Danger Plus One: Assume They Are Not Alone

In our Danger Plus One series, we’ve explored the critical assumptions that shape our mindset for effective self-defense: assume your attacker is armed, assume they are trained, and assume they are stronger. Now, we arrive at the final—and perhaps most vital—assumption: assume they are not alone. This concept, introduced to me by my instructor Amit Himelstein, has profoundly influenced how we train at Spartan Krav Maga.

Violence in the real world is rarely a one-on-one encounter. Criminals often act in groups—whether through coordinated ambushes, spontaneous pack aggression, or simply as lookouts or backup lurking nearby. At Spartan Krav Maga, we train for these realities, emphasizing tactical movement, constant scanning, and prioritizing distance over prolonged engagement or control-based techniques.

From the moment a confrontation begins, you must assume additional threats are present and can emerge. This means scanning your surroundings, identifying escape routes, and maintaining movement. Distance is your best ally. The longer you linger, the greater the risk of being overwhelmed.

In Krav Maga, we train to keep it simple—to end encounters before factors like size, strength, numbers, or prior training come into play. That means employing speed, surprise, and violence of action to neutralize threats and create space to escape. The moment multiple attackers are suspected, escape becomes the priority. Bad guys have friends, too.

Real-World Scenarios

Picture this: you’re walking downtown on a Saturday afternoon and suddenly find yourself in the middle of a protest. Tensions are already high. You exchange words with a protester, and before you know it, the situation escalates. A verbal dispute turns physical, and others quickly jump in. What began as a one-on-one altercation rapidly becomes a dangerous group confrontation.

Or this: it’s mid-afternoon, and you hear noises outside. You discover someone trying to break into your car. You intervene, and a struggle ensues—it's you and him, until three of his accomplices leap out of a nearby car. You are now outnumbered and highly vulnerable.

In both scenarios, how would you respond?

Navigating Swamps: Krav Maga Style

In our earlier blog "Navigating the Swamp: The Krav Maga Approach," we referenced a quote by Rosamund Zander:

"I must remember, 'I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all the alligators.'"

This mindset applies to real-world confrontations: the goal is not to fight every battle, but to survive and escape.

In the protest scenario, remaining engaged is dangerous. Your best option is to disengage. Strike if needed, then move—fast. Stay mobile, create distance, and escape. Assume anyone nearby might be armed or ready to assist the aggressor.

In the driveway scenario, grappling—even if effective—ties you up and exposes you to additional attackers. Even if you gain the upper hand, you're now vulnerable. Movement is critical. If you must fight, strike explosively while repositioning constantly. A moving subject is harder to surround and overwhelm.

Remember, a static fight is a losing fight.

Force Multipliers: Using the Environment to Your Advantage

In multiple attacker scenarios, or others where one is at a grave disadvantage, your environment can become your greatest asset. A trained practitioner doesn’t rely solely on their body or their skill. Scan for objects that can act as force multipliers—a chair, a bottle, a rock, even a handful of dirt. These aren’t weapons in the traditional sense, but tools that can create space and opportunity.

And force multipliers aren’t limited to things you can throw or swing. A tree can separate you from your attackers. A door you can get behind and slam shut buys time to escape. The environment can be used to isolate threats or create barriers. Recognizing and leveraging your surroundings is a hallmark of Krav Maga.

Closing the Loop

Throughout this series, we’ve emphasized the Danger Plus One mindset—assume they are armed, assume they are trained, assume they are stronger, and assume they are not alone. These assumptions are not linear or mutually exclusive. Your attacker could possess one, all, or none of these traits. Assuming the worst keeps you humble, alert, and less prone to dangerous lapses in judgment.

These principles are not fear-based; they’re preparation-based. They train us to act with clarity under pressure, building habits that increase our survival odds.

Speed, surprise, and violence of action—not perfection—are the keys to survival. Krav Maga is built on practicality, adaptability, and efficiency. Every movement and decision is made with one goal: to neutralize the threat and get home safe.

Self-defense isn’t about ego. It’s about smart decision-making, controlled aggression, and disengaging the moment it’s safe to do so.

Train smart. Stay aware. And never fight their fight.

Video of an attempted car theft incident as described above:

https://youtube.com/shorts/poW2NEvhnLQ?si=n44cSzyW0aTOe9WP

About the Author

Cyrus is the owner and lead instructor at Spartan Krav Maga, Burlington’s top-rated Krav Maga school. A former Bay Street executive, he left the corporate world to help people build confidence and stay safe through realistic, effective self-defense training. With extensive experience in Krav Maga and Kapap, he has trained internationally and worked with civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel. Passionate about empowering others, he teaches practical self-defense to people of all ages, from young children to professionals. When he’s not in the gym, you’ll likely find him outdoors, fly-fishing or enjoying the wilderness.