What styles do you know of that practice multiple opponent sparring?

hap ki do

My take on your instructors comment is simply this..... If that was practical for people to learn to do and was something that could be done on a regular basis, then i would agree. However, I don't buy the training to fight multiple attackers school of thought. Sure there are a few concepts that are taught, like moving so that you keep at least one of the attackers in the way of the others, ...etc. but the reality is that when attacked by two or more in a life threatening situation, you will be lucky to get away in one piece. Any attackers that are determined to take you out will rush you. If that happens you can kiss your a** good by. I keep hearing people talking about being able to fight multiple attackers. But That is all I ever see. I have never seen or met anyone that can realistically expect that they can fight multiple attackers off for real. Although it is not impossible, I'll bet that i have a better chance of getting hit by lightening while running around in a lightening storm waving a steel rod over my head. And someone may bring up that Kata seems to be a fight against multiple attackers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kata appear that way because they needed a way to link different steps, body shifting, and other things into something that could be done as one set of techniques. Each position, stance, hand and foot technique has multiple applications against one attacker. Often beginners are told that a Kata move such as one that has one fist high and the other low as being blocks against two different attackers. Sorry but that it not what it is. Drills where one person is attacked by several opponents is at best a wake up call. The most it can teach you is to be alert and to learn to move a little better. It is a poor way to learn to fight multiple attackers. There is no good thing for that since it is a losing situation most of the time, no matter what you can do. ...

In any style that will be worth something in the street you will train against multiple attackers. Also, in training against multiple attackers it doesn't need to be a point sparring contest. THAT IS GARBAGE!

In my kenpo class, we conditioned by submission wrestling against the whole dojo. Also, we practiced being in the middle of a circle and doing continuous sparring with 1,2, or 3 people until the sensei called for new attackers or the first group had been dealt disabling blows. The key about being in the middle of a circle with the whole class around you meant that you didn't always know where the attack was coming from or when it would happen.

In Kung Fu, we had to disabled our attackers (1-3) or spar in room until the Sifu called time. This gave us the advantage of working around obstacles that would be in the area a normal fight would occur. This gave us awareness about things that we could shove people into, use as weapons, or in the worst case trip over and then fight from your back.

In my current Isshinryu class, we start sparring at yellow belt. You spar one on one at first ( no point crap) and go till someone submits or gets knocked out. Then you do that for everyone in your sparring range ( either age or belt depending on who is in the dojo at the time) After that is done, you spar against everyone in your range at the same time. This mainly is done to test your endurance and to also take out the fear of fighting multiple people or people who are bigger/stronger than you.

Sparring is not really based upon the style but rather the instructor. If you have an instructor who isn't training for the street and is just doing it for traditional reasons the closest you will get to working with multiple attackers is a kata.

Thanks for your time!

Logan

For middle to high level belts at my ITF Taekwondo school, it is required to do multiple opponent sparring for level advancement. The number of people usually ranges from 2-3. The strategy is to line the attackers up by rotating around and try to only fast one opponent.

My school does, I teach kajukenbo, which as you know does this. Other styles that teach multiple attacker defenses are :

CHA 3 kenpo

American kenpo

Bujinkan taijitsu

Choy li fut / choy lay fut

kali / escrima / arnis

Jeet kune do

Some karate styles teach a little about dealing with multiple attackers, but usually not till the higher rank belts.

I teach Okinawan Karate and everyone is pitted with multiple attackers.

I don't do the whole "game of tag", one-on-one free sparring garbage. That is not for the street.

Many styles teach this in their own way. What is a Kata? A Kata is a practice of imaginary fights against multiple opponents attacking from different angles. I one of my style Shorin Ryu. We have another Kata that we do. I don't remember how to spell it. But instead of an imaginary fight several attackers or prepared to attack you when you are doing your Kata. You have to make your block, strike, etc or be hit or kicked. My instructor has also blindfolded us or sent attacker from behind. We don't know when they are going to attack. One of the biggest surprise he done to me. We never prepared for this. During an demonstration he had 3 guys surround me and attack me. I had to defend myself. For some reason they were hesitant to attack me. He gave them 2 more people. After taking 2 of the down the rest was still hesitant. Then he made them attack him they were all afraid...lol Then he included me. I attacked him and they all of sudden became courageous. My attack wasn't sincere. I wanted him to look good. But he threw me to hardwood and looked great! I'm glad I knew how to fall. I still felt it.

In my current TKD school, we practice this on occasion, but not often. The scenario is self defense related and is not full contact.

In my past school, we padded up and went full contact, including fake knives and padded baseball bats, this was part of advanced belt testing.

James

Hi,

*Song Mu Kwan Tae kwon Do used multiple-attacker scenarios for blackbelt exams back in the early-mid 1970's.

*I used this on occasion in my dojo, when I had several "experienced" adult colored belts who were ready to start sparring, and nobody else was available to help out (ranking belts to teach them, or ranking belts to spar with me)

*I guess what worked best for me was to be aggressive and pick out one of the aggressors to work on (nothing too vicious, given their lower ranking ...), and maneuver the group around to where they would be limited in their attack logistics (i.e., relegated to "one-on-one" attacks because of space, anxiety, etc.), and wear them out (again, they're colored belts ...).

Hapkido ,TKD etc.