three_man.htm

Three Man Sword Combinations

Dec. 26, 2001

Mark J. Norton

It occationally happens that there is a small number of students who remain for the weapons classes on Wednesday night. The day after Christmas was such a night this year, with three students in attendance. It is at times like these that I teach things which are more difficult to coordinate in a larger class, such as three man combinations.

The class included various blocking and striking combinations, which are a bit numerous to document here. As such, I'm going to focus on the tactics which are possible given certain initial configurations with the uke's. Each of these configurations has an attacker directly in front of the nage and another one at various angles. Together, these configuration cover all of the possible variations in two man attacks. All other angles are minor variations with the same basic considerations.

Attack from Behind
We start with the situation of attackers both directly in front and directly behind. Of the configurations described here, this one is the most dangerous, because you can't see the person behind you. A budoka who is alert will be aware when an attacker is behind him either seen in combat dynamics, or heard as he moves closer. But how close is that person behind you? Will he attack first, second, or at the same time as the one in front?
There are clues which you should be watching for. If the attacker behind you is in the process of attacking you, the one in front of you may hesitate or hold off his attack. After all, if the one attacking from the rear is successful, why take a risk? If you see this hesitation, move quickly diagonally forward (either left or right). This should take you out of range of the one to the rear.
If the person in front of you attacks without hesitation, you can either assume that he is attacking first, or that both attackers are striking together. In either case, deal with the one in front first since he can be seen. With the frontal attacker gone, the rear attack can be handled next.

Attack from Rear Diagonal
Although a diagonal attack from the rear seems to be just as bad as directly from the rear, that is not the case. By turning your head slightly in the direction of the rear attacker, you should be able to see both attackers using periferal vision. This takes training, since the eyes are focused on neither.
With the rear attacker in sight, you can determine who is attacking first without error. In general, deal with the person who attacks first, but do it in such a way that it keeeps you out of reach of the other opponent. This can be done using timing, ie. waiting for one attacker to be fully committed to an attack, or it can be done by moving out of range of the other attacker.

Attack from Right or Left
In the remaining attacks, both assailants are fully visible to the budoka. Attacks directly from either side again depend on who attacks first. You can move to the outside of the first attacker, cutting appropriately. This leaves you at a comfortable distance from the other attacker, which in turn gives you time to deal with him next.
There is another opportunity here which might not be considered at first. If the attackers are striking at the same time, move directly between both of them, cutting at one during the entry. Even if your timing is a little late, this is fairly safe, since the attackers are in danger of striking each other if they turn to track you too much. With one opponent gone, block the second strike and cut down the second.

Attack from Forward Right or Left
This combination is presented to show that once the attackers get close enough to each other, you no longer have the option of moving between them. Strike one leaving that attacker between you and the other. Deal with the second after the first has fallen.

Two Frontal Attacks
Two attackers who are side by side will tend to create a shield against the other. Respond to the first person who attacks. Strike from the outside.

Subsequent Frontal Attacks
When your attackers are lined up in the manner shown here, you should be able to deal with each attack consecutively. There is a danger to be aware of, however. In the process of cutting the first one down, you may leave yourself open to a near simultaneous cut from the second person. Further, the one behind the first may attempt to strike over the falling body of the first after he has been slain. Finally, you need to be ready to handle the fact that your sword may get stuck in the first attacker's body, leaving you in a bad position versus the second.
If possible, strike on a narrow front diagonal (shomenuchi, or yokomenuchi). Be prepared to immediately block the blow of the second attacker. If your sword get stuck in the body of the first attacker, or can't be moved to block the blow of the second, consider abandoning your sword in favor of Tachi-tori. Take the sword of the second and dispatch him with it.

	Attack from Behind We start with the situation of attackers both directly in front and directly behind. Of the configurations described here, this one is the most dangerous, because you can't see the person behind you. A budoka who is alert will be aware when an attacker is behind him either seen in combat dynamics, or heard as he moves closer. But how close is that person behind you? Will he attack first, second, or at the same time as the one in front? There are clues which you should be watching for. If the attacker behind you is in the process of attacking you, the one in front of you may hesitate or hold off his attack. After all, if the one attacking from the rear is successful, why take a risk? If you see this hesitation, move quickly diagonally forward (either left or right). This should take you out of range of the one to the rear. If the person in front of you attacks without hesitation, you can either assume that he is attacking first, or that both attackers are striking together. In either case, deal with the one in front first since he can be seen. With the frontal attacker gone, the rear attack can be handled next.
	Attack from Rear Diagonal Although a diagonal attack from the rear seems to be just as bad as directly from the rear, that is not the case. By turning your head slightly in the direction of the rear attacker, you should be able to see both attackers using periferal vision. This takes training, since the eyes are focused on neither. With the rear attacker in sight, you can determine who is attacking first without error. In general, deal with the person who attacks first, but do it in such a way that it keeeps you out of reach of the other opponent. This can be done using timing, ie. waiting for one attacker to be fully committed to an attack, or it can be done by moving out of range of the other attacker.
	Attack from Right or Left In the remaining attacks, both assailants are fully visible to the budoka. Attacks directly from either side again depend on who attacks first. You can move to the outside of the first attacker, cutting appropriately. This leaves you at a comfortable distance from the other attacker, which in turn gives you time to deal with him next. There is another opportunity here which might not be considered at first. If the attackers are striking at the same time, move directly between both of them, cutting at one during the entry. Even if your timing is a little late, this is fairly safe, since the attackers are in danger of striking each other if they turn to track you too much. With one opponent gone, block the second strike and cut down the second.
	Attack from Forward Right or Left This combination is presented to show that once the attackers get close enough to each other, you no longer have the option of moving between them. Strike one leaving that attacker between you and the other. Deal with the second after the first has fallen.
	Two Frontal Attacks Two attackers who are side by side will tend to create a shield against the other. Respond to the first person who attacks. Strike from the outside.
	Subsequent Frontal Attacks When your attackers are lined up in the manner shown here, you should be able to deal with each attack consecutively. There is a danger to be aware of, however. In the process of cutting the first one down, you may leave yourself open to a near simultaneous cut from the second person. Further, the one behind the first may attempt to strike over the falling body of the first after he has been slain. Finally, you need to be ready to handle the fact that your sword may get stuck in the first attacker's body, leaving you in a bad position versus the second. If possible, strike on a narrow front diagonal (shomenuchi, or yokomenuchi). Be prepared to immediately block the blow of the second attacker. If your sword get stuck in the body of the first attacker, or can't be moved to block the blow of the second, consider abandoning your sword in favor of Tachi-tori. Take the sword of the second and dispatch him with it.