From: tac@cs.brown.edu (Ted A. Camus)
Subject: Re: Multiple attackers
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 18:11:23 GMT


sc1u+@andrew.cmu.edu (Stephen Chan) writes :

>      From what I understand, if you have 2 or more opponents, you
> pick one of them (hopefully the weakest one), attack him/her (as
> opposed to waiting for them to attack you), and hopefully toss them
> into the position which you previously occupied.

  I agree with David Poore, you should deal with the strongest one
  first.  You might as well get it over with, while you're fresh.  
  In particular, your first action (before contact) is the one where 
  you are most able to manipulate timing effects; after initial 
  contact, your actions may be forced one way or another.


bae@Auspex.COM (Brian Ehrmantraut) writes :

>>(*) An advantage of many Aikido strikes, for ex. shomenuchi (== sword 
>>    hand to forehead), is that they can be done with full force safely.
>
>     What happens if the blow gets through - seems to me you could injure
> your partner pretty easily with one of these, no?

  Given people of equal size, it's pretty hard to hurt someone with a 
  shomen strike to the forehead (unless the attacker really tries to hurt
  the neck).  It allows the attacker to give a committed, fast strike 
  with minimum risk of injury.  The equivalent force/speed punch to the 
  face would definitely cause injury. 
  
  So in karate etc., realistic strikes with unrealistic force, vs.
  aikido etc. unrealistic strikes with realistic force.  In the former
  case, there is the risk that the strikes get soft or weak ("point-sparring
  syndrome"), which does not have to happen by any means, but often does.
  In the latter case, it is up to the aikidoka to "interpolate" between 
  the strikes they have trained in order to properly respond to a punch.
  But by BB level, they are pretty used to having things flying at their
  head, and should be unfazed by it.  

  


barry@citr.uq.oz.au (Barry Kitson) writes :

>> (I do not consider most forms of two-on-one sparring to count, 
>> for the reasons given above.)
>
>	I've looked for the "reasons given above" but am still not sure
>what you mean.  If the "two" attack in concert, then what's your 
>objection?

  Usually that grappling is not involved or attempted.  If they only try
  to punch or kick you, then you are free to run away, or fight them on
  your own terms.  If they try to tackle you, the situation changes.


> 	Are all Aikidoka (at your school :^) taught how to punch and
> kick?  I've seen one Aikido club where there were a lot of people who
> also learnt (or had learnt) striking arts, and therefore knew what an
> attack was.  On the other hand, I've seen a few schools where they
> wouldn't recognise a decent punch if it hit them.  (then again 8+( )

  Absolutely true; I and a few of the high ranks at our school have
  also taken striking arts. Not being an experienced teacher, I can't 
  authoritatively say what would be the best way to incorporate strikes 
  into the curriculum (especially for beginners . . ).


> I imagine things are pretty much the same in Aikido, or are you capable 
> of breaking the arms of two people at once? :^)

 Well, no, but sometimes we can break one person's arm, while throwing
 them into someone else.  Shihonage & kotegaeshi are but 2 examples.
 The proverbial "smash 2 uke's with 1 waza" :)


ninjam@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Maryt) questions :

>>  In Aikido, which arguably has a more martial tradition behind it,

 Sorry, what I meant was that Aikido had a more martial tradition 
 relative a "self-defense" art, which a poster had accused Aikido of
 being, to which I objected.  I wasn't calling other arts non-martial.


  Whew !!

  
==========================================================
  Ted Camus                          Box 1910 CS Dept 
  tac@cs.brown.edu                   Brown University
  tac@browncs.BITNET                 Providence, RI 02912