There has been times where I have not even known I was in a fight until I was on the ground. People rarely square off. One fight I had was with a co-worker in a utility room who wanted me to show him a wrestler's double leg. I did, and he said he could just "twist me" with some weird move...I showed him again, and he couldn't do it. Finally he said "well let's spar" and I reluctantly accepted. I took him down a final time, and suddenly he grasped onto my neck and started trying to tear it off (figuratively
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All I did was turn him onto his back get side control, mount him, and threaten a pummeling. He gave up, and was shaking a bit from then on. I really felt kind of bad about this because the guy was not as big as I was...but I didn't really have to hurt him. Another time I was jumped by two guys during a "hazing" as a security officer...I used Paul's "mass attack" strategy, but still ended up on the ground. I again gained position, twisted a guy's arm with ude garame, and had the other hitting my back, and pulling on my arms. I was able to somehow slip between the standing guy's legs, get back to my feet, and zone away from them until they gassed...then I left.
So I really think grappling plays a big part in real defense, even though people say "mass opponents, knives," etc. You need it. Being good with a knife is also important
Ryu