Multiple opponents
When attacked
you should always 'slip' the attack.
Never meet force with force,
or your opponent will be able to borrow your strength.
(Lau Kim Hong)
Stepping
Against
multiple opponents, rely upon slipping the punch and gaining meaningful contact.
Do not step far away.
Just move to the extent that you need to. This is the
essence of small circle.
If you remain rooted in one spot, you will be struck. Avoid this.
Walk smoothly, comfortably and easily.
That is the kind of stepping you need, relaxed and uncontrived.
Wait
Wait for commitment. Do not make the first move.
The tai chi maxim concerning pre-emptive striking explicitly states that the
opponent moves first, but you hit first.
This is not the same as being aggressive. It is tutoring you to stay calm and
neutral. To wait.
Let them come to you.
Then move decisively, and swiftly.
Try, whenever possible,
to wait for your attacker to throw the first punch
for this is the moment when he uses the greatest amount of strength
and so you will have far more force to 'borrow'.
(Lau Kim Hong)
This will take nerve and timing.
With grappling, let them almost take hold before you use yielding/chin na to
escape and counter.
Unpredictable
It
is easy to fall into a fixed response: you evade, neutralise and strike.
Be wary of this.
Switch between grappling, punching and kicking.
Be careful not to push with your elbow.
Elbows are more subtle than hand strikes and will produce adverse feedback if
you fail to use jing properly.
Change your strategy and your responses constantly. Do not plan ahead.
Simply move in response to what is occurring.
Do not get stuck
If
you freeze or get caught up, it is potentially over.
Should a person hold you, immediately use gravity to take their weight and then
your hips to flick them off.
Use extreme unorthodoxy: catch them unprepared.
Use the numbers
Multiple opponents are as much of an impediment to each other as they are to
you.
Encourage them to get in one another's way.
Use a body shield. There are two ways to do this:
Take somebody's balance and keep them stumbling.
Move your body around one person to avoid being hit by another.
Skill in this endeavour depends upon your capacity
to be slippery and adaptive.
Striking
The
effect of being struck changes everything.
If somebody lands a firm blow on you, it will be increasingly difficult to
continue.
If you strike an assailant, they will be disinclined to attack again.
In class be careful and considerate, in reality aim to incapacitate by taking
the breath or the balance.
Fatigue
The longer it lasts, the more tired you will get.
If your stamina is good, you should outlast the attackers.
Most people fatigue within the first 60 seconds because they are over-exerting
their muscles.
You can speed up this process by making them work even harder to make contact
with you.
When an opponent is dropped to the ground, they will tire even further.
When fighting an
opponent who feints, stay calm, don't respond.
If your opponent is in range it doesn't matter whether the attack is a feint or
not,
just step in and attack.
(Lau Kim Hong)
Yield
The
softer and smoother you are, the more options you have.
Getting caught up in fear and aggression will leave you vulnerable and weak.
Aim to yield to everything and respond as naturally as you can.
The more playful and witty you are, the greater your likelihood of meaningful
response.
Remember that yielding starts in the mind.
Page created 5 August 1999