I was once attacked by multiple ninjas, and had little trouble fending them off. First, I was alerted to their presence by the sound of a gong and a quick camera zoom. Being trained killers, they made certain to attack me sequentially, and when one of them brandished his shuriken as though it were a badge and yelled "Woooo-aaa!!!"before throwing it at me, it was clear I was dealing with real pros who knew what they were doing. I was able to quickly dispatch the first seven with a series of nose tweaks, eye pokes, and two-leg drop kicks. but I must admit the last two might have got me had they not made the rookie mistake of attacking simultaneously. It was then a simple matter to just duck and let their heads crash together.

Some day, with ehough advanced technology, they'll invent knee pads that actually stay where they are supposed to!

only plot armour can save you now!

8:50 da-da-da-da da-da da-da-daaaaa~ You have learned {Ankle Slash}: Costs 4 mana, Deal 3 damage. 75% to [maim] your opponent.

If you can't retreat, line them up so it's a series of 1v1 fights. This was the first advice given to me in hand to hand martial arts training. I always cheer a little when this is represented properly in film.

Training to fight a single opponent may not help much with multiple foes, but it seems to me that training for multiple opponents would be good training for single combat, too.

"you find that one really good person can beat two noobs" lol

9:08 Give this man a job at Game of Thrones...

One thing I've noticed during a fencing game that my team does that features 1 person against multiple opponents is that members of the group don't always want to press the advantage and all attack at once, especially against a skilled opponent.Basically, just because you have greater odds of winning doesn't mean you're willing to stick out first so that your allies can claim victory. Everyone wants to get out of the swordfight alive, so it's cautious business attacking a cornered and alone opponent.Has anyone else experienced something like that?

I have this feeling that this is the context in which polish cross-cutting could shine

guy in black with patches never put his hand up when he was killed. Guy with silver mask was the most honest. Respect

The second set of bouts highlighted a good tactic. The single fighter seemed to target and beat the weaker of the two he was facing on several occasions thus making it slightly easier against the stronger opponent

Impressive ! I think this is one of the reasons behind wearing armour in medieveal times . In a melée it is impossible for a single individual who is outnumbered and attacked by several warriors to parry and defend himself against every single blow so an armoured man will have more chances to survive in such encounters . Keep up the good videos :)

Every martial arts instructor I've had (Kenpo, BJJ, Krav Maga, Arnis...) has given me the same advice for fighting multiple people: Run Away.

Matt! This is when you pull out the revolver! Gosh. Way to drop the ball..

I'd rather fight a group of idiots rather than one good fighter.

I saw a video of like 10 fencing masters versus 100 average fencers. The 10 masters lost, however, there were only like 3 of the average fencers left

Ask not how many, but where they are!

For mulitiple opponents you should carry a small bag full of unsrewed pommels!

Hey Matt, Could you do a video about grappling in plate armor. I do BJJ and would love to see if any of these techniques were applied in Historical combat. I think this would be a great topic to cover! Ex Chockes armbars/ kneebars and jointlocks.

Fascinating! It appeared to me as completely untrained observer that dual wielding actually seemed like the more successful choice here, maybe because unlike one-on-one fights there isn't a single direction that puts the body well behind the sword and inline with the opponent.

I like how the student in the first clip continually contests space--keeping their blades busy keeps them away from him/her. And some pretty decent footwork when they do run out of room. Thanks for sharing this, it's fascinating!

This is rediculously hard in reality. I would genuinely respect those who can pull off beating 3 skilled opponents without too many injuries.

Spot on about not getting in each other's way and how large groups can become a liability in some dueling contexts. I remember watching the edutainment series about the eponymous style of air-dueling called "Dogfights". In one segment they were discussing how a pilot from an English-speaking army had several German planes trying to swarm around him, but they couldn't rarely get the chance to make a clean attack on him without endangering their allies. I imagine this kind of thing would be much more of an issues dueling with contact weapons like swords and spears, as a missed blow could be deflected to block one of your buddies from being able to safely move in for an attack.

Six on one, you're pretty much doomed at that point. Right?

Damn, matey with the two sabres kicked ass when up against two opponents

This was amazingly fun to watch, even as a person who has no experience with fencing except for what I've heard secondhand. Super tense with two against one.

One thing I found funny in my larp combat practice group there were two guys that would regularly beat in one on one but if I were to go against them 2 on 1 I'd often win.

