MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS FOR WINNING A MULTI-OPPONENT FIGHT
"Safety first" is the first most important principle in combat
Question
May Sifu share with us what are the most important aspects (in order of importance) for winning a multi-opponent fight (with and without weapons)? May Sifu please elaborate?
In order to continue to our school tradition's of transferring these wonderful arts to our daily lives, may Sifu share how can the following strategies be used to enrich our lives and the lives of others (both personal and professional)?
- Catch the Leader First
- Break Through the Weakest
- Over Bridge, Flow with Water
- Back-wall Battle
- Dodge-hit Battle
-- Santiago
Answer
The most important aspects in order of importance for winning a multi-opponent fight with and without weapons are as follows:
- Safety first
- Decisiveness
- Precision
Safety first is very important in any martial art, but in today’s combat, martial artists disregard their own safety. They merely exchange blows. It seems that the one who can take the most punishment, and who can last the longest, will win. It is ironical to call their art an art of self-defence. There is simply no defence, and no art.
I recall that when I learned from my four sifus, especially from Uncle Righteousness, safety first was much emphasized. Not only we knew how to defend against various attacks, when we attacked we must cover our opponents so that they could not accidentally hit us.
I remember that when I first saw advisements of Taekwondo, which advertised itself as a martial art, I was appalled at its high kicks. Taekwondo practitioners would have no defence against opponents who exploited their high kicks.
These Taekwondo practitioners would typically answer, “See who is faster!”, assuming that their opponents were too slow or too ignorant to counter. Such an attitude would never happen in kungfu. A kungfu practitioner – one who knew how to apply kungfu techniques for combat, and not one who just exchanged blows – would never expose himself whether his attack was striking, kicking, felling or chin-na.
Later I learned that these arts, like Taekwondo, Karate, Boxing, Muay Thai and Wrestling, were martial sports protected by safety rules. An exponent according to its safety rules, for example, could not strike the groin of a Taekwondo practitioner, grip the arm of a Karate practitioner, punch behind the back of a Boxer, poke his fingers into the eyes of a Muay Thai practitioner, or hit the head of a wrestler.
But they are no safety rules in kungfu, which is a fighting art. Our Shaolin Wahnam kungfu practitioners may not strike the groin of a Taekwondo practitioner, or poke the eyes of a Muay Thai practitioner, but nasty combatants might. Safety first is therefore a very important aspect. We must make sure that our opponents cannot hit us, whether by accident or by design, whenever we attack.
Another important aspect when fighting multiple opponents is decisiveness. We have to decide whom to strike in a group of opponents. If the leader of the group is not capable, we strike the leader so that when he is down, the others may run away. This is employing the tactic known as “fighting against robbers, first strike down the leader.”
If the leader is capable, strike down the weakest person so that you can escape. This is employing the tactic of “kill a cockerel to scare the monkeys.” Make it bloody if weapons are used, but do not kill the leader or the weakest person. There will be a lot of legal proceedings when a person is killed. Even in the past when societies were not so law-abiding, killing or maiming a person might cause the others to fight for their lives, thus making your escape more difficult.
There is nothing glamorous about fighting. Your aim is not to be a hero, but to come out of combat unharmed.
The third important aspect is to be precise. There is some difference between decisiveness and precision. One may be decisive but not necessarily precise, and vice versa.
When fighting against multiple opponents, you must be precise. If you want to hit someone’s head, you must hit his head, not his shoulder or two inches from him. If you want to break someone’s arm, you must break his arm, not just tap on his elbow or totally miss his arm. You cannot take any chance, especially when some opponents are holding weapons.
The following strategies can be used to enrich our lives and the lives or others: catch the leader first; break through the weakest; over bridge and flow with water; back-wall battle; dodge-hit battle.
“Catch the leader first” is a strategy to attack the leader of a group. When he falls the others will flee. Suppose a group of colleagues accuse you of doing something illegal or dishonourable. You didn’t do it but the group are speaking at the same time.
You pick out their leader, raise your voice and address him. You ask him to prove his argument, but without allowing him to continue, you say that you have the right to sue him if he fails in his proof. This can frighten him and silence the others.
“Breaking through the weakest” is used when the leader of a group is formidable. In the above example, if the leader is talkative or good at debate, you turn to someone who is timid. Asking him for proof and stating your right to sue, you walk out of the group giving them no chance for further accusation.
“Over bridge” suggests that once you have an advantage, you keep pressing with the adantage or with other advantages. Suppose you are a salesman. Your client has just bought your product or service. You keep on selling other products or services, but making sure that you do not overwhelm him. “Flow with water” suggests that your client has rejected your product or service, or is hesitant in his speech, you follow up with other products and services.
“Back-wall battle” refers to a strategy where you have your opponents in front, not allowing any of them to get to your back. You are the manager of a company, and many workers come to you with their problems. You line them up and speak to one at a time, not all at the same time.
“Dodge-hit battle” refers to a strategy where you constantly move about amongst your opponents, hitting them decisively and precisely as you move, and your constant movement is your defence as you have moved away from their target. You are a captain of a restaurant and there are many customers waiting to place their order of food and drinks. Although they may be impatient, they cannot make any order until you go to their table.
The questions and answers are reproduced from the thread 10 Questions on "Becoming a Shaolin Wahnam Kungfu Practitioner" in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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