Successful Street Applications [Archive]

GeneChing

01-21-2008, 01:06 PM

Martial arts for health is fundamental.

Battling the unexpected (http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=93&cat=23&id=1141206&more=0)
Jan 19 2008
By RACHEL BRANT
Staff writer

Mark Olsen moved to Los Angeles for martial arts. He trained in various forms of mixed martial arts, but even his years of training could not prepare him for what was next.

In 1999, Olsen, owner of the Martial Arts Training Academy in Bremerton, felt a stabbing pain in his back. Other problems quickly ensued.

“I literally felt like I had a knife in my back. My legs felt weird and started going numb,” Olsen said. “The pain got worse and then I started losing control of a lot of things. I couldn’t do anything which was horrible.”

Olsen’s roommate took him to the hospital where the then-27-year-old spent 12 hours in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. A doctor discovered that Olsen’s mylon sheath had separated from his spinal cord.

Olsen’s doctor called his parents in Washington and said they needed to fly to Los Angeles as soon as possible. It was then that Olsen knew it was serious.

“I thought ‘this isn’t right, this is serious,’” he said.

The doctor told Olsen and his parents that the seasoned martial arts enthusiast may have multiple sclerosis. Olsen was in the hospital for two weeks, paralyzed from the waist down.

The doctor said his good health may have saved his life. Olsen’s parents put him in a traditional martial arts class when he was 8 or 9 years old. He moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and began training heavily in Muay Thai kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, submission wrestling and Kali, a form of Filipino weaponry.

“(The doctor) said if I wasn’t in as good a shape as I was I would have died from it,” Olsen said. “If I hadn’t been training that hard I would have been gone in that one episode.”

When he left the hospital, Olsen had to give himself injections in his leg every other day. He frequently had family and friends visit him in Los Angeles and help him in any way they could.

“I started learning that when you’re down people will help you,” Olsen said. “My spirit wasn’t broken for sure. I had company, I even had friends from home (Washington) fly down.”

Olsen, desperate to get back into training, returned to martial arts soon after he left the hospital.

“And me being the way I was I got back to training as soon as I could,” he said. “I started training before I could feel the bottoms of my feet.”

Olsen moved back to Bremerton and could not find a place to train in the area, so he began teaching martial arts out of his parents’ garage.

Olsen then found a spot five years ago on Riddell Road and opened the Martial Arts Training Academy. He said if he had not gotten sick, he would probably be competing in mixed martial arts tournaments and the Martial Arts Training Academy would not exist.

“Maybe I got sick and plucked out of there and now I’m learning my goals are constantly shifting toward the students here,” he said. “My utmost goal is for people to have a positive place to train and ultimately I want that positive energy to get put out in the world.”

Olsen said he loves teaching the adult and children’s classes at the Martial Arts Training Academy. He enjoys talking with his students on a personal level and strengthening them physically, mentally and socially through martial arts.

“My No. 1 goal for these kids is to realize how good they are and their potential,” Olsen said. “The potential for greatness is in everybody.”

Through his martial arts training, Olsen was prepared for many things in life, but he could not prepare for that moment in 1999 when he battled a paralyzing illness. Now he is off medication and views the illness as a positive change in his life.

“Looking back on my getting sick, good things have come from it,” Olsen said. “Right now I’m one of the happiest people on earth.”

diego

01-24-2008, 01:09 PM

bodhitree

02-01-2008, 10:35 AM

I occasionally get news feed articles about these. I'm going to start collating them here. It's sort of the opposite of the Busted Teachers thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48947).

Wow, that lady is 53, I wish they said what martial art she did, her weight, and other stuff.

And she's a marathon runner.

Seppukku

02-03-2008, 07:27 AM

New York Times
Jan. 31, 2008
By **** Huckabee

According to numerous reports from local South Central law enforcement agencies, at least fifty armed robberies and sixteen manslaughters have been averted by a local marital artist this year alone, whose name we were not given permission to print.

For, as the subject said: "A name is the most important thing in the world. Printing it in the Times is like suicide." Although I was incredulous, and balked at his wish to remain anonymous when I only wanted to extol his service to the community, he said: "Secrecy is vital to my trade. I, like Peter Pan, cling to shadows like jism to Bill Clinton's wardrobe. Remember, acceptance or denial of a single name determines whether one goes to heaven or hell. In my case, knowing my name paves the way to Hell, because if you find it out, I'll track you down, make you look at farm animal porn, and then kill you and send you to Judgment with a guilty conscience. And when the police come, they'll call you a pervert and you'll die in infamy, and you're wife will be like 'What the hell?' and then she'll doubt whether you ever really loved her, or whether your fondness for the family dog wasn't something obscene.....and she'll recall that time she called you from the grocery store and asked you if she needed to pick up a couple of bones for the dog, and you said: 'Nope. I've got a big one right here in my hand. Come on boy, open up wide!' And then she'll think you were like the biggest perv in the whole world, and I'll get my revenge like that."

.....the rest of the article is available on the NY Times website. I'll see if I can find it. I was quoting the above by memory, which should tell you just how good I am at quoting things by rote.

GeneChing

02-06-2008, 10:36 AM

I gotta hand this one to ninpo. It's a pretty cool story.

Modest martial arts expert sees off mugger (http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/latest/display.var.2019104.0.martial_arts_expert_sees_off _mugger.php)
By John Hoskins

A PARTIALLY blind and deaf man used his martial arts skill to turn the tables on a teenage mugger who tried to snatch his rent money.

John James, 33, had just withdrawn money from a Lloyds cashpoint machine at Southampton University campus when he was suddenly attacked by a youth riding a bicycle.

Mr James said the teenager approached him from his right where he suffers from partial deafness and blindness.

"As I went to remove the cash, he whipped it out of my hand and tried to cycle off, but I grabbed him about the head and shoulder for about 20-30 seconds before we fell to the ground."

The pair then tussled during which themugger threatened to stab him, before three passers-by came to his aid and he held his assailant in an arm lock. The drama eventually ended with the teenager handing back the cash and riding off in the direction of University Road, shortly before the police arrived.

Mr James, who is unemployed and lives in Burgess Road, Swaythling, said he was shocked at what happened but had since made a good recovery.
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He believes he was able to see off the mugger thanks to the training he received learning the self defence martial art of Ninpo.

"If I had not joined the martial course, which I did three years ago, I don't think things would have turned out the way they did."

He then modestly added: "I don't think I'm very good at it but I do my best."

The attacker was white, aged between 16 and 19 and of medium build. He was wearing a black waterproof waist length shiny jacket and black shiny trousers, possibly a tracksuit.

A police spokesman said: "This was an unprovoked attack and we are keen to hear from anyone in the area who can help us identify the youth involved. Fortunately on this occasion he did not escape with any money, much to the efforts of the victim and members of the public who stopped to help."

Anyone with information is asked to call the street robbery investigation team at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545.

GeneChing

03-28-2008, 09:59 AM

If someone pulled a gun on me, I'd have given up my jewelry.

Martial arts expert foils robbery (http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/492821.html)
HERALD STAFF REPORT

An expert in Tae Kwon Do kicked a woman in the face who he said tried to rob him at gunpoint this morning, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

The 43-year-old victim said that at 12:30 a.m., he was standing in front of Health Care America, in the 6000 block of 34th Street West, when two men and a woman approached him. The victim said the woman had a gun and demanded his jewelry.

The sheriff's report said the victim pushed the gun away and kicked the woman in the face before fleeing to a gas station to call 911. The suspects then fled in an unknown direction, the sheriff's report said.

GeneChing

03-31-2008, 11:15 AM

The female suspect has long black curly hair, about 5'4" tall and skinny and a big old shoe (http://www.martialartsmart.net/90-201.html) print on her face. :p

Martial arts expert kicks would-be robber in Bradenton (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080328/BREAKING02/127166104)
By Michael A. Scarcella
Published Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5:44 p.m.

BRADENTON - A martial arts expert reportedly kicked a would-be robber in her face early today during a hold-up in the 3600 block of Cortez Road West, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Andres H. Acuna, 42, was in the parking lot of Health Care America when a car pulled up to him about 12:30 a.m. Acuna said three people, including a woman, confronted him. The woman, carrying a gun, demanded Acuna’s jewelry.

Acuna, a martial arts expert, said he kicked the woman in her face and then ran across the street to a Shell station to call for help. Authorities said the suspects followed Acuna to the gas station and drove away.

None of the robbers got anything and Acuna, authorities said, was not injured.

Man uses martial arts against three robber (http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=8084512&nav=menu577_2_1)s
Updated: March 28, 2008 10:19 AM

BRADENTON - A Bradenton man uses his martial arts skills against three people trying to rob him.

On Friday just after midnight, 42-year-old Andres Acuna was in the parking lot of Health Care America, when a dark colored, possibly blue Honda pulled up and all three occupants, two Hispanic males and one Hispanic female, got out and approached the victim.

The Hispanic female pointed a black gun at Acuna and demanded his jewelry. Acuna pushed the gun away and as he is a trained Tae Kwon Do expert, he kicked the female in the face. He then fled across the street to the Shell gas station, where he called 911.

The suspects got into the car and followed Acuna over to the gas station and then fled East on Cortez road.

The suspects did not get anything from Acuna, and there were no shots fired or any injuries.

The two male suspects were wearing gloves. The female suspect has long black curly hair, about 5'4" tall and skinny.

sanjuro_ronin

03-31-2008, 11:58 AM

A case of kick N Run, I think that's part of Taeguk !
:D

jackmcmanus21

04-01-2008, 01:44 PM

The female suspect has long black curly hair, about 5'4" tall and skinny and a big old shoe (http://www.martialartsmart.net/90-201.html) print on her face. :p

Shoe print on her face! I love it.

GeneChing

04-03-2008, 09:57 AM

This isn't quite a successful street application. It's more of a successful track and field application.

Kung fu molds Costello on and off the track (http://www.andovertownsman.com/sports/local_story_093173005.html?keyword=topstory)
By David Willis
Staff writer

Santi Costello's journey to becoming a track standout began unexpectedly.

"When I was 4 years old I got beaten up," he said. "My dad said, 'That's not going to happen again. You're going to learn how to defend yourself.'"

Days later, Costello's father signed him up for kung fu lessons. Little did he know it would end up shaping his son's life.

"It's because of my martial arts training I have been able to achieve my goals," the Andover High senior said. "It helps me as an athlete, but it is as much physiological as it is physical."

Costello spends at least an hour a day practicing basic kung fu at home and goes to workouts at his studio at least three times a week. He declined to say what his current level is but said he has continued to progress since earning his black belt at age 10.

"Kung fu is all about self-defense," he said. "Karate is flashy. People don't really grasp the concepts. People think it's a way to hurt people. We are taught never to strike first. It's not about kicking someone's butt.

"It's a lot of punching and kicking and blocking. There is also a lot of stretching."

That training has helped Costello in a big way on the track. Possessing a 34-inch vertical leap, he has become most well known for his jumping.

"He's got the best vertical leap I have ever seen," coach Peter Comeau said. "He was born with an ability to jump, and he just has spring in his legs."

Costello led area with a 21-7 in the long jump last spring while battling a leg injury. He then followed it up this winter by taking first at the Merrimack Valley Conference meet with a 20-71/2. But he has no interest in being just a jumper.

"I can't imagine sticking to just one event," Costello said. "I want to do a little running then a little jumping. I'll do whatever they need from me."

He showed his versatility in the winter by taking eighth in the state pentathlon — which consists of the 55-meter hurdles, 1,000, high jump, long jump and shot put. He plans to sprint and do hurdles in addition to his jumping this season.

Costello also has plenty of interests outside of sports. He volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club, where he also plays basketball (he could dunk if he could hold onto the ball). He also helps out the Mass Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and works as a youth counselor in Andover.

"He has a great personality," said Comeau. "He is just all over the community. He's a great leader. Now if he can just stay healthy he could have one of the best senior seasons we have seen in a while."

GeneChing

04-11-2008, 12:23 PM

I'm almost thinking now that the positive transfer of martial arts to sports deserves its own thread. But for now, these two stay here. ;)

Artful field strategy (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/highschool/bal-va.karatekids10apr10,0,4126851.story)
For a variety of athletes, karate offers physical, mental leg up
By Katherine Dunn | Sun Reporter
April 10, 2008

The benefits run the gamut of the physical (from flexibility and strength to being able to apply that strength) to the mental (from confidence and discipline to the quick thinking necessary to anticipate several moves ahead of an opponent).

"Martial arts is kind of like logic if you think about it," said Ousmane Toure, a junior soccer player at Randallstown. "If I do this, then this is going to happen; so if I do that, what should I be expecting? You open up the pathways to what can happen, and you try to take the best course of action."

Matt Fischer, a senior lineman at Archbishop Curley, picked up martial arts as a freshman in the school's Martial Arts Club. He said that trying several styles of karate as well as modern boxing, grappling and weapons fighting gave him a keener peripheral awareness.

"It's just a different way of thinking. You can almost watch somebody and the way their body moves, you can almost pick out what they're going to do - the way they step and kick a certain way or the way they might run the ball on the football field," Fischer said.

Frank Costello used martial arts training during his 16 years as strength and conditioning coach for the NHL's Washington Capitals, and he is a strong proponent of its benefits for all athletes.

"I think it's an example of cross training," Costello said. "In years past, athletes were lifting weights and doing other things, but this is real functional training and improves flexibility. I think most of all it enables the athlete to use the strength and speed that they've developed. Martial arts is very disciplined. It teaches you to realize your power and how to explode at the right time."

Klotz, the Wilde Lake lineman, sees that in his own game. "It taught me how to control my adrenaline so I don't go crazy and start throwing people all over the place," he said. "Same thing on the football field, where you have a burst of pure power and then settle down."

Karate also teaches how to apply that power so that athletes are not at a disadvantage if they're the smaller, weaker opponent, be it in karate, football or wrestling, said Ken Klotz, David's father, a fifth-degree black belt who has been teaching karate for more than 30 years.

"You're always being trained to think and attack the person's weakness, and I think that's going to come out in your sports," said Ken Klotz, who runs schools in Columbia and Bowie. "I've had lacrosse players, soccer players, et cetera, come up to me and tell me there are very similar strategy thoughts going on."

Ken Klotz regularly has several varsity athletes in the martial arts classes he teaches at University of Maryland and said he has seen more younger ones enroll at his studio.

In addition to the general applications, specific lessons from karate can be particularly applicable to a single sport.