Not having a shield or long polearm seems to make it really difficult to fight more than one opponent.

Great work!

I train in the filipino martial arts and we spend a lot of time dealing with multiple opponents. It takes a lot of practice and requires a great deal of situational awareness.

Cramped little halls, curtained stages, (terrible) stacking plastic chairs... So much nostalgia :P

it seems like when the guy only had one saber he was playing defense, but when he got a second he was playing offense

Love the music accompanying the fights in this vid!

Good choice of music to put over the fights!

In my experience with sparring and/or fighting multiple opponents, the mind set/emotions of the opponents is very important. If people are having to gang up on you, then logically one can assume that they're trying to achieve their objective with the least amount of injury, thus the increase in numbers. While numbers are their strength, it is also their weakness mentally, because they become over reliant on their numbers hoping to allow intimidation to do most of the work. Do not show that you are intimidated, that will plant a seed in the mind of the attackers causing worry. Next, it is important to remember that regardless of how crappy they are, they are still people too and most people don't like to be hurt, especially cowards (high possibility that they are given their number advantage). I digress, essentially while they are trying to surround/corner you, if you can land a good blow on at least one attacker it will cause hesitation among the other, thus giving you an opening to either attack another or run away. It is much like with armies, if moral is lost the men begin to crumble and fall back. To summarize, if there are six dudes and you whip two or three of them, then the ones that are left are going to really be reconsidering their decision to fight you.

I like your videos always historicaly accurate

The music is Future Gladiator by Kevin MacLeod. You are welcome. Thanks Shazam :D

This reminds of those wise words from Fezzik: "Well, I haven't fought one person for so long. I've been specialised in groups, battling gangs for local charities, that kind of thing...You use different moves when you're fighting half a dozen people, then when you only have to be worried about one" True wisdom indeed.

Very exciting to watch.

For having no experience with fighting multiple foes, the student with the white shin guards in the beginning didn't do to badly at all, got out of some risky scenarios pretty well :)

Referring to one of your past videos (you may have already mentioned it), this would be where a hardcore style of LARPing might help (no magic or HP systems kind of like Dagorhir). In one battle, you could get in multitude of different scenarios to test your skill; multiple opponents, multiple allies, sun in your eyes, height advantage, spear vs sword, shield and one handed weapon vs two handed weapon, etc. One battle could give you plenty of insights on where and how to improve while making for a really fun wargame.

While I do love epic fight scenes where someone takes on a group of people this definitely makes more sense. Also this was very fun and interesting to watch.

This is so true even in videogames, ppl dont understand how to 2v1 or be 2v1ed

could you do a video where you demonstrate how spins and other flashy moves that movies often do would fare in a real fight?

The basic principle is the guy that is single wants to position himself in a way where he can fight 1v1, and the two guys try to always be a threat simultaneously. Also, it plays much cooler when you have a shield, as you can survive a few more situations with it covering an area of your body.

It always got me, that how hard it seems to deal wit all that chaos, that a saber creates during sparring. And now, with 4 swords with 3 guys, I just realised that there is no such a thing... These guys cannot deal with this chaos, because the speed, the strange angles that you can use with this weapon, and everything together are just overwhelming... What I wanna say, is that this weapon gives so much extra advantage to the two against the one... And if he tries to use two sabers at the same time, it is just working against him again, because the opponents already using the fact, that he struggles to keep an eye on 3 swords, so putting a 4. one into the game just so unfair..even if it is in his hand. It was a very nice one, thank you!

We used to do similar sparring when I was younger... two people with wooden swords would fight one person with a wooden sword and dagger, whoever scored a hit took the dagger and faced off against the other two. If you can keep the dagger you "win".

One day, could you give us a seminar on fighting multiple opponents or dual wielding? Both seem interesting, but you've never actually gone in depth into the actual details or techniques.

Very interesting to watch and it additionally proves that just a single instance where you are not able to as an attack is all that's needed to wound someone and then as they say, end them rightly.

interesting to note how some of the martial footwork shown mirrors classical dance steps of the periods

The solo fighter in the first video did better than the solo fighter in the second video because the solo fighter in the first video kept the duo turning, which helps keep one person just out of the fight, and the solo fighter in the second video kept fighting more straight back permitting both to continue to attack at the same time. The dual wielding person did much better because he kept attacking into one person while moving away from the other person, effectively keep the second person out of the fight most of the time. A key in fighting two or more people at once on open ground is to keep fighting a tactical retreat away from the opponents while moving laterally to keep one opponent between you and the other opponents so you don't have to fight more than one person at a time. If someone else moves past the person you are fighting and into you, you move to get them between you and the others. You are using one person to block the others out of the fight while you fight the one person. It is like fighting a rear guard while tactically moving to keep as few of your opponents as possible in the fight, preferably only one at a time. Note that, in a confined area like the gym, the required tactical maneuvering was seriously restricted. In such a situation, his best bet would have been to back through a normal or narrow door to better control the fight. Good videos.

