Fundamentals of Multiple Attacks

From a self-defense paradigm, one of the greatest things about Aikido is its ability to deal with multiple attackers. Here are some pointers on incorporating this as a safe practice:

Key elements:

Go slow. SLOW. Slow practice is safe practice. [/*:m:494tibdy]
Players should be mature. If you're got, you're got. Admit it. Learn. Go forward.[/*:m:494tibdy]
If players are immature and cannot admit when they are had, often demonstrated by sudden increases in speed to avoid the encounter, they should not participate.[/*:m:494tibdy]
Multiple attack training tends to stimulate adrenal response, and speed naturally picks up. One person should monitor the exercise and cue people to slow down as necessary.[/*:m:494tibdy]
Work from a square or circle with plenty of room between tori and the attackers. [/*:m:494tibdy]
One attacker at a time. Whoever will be attacking raises their hand into shomen-ate position and begins to walk toward tori. Uke cannot change hands, speed up, change their attack, etc.[/*:m:494tibdy]

As we begin training:

In the beginning stages, work exclusively on evasion. Tori is not permitted to use their hands or employ foot-sweeps. The walking kata contains everything you need to survive at this point.[/*:m:494tibdy]
As tori evades, he should maintain awareness of potential attackers. Be aware of your surroundings![/*:m:494tibdy]

As we continue training:

As skill levels improve, tori is permitted to touch only. Practice light balance breaks and redirection of attacker energy.[/*:m:494tibdy]

As we continue training:

As skill levels improve, tori is permitted to take techniques. [/*:m:494tibdy]
Techniques should not result in throws because of safety. In the real world we don't particularly care about this, and might throw uke into the next attacker. In the dojo, safety is of paramount importance. [/*:m:494tibdy]
Techniques should be utilized to control. Wrist locks & arm locks are good examples.[/*:m:494tibdy]
Some techniques provide enough control over uke so that he/she may be utilized as a human shield. For example, mae-otoshi.[/*:m:494tibdy]
Techniques should not place tori in a position where he is entangled with an attacker. In a real situation you do not have time to be engaged with any single attacker for too long.[/*:m:494tibdy]
As skills improve attackers may change to grabbing actions.[/*:m:494tibdy]