Arnold Farmer, a junior defensive tackle at Poly, said he uses the hand techniques and footwork from karate to get past his opponent on the line.

"You can learn how to lock the offensive lineman's arms so you're more mobile," Farmer said. "Once you lock that arm, you're free to get to the quarterback or the running back."

Sop****re Kaitlyn Pentz, the goalie for the Century girls lacrosse team, said the footwork, flexibility and hand-eye coordination she learned helps, but the mental aspects are most important to her game.

"It taught me confidence," said Pentz, a black belt. "When I get scored on, I tell myself, 'OK, I can get back in this game. I know what I'm doing. I just need to focus on what I'm trying to do.' "

Ken Klotz saw one of the best examples of the cross-training nature of martial arts when he studied in China in December and January. Staying at the Shanghai University of Sports, he saw every sport, "but their core identity is martial arts.

"We got to visit a boarding school, first through 12th grade, and martial arts is the core component of their training," he said. "They do everything else, math, Chinese and all, but their whole idea is that martial arts centers the mind for everything else."

He and Wilde Lake football coach Doug DuVall have discussed introducing martial arts to the Wildecats' training regimen. Finding the time has been difficult, but DuVall said they'd like to try again this summer.

"It's a whole thing about disciplined training, and we attempt to do it in all sports," DuVall said.

"Certainly the discipline of throwing a baseball, that's pure body control. Hitting a tennis ball, shooting a three-point shot, hitting a fastball - that's all really mind over matter. ... Anybody can do them if they have the discipline to practice long enough. In football, there's not a kid, who if he had martial arts training, would not be a better football player."

GeneChing

04-30-2008, 09:34 AM

I love to hear these kinds of stories. Click link for video

Martial arts saves boy from harm (http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/burnabynewsleader/news/18191949.html)
By Michael McQuillan - Burnaby NewsLeader - April 28, 2008

Sean-Douglas Sime is in his fifth year of learning martial arts and he likes that it makes him physically and mentally tougher.

But the nine-year-old never thought he’d have to use it to save himself from harm.

His martial arts instructor Jim Hanger didn’t either. But he prepares his students for that possibility just in case.

And that training and preparation paid off earlier this year when Sean-Douglas was grabbed from behind by a stranger. He was not only able to get out of the man’s grasp but also delivered a crushing blow to his assailant.

Sean-Douglas’s father Dean never believed his son’s martial arts training would help save him from harm. That’s certainly not why he registered him and his 11-year-old brother Connery.

“It was more or less for the structure, for the discipline,” said Dean, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. “It’s the healthy body, healthy mind approach—keep them busy instead of in front of the TV and the video games.”

The attempted assault happened in February as the two brothers were walking a short distance to a friend’s house.

Connery ran ahead while Sean-Douglas fell behind as he sauntered down the Queen’s Park neighbourhood sidewalk.

Sean-Douglas recalls a man jumping out from behind some bushes and grabbing him from behind in a choke hold.

With the stranger’s arms around him, Sean-Douglas initially panicked—despite the training. He let out a yell for help which Connery heard and then ran back to help.

But by the time Connery returned, it was all over.

The stranger was staggering away, hobbled by an injured knee.

Sean-Douglas had broken the man’s grip with the techniques he learned, and then swept back with a side round kick. He connected with the side of his attacker’s knee, causing him to fall to the ground incapacitated.

“The guy went down to the ground screaming,” said father Dean, recounting the boys’ description to him.

Hanger wasn’t surprised at the damage Sean-Douglas did to a man more than twice his size.

“Believe it or not, it takes seven pounds of pressure to take a knee from the side. A five-year-old could do it,” he said. “If the guy had his weight on that leg and he hit him on his knee, that’s all that it would take to do the damage.”

The stranger, believed to be Caucasian and in his 30s, made his injured escape while the two brothers ran full sprint to the safety of a neighbour’s house.

It was perfect execution of the side round kick technique, said Hanger, proud of his student’s reaction in the incident.

He believes in teaching self-defence and not just how to bow and memorize the proper terms used in martial arts.

Occasionally the owner of Red Tiger Martial Arts in New Westminster has his instructors sneak-attack students during classes. Eventually, students learn not to panic and then properly use the defending moves they’ve learned in their training, said Hanger, a fourth-degree black belt.

Dean was also happy with the way the boys reacted.

“Sean-Douglas told me he was panicked for his life. But he just did what he was trained to do,” he said.

“That’s what you hope for.”

sanjuro_ronin

04-30-2008, 09:52 AM

LOL @ side ROUND kick !!

jacksawild

04-30-2008, 02:34 PM

Occasionally the owner of Red Tiger Martial Arts in New Westminster has his instructors sneak-attack students during classes.

brilliant.

GeneChing

05-08-2008, 10:08 AM

It may be perceived as some martial arts schools jumping on the bandwagon to get some publicity, unless of course, their teachings help to improve the situation. Sad story really. We had a horrible bullying case here that made the local papers.

Bullied Jason goes from hell to hero (http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/05/08/10851_gold-coast-news.html)
Katie Miller
08May08

BULLYING victim Jason Nicholls was treated like a hero by his classmates after publicly telling his story yesterday -- but his courage was ignored by teachers.

The 14-year-old has been repeatedly attacked, called names and robbed by students at his school because of the mannerisms he has due to Asperger's syndrome, which impairs his social and communication skills.

During the worst incident, which is under police investigation, another student allegedly held Jason by the throat, punched him, broke his hand in three places and stole his mobile phone during class while the teacher was absent from the classroom.

The bullying has become so bad that the Year 10 student is required to leave his classes five minutes before other students and eat his lunch in a separate 'safe zone' at Palm Beach Currumbin High School to avoid being picked on.

But there were no negative incidents at school for Jason yesterday after a school essay he wrote about his condition in an effort to be understood was printed in The Bulletin.

The Currumbin Waters local said he was nervous about going to school with his picture on the newspaper's front page but in the end he didn't have to face any bullies, only friends.

Jason said not one teacher had said anything to him about his newspaper appearance but added that not everyone may have seen it yet.

The bright student said many classmates did not know what the article was actually about but knew he had featured in the paper and asked questions.

"I had people asking me to sign my autograph and everything," he said.

"It was a bit weird ... something new."

Jason said he was glad he had spoken out.

"A lot is off my chest," he said.

"Maybe it will be (better now), we'll have to see."

Jason and his 13-year-old brother Blake, who started at PBC yesterday, rode their bikes to school together, which also helped the situation.

Mum Elise Nicholls said there had been some inconvenience to the family from TV media going to great lengths to contact them -including following Jason's grandmother to the rubbish tip -- but it was worth it to speak out.

"This was a big thing for Jason because he didn't know what sort of response he would get at school," she said.

"I think he's finally been able to reach the community and let them know that he's different.

"The overwhelming response from the community has been greatly received and appreciated."

Gold Coasters opened their hearts after Jason's story, offering encouragement and a range of gifts to boost his confidence.

Multiple business owners called The Bulletin offering to give something to the teen and his family, including a complimentary five-star experience from a Surfers Paradise hotel that wished to remain anonymous.

A personal trainer, a fishing charter company, a singing teacher and two martial arts clubs also offered their services free of charge.

The Toya Kan Karate Club at Oxenford and the Combined Martial Arts Academy at Nerang both said they had students with Asperger's or other autistic spectrum disorders.

"I was bullied all through my childhood just because we moved around a lot in the UK so my accent was a bit different to everyone else," said Paul Butterfield of Toya Kan Karate.

"I was absolutely appalled and disgusted by what I read about Jason and wanted to try and offer some support.

"People look at it as a self defence ability but ultimately martial arts gives you a lot of self-confidence and selfesteem and people tend not to pick on you so much when you have that."

There was also an offer from Robina local Aiden Grimes for Jason to walk the Kokoda Track next year, which Mr Grimes has done 53 times.

Mr Grimes, who himself has Asperger's syndrome, said he cried when he read the story because it mirrored his own life experiences.

Despite requests to his media personnel, education minister Rod Welford could not be reached for comment yesterday.

An Education Queensland spokeswoman said she could not discuss Jason's case specifically because of privacy legislation and provided an overview of general school bullying policies.

gwa sow

05-08-2008, 11:07 AM

not sure if its a good thing or not but a few of these were in good old Fl. there was a story i saw on the news down here a while ago were a kid ordered a pizza. he left the door unlocked waiting for the pizza guy. a robber snuck in and the kid used aikido to subdue the criminal.

Quote:
Occasionally the owner of Red Tiger Martial Arts in New Westminster has his instructors sneak-attack students during classes.

been watching too much Pink Panther lol

GeneChing

05-08-2008, 02:09 PM

Meanwhile, here's a really good one. These are exactly the kinds of stories I love to hear.

Domestic Violence Victim Saved By Martial Arts Student In Front Yard (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/254429)

National statistics report that one in three women will suffer abuse at the hands of a loved one in their lifetime so when a hero like Tom Hobine comes to the rescue, one can bet that the cheering squad is less than silent.

In the coastal Texas town of Corpus Christi, domestic violence isn't a foreign topic where a beautiful young woman was killed by her husband just over a year ago after she had tried to escape his violent hand.

Last week, a hero named Tom Hobine who had just returned from his martial arts class helped save a victim from potential death at the beating hands of her own husband.

Hobine says he saw a strange man in his front yard on top of a woman pounding her with his fists and in reflex moves, he pushed palm struck the guy from the victim. When the abuser got up and acted as if he were going to come at the good samaritan, Hobine executed a well-placed roundhouse kick to the face then proceeded with a learned martial arts self-defense maneuver that helped restrain the wife-beater until police arrive.

The abuser, John Michael Lea, Junior, apparently has a repeat history of the abuse. He had beaten up his wife just last week but because she did not come forward and press charges, Lea was released back on the streets to repeat his pattern again.

Despite his violation of a temporary restraining order, Lea's violent actions are not at all uncommon for an abuser in a domestic violence situation and had it not been for Tom, the courageous neighbour and his timely intervention, this woman might not be alive today.

As for Hobine, he believed he did what anyone would do and is not a hero.

Common warning signs that one is in an abusive relationship include things such as if one's partner bites, slaps, pushes, shoves, punches holes in the wall, prevents one from seeking medical assistance or alters the story so that no one gets into "trouble",, lies about the event to make the victim out to be the one who caused the injury or prevents the involvement of law enforcement.

For further help and anonymous assistance, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. It is manned 24 hours a day.

TaichiMantis

05-09-2008, 04:53 AM

It may be perceived as some martial arts schools jumping on the bandwagon to get some publicity, unless of course, their teachings help to improve the situation. Sad story really. We had a horrible bullying case here that made the local papers.

OMG! Thanks for this. My niece has Asberger's, she is 15. The bullying in her school was so bad my sister took her out and my brother-in-law is home schooling her. I'm going to send this to her.

SAAMAG

05-09-2008, 08:37 AM

OMG! Thanks for this. My niece has Asberger's, she is 15. The bullying in her school was so bad my sister took her out and my brother-in-law is home schooling her. I'm going to send this to her.

It's sort of sickening to know that society in general treats people that way because of a social impairment. When I was in high school, we had a young guy who was socially inept--would run around screaming, or do some other thing else that would make him stand out socially. He didn't have any impairments, he was just different. Needless to say the "in crowd" messed with him a lot.

Later that year he hung himself from a tree.

I'm glad this story ended differently.

I wasn't popular in high school for the first couple of years, so I was screwed with a few times...and when that happened it usually came to blows. The attempts at bullying stopped eventually after a few of the altercations because bullies want easy prey, they don't want to have to work for their "recognition". Eventually I got in with the popular crowd during the last couple years, but I always stuck up for those that couldn't do it themselves....because it was the right thing to do and having been through it myself I couldn't see it happen to someone else.

It honestly makes me very sad to know that high school kids are just as bad or worse than they were when I was a freshman. Little do they know that after high school none of that "click" stuff matters.

Graychuan

05-13-2008, 01:02 PM

This is not quite apropriate but as soon as i find any links I on the subject ill post..however I rememebr sometime last year (maybe) an elderly woman was on the national news because she thwarted a robbery attempt at a fuel pump while filling her car. The assailant tried to take her purse and she doused him from head to toe with 89 Unleaded. The guy ran away but was soon identified from an obvious smell. Not quite martial arts but the mindset of this woman is something to be recognized. She used her surroundings and completly turned he table.

I think it also helped that she was ready to set him aflame if she didnt get her purse back. :p

Shaolin Wookie

05-19-2008, 07:54 PM

I'm almost thinking now that the positive transfer of martial arts to sports deserves its own thread. But for now, these two stay here. ;)

Ah....that's nothing new. I know it's SD, but you'll have to humor me. Senior Master Gary Grooms of Shaolin-Tao worked with the offensive and defensive lines of the Atlanta Falcons to train them for scrambles, tackling, balance, and defense. When a wide receiver sprints out on his rouute, he has a coouple of seconds where he's basically fumbling around with the defense's hands, trying to clear his route. So, Senior Master grooms taught them methods (Tai Chi based, I think) to pass to the outside and take off unhindered. If I'm nott miistaken, this was ini the early/mid ninetees or so. We've got a newspaper article from the AJC about it on our websitte somewhere. He also worked with the defensive lines to teach them good balancing techniques, etc.

My teacher was a linebacker for hte Falcons for like 6 years or so and got into martial arts because ofo that traning. Sifu is the kind of guy you'd take one loook at and say: "Now why wouuld he ever have to defend himself?" LOL......

GeneChing

06-03-2008, 09:37 AM

timely - we needed to ttt this thread with something fresh

Martial arts master turns energy to helping others fight cancer (http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/NEWS04/806030314/1006/news01)
By KEVIN CALLAHAN • Courier-Post Staff • June 3, 2008

PINE HILL — Master Dominick A. Giacobbe is the holder of an 8th Dan Black belt in the 2,000-year-old art of Tang Soo Do, Korean karate.

So, it is safe to say, not many fights scare him.

Except when his wife, Christina, first came down with cancer more than 30 years ago.

"We were scared, back in '74. In those days, if you had cancer, you died," Giacobbe said last week behind the desk of his karate school office, which is adorned with pictures of Giacobbe with famous people.

Christina is doing fine and Master Giacobbe is still fighting cancer by raising money with an annual karate tournament in Atlantic City.

Like the master martial artist he is, Giacobbe turned the pain, hurt and fear of cancer into a weapon to fight the disease.