Is fighting together with someone else against a single person a skill? Do you need to have some great coordination?

Music is tense.

Love the channel. Wanna bring up something new(probably asked before) . I am a gamer and i would love to see you analyze some sword fighting in games like you do in some movies. Assassin's Creed is first to pop in my mind.

Seems like the best case scenario for the defender is that everyone dies.

All the squeaking of the floor, with the addition of using your environment against multiple opponents, made me think; what did training grounds look like back in the day? Did they intentionally train in difficult terrain, or try to simulate the situation they'd typically fight in? Did fighters actually run drills and exercises like our military does today? I also recall a castle who's staircases wound a certain way because the family was almost all left handed fencers. True or not, I loved this idea, if only because I too am left handed.

I think the idea is to get one as quickly as possible by rushing him. if you get lucky you have one on one situation

Two sabers won really nicely at 9:08.

Thing is, this is also kinda made like a duel. In a 2v1 or more, one person can act like a decoy and the others can just attack the single person. Here it's done after 1 hit, but it should continue i think after that, because that's when the others can take advantage. I think it can also be a case of the group being used to 1v1 as well and not used to fighting as a group against one person. In which case, even if you they all have the same 1v1 skills, the single person, if he knows how to handle groups more, might win often even.

I would like to see this redone with one of the students using a shield or buckler with his sword rather than a second sword. I am wondering if good use of the shield with the sword tilts the odds more in favor of the shield wielder.

I think the best strategy is to parry, then follow the blade, then halfsword, closing the distance in an angle that moves you away from the other opponent. It'd be essentially turning it into a shorter staff, with a point on one end and a pummel on the other. You then end the fight quickly by point, pummel, or elbow to the face. Then immediately, in motion, point the blade directly behind you in a crescent motion and thrust or guard in that general direction, while preparing to move backwards in footwork.

Good idea with the two swords, overwhelm one opponent quickly with a flurry of dual-blade attacks to even the odds. However, if they coordinate it is harder. Don't know if Matt has a video on facing one attacker with two weapons when you have one, I will have to search his playlists.

That grey mask boy REALLY likes grappling.

although it does seem foolhardy to engage multiple opponents, the noted swordsman Miyamoto Musahi touches upon this subject in his book of five rings with a similar explanation as yours with further elaborations on seizing the initiative and being fierce. His duel at ichijoji temple is a good example.

Matt, I swear you look so much like shaved Stannis Baratheon. Every time I watch your videos I get flashbacks of Stannis.

In my personal experience (boffer team melee used to be a major passtime) once you get past about five, they can often be tricked into getting into each other's way more than helping each other (assuming they haven't actually practised fighting together as a group.) The tactics are definitely very different than one-on-one, and you definitely need to practice specifically for it.

I've always been a fun of rogue tactics, having 2 small quick blades would be my style of combat

that's some dope music!

I want to see a movie where to good guy gets into a fight with 3+ people and gets his ass kicked almost immediately.

Tomorrow gotta fight 10 kids with sticks better come prepared

All I know from what I was taught is that your foot work and angling better be mastered

These were pretty light fencing hits for the most part. I wonder if it would play out slightly differently if a distinction was made between killing blows and small wounds. The multiple attackers, if they know they are less skilled, might be reluctant to commit to a heavy blow.

Triangular sport fencing on a Y-shaped mat never caught on; National Olympic Committees are such fuddy-duddies. The fact that judges and referees frequently broke out into unseemly fights between themselves, or were confined to institutions after officiating in only a handful of bouts, was no more than a sign of their general weakness of character.

Can you make a video about the spanish fencing style, or "la destretza"? I'd be interested to know more about it, and why it has a reputation.

Hello Matt, not sure if you are a gamer, but if you are check our a game called Absolver. It's basically a martial arts based rpg fighting game that has weapons like swords and staffs. Anyway great video as always.

