Principle of Evil Marksmanship in real life...

[Zaku]

Did you ever ask yourself why the goons in the movie attack the hero one at time?

It seems that reality it's not so different....

In this video three master fencers battle fifty novices.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgKg0Hc7YIA[/yt]

Jason Kottke gives a good summary of the dynamic that takes shape:

The crowd, being a crowd, does not initially do what it should, which is rush the experts and take them out right away with little regard for individual survival. But pretty much every person fights for themselves. And instead of getting easier for the Musketeers near the end, it gets more difficult. The few remaining crowd members start working together more effectively.

It's an interesting experiment in crowd psychology

 

[FPAlpha]

My father had the same experience when he trained recruits for close combat.

He was alone and instead of rushing him and winning they all attacked piecemeal and my father defeated them comparatively easy.

It's hard though to organize a crowd on a whim and control/unify them when they have never acted/fought together. Leaders still capable of doing that are highly sought after and usually advance very quick.

 

[Zaku]

Here a similar example. A Turkish boxer against a mob

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgptxyGjkc[/yt]

 

[publiusr]

That's because if you are the second one to engage the foe while he is tied up--you get called guilty of taking a cheap shot.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Depends on the crowd and motivation. If that crowd is angry and wants to tear the guy apart it won't matter if he's Bruce Lee.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Fezzik: I just figured why you give me so much trouble.
Man In Black: Why's that, do you think?
Fezzik: Well, I haven't fought just one person for so long. Been specializing in groups. Battling gangs for local charities, that kind of thing.
Man In Black: Why should that make such a Difference?
Fezzik: Well, you see, you use different moves when you're fighting half a dozen people than when you only have to be worried about one.