When their first child was two weeks late, Christina had a cesarean section. A tumor was found on the pelvic bone. The tumor was malignant.

Giacobbe called the American Cancer Society. It was a life-saving call, not only for Christina but for the many cancer patients Giacobbe has helped over the years with his fundraising tournaments.

"I called the American Cancer Society and they said you can conquer it with your mind, by eating right and exercising," he said. "I said, that is what I teach in my martial arts class."

Giacobbe, 57, teaches three classes a day still at his popular Pine Hill facility. He has taught more than 10,000 students, including many professional athletes.

So, Giacobbe and his wife took the ACS advice and trained and ate well together and they embraced the positive attitude needed to survive.

"We said we would conquer this disease," he said.

When they did, Giacobbe made another call to the ACS. This time, he asked them what he could do to help them. He had felt so fortunate for their help and time, for their care and compassion.

"They never asked me for a penny, they were always so positive, I said I had to give something back," Giacobbe said. "They didn't call for donations, but they called because they were concerned for my wife. That is what inspired me."

Giacobbe, a graduate of Washington Township High School, turned his inspiration into perspiration. He went to work to raise money.

Giacobbe, who lives in Voorhees, first hosted a martial arts show in 1982 at Resorts International in Atlantic City. Then in 1985, he started doing a karate tournament and gave all the proceeds to the ACS.

To date, he has donated $585,000 to the ACS.

Giacobbe's goal is to raise $1 million.

"Some years I gave big chunks and some years small amounts. Maybe this year, I don't know, it might not be a big chunk because of the economy," he said.

Giacobbe, who was named Man of the Year in 2000 by Black Belt magazine, is attacking the goal with the same positive attitude he and his wife attacked cancer. And, Giacobbe is using the same positive attitude toward beating cancer he saw Sugar Ray Leonard use for his epic fight with Marvin Hagler.

"He was so positive," Giacobbe said about Sugar Ray, who asked him to help train him. "The odds were so much against him, but he was so positive that he made it happen."

In addition to Leonard, Giacobbe trained Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker for several of their championship fights. A fighter is a fitting symbol for battling cancer.

Giacobbe, who has appeared on many TV shows, also trained Eagles players, including greats Reggie White and Mike Quick, when Buddy Ryan was the team's head coach.

Giacobbe, who recently returned from teaching karate in Ireland, Wales and Italy, also trains the regular guy. He teaches every class at his academy.

And, he passes onto his students the same message on the karate mat and in the street. He feels attacking cancer with a positive attitude is the way to beat the disease. He and his wife have already proved it works.

"Cancer can be conquered with the mind," he said. "That is better than any medicine you can take."

Giacobbe is passing his positive attitude and passionate fight against cancer onto the general public. He just wrote a book called "The Secrets For a Powerful Life (published by AuthorHouse).

"The book has a lot of philosophy. The greatest part of training for martial arts is all the philosophy," he said. "It is the martial arts philosophy that makes you a better person in life. It is the philosophy you take from martial arts, about the ability to defend yourself."

Giacobbe tells stories in the book to relate to readers.

"I call them secrets because the stories aren't written down," he said. "Masters handed them down to other masters."

Reach Kevin Callahan at (856) 317-7821 or kcallahan@courierpostonline.com.

GeneChing

06-25-2008, 10:11 AM

...but worthy of note for sure.

Kung-Fu granny beats up soldiers (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=29&art_id=iol1214311920513K521&set_id=1)
June 24 2008 at 03:18PM

A 77-year-old Japanese grandmother has beaten up Italian soldiers to toughen them up.

Martial arts expert Keiko Wakabayshi has been hired by the country's military to train recruits in hand-to-hand combat, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

Miss Wakabayshi, who is just 1,5 metres tall, looks tiny compared to her charges who are mostly about 1,8 metres.

But the pensioner is a trained master in an array of martial arts disciplines including jujitsu, jojitso, kenjitso, judo, kendo and karate.

She wipes the floor with soldiers of the Folgore brigade at their barracks in Livorno on a daily basis.

Miss Wakabayshi was born in Japan but now lives in Northern Italy. She tells her students to look at her and believe that nothing is impossible.

After flooring an opponent she tells them: "Don't think it's unbelievable. The physique doesn't matter."

Sparring is regarded as the most effective method of teaching martial arts and senior Italian military officers hope the experience of being humiliated by Miss Wakabayshi will toughen up their soldiers.

Miss Wakabayshi trained for many years to achieve her level of expertise and believes she can carry on defeating brawny soldiers for years to come. - Ananova

GeneChing

06-25-2008, 10:14 AM

I was tipped to this story a while ago, but I had no one to cover it and no place to publish it at the time. I'm glad someone else tackled it.

Teenage mom finds relief in Taiji (http://southcountyjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/06/24/sports/sj2tn20080624-0625taiji0.ii1.txt)
South city girl one of two St. Louis teens to claim national championships
By Ron Clements
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:28 PM CDT

Submitted photos Jardena Green practices an exercise under the instruction of her sifu, Justin Meehan. Green, a 17-year-old single mom in south city, uses Taiji to overcome life's difficulties. Jardena Green does not have an easy life.

The 17-year-old south St. Louis resident supports herself and her 16-year-old brother. Their mother lives in Morocco and their father, a U.S. Army instructor, is currently in Iraq. Jardena also cares for her 18-month-old daughter. She works part-time at St. Louis Bread Company and attends Forest Park Community College.

Displaying maturity beyond her years, Jardena has found a way to cope - the Chinese martial art of Taiji (Tai Chi).Using the "Taiji philosophy" to "overcome life's difficulties," Jardena has excelled in the sport since her father introduced it to her three years ago.

"It has a lot of discipline and commitment," she said. "It really helps me relax. Whenever I'm stressed out, it's really a calming thing for me."

Jardena and another south city teen, 15-year-old Justin Rice Meehan, made history Memorial Day weekend by becoming the two youngest competitors to win a national championship at the 10th Annual Chinese International Kung Fu Championships in Orlando, Fla. Competing in the Taiji Advanced Adult Push Hands competition, both Jardena and Jason brought home first-place medals. Tournament directors said the the double win by two St. Louis teenagers from the same Taiji school in a nationally recognized Advanced Adult Push Hands competition is an historic first.

Both teens are taught by their sifu, or instructor, Justin Meehan, Jason's father. Three years ago, Justin was introduced to Jardena by Jardena's father, Gordon, who teaches Aikido.

"I grew up in a martial arts family," Jardena said. "We used to sit through and wait for my dad to finish teaching Aikido and then Justin would come in and teach the Taiji. One day, I just wanted to see what it was about. Then I really got into it. I never thought he'd take me on as a student."

Justin told Jardena that "Chinese martial arts have the power to improve understanding and strengthen character."

"I've been in the Chinese martial arts for 40 years," Justin said. "I often deal with kids who find themselves alienated or in a hostile environment. I've found that, for some kids, Chinese martial arts is a way of obtaining confidence, and a little bit of a boost. It's a kind of applied spirituality. It allows them to feel better about themselves."

His son, a standout multi-sport athlete at Webster Groves, said working so closely with his dad brings them together, and he was especially pleased to make his father proud in Orlando.

"It was really great," Jason said. "That was my third time going, but I didn't compete at all. It meant a lot to me just to compete. Then to win, I was really proud of myself and my father was really proud of me."

The influence of Taiji in Jardena's life has been so profound that she would like to teach the sport herself someday.

"I like how soft it looks, and it looks really beautiful," she said. "It lets off a lot of stress, and you're not going to be sore afterword. When you find out what each movement means, it's really interesting and really cool. And, you can really fight with it, so that's helpful."

GeneChing

06-25-2008, 10:22 AM

...just one more from the newsfeeds and I'm done for today...

Kids with cerebral palsy get kicks from martial arts (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/lifestyle/healthfitness/story/cd012c241c7420da8625746e006c5d8c?OpenDocument)
By Jennifer Miros
06/23/2008

The sport of martial arts has long been a fun way for children to get fit, learn self-discipline and improve focus. Learning kicks, punches and blocks requires concentration and strict attention and often leads to improved self-esteem.

Children ages 7 and up who are patients of Dr. Jan Brunstrom, director of the Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, also have the opportunity to participate in the only known martial arts program specifically adapted to meet the needs of children with cerebral palsy. The classes, called "Fighters With Courage and Power," teach a form of martial arts called Kajukenbo, a blend of karate, judo and jujitsu, kenpo and kung fu. Instructors Ken Sills and Charlie Walton, both black belts, share a vision for bringing the benefits of the martial arts to the disabled.

"The martial arts help children with disabilities with their balance, stamina, mental clarity, focus, independence and self-esteem," Sills said. "When they are here, they feel like they are superheroes."

The full-body workout requires students to stand, since most are used to sitting for long periods of time. Sills and Walton pull techniques from different martial arts to customize a movement based on each student's abilities. For example, while one student may be able to use his or her hand to punch, a student with restricted hand movement may use a forearm strike.

"The ability to defend yourself has a profound effect on confidence," Walton said. "People with disabilities rely on people for a lot of things, but martial arts allows them to take control over that part of their life."

In addition, involvement in martial arts has helped many patients with cerebral palsy reduce or eliminate the need for physical therapy.

"While they are in class, we treat them like any other student," Walton said. "We want them to know that they can do the same things as anyone else. They just have to find other ways to do it."

`Camp Independence, the only known sports camp in the nation for children with cerebral palsy, started its sixth season on June 9 at the Webster Groves Recreation Center and runs each week through July 25.

In addition to martial arts, campers also participate in other sports including tennis, soccer, pilates, floor hockey, kickball, baseball, dance and adaptive cycling. Children from Missouri, Illinois and several other states plan to attend Camp Independence this year.

For more information about Camp Independence, call the St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line at 314-454-5437 or visit stlouischildrens.org. To learn more about volunteer opportunities for Fighters With Courage and Power classes, visit kajukenbo.org

TaichiMantis

06-25-2008, 12:02 PM

Thanks, keep 'em coming!;)

GeneChing

06-30-2008, 10:00 AM

with a little Christianity thrown in to boot.

Teen gives physical limitations a karate chop (http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080628/APC04/806280607)
June 28, 2008

When Scott Schultz was 5, a routine exam by his pediatrician found the young boy's reflexes were nearly non-existent. His parents, John and JoAnn Schultz of Neenah, were told to "watch and wait."
Advertisement

At 10, Scott's parents enrolled him in Christian Karate, led by the Rev. Bill Stiebs, pastor of Cornerstone Church in New London. The martial arts program, which teaches American-style karate, provides students with both physical and spiritual strengthening.

Scott struggled to keep up as others progressed through the karate belt ranking system, his mom recalled. He had poor coordination, problems with balance and great difficulty jumping rope.

"He was so clumsy motor-wise, and couldn't catch a ball or run … and he could not follow directions and had an odd gait," JoAnn said. "People said, 'why's he in this class? He's not going to go far.'"

His parents started noticing other things as well.

"Noises that we could tolerate, he could not," JoAnn said. "Scott also exhibited visual spatial difficulty. When he ran up a flight of stairs that were open to the bottom, he could not come down those stairs."

Scott, who is home-schooled, was easily frustrated by schoolwork and had great difficulty holding a pencil and writing.

"I think had he been in the public school system, we would have seen issues a lot earlier," JoAnn said.

After countless tests, time and doctors, at 11 Scott was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders. They are known as spectrum disorders because two children with the same diagnosis, which generally occurs between ages 5 and 9, can exhibit a wide range of skills and abilities.

Through prayer and the help of mentors — black belt instructors Dr. Jim Ziegler and Scott Simpson — Scott was encouraged and directed to the Bible scripture Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"Scott would come early and practice the whole time before class," Stiebs said. "He never complained about the intensity of the training we did. He would help others to get better even when he was struggling to improve his physical abilities. Scott's parents would drive him twice a week to New London from Neenah to be able to participate in our Home School Karate classes."

After a couple years Scott's physical abilities began to improve. He became one of the best students performing karate techniques. While the average time it takes to earn a black belt, Stiebs said, is between 3 and 6 years depending on the time a student invests, after 5 years of training Scott recently was awarded his black belt and now is an expert in martial arts.

More importantly, Scott, now 16, grew spiritually.

"He prayed for others and helped teach others godly principles," Stiebs said. "Over the 30 years I have been in the martial arts very few students have persevered through the physical adversities Scott has. … God has truly blessed this young man."

Scott said he was happy and relieved when he passed the two-day testing to earn a black belt, especially the sparring portion. Although he won't soon be starring on screen in an action-flick, "I would like to work on some in my backyard," he said with a laugh.

The karate class, JoAnn said, has been incredible for her son in more ways than one.

"If you watch him today you would not think this was the same boy at age 10," she said.

GeneChing

07-15-2008, 10:48 AM

...but he's got a nice monk robe (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45001.html), so that counts for something.

Giving up the gangs for kung fu (http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/indepth/features/display.var.2393661.0.giving_up_the_gangs_for_kung _fu.php)

Martial arts group Sanshu UK gives youngsters an alternative to street crime. DAVID MILLS speaks to its founder.

KUNG fu is helping get teenagers off the streets and into the community.

Tom Metcalfe is a qualified martial arts trainer who has set up a kung fu school called Sanshu UK.

The 23-year-old, of Blackbrook Lane, Bickley, has launched a programme called Respect to encourage youngsters to come to the scholl and keep away from a life of street crime.

Recently News Shopper ran a six-week Voices Against Violence campaign to find solutions to the slaughter among teenagers which is plaguing our streets.

Already in London this year 20 teenagers have died violently, compared with 26 last year.

Mr Metcalfe, who has been doing martial arts since he was 15, says Respect was inspired by the murder of 18-year-old Rob Knox outside the Metro bar in Sidcup on May 24.

The Shaolin kung fu martial artist said: "The murder of Rob Knox was the inspiration because it happened on my doorstep."

He says Respect is about getting on the streets and speaking directly to the kids on the street.

Mr Metcalfe, a revenues officer, said: "It involves going out and talking to groups and individuals lurking on street corners, kids in parks smoking, and trying to get them involved in something positive, giving them a way out of gangs and giving them something to do.

"There's a lack of things to do for young people, they don't have anywhere to go.

"We need to get them off the streets and into the community where they can hope to achieve something."

He says young people lack role models and someone to talk to.

He said: "I want to be some sort of role model and tell these kids there are people you can talk to and things you can achieve.

