[michaelochurch]

I see this as a basic life skill

While self-defense is a useful skill, there isn't a good way to practice actual street fighting except to actually do it. (Martial arts sparring is not the same thing.) And, in street fights, even if you're skilled, you can die. So it's best to avoid the context in which those skills are gained.

The only sane option is to avoid street fights whenever possible.

Give the lessons some time and you should have enough to deal with multiple assailants, knife, stick and gun threats.

No martial art makes it safe to deal with a guy with a weapon. Even an idiot with a knife or a brick can get lucky. You're best off just not to carry a lot of money in unfamiliar places. If you're in a risky place, put a small amount of money in a decoy wallet (losing the cash isn't a big deal compared to losing ID, credit cards, passport) and, if you have them, some expired cards. Most robbers are junkies who don't care about the cards anyway, because you can't buy drugs with a card. Flash the bills (at least a couple of $20s preferably), chuck the wallet, and get the fuck out.

Likewise, with four assailants, no martial art is going to give you the upper hand. 4-on-1 is just a bad place to be. In the movies, putting serious hurt on one of them intimidates the other three and allows you to fight them (or chase them off) serially, Oldboy style. In real life, it doesn't usually work that way. They might run away, or they might get even more pissed off after you fuck up their friend. You're betting on 3 people all choosing "run away". Not great odds.

You're somewhat better off with the martial arts knowledge than without, and it probably gives you the upper hand in 1-on-1 when there is no weapon (even against a physically stronger opponent) but the thing about street fights is that you're making decisions in split seconds and you never know when a weapon will come out or friends will be called in. Again, even an idiot can get lucky and knock you out or kill you. With 4 people, it's even more likely that they'll continue to fuck you up after you're down.

[krapp]

>No martial art makes it safe to deal with a guy with a weapon. Even an idiot with a knife or a brick can get lucky.

Yep. If someone approaches you with a gun or a knife, and your opponent is actually willing to shoot or stab you, even a black belt is probably getting stabbed or shot. The best defense is always to not be there at all. Though sometimes that's not an option (but more often than not, it is.)

[dm2]

I've never even considered a decoy wallet, that's a good idea.

I often think about how much of a hassle it would be to cancel all credit cards, get new IDs, and replace everything in my wallet.

[jotm]

Decoy wallet or a few bills in a separate pocket "guys, here's $20, it's all I have on me". Unless they're drunk or crazy, they'll take it. But they'll also want your phone these days.

[Spearchucker]

4 on 1 is not a good place to be, indeed. It's preferable to being on the ground with multiple attackers, but that's another story. Search Youtube for "krav maga multiple attackers". It's not easy, but with some training it's not difficult either.

Another good point you make - sparring is nothing like the real thing. Totally agree. You can train for that too though, and there are a number of good techniques to prepare for it. Some good book on the subject include Facing Violence by Rory Miller, and On Kiling, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.

[S4M]

> 4 on 1 is not a good place to be, indeed. It's preferable to being on the ground with multiple attackers, but that's another story. Search Youtube for "krav maga multiple attackers". It's not easy, but with some training it's not difficult either.

Dude, please don't say that. Maybe someone who has trained at least for ten years could handle a 4 vs 1 fight. Maybe. And never with 100% probability of winning.

If you are in such a situation, just run the fuck away, or give them what they want. And stop believing and spreading the fact that handling a 4 vs 1 fight is doable "with some training".

[Spearchucker]

Of course. Sorry. Stupid me, I should know it's not possible. What an idiot, huh?

Hey did you do the search on YouTube? Guess not. Sergei and Larry should've just given up too. They were told search is a dead end. They were also super stupid, not listening to people who totally knew better...