimizu.

Caile studied at Oyama’s honbu dojo and also at Kenji Kurosaki’s second Tokyo Kyokushinkai dojo. In his first day in class Oyama asked Caile to teach English to his chief instructor, Tadashi Nakamura. They have been friends ever since. Caile also participated in Oyama’s masterwork book, “This Is Karate.”

Caile left Japan with his black belt and designation as Branch Chief, the first in the US to have had extensive training in Japan directly under Oyama Sensei. As such, Oyama Sensei asked him to be his representative on visits to his US dojos to report on their status.

A little over a year later, Nakamura, Kusosaki and Akio Fujihira won an epic David vs. Goliath challenge match against Thailand’s professional Muay Thai Boxers in Bangkok, Thailand, thrusting Kyolushinkai and Nakamura into national prominence.

Back in the US Caile taught Kyokushinkai karate in Peoria, Il while in college and later in Washington, DC. while in graduate school. Durimg this time Shihan Nakamura had moved to New York City to head Kyokushinkai’s North American Operation.

In 1976 when Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate organization, Caile followed. Living then in Buffalo, NY, Caile taught Seido karate and self-defense at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) for over 15 years where he also frequently lectured on martial arts and Zen in courses on Japanese culture.

Caile moved to New York City in 1999 to marry Jackie Veit. He is now an 8th degree black belt, Hanshi, training in Seido Karate’s Westchester, NY Johshin Honzan (Spiritual Center) dojo. In Seido Caile is known for his teaching of and seminars on kata applications. He also produced a 14 segment video series on Pinan kata Bunkai currently available to Seido members.

Caile is also a long-time student and Shihan in Aikido. He studied in Buffalo, under Mike Hawley Shihan, and then under Wadokai Aikido’s founder, the late Roy Suenaka (uchi deshi under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and was Shihan under Tohei Sensei). In karate, Suenaka (8thdan) was also an in-house student of the Okinawan karate master Hohan Soken.

Having moved to New York City, Caile in 2000 founded this martial arts educational website, FightingArts.com. Twenty-five years later, in 2025, it underwent a major update and revision.

For FightingArts.com and other publications Caile wrote hundreds of articles on karate, martial arts, Japanese art, Chinese Medicine and edited a book on Zen. He also developed relationships with a cross section of leading martial arts teachers. Over the last four decades he has conducted extensive private research into karate and martial arts including private translations of the once secret Okinawan hand copied and passed on Kung Fu book, the Bubishi, as well as an early karate book by the karate master Kenwa Mabuni. He periodically returns to Japan and Okinawa to continue his studies and participate Seido karate events. In Tokyo he practiced (with Roy Suenaka Sensei) in a variety of aikido organizations with their founders – including private interviews and practices at the Aiki-kai Aikido Honbu dojo with the son and grandson of aikido’s founder, Doshu (headmaster) Kisshomaru (an old uchi-deshi friend) and his son, Moriteru Ueshiba and in Iwama with Morihiro Saito. On Okinawa he studied Goju Ryu karate under Eiichi Miyazato, 10th dan founder of Naha’s Jundokan, and also with Yoshitaka Taira (who later formed his own organization, who specialized in kata Bunkai. While there Caile also trained with Hohan Soken’s senior student, Master Fusei Kise, 10 dan as well as with the grandson of the legendary karate master Anko Itosu.

Caile’s other martial arts experience includes: Diato-ryu Aikijujitsu and Kenjitsu, kobudo, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Kali (empty hand, knife and bolo), study of old Okinawan Shoran-ryu & Tomari body mechanics, study of old Okinawan kata under Richard Kim, study of close quarter defense and combat, including knife and gun defenses, Kyusho Jitsu and several Chinese fighting arts including 8 Star Praying Mantis, Pak Mei (White Eyebrow), and a private family system of Kung Fu.

Caile is also a student of Zen as well as a long-term student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Kung (Qigong). As one of two senior disciples of Chi Kung master Dr. Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) Caile was certified to teach and practice. This led to Caile’s founding of the The Chi Kung Healing Institute on Grand Island, NY. In Western NY, he also frequently held Chi Kung seminars, including at SUNY Buffalo and at the famous Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. His articles on Chi Kung also appeared in the Holistic Health Journal and in several books on alternative medicine.

Caile holds a BA in International Studies from Bradley University and MA in International Relations with a specialty in South and Southeast Asia from American University in Washington, D.C. While in Buffalo, NY he also studied digital and analog electronics.

In his professional life Caile also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and photographer. Earlier he worked in the field of telecommunications including Managing a Buffalo, NY sales and service branch for ITT. He then founded his own private telephone company. This was followed by creation of an electrical engineering company that designed and patented his concept for a new type of low-cost small business telephone system (which was eventually sold to Bell South). The company also did contract work for Kodak and the US space program. Simultaneously Caile designed and manufactured a unique break-apart portable pontoon boat.

Most recently Caile co-founded an internet software company. Its products include software suites with AI capability for control and management of streaming media, such as video and music, an all-in-one book publishing software product for hardcover, eBook and audio book creation and security software for buildings and government use.

For more details about Christopher Caile’s martial arts, work experience and life profile, see the About section in the footer of this site.