"If kids are having a hard time at home, maybe not agreeing with parents, they rebel and turn to gangs as an alternative family."

Sanshu UK meets every Thursday at St Augustine's Church Hall, Southborough Lane, Bromley, from 8pm to 9pm.

Sessions are open to both boys and girls and are free for the first month.

All students bow to begin with before doing a warm up and a series of kung fu techniques.

Mr Metcalfe said: "Martial arts instil discipline.

"Kids can take out their aggression on the pads we have.

"The club gives them a chance to meet up with friends and they also learn self-defence."

He added: "The kids get really involved, and want to be like Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee.

"We partner them up and get them used to different people.

"We have young people with older people so they get used to being around all types of people."

A typical session ends with everyone seated and discussing issues which concern them.

Sanshu UK, which has 15 members aged from 13 to people in their late 20s as well as two trainers, plans to visit schools to reach out to youngsters.

GeneChing

08-20-2008, 10:06 AM

Capoeria has grappling?

Jackson man uses martial arts to stop alleged carjacker (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080819/NEWS/80819016)
By Kathleen Baydala • August 19, 2008

A Jackson man who escaped an armed carjacking attempt credits his martial arts training with his rapid response.

Marvin Williams, 34, said he was in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart on Mississippi 18 Monday night when an armed man approached him and demanded his keys.

“I was thinking he was fixing to sell me something or beg,” Williams said today. “But as he got closer, I saw he had a gun. I gave him my keys but he wasn’t walking away.”

Williams studies the Brazilian martial art known as capoeira and said he used his skills to stay calm while he grappled the gun out of his alleged attacker’s hands.

Officers who were nearby managed to chase down the suspect after he fled.

Spencer Walker, 36, of Jackson is charged with carjacking, two counts of resisting arrest and two counts of disorderly contact.

Kevin Huang

08-20-2008, 05:10 PM

GeneChing

09-12-2008, 11:31 AM

This almost went to the Martial Arts and Religion thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49824), but I felt it would sit better here. The rabbi angle isn't as important as the work.

Enter the rabbi: sensai helps kids fight illness (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20117407&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=574907&rfi=6)
by Ben Hogwood, Assistant Editor
09/11/2008

Gary Moskowitz is helping kids with life-threatening illnesses control their fear and have some fun with martial arts. (photo by Ben Hogwood)
Imagine being 8 years old and riding in the back of your parents car to get another dose of chemotherapy.
The treatment may be painful, it may cause hair loss and nausea and it may leave you fragile, susceptible to bruising and excessive bleeding.

You have an enemy but you can’t see it, you can’t control it and you don’t know how to fight it. You are scared.
Enter Gary Moskowitz, a rabbi and martial arts sensei who is helping children with cancer and other illnesses fight back and empower themselves.
Moskowitz is the executive director of the non-profit Martial Arts Therapy, which is bringing the program Kids Combatting Cancer to Havurat Israel Temple in Forest Hills. The program will be held on Sundays and an additional weekday, beginning in October. Moskowitz is currently looking for volunteers to help him get the program off the ground.
Through martial arts, Moskowitz teaches these children how to cope with their fear and empower them to fight their illness. He also lets them enjoy a physical activity in a safe environment, something they would rarely have the opportunity to do.
The program includes all the common aspects of martial arts — the punching, kicking and even some stick fighting — but it also includes a form of meditation called guidance therapy specifically designed for these young students. The therapy, in effect, lets the students give an identity to their aggressor, which they cannot see. The student imagines the cancer cells as ninjas attacking a specific part of their body. He or she then unleashes an imaginary army of “warriors” to fight back.
“When you visualize what the pain is, visualize beating up these ninja guys, the pain subsides,” Moskowitz said. “Even if its a placebo effect, it works.”
Another important practice a student of Moskowitz can learn is how to control fear. Whether it’s getting into a fight with other people or getting injected as part of a chemotherapy treatment, the fear needs to be controlled or it can become overwhelming, Moskowitz said, as he recounted a story of one of his students on his way to the hospital to receive treatment. At first, it took five orderlies to hold him down. After he learned some breathing techniques, he was able to sit still and take the needle.
“Pain is a message,” Moskowitz said. “We can learn how to scramble that message.”
But a big portion of the program is to let these children have some fun and interact with others. Because the children are too fragile to actually practice martial arts physically on each other, Moskowitz created “virtual karate,” where two students compete against each other in contests, but are several feet apart. A judge then determines the effectiveness of their kicks, punches and blocks.
Moskowitz doesn’t know what it’s like to suffer from such a disease, but as a former police officer he is all too familiar with getting into dangerous situations, as he has throughout his life. He was a popular target for bullies as a child, the only white student his age wearing a yarmulke to school in the Bronx. By the age of 14, he had already been the victim of four armed robberies.
He took up martial arts to protect and empower himself and help get over his own fears. When he became an instructor, he included community service as an aspect of his training, one necessary if the student wanted to advance in rank.
In 1978, he formed Martial Arts for a Better Community, which trained instructors in how to teach martial arts to physically and emotionally challenged students, in addition to offering classes for poor children in exchange for them volunteering their time to train others.
The program was initially successful, but ran out of steam as it ran out of funding. However, four years ago he revived the idea, this time focusing primarily on children with cancer.
Moskowitz is currently trying to set up a study where a group of students can be gauged for a period of time to see how they progress physically.
Currently, Moskowitz has some volunteers helping him get the word out, including Gloria Katz. She has worked as a paid volunteer coordinator for a number of years and, with some extra time on her hands, decided she wanted to find an organization to help.
She met Moskowitz through the Havurat Israel Temple. “We got to speaking and we kind of were in sync,” she said. “I was looking for an organization I could really devote some good volunteer time to and something with purpose and meaning.”
Moskowitz is currently looking for volunteers to help with the program, including instructors as well as people who can work with the families or contact hospitals and schools to tell them what they do.
Eventually, he hopes to set up these programs all around the state and the country, so more children fighting for their lives can have a more holistic approach to healing.
“These kids are not treated like sick kids,” he said. “We treat them as heroes. They are very heroic to undergo some of the things they do.”
To learn more about the program or to volunteer, contact Moskowitz at (718) 575-3504 or e-mail gavriael@aol.com.

uki

09-12-2008, 12:25 PM

now this is newsworthy...

A female Italian karate champion said passersby in Rome just watched as a man grabbed her around the neck and she punched him until he dropped.

It could have been much worse, Lara Liotta, 29, four-time winner of the Italian women's karate championship, told The Daily Telegraph of London. What would have happened if this person, instead of attacking me, a karate champion who knows how to defend herself well, had attacked a young girl?
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/strange/article_212171453.shtml

WanderingMonk

09-12-2008, 12:33 PM

I generally would require a photo first. There is one available at the telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2776841/Female-karate-champion-defeats-mugger.html

you don't want a situation in which you have austin power saying "that's a man, baby":eek:

uki

09-12-2008, 01:15 PM

thanks for the upgrade.:)

Oso

09-12-2008, 07:35 PM

**** gypsies

uki

09-12-2008, 07:41 PM

**** gypsiesthey are something else... i lived in romania for several months... bistrita, craiova, cluj-napoca, brasov... gypsies everywhere. as long as you respect them, they are no problem.

GeneChing

09-18-2008, 09:58 AM

we need a kung fu tackle...;)

Karate teacher nabs suspected serial burglar (http://www.9news.com/seenon9news/article.aspx?storyid=99915&catid=509)
posted by: Dan Boniface written by: Kyle Clark 15 hrs ago

LITTLETON – Martial arts instructor Kevin Kowalczik admits there is no such thing as a "karate tackle," the move he pulled Tuesday night while chasing down a man in the alley behind his studio.

Kowalczik, part-owner of ProRank Karate in the Piece St. Village, chased and tackled a man he says had just burglarized the nearby Front Range Christian Elementary School in Littleton.

Kowalczik held 21-year-old Kyle Torres until police arrived. Torres is being held on suspicion of burglary, assault, criminal mischief, theft and possession of burglary tools. Littleton Police suspect Torres is responsible for at least five burglaries. Deputies searched his home Wednesday afternoon.

Several tenants along the strip plaza tell 9NEWS they have been on alert after a half-dozen burglaries over the last month. Kingdom Kids Academy replaced stolen computers only to have the replacements snatched during a second break-in.

"By the time an alarm goes off and the police can get here, he's gone," said the academy's Penny Gautier. "That's happened six or seven times."

Kowalczik said he was locking up the studio around 11 p.m. Tuesday when he saw someone in the alley behind the school.

The third-degree black belt "armed" himself with a rubber gun he uses for self-defense training and confronted Torres.

"I figured at nighttime maybe it would look real," Kowalczik said.

The karate teacher said Torres initially froze and dropped to his knees as ordered, then noticed the "weapon" was anything but a weapon.

"He noticed the red tip and he got up to run, which was the wrong choice," Kowalczik said.

Crystal Simangan, Kowalczik's fiancée, followed him into the alley, calling 911 on her cell phone, and witnessed the chase that ensued.

"It felt like a scene from an action movie," Simangan said.

"It was kind of like a diving, Superman tackle move," Kowalczik said. "There's not really a karate tackle, but I think there might be now."

As Kowalczik, a third-degree black belt, made his "karate tackle," Simangan stuck to snapping cell phone photos.

"I'm a white belt," she said with a shrug. "I was basically Kevin's wingman."

Police arrived within minutes to make the arrest.

Ty Weaver, a 12-year-old student at the karate studio, said Torres met his match in Kowalczik.

"He didn't stand a chance," Weaver said.

Kowalczik, who has been studying martial arts since childhood, says he has never had to use those skills against someone in real-life before.

"We always talk about it's for self-defense only," Kowalczik said. "We don't go around throwing punches and kicks."

"I'm just really excited that I actually had the opportunity to use it in the real world and it actually works," he said.

Simangan drew a slightly different lesson.

"Don't mess with the ninjas," she said with a smile.

SimonM

09-22-2008, 07:55 AM

Shamelessly bumping the racist thread out of first position on the page. This is a successful application of net-fu.

GeneChing

10-01-2008, 09:20 AM

It came over the newsfeeds and I felt it should be archived here somewhere, but it didn't deserve it's own thread.

7 Article Marketing Lessons I Learned from Being a Martial Arts Champion (http://www.healthywealthynwise.com/article.aspx?author=Eric%20Gruber&title=7%20Article%20Marketing%20Lessons%20I%20Lear ned%20from%20Being%20a%20Martial%20Arts%20Champion&Article=5537)
By: Eric Gruber

How does my martial arts training directly relate to my success as an article marketing expert?

When I was seven, I was a scared, scrawny cry baby. Kids in the neighborhood stole my hat and I ran home crying! My younger brother, who was only four at the time, knocked on the bully's' door to get my hat back.

My parents enrolled me into Chirico's School of Karate, where I learned steps that took me from NOTHING to a SELF-ASSURED 4th DEGREE BLACK BELT.

I also learned secrets on how to become a champion in the martial arts. I discovered that these same secrets helped me become a champion in all areas of my life.

So do you want to know what these life-changing, business-evolving secrets are?

7 Black Belt Secrets for Article Marketing Success

Secret #1: Watch who you hang around with

One of our black belts drives all the way from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to practice. That's a 3-hour round trip.

Why?

The furious energy at Chirico's School of Karate is undeniable as soon as you walk in the door. You're surrounded by a true grandmaster with more than 40 years of martial arts training and black belts who are determined to succeed.

Who are YOU hanging around? Where are your articles being associated? Are you just blasting articles out there? Or are you carefully selecting websites and ezines which your targeted audiences and prospects read? Remember, who you associate with will determine the level of success you can reach.

Secret #2: Consistency is the key for long-term success

When I don't train consistently because of traveling or personal issues, I lose karate tournaments. If you want to achieve your business goals online, you have to consistently write and submit articles. You have to be in front of your audience on a regular basis. Otherwise you will lose sales to your competitors.

Secret #3: Ups and downs are part of the process

During my martial arts training, I learned that there is NO possible way that you can win every tournament. Yes, I can't even tell you how many trophies, medals and plaques I have won throughout my more than 20 years of martial arts training. But, I also lost count of how many tournaments I lost in the very first round.

Not every article you write and submit online will be a success. You will have ups and downs with your article marketing efforts, but you have to keep writing consistently. It's the only way you will win in the long term.

Secret #4: Hard work is part of the game

It took me ten years of blood, sweat and tears to get promoted to the rank of black belt. I learned that there are NO obstacles that I couldn't beat if I consistently persevere.

How many of us secretly wish our success would be handed to us on a silver platter? Get real. There is work involved. The solution is to make the hard work FUN by doing what you love to do (sharing your expertise) and delegating what you don't (the mind boggling, manual article submission.)

Secret #5: Model others who are already successful

My instructor is a 10th degree black belt grandmaster. Yet, he doesn't try to reinvent his own martial arts training programs from scratch. He adapts training techniques, forms and strategies that were created from the ancient masters who have proven their immense success.

When writing your articles, model article templates that work for others and then adapt it to your own writing style.

Secret #6: Don't put all your eggs in one basket

When we practice self-defense, we train for a variety of attacks from the front, sides and back. We do grappling and ground techniques. And, we even practice fighting against multiple attackers. So we're ready for all situations.

Just like we want multiple fighting strategies, you want multiple streams of income that will help you fight the recession. You can easily turn your articles into products like special reports and eBooks.

Secret #7: Find a mentor or coach for faster results

I would not have been a state champion for two years in a row, if my instructor didn't walk me through every step of the way. I know many entrepreneurs who have wasted thousands of dollars on marketing programs that got them nowhere. Don't make that mistake. Invest in someone to show you the way - the right way - the first time. (Not sure where to start? Join my Write Your Way to Profits Insiders Circle)

Follow these secrets, and you will reach article marketing success. You will be found online. And, you will get more prospects, publicity and profits

About the Author:

Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for entrepreneurs who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, Eric is sharing the exact roadmap, broken into 5 easy-to-follow steps that thousands have used to launch and build their businesses online with articles. And, he's giving this knowledge for FREE, with his new e-Book at: http://www.BroadcastYourArticles.com/freebook

GeneChing

10-02-2008, 09:53 AM

PTSD is the other shoe dropping from our wars. I've always thought martial arts has tremendous therapeutic effects and am impressed to see a school offering free classes for vets.

