How would you defend yourself against a swarming attack by bunch of teenagers? Lets assume you don't have a gun.

Is there a strategy of taking down the most assailants efficiently?

I'd run...

Back in the day, six words: "Wait 'til your mother gets home!"

Short of that, good advice from Blast.

A shotgun? Oh, assuming you don't have a gun...

Seriously, unless you're also a teenager I don't think that this is a terribly likely scenario, unless you go out of your way to offend someone, and they come back 10 minutes later with all their buddies.

there is a rise in swarming attack perpetrated by teenagers against adults. for example, the new york times mentioned a bunch of hoodlums attacks young women at Chinatown.

Is it necessary to carry a knife for defense in this situation?

I live in NW Pa and there have been many home invasions by teenagers lately, the doors stay locked at all times, cell phone is on my hip and there are phones on all three levels of the house as well as in the garage. The shotgun would be the last resort, hopefully you would have time to call 911 or leave the area.

I think it would be extremely ill-advised to pull out a knife when you're outnumbered. They could all have knifes, or worse, guns, and suddenly you give them reason to use them instead of simply taking your wallet and giving you a bump on the head. I think your best course of action would be to give them your wallet, no, THROW your wallet as far as you can away from you, and play dead.

While I didn't have a knife pulled on me personally, riding the T home yesterday the guy sitting next to me pulled a knife on a someone who he thought was slowing down traffic. To be fair, he was slowing down traffic and we're very uptight about traffic here in Boston. That was approximately when I called 911 on my cell. The police never showed, but nobody got stabbed, either. *shrug*

Go for their iPods.

Playing dead, isn't that supposed to work on Bear's ? Not teenagers...LOL

Katie is right, pulling a knife on a group of people is only asking for trouble. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings, seeing things before they happen so to speak. If you see a group of teenagers or anyone else for that matter acting suspiciously the best thing to do is avoid them, almost the same a defensive driving, don't let yourself get pinned in, always have a way out.Something else to consider having is a whistle, drawing attention to the situation might help to diffuse it before it gets started. I'm no expert but those are some things that come to mind.

Shadow out !!!

my dad used to say = if you're gonna get creamed, pick out the biggest guy and nail him good. if done right and he goes down and stays down it just might be a showstopper.

that's after you have tried all of the above...

personally, i'd try an epileptic seizure - i've seen enough that i 'm sure i could pull one off..

or crying and peeing in your pants...

or vomiting on the money as you hand it over..

whatever it takes to be in one, intact, non-bleeding piece when done...

you may look stupid or foolish or cowardly, but who's really smarter?