HMMM.
Well, I have to face these issues tomorrow. I'm going into an area to teach I'm not real jazzed about.
My solutions, legal ones at this point, are directional pepper spray, being on alert, and staying out of bad situations. Haven't decided on carrying yet.
This area has been known for groups of kids, read gangs, up to 75 in number, getting together in a parking lot.
I've also had the delight of calling the police when two grandmothers punched each other at a youth basketball game, at this same high school, 5th graders playing, and, the two families squared off, swearing, and making threats.
I have for this situation, now a video capable cell phone, as well. This has been very effective in stopping violence between students. Guess they don't want to end up on youtube.com.
This campus is known for violence, since it's huge, and, poorly patroled.
I've been trained in many forms of martial arts, and, for multiple targets here's what I'd suggest. Monkey works very well, as does Wing Chun. Southern Chinese styles are designed for small folks, often fights taking place on boats, etc. that require maintaining balance. Keep both feet on the ground, using short, percise strikes to vital areas. Monkey moves the body from high to low, giving a very difficult target to hit, while striking at the same time.
Northern styles tend to be for bigger people, in more open spaces, so, for multiple attackers they may work, if the situation is in an open area, but, they tend to teach too many kicks, and, as others have mentioned, getting your feet off the ground is not a good thing in such situations.
I suppose the real answer to this is one most are not going to be able to do, or have the will to do. You need to stay in shape, and practice on a somewhat daily basis, at least 3 times a week.
The hitting the heavy bag advice is good, but, slightly misses the point. The key to speed, and success in martial arts, or boxing, is to accept that you may die, and, from this, comes the freedom from fear that creates tightness, and slows you down. Boxing is excellent training. Learning to relax while someone good is trying to rip your head off, and hurt you, is a difficult lesson to learn. It's not much of an extension to carry this to a real fight situation, and, I've had to do it a couple times.
Moving very fast, not allowing the bad guys a rigid, easy to hit target, and, striking as fast, and to fatal or severe points are all keys to surviving this kind of attack.
I guess I'm going to have to get back in the gym, and, I don't mean just lifting weights..;.
S esq.