Finding peace in ancient art (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081001/A_NEWS/810010336)
Kung fu helps turn around life of violence for struggling Army veteran
By Dana M. Nichols
Record Staff Writer
October 01, 2008 6:00 AM

VALLEY SPRINGS - David Foster got hooked on combat.

"At the time, it is a sense of euphoria," said Foster, who served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm (the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War) as well as in operations against drug dealers and slave traders. "Afterward, you crash."

Civilian life was a big crash for Foster. So he hunted for ways to regain the euphoric clarity of combat. For a long time, he lived in Stockton, picking fights with other rough characters ranging from gang bangers and drug dealers to people beating their dogs. "I probably got in two or three fights a week for 10 years," Foster said.

The Sheng Chi Foundation is offering free martial arts classes for veterans at Sheng Chi Kung Fu, 139 Main St., Valley Springs. Information: (209) 772-1760 or www.shengchifoundation.org.

The Veterans Affairs Department finally caught up to Foster and forced him into a treatment program for post-traumatic stress disorder. That allowed him to kick the fighting habit and resume something closer to a normal life. But it didn't give him the spiritual healing he has found since through another path, an ancient art of which the VA doctors didn't approve: kung fu.

"The VA didn't want me in martial arts, because it is related to violence," said Foster, 38, of Campo Seco in Calaveras County.

Shou Shu kung fu is a very traditional form of the Chinese martial art. Foster began studying it at Sheng Chi Kung Fu in Valley Springs.

Although kung fu trains a person in fighting methods, Foster said he found it an effective and safe way to capture the vivid, in-the-moment consciousness of combat without hurting anyone.

"That is one thing the martial arts will help a military veteran do is revisit the here and now," Foster said.

Now other veterans will have the same opportunity, as the Sheng Chi Foundation affiliated with the Valley Springs martial arts studio began in August to offer free classes to veterans. Sheng Chi co-owner Phil Weaver said he has had a number of students over the years who reported that studying the art helped their recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"You have to concentrate so much on what you are doing in here that you can't have any other thoughts in your head," Weaver said.

Weaver said he and his wife, Liz Weaver, who co-owns the business and also teaches kung fu, wanted to do something to help veterans, including those returning to civilian life from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Experts on post-traumatic stress disorder said studying an art such as kung fu may be helpful to PTSD patients, but they also offered some cautions.

"I think that can be helpful, but you always have to be careful of whether a student is tolerant of an exposure to things that are going to mimic combat," said David Lechuga, a Southern California neuropsychologist who runs his own clinic in Lake Forest and teaches at University of California, Los Angeles, and Pepperdine University.

Lechuga knows the issue well; he is a fifth-degree black belt in Shotokan karate, and his students include veterans who witnessed heavy combat.

"There is an underlying theme of violence in everything we do," Lechuga said. "It is controlled, but it is violence nonetheless."

Phil Weaver said maintaining a safe, trusting environment is key to effective learning, and at times he has paused classes when students with PTSD began suffering a negative reaction.

"It is very emotionally challenging to learn the art. It does push people out of the box," he said.

Scott Jensen, assistant professor of psychology at University of the Pacific in Stockton, said it makes sense that studying a highly disciplined martial art would offer benefits to people with stress disorders but said he is not aware of any particular research indicating martial arts are better or worse than other highly disciplined activities.

Research shows that a method called exposure therapy is an effective way to treat PTSD, Jensen said. Exposure therapy patients are encouraged to re-experience traumatic events, which can be anything from war violence to a car accident to a molestation, in a safe environment, thus gradually reducing the impact of the trauma.

Experts agreed that individuals suffering PTSD should seek treatment first from clinicians skilled in helping people with the disorder. But those interviewed for this story also said martial arts training is a positive opportunity for veterans.

"It sounds like a great program and a great service," Jensen said.

Gary Howells is a professor of psychology at Pacific and a Navy veteran who served two tours in Vietnam.

He said arrangements such as the free kung fu classes offer the hope of communitywide healing as veterans are welcomed back to civilian life.

"If nothing else, it is another means of removing the isolation and saying that we appreciate you. And I think that is an important, positive message," Howells said. "We are doing it better with (the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq war) than we did with Vietnam veterans."

Foster, meanwhile, is still studying kung fu, although he is doing it privately with an instructor who lives in Mokelumne Hill.

He still suffers many of the classic PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and hypertension, and he pretty much avoids crowds by staying at home and gardening. But he says his human relationships have improved.

"Things are better. I fell better about myself."

Hebrew Hammer

10-02-2008, 09:59 AM

Wow, that lady is 53, I wish they said what martial art she did, her weight, and other stuff.

And she's a marathon runner.

Yeah...nobody likes a show-off at any age...very impressive. :D

GeneChing

10-20-2008, 09:46 AM

Would you vote for this guy?

2-term incumbent faces martial arts instructor in House District 68 (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081018/NEWS09/810180342&theme=CAMPAIGN_2008)
By CYNTHIA REYNAUD • creynaud@dmreg.com • October 18, 2008

An incumbent with a focus on keeping young people in Iowa faces a martial arts instructor and business owner in the race for Iowa House District 68.

Republican challenger Larry Voorhees, the owner of and master instructor at Voorhees Taekwondo Inc., said he decided to run against incumbent Democrat Rick Olson to get off the sidelines and fix the issues with which he disagrees.

"For too many years, I've been fussing about what happens at the Statehouse," Voorhees said. "I can't tell my black belts to get involved in life if I don't do it myself."

Voorhees is a newcomer to government and politics, but says he has held leadership positions as the president of the State of Iowa Black Belt Association and as a project manager at Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines. Those jobs have provided him with skills he would use as a state representative, he said.

"People have this perception that government is so complex, and it's not, or it doesn't need to be," he said. "I have the contacts, I have the ability, to gather a group of people and get something done."

Olson has served two terms in the Iowa House. He said his background in law has set him apart from others in recent years.

Olson works as a private practice attorney.

"I've got the ability to communicate ... and an understanding of Iowa code and statutes," he said.

Olson's focus in the past four years has been on keeping young adults in Iowa. Another term in office would allow him to continue that work, he said.

He cited his own daughters as an example of talented youth who left the state for positions in other areas of the country.

"There's no reason for them to come back here," he said. "I wish they were back here in Iowa, but there's nothing here to keep them here."

Olson said he hopes to create benefits that offer discounted college tuition to students from Iowa who commit to live and work in the state for a certain number of years after graduation.

"That's how you keep these kids here," Olson said.

Voorhees said he will focus on whatever the community deems important.

"This is not pushing Larry's agenda. It's about what the people want me to represent them for," Voorhees said.

He listed "protecting traditional family values by seeing a marriage amendment voted on by the people of the state" and "providing fiscal restraint and responsibility in the state budget" as examples of what he thinks should be priorities.

"The bottom line is I want them to vote," Voorhees said. "It's not only our right, it's our duty and obligation to vote. If you didn't vote, you lost the chance to make the difference."
Candidate Q&A

Democrat Rick Olson and Republican Larry Voorhees answered the following questions about state issues:

Q. What is your top priority for enhancing economic growth in Iowa?

Olson: Providing a work force that meets the needs of business — existing or potential.

Voorhees: Encourage small businesses to grow, develop, invest and be innovative. Provide incentives to the smaller businesses so that the playing field becomes at least a bit more level.

Q. What is the most important thing the state should do to make Iowa schools more competitive in the global economy?

Olson: Emphasize math and science. Every child that graduates should be fluent in a language other than English.

Voorhees: I think a better question would be, “what is the most important thing the state should do to make Iowa GRADUATES more competitive in the global economy?” It is the students who we need to educate better so they can be more successful and competitive. We should emphasize basic skills: reading, writing, computational skills, basic economics, consumer skills, comprehensive reasoning, appreciation for the arts … and we do what we can to ensure that students don’t just pass these classes, but that they have the skills to be successful in these areas. Initially, it is the responsibility of local school boards to insist on these things, but it is up to the state to help make this the environment and the baseline.

Q. How would you hold state government accountable to taxpayers?

Olson: Encourage citizens to vote.

Voorhees: A good first step would be to require that any increase in taxation that equals 10 percent or more of the current budget must be voted on and approved by the general public before it can be instituted. Secondly, I would strongly suggest that tax monies raised for a specific purpose only be used for that specific purpose.

Q. What are Iowa’s most urgent infrastructure needs and how would you pay for them?

Olson: Most urgent would be highways. We need to re-evaluate the amount of taxpayer money being spent on farm-to-market roads, and reallocate the same to primary and secondary highways. We are increasing licensing fees. The bipartisan infrastructure and transportation task force has spent considerable time evaluating this subject. I would defer to their recommendations.

Voorhees: Roads, bridges, existing levees, in that order. Roads and bridges should be paid for out of the current funding models, for the time being, until we have a chance to see if we can do a better job. Levee repair/reconstruction will need to find at least a temporary funding source, within the current general fund, without imposing new taxation on people, if there isn’t a current mechanism in place. I also think we should research whether the development of light rail transit would be beneficial; however, that may be something that needs to be addressed by local metro areas, rather than by the state Legislature.

Q. What should Iowa do, in light of this year’s flood disaster, to protect property and taxpayer dollars in the future? If there are costs involved, say how you would pay for it.

Olson: Obviously, the federal government needs to step up to the plate and provide disaster relief. There are few ways to protect the community from flooding that doesn’t, then, cause flooding downstream. Nature has a mind of its own, and our ability to predict rain totals is not an exact science. The Army Corps of Engineers bears a certain responsibility in that they regulate the amount of water released in our major reservoirs in Iowa. The development of additional reservoirs may be of some benefit in the future. Re-evaluate flood plain development.

Voorhees: What funding sources are currently targeted for those types of projects? Has there been a well-thought-out program or project plan for the future? Without having access to that information, it would be inappropriate of me to speculate an answer. It remains to be seen what the current federal and state responses will be in the immediate future. Then, a long-term, broad-based solution will need to be studied and brought forward.

Lucas

10-20-2008, 11:45 AM

well the guy has a memorable last name....lets just be happy his first name isnt Jason.

:eek:

SimonM

10-20-2008, 12:49 PM

Well... he'd probably promise to slash spending. And institute a one-strike policy where he'd severely punish people for vice crimes by impailing them...

GeneChing

10-22-2008, 09:58 AM

...especially if your 83. :eek:

Woman uses martial art to subdue car burglar (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20081022TDY02302.htm)
The Yomiuri Shimbun

KYOTO--An 83-year-old man was arrested Monday on suspicion of attempted theft after he was found ransacking a car in Kita Ward, Kyoto, and caught by a woman who used her Chinese martial art skills to subdue him, police said.

According to the police, Keiko Kurisaki, 45, found the man ransacking a car in a parking lot at about 1:40 p.m. and called the police. As the man tried to flee, Kurisaki apprehended him using a shuai jiao technique in which an opponent's arm is twisted and one of his legs brushed aside to knock him off balance. Kita Police Station officers arrested the man when they arrived at the scene.

According to the police station and others, Kurisaki was the general manager of the Japanese men's team that recently participated in an international competition of Chinese martial arts in Taiwan. The team won first prize in one of the techniques.
(Oct. 22, 2008)

sanjuro_ronin

10-23-2008, 04:22 AM

...especially if your 83. :eek:

LOL, a JAPANESE SJ person to boot !

GeneChing

10-23-2008, 09:26 AM

But then again, perhaps this gets to a core issue with applications.

The link between martial arts and teen delinquency (http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/457040)
Published Thursday October 23rd, 2008
Chris McCormick

A good kick: Teaching martial arts to youths at risk for violence and delinquency has proven to be helpful in curbing their aggression, resistance to rules, impulsiveness and inappropriate behaviour.

During the recent federal election, the leader of the Conservative Party announced he was going to get tough on juvenile crime.

Among other things, he said he was going to allow the media to publicize the identity of young offenders. I doubt his tough on crime approach will work, but in the spirit of collegiality, I want to describe a different approach which might.

Several psychiatrists wrote recently in the journal Adolescence of their attempt to reproduce other, smaller studies which showed that juveniles at high risk for violence and delinquency were less violent after taking a school-linked course in traditional martial arts.

Such research often shows mixed results, because participation in the studies is voluntary, or the juvenile is already in a martial arts program. Both factors self-select for more aggressive youth, with the result that some studies even show an increase in violence for students who take martial arts.

However, in this study, teachers identified students at high risk for violence and delinquency. There was no lack of such students, as the school was located in a poor area of a large urban city that had a very high juvenile arrest rate. The students who were identified as high risk were required to take the course if their parents agreed, and an outside martial arts teacher was brought in to teach them.

To make the study scientific, 60 students with similar problematic behavior profiles were paired and then randomly assigned to either a treatment group or to a wait-list control group. For ten weeks the students took three classes per week of a traditional martial art which emphasized self-protection and calmness, which used a combination of meditation and patterned movements called a kata.

At the end of the study, of 14 variables that were measured, the treatment students improved on almost all of them, while the control group actually deteriorated on most, including teacher-rated violence. In addition, there were significant differences between the groups on self-reported happiness, resistance to rules, impulsiveness, and inappropriate social behavior.

A follow-up on teachers' ratings of the students showed that improvement remained, and in some cases increased, for months after completion of the course.

The concern over youths is not new, and the idea of teaching them positive ways of dealing with aggressiveness and impulsivity is not new either. However, it is usually a soft approach, criticized for not being tough enough. What this study shows is that using traditional martial arts for intervention teaches self-confidence, and in turn increases the individual's sense of confidence and self-worth.

Why did the program work? Well, it probably helped that the intervention involved physical exercise. Kids have a lot of energy to dissipate. Second, the emphasis was on the development of skills of self-defense. Knowing how to protect yourself builds confidence. Third, the martial arts teacher was not a middle school teacher, and thus represented an authority from outside the system.

The study was so successful that in the following term, the school offered a similar class for disruptive girls, who can also benefit from learning martial arts.

Some teachers were reluctant to assign students to the course because it seemed like a reward, but that's just one of those things that make you shake your head.

Martial arts requires attention, commitment, and discipline.

One very quickly learns that before you can control someone else, you have to learn to control yourself. And this betrays one of the big secrets that is tangential to the training involved. The students were being paid attention to, and offered something unique that can turn into a life-changing experience. I'm not surprised they changed.

This approach is more than 'getting tough on youth crime' can offer. But if Stephen Harper is serious about youth crime, he could set an example and take up martial arts with his kids. He did say in the campaign that he likes to spend time with them, throwing balls and so on.

