Multiple Opponent Scenarios: Survival Strategy and Ninjutsu Tactics

The Reality of Multiple Attackers

Multiple opponent scenarios are a specialty that we practice, drill, and debrief constantly at AKBAN Ninjutsu. Understanding the escalating danger levels is critical:

• One person = A fight
• Two people = Danger
• Three or more opponents = Extreme danger and possibly a deadly threat

Critical principle: With more than three opponents, every situation is a trap.

Prevention: Avoiding the Trap

Live Video Documentation

One unusual but recommended prevention method: if possible, live video the situation. Attackers lose their anonymity and sometimes reframe and become more intelligent because of it. Ensure your backup is not just on your phone but uploaded to the internet in real-time. Be casual about it, don't threaten with your phone, give some excuse (middle of live vlog etc.) if possible. Don't insist on filming. The Most important skill is prediction and avoidance, not a later litigation.

Early Warning Recognition

If you're approaching a group of people, and you feel something is not right, do not approach them, circumnavigate, go to another place. Do not get into the trap!

If a trap is forming around you - you're in a confrontation against somebody, and suddenly there are two, three, or more people around you—this situation is extremely dangerous. Treat it as such.

Escape Strategies from multiple opponents

First Option: Negotiation

The best strategy is to negotiate your way out of the circle. Attempt verbal de-escalation first.

Second Option: Repositioning

If negotiation is not possible and the situation allows, try to turn the 360° threat around you into a 45° angle. Move into the circumference of the circle while talking and smiling—the angle becomes narrower and more manageable.

If you succeed in getting out of the circle and defusing the situation:

• Open distance immediately
• Walk briskly, then quickly; then, when adequate, run!
• Go to the safest and nearest place
• A street with sober people is a good option
• A supermarket with security cameras is another good option
• Do not stay in the area where the trap was - get away from there, do not go to a worse place (like an isolated alley)

When Defense Becomes Necessary

The Critical Decision Point

If you're standing inside a trap, you see no way to get out, and you feel the situation escalating: DEFEND!

If you do not initiate the defense, this is potentially a death trap. When you must defend, when you stand in the middle of a circle of attackers, you must not stand in a shocked state of mind. Think about the attack, think about the opening you want to choose when you attack.

The Trap Collapse Concept

Think of the attackers as posts that constitute the collapsing human trap. The posts are the people guarding the openings. If either you or the attackers initiate the attack, and you do not move, the whole trap collapses and closes on you. When the trap collapses, you have no chance because now people are grabbing you, and you have 360 degree front to defend.

Critical rule: Do not let yourself be grabbed! Nobody should be grabbing you, hugging you, hold your cloths or shake your hand for a long period of time, nicely or not, either before or during a fight for your life.

Combat Strategy: Destroying the Posts

Target Selection

Hit one of the posts, hopefully two of the posts (attackers). Get out of the trap while destroying at least two posts, then move, move, move. Do not stay in the same place - move and run away!

The Yoko Aruki Sabaki

We have an indispensable kata, the hashira hakaisha in AKBAN that we've stress-tested for many years.

The technique sequence:

1. Move to the side (3 o'clock, or 9 o'clock on imaginary watch on the ground) with Yoko aruki
2. Attack to the front (12 o'clock) with a punch
3. Return to the guy who only got the first punch and knock him out
4. Turn facing the circle while stepping out
5. You now have two opponents less and you narrowed your attack surface from 360 degrees to 45 degrees.

Two-Opponent Engagement

When dealing with two primary targets:

• Deal with the side opponent first
• Attack the front opponent with a gyaku tsuki
• Execute the one-two combination instinctually
• Ensure both targets are neutralized before attempting to escape

Critical Tactical Principles

Attack Surface Management

Aim to minimize your attack surface through positioning and movement!

The main goal is getting away from the circle and narrowing the whole 360° front into a 45° angle or less. If you're out, then you only have to deal with a 90° and 45° attack surface.

What Doesn't Work

• Kicking backward is very dangerous - we've tested it, stress-checked it with video, and debriefed it. It does not work in real situations, maybe it might work for a specific situation, but for us, it didn't.
• Protecting the head while stationary won't work - this is not enough for survival.
• Trying to engage opponents behind you - except for moving away from them.

The Posts Priority System

Focus on the two primary posts (typically at your 3 or 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions). These should topple first:

• Attack one to the side (3 or 9 o'clock positions)
• Attack one to the front (12 o'clock position)
• The side opponent may only get nicked by the iron hammer punch initially - he will come back, so hit him again
• Push, move out, and face the circle with two attackers down

The Escape Execution

Once you've engaged the primary posts:

1. Move backward while maintaining offensive capability
2. Now hopefully face only two opponents instead of four or more
3. Continue moving away from the original trap location
4. Use distance as a strategic asset

The Imploding Trap Response

The most neglected aspect: what happens when the whole circle of attackers implodes on you?

The hint (the "tell") is critical. If it's not initiated by you - if you're ambushed - the situation is very bad. But if you understand the tell and defend, you have a chance.

Take the fight to your attackers not only with aggression and intent but with sabaki, especially the Yoko aruki sabaki.

Summary: The AKBAN Multiple Opponent Protocol

1. Prevention: Avoid the trap, use live video documentation
2. Conflict management: Negotiate, reposition to narrow angles, create distance
3. Defense: Defend, don't wait for the third punch
4. Engagement: Destroy the posts using side-front Yoko aruki sabaki
5. Extraction: Move constantly, minimize attack surface, get away to a better place

Remember: This is a deadly situation. Every decision must prioritize survival and escape, not prolonged engagement. The goal is always to get out alive, not to defeat all attackers.