Multiple Opponents Master Class: Serious Fun- An Article by Jason Lee Brighton, Worthing, Shoreham WCMA
Right at the start of the master class Mr Russell Suthern, our Chief Instructor,impressed upon us the horror of facing a gang who are threatening to hurt you: when facing a single opponent the aim is to survive the encounter – not win a fight. If faced with a pair of muggers or a gang looking for a fight then the challenge to survive is even greater.
What we soon learnt was that exploring a range of scenarios and working through different approaches to dealing with multiple attackers can be a lot of fun!
In between sessions of practical application, Russell talked about when and where situations might develop- and how quickly. He explained the differences between an attempted mugging and gang confrontations and how you can respond to each situation differently to avoid getting hurt. In each case positioning and footwork is fundamental. During the master class I was reminded of Sun Tzu’s maxim that what is true for one perso is true for 10,000: positioning, guarding, anticipating is even more important than when just facing a single opponent in the ring or on the street.
Once we had used some scenarios to explore footwork and positioning we then moved on to combining blocking and counterattacks and using throws to facilitate escape. This was good fun, a good workout and certainly all food for thought.
When facing a gang, Russell demonstrated how to use your voice and judgment of group dynamics to fend off an assault before it even starts. We also did some drills using physical manipulation to make an example of the keenest thug in a gang.
We covered so many scenarios and built up from simple footwork to combining the use of sidestepping, blocking, punching, using your voice, throwing and joint locking that my head started to hurt from all the thinking! It was a real eye opener.
One of my favorite moments was when we charged an opponent in quick succession and got thrown to the side in the process. It was an image of what I imagined Kung Fu would be like before I started training: one person standing their ground whilst assailants fly through the air around them. Very cool.
Nearing the final part of the class seemed to focus on testing physical attributes; putting on the boxing gloves and taking on the rest of the class, all at the same time! However, once we started it became clear that not only was this a test of what we had learnt (can you outmaneuver more than one person, can you block and cover up effectively?) but also a small test or taste of the mental attributes you need to survive such an encounter. Do you have the grit to keep going against the odds?
The very final exercise was more like a game; everyone had to grapple for possession of an old head guard. It was great fun and the head guard was soon ripped to bits! As the session ended we all made jokes about aching muscles but behind the laughter was the contemplation of some very important lessons.
Another great master class!
Jason Lee