Who knows, maybe in the process he'd learn something himself.

Chris McCormick teaches criminology at St. Thomas University and his column on crime and criminal justice appears every second Thursday.

SimonM

10-23-2008, 09:52 AM

Which country is this article from?

GeneChing

10-30-2008, 09:52 AM

Rugby is pretty street. I learned how to head butt from a rugby player.

Boks turn to martial arts (http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=874154)
Sapa Published:Oct 30, 2008

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his team is literally fighting fit ahead of their three-Test tour starting against Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, November 8.

Hennie Bosman, the reigning World Senior Karate Champion and kickboxing expert, was leading the charge when the Boks started off their training session at the University of Cape Town’s Groote Schuur field yesterday afternoon.

There he was, with the help of another martial arts expert, teaching the Boks the art of handing off opponents in the tackle situation. He also drilled the players in exercises which were aimed at freeing themselves when held up in tackles.

Once the 7th Dan Black belt Bosman and his partner gave way, Springbok assistant coaches **** Muir and Gary Gold put the players through their paces. Muir kept the backs busy with basic handling exercises although players did not run in structured playing patterns.

As a result one could not gauge how new flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and new cap Earl Rose would be fitting into the Boks’ playing pattern, or what roles have been set out for them.

Jean de Villiers, the Boks’ key backline decision maker, was absent at training. He has been laid low with a stomach bug and has been kept indoors at the team’s Foreshore hotel in the Mother City.

Gold spent the afternoon working the forwards hard on the Australian-made scrummaging machine and there was lots of interest from the few thousand spectators in John Smit who was packing down at an unaccustomed tighthead position, alongside hooker Bismarck du Plessis and loosehead prop Tendai ’Beast’ Mtawarira.

This front row was backed up by second rowers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, flanked by Juan Smith and Pierre Spies, who usually plays at eighthman. However, the opposing pack also packed down without a No 8.

Later on in the scrummaging session Gold, who was assisted by Saru referees expert Neville Heilbron, moved the permutations around which saw Smit locked with hooker Chilliboy Ralepelle and loosehead strongman Gurthrö Steenkamp, at one stage.

However, the only position which remained constant as Gold moved the players around was that of the ’scrumhalf’ who would-be spies might have mistaken as the Boks’ new secret weapon.

The ’scrumhalf’ was none other Springbok flanker Schalk Burger who was sitting out at training because of a hamstring strain, which apparently is no cause for concern.

Weather conditions were fair in Cape Town yesterday afternoon and totally unlike what the Boks will encounter on their UK tour.

"It can be tough in the cold, rain and wind which we are bound to experience on tour," said Bok skipper Smit. "The really good teams adapt quicker to the local conditions. It’s the same when teams tour here.

"There are other aspects like the mistiming of the seasons, but given there’s not really an off-season any more, you can’t blame the fact that we’re at the end of our season."

Smit also spoke about the importance of this tour in the light of the British and Irish Lions’ campaign in South Africa next year.

"The bulk of the (British and Irish) Lions squad will come from the teams that we meet on this tour," said Smit. "Although the conditions will be different in South Africa than they will be on this trip, it is important that we win.

"Beating Wales, Scotland and England make it easier to set the tone for next year.

"Every player who goes on this tour will understand the magnitude of what is waiting for us next year.

"This is a great opportunity to suss out what they (the Lions) have in store for us and for us to score early psychological points."

"Any advantage we can gain against Wales, Scotland and England will be beneficial."

P.S. SimonM, if you follow the link in the post above, you'll find your answer. I always link to the source to credit them.

SimonM

10-30-2008, 10:08 AM

Thanks, eh.

Never been to frederickton.

TaichiMantis

10-30-2008, 11:30 AM

LOL, a JAPANESE SJ person to boot !

then again...how hard is it to run down and dump an 83 yr old? :cool:

sanjuro_ronin

10-30-2008, 11:38 AM

then again...how hard is it to run down and dump an 83 yr old? :cool:

That depends, some 83 years old can whip a mean walker !

GeneChing

10-31-2008, 09:57 AM

I'm always a little skeptical of teenagers telling stories like this, but we'll give Kyle the benefit of the doubt for now.

Martial arts student uses his skills to foil carjacking (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/749405.html)
A 19-year-old Jiu-Jitsu student thwarted a knife-wielding carjacker outside a Fort Lauderdale training center.
BY ADAM H. BEASLEY
abeasley@MiamiHerald.com

A martial arts center in northern Fort Lauderdale offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which the studio claims is the most effective self-defense in the world.

Wednesday night, one of its students -- 19-year-old Kyle Yates -- found himself in need of the training.

Yates fought off a knife-wielding carjacker in the center's parking lot and was able to speed away without injury, according to Fort Lauderdale police.

His attacker remained on the loose Thursday.

Reached by phone, Yates, of Fort Lauderdale, said his reaction was half-instinct, half-skill.

''The windows were down,'' Yates said, 'and I was thinking, `He ain't getting in my car.' ''

Here's how Fort Lauderdale police and the victim said it happened:

About 7 p.m., Yates was leaving Pablo Popovitch's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center, 1594 E. Commercial Blvd., following a practice.

As he got into his white Thunderbird, a man in his 20s approached, held a knife to Yates' neck, then demanded his car.

The demand was declined.

Yates shoved the thief's arm away, knocking him backward, then threw the car into reverse.

He later called police and told them what happened. There were no witnesses and the knife was not recovered, according to police.

Despite having a knife to his neck, Yates was nonchalant a day later.

''I really didn't take it seriously at all,'' he said.

The art student began his martial arts training earlier this year during a brief stint in the military. After his discharge in March, he started attending sessions at Pablo Popovitch's center.

The facility also offers classes in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing/Muay Thai and mixed martial arts.

''Since I've been there, I've been more of a calm person,'' Yates said. ``I react faster and make more rational decisions.''

His quick decision Wednesday night may have saved his Thunderbird.

sanjuro_ronin

10-31-2008, 11:38 AM

Isn't that a case of Car-Fu rather than BJJ ?

Lucas

11-03-2008, 03:33 PM

i woner if thats a case more of the guy didnt want to actually slit a throat so when he was pushed he just went 'oh well, he called my bluff'

who knows but the 'attacker'

GeneChing

11-12-2008, 01:03 PM

I'm disappointed to see UPI lists this as "odd news". This is excellent news.

Karate senior scares off would-be crooks (http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/11/12/Karate_senior_scares_off_would-be_crooks/UPI-82551226510557/)
Published: Nov. 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A 57-year-old New York man with a history of karate lessons says he used his martial arts skills to scare off three young would-be thieves.

Grandfather-of-six Diogenes Angeles said after being confronted by the three young men on his way to a pharmacy, he punched one of his would-be robbers and all three quickly fled the scene, the New York Daily News said Wednesday.

"They see that I am kind of old and figured they can just come and rob me," the retired sign painter said.

"Once they saw I could defend myself, they ran away," Angeles added. "I hope they learn from this and don't attack other people."

Angeles credited karate lessons he began taking at the age of 14 for thwarting Tuesday's potential robbery.

Police later arrested three suspects in relation to the incident, the Daily News said.

Those men have been identified as Eugene Sanchez, 19, Rakeem Johnson, 23, and Jason Lopez, 25.

GeneChing

11-19-2008, 10:30 AM

Anyone here from Bridgeport, CT of Richmond, VA?

New Police Chief: Martial Arts is Key (http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=9368554)
Posted: Nov 18, 2008 02:29 AM

Could martial arts help end gang activity and school violence? It's a question CBS 6 put to Richmond's new top cop.

Chief Bryan Norwood says kids need to be engaged and have strong role models. Norwood started martial arts programs as chief in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He calls those programs a huge success.

Now, he wants to implement these programs in Richmond city schools. "The martial arts provides that specific discipline that allows them to really focus on certain parts of their life," says Chief Bryan Norwood.

Strong discipline, strong minds and self confidence. They're a life long lesson for Brady Taylor. He believes he would be dead if he had not taken part in a martial arts program. Taylor's been enrolled in the program for several years. In middle school, Taylor says older kids picked on and physically abused him. "They punched me, kicked me, pushed me, threw me up against the chairs," says Taylor. This worried Taylor's mother. At one point, Patti Hobbs thought her son may turn violent. "Columbine really scared me because Brady was the child who nobody ever paid any attention to unless they were pounding on him," says Hobbs. But Hobbs say that changed when Brady signed up for Martial Arts. "If he could control his own environment and feel safe then he wouldn't need to lash out and it has worked...it's been wonderful."

CBS 6 contacted Richmond Public Schools. Right now, the district says it doesn't have Martial Arts programs in place. But Felicia Cosby tells CBS 6 the district is excited Chief Norwood is willing to work closely with students and looks forward to discussing this concept.

GeneChing

11-19-2008, 10:33 AM

This is one hardcore 10-year-old practitioner.

At Hospital, Wresting Control From Spina Bifida (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111803383.html)
By John Kelly
Wednesday, November 19, 2008; Page B03

If you have children who complain about the injustices of life -- about, say, the punishing chores they are required to complete -- may I suggest you share the story of Jessica Gregory?

Jessica, a 10-year-old from Forestville, is a stellar reader and an accomplished martial artist. She was born with spina bifida, a congenital disorder of the spine that can cause a variety of problems. Jessica has been visiting Children's National Medical Center since she was a baby. Three years ago, doctors there performed a series of procedures to make possible the bodily functions most people take for granted. A hole in Jessica's abdomen gives access to her bladder so she can be catheterized. Another, called a stoma, is in her belly button and allows the contents of her bowel to be flushed out.

These rituals must be performed several times a day, and almost from the start it's been Jessica who's been doing them.

"They believe in children being independent," said Jessica's mom, Sheila, of the staff at Children's. "They said: 'She has to do this on her own. If you start doing it, she's not going to do it.' "

Jessica was not thrilled by the prospect at first. Sheila drove the point home so often -- you must do this for yourself -- that Jessica appealed to a higher authority.

"I overheard her praying, and she said, 'God, that woman gets on my nerves,' " Sheila said. "I had to get myself together. I had a laugh, then I said: 'You can talk to the Lord all you want, but you still have to do it. I'm not going to do it.' "

Jessica did learn to do it and in the process took ownership of the situation. Mom Sheila and dad William used to call the regular irrigation of Jessica's bowel and bladder doing "the boo-boo thing." One day Jessica announced, "Can we call it 'the fluids'?"

A much better name.

"She's very self-sufficient, which is another thing the hospital trains them to do," Sheila said. The self-sufficiency extends in all directions. When she was younger, Jessica wore braces on her ankles and had difficulty walking. Sheila said Dr. Laura Tosi, a Children's Hospital orthopedic surgeon, told her that Jessica had to learn to pick herself up when she fell. Sheila should resist the urge to help.

When they'd go the mall, Sheila got scowls from shoppers suspicious of the stumbling child's inattentive mom. "People would look at me like, 'Okay lady, should we call child protective services?' "

It was Dr. Tosi who recommended that Jessica do either ballet or martial arts as a way of strengthening her legs. Said Dr. Tosi: "A critical challenge to pediatric hospitals is what happens when [patients] turn 18 or 21? How do we care for the adult with a congenital disorder?"

Research revealed that kids with spina bifida and cerebral palsy were entering adulthood with atrophied muscles, their bodies prematurely aged.

"Working with that knowledge base, I started kicking my kids in the can," Dr. Tosi said. Exercise became critical, not just to help minimize bone loss and help minimize weight gain but to improve morale.

Jessica's parents enrolled her in the Little Ninjas program at Full Circle Martial Arts Academy in Capitol Heights, where her older brothers had been students. Now the fourth-grader has a blue belt in kung fu.

On a recent day at Children's, Jessica stood on one foot, her arms birdlike at her sides. She had assumed her favorite kung fu position: the crane.

Why is it your favorite, I asked. "You get to have fun with it," Jessica said. "You have to stay focused."

Helping Children's

As I admired her martial arts poses, I asked Jessica what she wants to be when she grows up. "A doctor," she said. "That's easy."

When you see the lifesaving work done at Children's Hospital, it's hard not to want to help. It's too late for me to go to medical school. It's probably too late for many of you. But we can make a difference in another way: By taking part in The Washington Post's annual Children's Hospital fundraising campaign.

Our goal is to raise $500,000 by Jan. 9 to help pay the bills of poor sick children. To donate, write a check or money order payable to "Children's Hospital" and mail it to Washington Post Campaign, P.O. Box 17390, Baltimore, Md. 21297-1390.

To donate online using a credit card, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/childrenshospital.

To contribute by phone using Visa or MasterCard, call 202-334-5100 and follow the instructions on the recording.

bakxierboxer

11-21-2008, 03:25 AM

Anyone here from Bridgeport, CT of Richmond, VA?

Yep!.... "in the past".
I ran a couple of clubs and a school in Bridgeport, Ct during the 1960s and 1970s.

Probably not during the time of Norwood, but his name sounds a little bit familiar.

Bridgeport has/had "a certain amount of fame" as the home of one of the earliest "questionable" MAtists in the US.... guy actually put on shows as part of some Barnum & Bailey gigs.

TenTigers

11-21-2008, 02:21 PM

I'm always a little skeptical of teenagers telling stories like this, but we'll give Kyle the benefit of the doubt for now.

Kyle was discharged after a "brief stint" in the armed forces. I wonder on what grounds was he discharged?
I dunno. My "Spidey Sense" tells me it sounds more like Kyle is prone to exagerration.

rogue

11-22-2008, 06:27 PM

Anyone here from Bridgeport, CT of Richmond, VA?

Richmond area in the house. We'll see what Norwood can do, and FWIW one of the guys I train with is a Richmond cop.

Out of shape? By his standards, perhaps. By everyone else's standards, Norwood appears fit, trim and eager to run. Norwood is, in fact, an ardent practitioner of martial arts, in particular judo, Brazilian jujitsu and taekwondo. Long-distance running, he said, is a training tool that prepares him for and enhances his participation in those undertakings.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-11-14-0103.html

Good luck to Chief Norwood, he seems like a decent guy.

GeneChing

12-11-2008, 12:24 PM

I suffer from chronic pain (possibly from a lifetime of martial arts, but we won't dwell on that :o). I attribute my pain tolerance to my martial arts practice.

