I will narrate the infamous story of 1 vs 3 as first person account..
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The attack happened in broad daylight. It was an unassuming morning when I was driving my truck along a busy road. Just as I was stepping up the gas to roll uphill, I noticed from my rear view mirror a car overtaking dangerously. A few more feet and the car would have met the road divider.
The car continue speeding and i decided to let it pass. Perhaps it was a car chase but there was no sign of it. Now that the car is in front, i can see clearly the car was occupied by 3 people and the back seat passenger kept turning his head and stared at me. I was perplexed, I gave no objections to their risky driving; but i could sense that they take strong interest in me or perhaps the goods i am carrying.
Sitting in the back of my truck are 100k worth of brand new laptops ready to hit the market. I have been ferrying this load for the past 5 years without any incident. After all, it is an unmarked vehicle to serve the purpose of anonymity.
My thoughts were disrupted by the screeching of brakes. I slammed on them hard; a natural reflex from the years of driving. Without even processing a thought, the leg seem to have a life of its own when the front vehicle shows red light.
The men got our of the car and took a swing at my truck, a loud thump and cracks appeared on the windscreen
I started to panic, for now I know that the chase was on me and my goods. I had no weapon in my truck except for the bokken (sword-wooden) and jo ( staff) at the back; along with the goods.
There is insufficient time to grab any of those. As my thoughts were still processing, my door was yanked opened and a furious axe landed on the seat, i got out from the other side and saw the other 2 attackers staring at me.
They had bloodshot red eyes and looked very menacing. It seemed like they are on some kind of bloodlust trance. The bigger guy ordered me to get into their vehicle. The smaller guy brandished a knife and pointed at me.
Within the split second, fleeting thoughts of training with tanto and threatening gestures flooded my brain. To fight or to flee, a decision need to be made. No procrastination. These guys mean business. A ride in their car will make story tomorrow- Missing truck driver found by campers in the wood.
My sensei has thought me to have inner peace, to stay calm in conflict. Be the eye of the storm.
The most important lesson I learnfrom Aikido is staying calm and assessing situation.
Do not strike or evade unless you know what you are doing or avoiding.
An incoming assault requires evasion and counter. Blocking an assault only delays the striking required.
I went forward to the knife guy and he proceeded with an irimi ( thrust). The luring worked.
As he was moving towards me i made a tenkan (pivotal turn), and disarmed him.
I pushed him away while the bigger guy rushed towards me with a huge stick. I moved towards his lateral side into his ushiro ( the back of body) and grabbed his shoulder. I wanted to do an irimi tenkan but i could not; for he was struggling.
I proceeded to a kubi shimi ( neck lock) with my inner left elbow and my right hand was holding his hand with the stick. It was a very natural move as practiced in dojo. While i was doing this, i did not pay attention to the assailant who who gave my cushion a makeover with his axe.
I felt a sharp pain on my back and I knew that it had to be him; the forgotten assailant.
The pain did not convince me to let go of my prey but it must have been odd because the guy whom i pinned with kubi shime was just remaining pinned. I did not bring him down or choke him.
When the second slash came down, i pulled my prey backwards and he fell. The confusion and the palpitation experienced was overwhelming. The axe guy came at me again and i side stepped but as i was almost completely evading the strike, my wrist got caught in the "end- swing" of the strike. Unperturbed and with adrenaline kicked in, i transmitted my aggression by kneeing him. The axe man fell.
The moment of victory was disrupted by the gushing of red liquid from my wrist. I looked down and it was strange to not feel pain; almost like an out of body experience.
The ruckus attracted passerby and produces many witnesses. The assailant got on their feet and made a bee line to their vehicle and mine.
As they left the scene leaving behind engine smoke, i sat on the the tarmac clutching my wrist. The pain was too much and i felt light headed.
After a vascular surgery to join my arteries and veins, i was relieved to be told by physicians that the wound would heal and nerve damage was not present even though i could hardly wiggle my fingers.
As for the truck, police found it in an abandoned area with everything that is removable; removed. Needless to say the bokken and jo which accompanied me faithfully for th past 5 years are now in the company of unworthy people.
3 vs 1; hardly a fair fight.
San nin gake ( 3 person attack- aikido) held in dojo and involved wooden weapons is hardly a fair fight too, but the training saved my life.
**********************narration ends*******************************
The story is a true account of an aikidoka who recently attained his first dan.
Is Aikido training suitable for street fighting ? I guess it is really a subjective question.
It will depend on the individual level of confidence to apply some aikido techniques and sometimes dojo practice may not reflect the through scenario.
Always remember that a dojo practice do not reflect the reaction faced in real life. A "subdued" uke is not so easily controlled in real life. Besides, your attackers move about a lot and will not wait for you to finish the technique.
Perhaps we should study Steven Seagal's moves in movies..what are his favourite moves? I will discuss this in further blog..stay tuned...
onegai shimasu
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