This is a fun and informative video. It's good to know that the outnumbered fighter can at least take someone with them before dying most of the time. And dual wielding is definitely the way to go if such a situation occurs, it actually turned the odds around if one of the multiple opponents is quickly dispatched. Question: If the single fighter has a sword and shield would it better to wear the shield on the back and dual wield a sword with a secondary weapon like a dagger or knife?

They don't seem to be trained in dual wielding. Having a shield would probably been a better upgrade.

Maybe next time you should do multiple opponents with different weapons e.g. a greatsword vs longsword and messer or longsword against halberd and smallsword.

a guy at my HEMA class managed to take on 3 people at the same time.

You’re pretty much screwed but it comes down to getting to the outside as quickly as possible. That’s why two officers will move to 12 and 5/7 o’clock positions _(people can be very strong moving linearly)_ and take down almost any individual with little effort. If you’re alone, you basically have to circle and get one in front of the other as quickly as possible... ...but eventually that boils down to rushing one attacker, especially with limited space and the fact that they can be defensive and circle away. That’s also why the military’s advice is literally to just try to kill or incapacitate one person as quickly as possible. If it’s a brawl, just blindside as many people as possible and keep moving. And good luck.

If you are one against several, realistically, there ain't much you can do to keep one or two of them from just simply grabbing your arms from behind you...

9:07 was epic

Makes me really wonder on how Musashi never managed to get maimed when he was fighting

I'd argue that two fighters against one have more than twice the advantage of 1v1, i.e they'll win more than 66% of fights. The returns are only diminishing for more than two fighters.

What if the one outnumbered has a swordbreaker?

Ubisoft should look at this. So the next AC has some interesting combat.

I disagree a bit with the statement that the group should always surround the single opponent. From the perspective of my own experience, here's why: Let's say it's a 1v2 and the 2 guys get to the opposite sides of the one guy. If they don't put immense pressure on the one guy, the one guy can easily just rush one of the two, and quite likely, if he should knock that guy out of the game, manage to face the other in a single combat. Remember, a never corner your opponent, as then they have nothing to lose at that point and will try everything to get out of the situation, whereas if you don't surround the opponent but stick together, he can't attack one of you without getting to the reach of both. This is especially true with a situation where the two guys have a spear and shield/sword combo. Having lesser numbers than your opponent means that you must win them by being a lot more mobile and knowing when to strike. Of course it's a big disadvantage, but then again, context.

Hi Mat I came to one of your classes once and really enjoyed it, however it is a 5hr round trip since I live in Kent. I was wondering if you knew of any hema classes like yours in Kent? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

why i didn't see the fancy moonlanear

I'm don't do well at fighting one on one. I dominate in one on four or five. Stay near the middle so you can't be swarmed. But one vs many has been what I've practiced the most.

I think to have effective training, there needs to be a penalty for getting hit. Perhaps it's not feasible depending on class size, but a 5 minute time-out or some other undesirable outcome every time you "lose" an encounter would put some stakes into each encounter. Maybe it's the grumpy old man coming out in me, but the students don't seem concerned enough about survival. On a positive note, I thought the outnumbered students did a pretty good job of trying to flank the opponents so only 1 could get at them at a given time.

Kinda hard to tell who wins in those fights.

in movies all you need is plot armor, no skill required

"defender" seems to be too defensive and passive. If you let them pressure at the same time and senter you - you will have 2 weapons against your one. Cannot block two angles at the same time. So I think you need to force both opponents fear you and hesitate in their attacks by pressuring them immediately . Also the footwork seems to static at times.. not being able to change direction in the step - and thus unable to misalign the enemy. Nevertheless... this is really difficult- especially if you dont have a shield...

Bbbut...the Game of Thrones

Is there a good video where he talks about the pluses and minuses of the sabre as a weapon?

Would you say that it is easier to fight against multiple opponents in unarmored scenario than it is in lets say full plate? I think at least with swords it is since it is easier to "sneak in" a blow. In armor you pretty much need to wrestle and once you start doing that it will be very hard to defend from the other opponents (and if one of them grabs you, you pretty much lost).

Very nice and informative video! I will show it to my friends. Btw what's the name of the music piece playing in the background? Keep up the good work, Matt!

Wearing lederhosen is good against individually and for group shock.. secret of the masters..and head petting, 0710 minutes into it, getting cozy is right..the guy with two sword has the right idea..