Montefiore class gives cancer kids new weapon (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/12/11/2008-12-11_montefiore_class_gives_cancer_kids_new_w.html)
BY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 11th 2008, 4:00 AM
Mendez for News

Kids Kicking Cancer class with program director Angela Babin. From left: Timothy Gordon, 10; Kevon Edwards, 11; Hahssan Cheaver, 6, Misha McKay, 17, and Michael Santiago, 11.

When Timothy Gordon throws a karate kick, the 10-year-old Bronx boy has a fierce opponent in mind - the sickle cell anemia piercing through his body.

"I think of kicking sickle cell anemia when I fight because I've been admitted to the hospital 11 times for it," said Gordan after completing a few chops and shouting "Hiya!"

Gordon is one of a handful of children participating in a martial arts class at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx aimed at helping youngsters with debilitating diseases cope with pain and anxiety.

The kids, ages 6 to 17, practice breathing techniques, meditation and martial arts moves once a week, tools they regularly use when getting shots, suffering with aches or feeling overwhelmed.

"These children are already on a lot of medication, so it's a nice, nonpharmalogical approach to pain management," said Dr. Karen Moody, co-director of integrative and palliative care at Montefiore Children's Hospital.

There is little scientific proof that popular alternative approaches significantly reduce pain, Moody admits, but the belly laughs in class prove they bring loads of smiles to sick kids.

"It feels like all the pain I have goes away in class, especially during meditation," said Kevon Edwards, an 11-year-old suffering from sickle cell anemia.

The martial arts program, called Kids Kicking Cancer, was started five years ago in Detroit by a rabbi who lost a daughter to leukemia. Since then, it has expanded to six New York hospitals, beginning at Montefiore in 2006.

The class also includes siblings of children with diseases, and bedside sessions are available for hospital-bound children.

"Martial arts is portable. You can do it in your hospital room; you don't need to see a ball. It doesn't matter if a kid has a IV pole or can't walk," said the program's instructor, Angela Babin.

During her intimate class held in a first-floor conference room, Babin holds a punching pad and stacks blocks for children to kick over.

"Whenever Angela comes in with her pads and says, 'You want to punch something?' they always say, 'Yes,'" said Dr. Moody.

But the children said they most benefit from the meditation at the beginning and end of class, techniques they say help them to focus on homework when they go home and distract them from painful shots in the hospital.

During a recent class, Babin asked the kids to describe darkness, causing them to shout out, "Cancer!" "Sickle cell!" and "Stomach pain!" Then she told them to breathe it out and breathe in the light.

Big exhalations could be heard, followed by deep inhalations.

"The breathing gets you to feel light in your body," said 6-year-old Hahssan Cheaver, who has sickle cell.

"It helps you get ready to fight pain."

Lucas

12-11-2008, 04:15 PM

thats awesome.

i love reading/listening to peoples life stories about how martial arts effected their health. some times bringing them back from what could be the brink of death due to bad life choices and habits.

hearing about kids like these sure puts fighting into perspective.

some kids are using martial arts to literally fight for their lives against themselves.

Lucas

12-11-2008, 04:21 PM

oh and i totally feel your pain man, to quote Iron Mike:

"I have some pain I'm gonna have for the rest of my life. So every now and then I kick your f**king ass."

GeneChing

01-05-2009, 06:11 PM

five seconds seems a little long for that move...

Man learns the hard way not to threaten martial-arts expert (http://newsminer.com/news/2008/dec/30/man-learns-hard-way-not-threaten-martial-arts-expe/)
By Chris Freiberg
Originally published Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.

FAIRBANKS — A Fairbanks man got more than he bargained for when he pulled a gun on a veteran martial artist last week.

Jeffrey Walker, 44, said he was minding his own business shortly after midnight Wednesday at Townhouse Apartments when he received a call from the neighbor below him that his two year-old was being too loud.

“He just starts berating me, saying that if I can’t shut the kid up, he’ll shut him up,” Walker said.

Walker, a former firefighter who has lived in Fairbanks for only about a year, thought his neighbor would call the police or the apartment manager to complain.

Instead he showed up at Walker’s front door with a .45-caliber handgun. Walker, who has studied the self-defense system of bojuka since he was 25, leapt into action when he saw the man pull the gun out of his hoodie.

Walker grabbed the barrel of the gun and lifted it up with his left hand while simultaneously using his right hand to push the assailant’s wrist and arm into his own head, effectively using the butt of the gun like a hammer.

“It only took about five seconds,” Walker said.

While his girlfriend called police, he continued to hit the man until he stopped resisting, though he says the instructor who taught him the disarming move wouldn’t have been so kind.

“My instructor would have shot him after taking it away,” he said.

Walker began studying bojuka when he was 25. Its creator claims that it teaches people who to eliminate threats with a variety of blocks, grapples and strikes that are committed to muscle memory. While studying bojuka, Walker was able to reach level 3, which is the grade just below becoming an instructor.

“The guy who taught me said at the time ‘Right now you have to make a conscious decision you are going to do this if it’s ever going to happen. You can’t hem and haw,’” Walker said.

He felt that if had not disarmed the man, he was going to be shot, as well as his girlfriend and child. Instead, he was able to disarm Eric E. Backlund, 38, of Fairbanks without a shot being fired. Backlund has been charged with third-degree assault, a felony, in connection with the incident.

When police arrived on the scene, they found him sitting in a pool of his own blood with Walker standing over him. He was treated for facial lacerations at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital before being arrested.

He later told police that bringing a gun into the situation was “monumentally stupid,” according to a criminal complaint filed in court.

Fairbanks police Sgt. Robert Thompson said that there was no doubt that Walker acted in self-defense, but he warned that the situation could have had a very different outcome.

“You don’t want to try to disarm someone if they have a gun in that situation unless there’s no other option,” Thompson said. “But it’s not something that I would recommend.”

Thompson said that in nearly 20 years on the police force, it was the first time he had heard of a civilian successfully disarming someone with a gun.

As for Walker, he was packing up to move Monday morning in case his alleged assailant got out on bail.

“I told the owner of the apartment complex I don’t feel safe here,” he said. “He could start shooting through the floor next time.”

GeneChing

01-28-2009, 10:30 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I knew I had to post this on our forum somewhere...

Amazing Art must See 60th Narcissus Pageant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfiULkwBbk)

sanjuro_ronin

01-28-2009, 10:49 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I knew I had to post this on our forum somewhere...

Amazing Art must See 60th Narcissus Pageant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfiULkwBbk)

Well done.

Mas Judt

02-03-2009, 06:58 PM

Simply brilliant

pyrodeity

02-07-2009, 06:45 PM

five seconds seems a little long for that move...

heyyyyy i meant the whole incident not just the disarm ;)

GeneChing

02-12-2009, 11:50 AM

A successful street application that can get you on Ellen

February 10, 2009 | Posted at 6:00 AM
An Unbelievable Speed Painting Demonstration! (http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2009/02/an_unbelievable_speed_painting.php)

Lisa Wong decided to take up speed painting as her pageant talent after being inspired by an episode of Ellen! Watch and you'll see how quickly she picked up the skill and added a whole new dimension -- by painting with the canvas upside down!

Lucas

02-14-2009, 02:50 PM

A successful street application that can get you on Ellen

impressive. the fact that she had a kungfu atmosphere to her performance, and that she painted bruce lee made it actually worth watching. plus she's a cutie.

although to be fair, she didnt really paint it just upside down, but from 3 angles it looked like.

now if she could do taht on a constantly rotating canvas, i would be very impressed.

i didnt know you were such a big ellen fan gene. ;):p

GeneChing

02-19-2009, 12:11 PM

19.02.2009
Would-Be Thief Gets Martial Arts Surprise (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4042310,00.html)

Thieves usually have to be worried about being knabbed by the police, not homeowners

Being a cat burglar isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure there's the adrenaline rush of getting away with a bag full of cash and jewelry, but as one German thief found out, it isn't always an easy task.

A general warning to any would-be robbers out there: make sure your intended victim isn't actually a martial arts expert.

Police in the northern German city of Bremen say a 25-year-old thief snuck into house in the port city, made his way upstairs to a bedroom, and began to go through drawers and cupboards looking for anything of value.

There was plenty to take, it seems, in the form of jewelry, but the robbery was cut short when the intended victim -- who just happened to have a black belt in judo -- used his martial arts expertise to overpower the intruder and hold him until police arrived.

Police say the thief, whose name has not been released, was carrying a knife and could be the man they've been looking for in connection to other robberies in the area. He is being held by the district attorney's office in the nearby town of Lueneburg.

Lucas - I had a girlfriend that was into stand-up comedy, so I caught Ellen way back in the day and thought she was funny. I didn't follow her on TV, but I thought she was good in Nemo.

GeneChing

05-20-2009, 10:21 AM

I used to train in San Leandro. Five&Dime represents!

Self-Defense Strategy Thwarts Kidnap-Attempt on Boulevard (http://www.castrovalleyforum.com/*ws4d-db-query-Show.ws4d?*ws4d-db-query-Show***FDH-BGC-210211217212218219-1413***-Database***-***sltimes(directory)a_cvf(directory)***.ws4d?slti mes/a_cvf/column.html)
By : Robert Souza : 5/19/09

The self-defense lessons 14- year old Devin Ervin learned in Ron Esteller’s Martial Arts classes helped him get out of a dangerous and frightening situation that unfolded on Castro Valley Boulevard last month.

At Esteller’s busy San Leandro studio, Ervin explained he was heading home from visiting a friend one night and ****zed past a homeless man near Wisteria on his skateboard when another man flagged him down with a $5 bill in his hand, asking him to take the money and hand it to the homeless person.

“I told the guy I was late and had to get home, but this guy seemed forceful and got really loud,” Ervin, a soft-spoken and polite Canyon Middle School student, explained.

Moments after taking the money to the homeless person, the other man approached Ervin in attempt to pull him in the direction of a black van that was parked in an adjacent lot.

It was at that point Ervin applied the techniques he had learned in Esteller’s martial arts classes—getting free by twisting and turning in the opposite direction of the suspect’s grip, then running at top speed across Castro Valley Boulevard.

“He was really determined to get me and really forceful,” Ervin said. While he talked, a group of youngsters practiced rigorous movements from Esteller’s anti-abduction strategies and techniques program, dubbed “Survey, Avoid, Flee, Engage” (SAFE) at the martial arts studio.

“A lot of these kids think that things like this can’t happen to them, but they do,” said Esteller, a Castro Valley resident who has practiced martial arts for the past 41 years. “It’s crazy it happened in Castro Valley.”

Esteller says he got the martial arts bug at age 13 watching TV’s “Wild Wild West” show with James West, who used the same martial art of Kajukenbo that Esteller has studied and taught for decades.

For 15 years, Esteller was a volunteer instructor at the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club on Marina Boulevard, then opened his own studio 10 years ago.

“The program I teach is to keep kids safe. If they can’t avoid—or run from—a situation, it will give them the tools to engage as a part of physical defense,” he said.

Ervin says Esteller’s martial arts classes and the SAFE program give him confidence and self assurance. “Before I had the attitude that I couldn’t be touched. It never occurred to me that this could happen. What I learned here helped me to think fast in that situation,” he said.

GeneChing

05-22-2009, 09:31 AM

...but no finishing move for the knock out.

Shopkeeper Subdues Robber (http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45773947.html)
Gary Reistad
WEST ALLIS - Paul Branski knows vacuum cleaners. He’s been the owner of West Allis Vacuum Center at 6766 W. Lincoln Avenue for 25 years and says what happened Thursday morning is a first.

The 44-year-old masked man who attempted to rob Branski’s store probably did not know Branski has nine years of Aikido martial arts training.

“He pushed the glass counter on top of me then I pushed it back,” Branski told TODAY’S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray. “You revert back to the John Wayne mentality, which is punch more than he's punching you.”

Branski wrestled the robber to the ground in a tussle he estimates lasted four minutes.

An alert passerby thought it suspicious when a man wearing a surgical mask walked into the store. He got the attention of some nearby police officers.

"You see somebody walking into a store with a mask, that would probably be a good time to call the police,” said Capt. Bill Kreuser, West Allis Police Department.

Officers arrived as Branski was still battling the suspect, now identified as 44-year-old Raymond Whiting. Whiting was on probation after release from prison in March and has a history of robbery convictions.

"[He] kept telling me he wasn't going to say anything if I let him up and I said, 'no, you're going to jail,’” Branski explained.

Branski made it out with a few minor cuts. The suspect did not have a weapon. Branski is thankful for the stranger who flagged down police because he was alone in the store.

"I'd still be on the ground two hours later fighting with the guy and we'd both be exhausted I'm sure,” he quipped.

Branski said this is the first time someone attempted to steal from him.

Lee Chiang Po

05-23-2009, 09:34 PM

There are more ways that martial arts training can aid you than just fighting. In 1969 I was just home from Vietnam and was working at a Gerber Baby Food plant. I worked the night clean up shift and had been employed there for about 4 months. One night I was asked to fill in for a guy that was sick and this entailed going up into the loft and clear out unused bottles and such. There was a square hole in the floor where they could raise and lower skids or something, and these holes were never to be covered with materials. However, the guys loading bottles into the conveyers had stacked a couple of broken down boxes directly over the hole. I was hustling to get done up there and walked straight across these boxes. It is 32 feet from the opening to the tile floor below. I fell through the hole, not touching any side as I fell through. I had a black belt for TJJ and had done many hours of break fall training. I did not have time to think about it, but instincively tucked my chin into my chest and used my arms and feet to break the fall at the instant I touched the floor. The impact was tremendous, the pain was un describable. My foot, leg, and both arms and back were black from bruising. I never lost consciousness, but had a time catching my breath. I hit hard, but broke no bones, and did not crush any organs. Less than a year before that a man had walked off the platform over one of the filler machines and landed on his back and it killed him. He fell less than 20 feet. I have to think that the training of breakfalls saved my life that day. I was injured to the point that I could not work for a couple of weeks, but not killed. Some years before that my high school coach and I were discussing somthing as we hustled down a long flight of stairs, and he turned an ankle and fell head long down the stairs. It was a long way down too. He was also trained in TJJ and using a tuck and roll posture he went all the way down the stairs without breaking anything. He was not completely unscathed, but he survived I feel because of his earlier martial arts training.

Lucas

06-02-2009, 01:10 PM

Lee Chiang Po

06-03-2009, 11:20 PM

situations like these and real life applications of our conditioning and reflexive responses, IMO, are the most used applications of the martial arts, in todays world. Out side of training.

Unless you are a professional fighter or peace keeper that is.
__________________

I think you are probably right about that. When I first started learning jujitsu I just was interested in the action moves like throwing and such, but eventually I learned to like the arm bars and wrist locks more than anything. Getting on to the main point, I had to spend the first several months just learning to fall from just about every different angle. In order to throw people I had to know the mechanics of falling because I would be taking my turn as throwee before I could learn to throw. Before I could move on to throwee I had to undergo a test. I was even asked to leap as high into the air as I possibly could and come down on my head and shoulders several times. It was actually very painful and impact would have my guts aching. Once it was determined that I could withstand a controlled throw without being injured I was then allowed to be thrown by some of the more advanced students, further developing my falling skills. I guess I was thrown to the mat at least 10,000 times before I was allowed to start learning to throw people. I am curious. Do Bjj students learn to fall before being able to learn to throw someone? Or do they even employ the throw? For most of that first year my back side was a shade of blue with some huge purple spots mixed in.

Xiao3 Meng4

06-10-2009, 05:04 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8093946.stm

Lucas

06-11-2009, 11:22 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8093946.stm

I think thats a very good thing.

GeneChing

06-15-2009, 09:52 AM

lathi is indian stick fighting...;)

India's 'pink' vigilante women (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7068875.stm)
By Soutik Biswas
BBC News, Banda

Members of the 'gulabi gang'
The 'pink' gang has staged protests against corrupt officials

They wear pink saris and go after corrupt officials and boorish men with sticks and axes.

The several hundred vigilante women of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state's Banda area proudly call themselves the "gulabi gang" (pink gang), striking fear in the hearts of wrongdoers and earning the grudging respect of officials.

The pink women of Banda shun political parties and NGOs because, in the words of their feisty leader, Sampat Pal Devi, "they are always looking for kickbacks when they offer to fund us".

Two years after they gave themselves a name and an attire, the women in pink have thrashed men who have abandoned or beaten their wives and unearthed corruption in the distribution of grain to the poor.

They have also stormed a police station and attacked a policeman after they took in an untouchable man and refused to register a case.

Poorest

"Nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and the police are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law in our hands. At other times, we prefer to shame the wrongdoers," says Sampat Pal Devi, between teaching a "gang" member on how to use a lathi (traditional Indian stick) in self defence.

We are a gang for justice
Sampat Pal Devi

Banda is at the heart of the blighted region that is Bundelkhand, one of the poorest parts of one of India's most populous states.

It is among the poorest 200 districts in India which were first targeted for the federal government's massive jobs-for-work programme. Over 20% of its 1.6 million people living in 600 villages are lower castes or untouchables. Drought has parched its already arid, single-crop lands.

Banda road (Pic: Soutik Biswas)
Banda is one of the poorest districts in Uttar Pradesh

To make matters worse, women bear the brunt of poverty and discrimination in Banda's highly caste-ridden, feudalistic and male dominated society. Dowry demands and domestic and sexual violence are common.

Locals say it is not surprising that a women's vigilante group has sprung up in this landscape of poverty, discrimination and chauvinism.

Sampat Pal Devi is a wiry woman, wife of an ice cream vendor, mother of five children, and a former government health worker who set up and leads the "pink gang".

"Mind you," she says, "we are not a gang in the usual sense of the term. We are a gang for justice."

'Uproot the corrupt'

Her seeds of rebellion were sown very early on when in face of her parents' resistance to send her to school, she began writing and drawing on the walls, floors and dust-caked village streets.

She finally ended up going to school, but was married off when she was nine in a region where child marriages are common. At 12, she went to live with her husband and at 13 she had her first child.

Sampat Devi (Pic: Soutik Biswas)
Sampat Pal Devi says nobody helps the poor

To keep the home fires burning, Sampat Devi began to work as a government health worker, but she quit after a while because her job was not satisfying enough.

"I wanted to work for the people, not for myself alone. I was already holding meetings with people, networking with women who were ready to fight for a cause, and was ready with a group of women two years ago," she says.

Sitting outside a home in Attara, Sampat Devi waves her calloused hands, breaks into a rousing song to "uproot the corrupt and be self reliant", and animatedly talks to women - and men - who flock to her with their problems.

A mother brings in her weeping daughter who has been thrown out by her husband demanding 20,000 rupees from her parents.

"He married me for the love of money," sobs Malti.

Sampat Devi tells her "gang" that they will soon march to the girl's house and demand an explanation from the husband. "If they don't take her back and keep her well, we will resort to other measures," she says.

'No handouts'

The pink sorority is not exactly a group of male-bashing feminists - they claim they have returned 11 girls who were thrown out of their homes to their spouses because "women need men to live with".

That is also why men like Jai Prakash Shivhari join the "gulabi" gang and talk with remarkable passion about child marriages, dowry deaths, depleting water resources, farm subsidies and how funds are being stolen in government projects.

"We don't want donations or handouts. We don't want appeasement or affirmative action. Give us work, pay us proper wages and restore our dignity," he says.

The women in the "gulabi gang" echo the same sentiment - but Sampat Devi has a separate agenda for women.

'Gulabi gang' members learning to fight with sticks (Pic: Soutik Biswas)
The women thrashed a policeman in protest against the arrest of a poor man

"Village society in India is loaded against women. It refuses to educate them, marries them off too early, barters them for money. Village women need to study and become independent to sort it out themselves," she says.

Where do the pink women go from here?

They already claim to have done some work in combating crime and corruption in the area. Last year, Sampat Devi contested the state polls as an independent candidate and mustered only 2,800 votes.

"Joining politics is not my chosen way to help people. We will keep up our good work, so the state does not take us for granted," she says.

In the badlands of Uttar Pradesh where nothing seems to work for the poor, this itself is a laudable aim.

Xiao3 Meng4

06-17-2009, 08:04 AM

Wow, Indian women are really taking a Shine to Martial Arts these days.

GeneChing

08-05-2009, 09:23 AM

Score another one for TKD (http://www.martialartsmart.com/tae-kwon-do-styles.html)!

Italian thief thanks police for rescuing him from his victims (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/italytourismcrimeoffbeat)
AFP
Mon Aug 3, 12:33 pm ET

ROME (AFP) – An Italian thief thanked police officers for arresting him and putting an end to a beating from Korean tourists whom he had robbed in Rome, police said on Monday.

"I must thank you, they were massacring me," the 48-year-old criminal told police after he was arrested near the Theatre of Marcellus, one of the monuments in Rome's historic centre.

The thief, from the northern region of Liguria, stole a handbag from a Korean family when they were not paying attention. He threatened the family with a knife when he was spotted and then tried to flee.

Two men from the family, in their twenties, chased him for several hundred metres before they got him down with taekwondo moves. They disarmed the thief and continued to beat him.

A patrolling police officer intervened, separated the three and arrested the thief immediately.

"Normally tourists will just call us and report the incidents," the officer said. "In this case, the two got really excited and could have seriously injured the thief."

The young Koreans left after they got the handbag back. The thief was transferred to a prison in Rome and will face robbery charges.

Armed robbery in Rome experienced a sharp decline last year with 4,246 cases reported in 2008 compared with 5,133 in 2007.

Lucas

08-05-2009, 10:56 AM

Score another one for TKD (http://www.martialartsmart.com/tae-kwon-do-styles.html)!

oh snap, you got beat to the punch! (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54911)

GeneChing

08-21-2009, 10:32 AM

How many of you train to defend against non-human opponents?

Mankato man uses martial arts to rescue woman being attacked by dogs (http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_13176270?nclick_check=1)
By Dan Nienaber and Brian Ojanpa
Mankato Free Press
Updated: 08/21/2009 07:28:57 AM CDT

Mankato police continue to investigate a dog-attack incident in which a woman was bitten before the dogs were fended off by a man using martial arts tactics.

Police said the incident happened about 6: 30 a. m. Tuesday in the Lincoln Park neighborhood when a woman outside her home was attacked by two Rotweilers.

Nearby resident Jesse Piotrowski, 28, said he was awakened by cries for help and went outside to see the woman lying on the ground.

He said that after he punched the dogs, one pulled back and the other attacked again.

After getting the woman back into her house, the dogs' owner came upon the scene and quieted them.

Piotrowski received bites on his leg during the fracas.

"The bite was nothing. The worst part was my toes. I basically jumped right out of bed, so the only thing I had on was my shorts."

He said pivoting on his feet martial arts-style while delivering the punches took a toll on his bare feet.

"That hurts worse than the bites. Funny side of the day," he said.

The name of the woman, who also broke her wrist during the incident, was not released, nor was the name of the dogs' owner pending possible criminal charges.

The owner reportedly told police he was putting the dogs in his yard when they got away from him.

Police said the dogs will be kept in isolation 10 days to determine whether they have rabies.

GeneChing

11-05-2009, 10:43 AM

Kung fu taxi driver (http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/business-in-china/100195026-1-kung-fu-taxi-driver.html)
Published: 04 Nov 2009 17:02:01 PST

Two would-be thieves in Wuhan, Hubei Province got shocked after they tried to stun a taxi driver with electric paddles and rob him at knife point on October 27.

The driver, Shi Zhigang, 33, was initially jolted on the back of his head with the high voltage paddles after driving the pair to a farm area as they had instructed. One pointed a knife at the stunned cabbie and demanded his fare money, but Shi – who is also a trained martial artist – pulled a nunchuck from beneath his seat and drove them from the cab, beating them back into a nearby ditch.

He then called police who arrived to arrest the pair who were "trembling in the ditch's foul water."
There's even a little cartoon. It has a 3-section staff (http://www.martialartsmart.com/25-34.html) instead of nunchuks (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-nunchakus.html), but we won't quibble.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/attachment/091104/aaf5f35689.jpg

GeneChing

12-02-2009, 11:02 AM

Nunchaku (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-nunchakus.html) for home defense! (in the states where nunchaku are legal, of course).

Man accused of sexually assaulting 3 women testifies at trial (http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Man+accused+of+sexually+assaulting+3+women+testifi es+at+trial%20&id=4527751-Man+accused+of+sexually+assaulting+3+women+testifi es+at+trial&instance=home_news_window_left_top_3)
by Chris Freiberg / cfreiberg@newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — The man accused of sexually assaulting three women took the stand Tuesday morning to tell his side of the story.

In his testimony, Gareth Demoski, 21, largely agreed with the stories given by the three women who testified before him during the past week. He admitted to having sex with two of them and did not differ in his account of how he met the women.

He claims the sex with two of the women was consensual; the women claim he raped them.

Under cross-examination from assistant district attorney Sara Simpson, it was revealed that Demoski wrote a message on MySpace apologizing to a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her in June 2007 at his parents’ home.

“I found out that she was accusing me of this, and I felt bad about what she thought had happened,” Demoski said.

Simpson attempted to hurt Demoski’s credibility by pointing out a juvenile conviction for vehicle theft and that Demoski denied, when he first spoke with investigators, having sex with either woman.

“Your testimony today is that you lied to police in every one of these investigations, correct?” Simpson asked.

“Yes,” Demoski said.

In the case of the third woman, an acquaintance who told investigators that Demoski fondled her while she slept after breaking into her trailer in June 2008, Demoski admitted to burglarizing the trailer but denied touching the woman.

He told the jury of seven men and seven women, including two alternates, that after he slept at the trailer the previous year he had money stolen from him and that he broke in to get even with the thieves.

“What were you doing in the bedroom?” Demoski’s attorney, Nelson Traverso, asked him.

“The thing that came to mind was a wallet or money or anything valuable,” he said. “I tripped over something. I don’t know if I hit the bed or not.”

The woman previously testified she awoke to find Demoski sitting on the bed next to her and that her fiancé chased Demoski out of the trailer after hitting him over the head with a pair of nunchaku.

Demoski had been banned from the woman’s house the previous month after she said he drunkenly grabbed her buttocks and pushed her onto a bed.

“I didn’t like her like that,” he said. “I was just goofy.”

Jurors have today off. Testimony is expected to end Thursday.

GeneChing

02-11-2010, 04:18 PM

These were headed towards our Bad Day for Samurai Wannabees thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52919), until I realized they were quite the opposite.

Father cleared after chopping off intruder's ear with Samurai sword (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7207005/Father-cleared-after-chopping-off-intruders-ear-with-Samurai-sword.html)
A father-of-two who used a Samurai sword to defend his family against a pair of intruders, resulting in him severing one of their ears, has walked free from prison.
By Chris Irvine
Published: 7:30AM GMT 11 Feb 2010

Builder David Fullard, 46, from Brough, East Yorkshire, was prosecuted for attacking Michael Severs, 22, after using a "battlefield weapon" to defend his home when he and Michael Smith, 19, forced their way into his home. However he was cleared of unlawful wounding in November last year following a nine-month legal battle.

The ordeal once again raises the debate about the role of self-defence in the home. Last month businessman Munir Hussain was freed from prison after attacking a burglar who held him and his family hostage. Hussain, whose prison sentence was suspended by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, has called on the current law on self defence to be "revisited".

The judge at Hull Crown Court lifted reporting restrictions yesterday after the men who threatened him were given six month suspended prison sentences after admitting affray.

The court heard that Severs and Smith, who were high on drink and drugs, vaguely knew Mr Fullard's eldest son Tom, 17, and knocked on the door of the family home claiming he owed them £5. The pair then barged into the living room and threatened Mr Fullard's long-term partner Susan Neal, 53. Mr Fullard's youngest son Danny, 14, was also in the house.

“I wanted the flat of the sword to hit him. I hit him once. I thought he was going to kill me or put me in hospital. I thought to myself he is going to take me apart," Mr Fullard told the jury.

"If there had been a walking stick there. I would have hit him with a walking stick. I just wanted to stop him."

The prosecution had argued that the use of the Samurai sword was a case of self defence gone too far.

Mr Fullard's barrister Mark Bury argued however: “This is not a man who settles disputes with his fist or a sword. To do so would go against the principles he has held all his life. This was lawful, anticipatory, self- defence. You do not have to wait until you are hit. The two men were frightening men."

Sure, a raccoon doesn't sound as scary as a mountain lion but raccoons are still formidable wild animals.

Feb 11, 2010 12:01 pm US/Pacific
Teen Fights Off Racoon, Not Mt. Lion, With Sword (http://cbs13.com/local/teen.sword.raccoon.2.1488515.html)
Laura Cole
FAIRFIELD, Calif. (CBS13) ―

A Fairfield teen's story of fighting off a Mt. Lion with a Samarai sword to protect his dog may have been embelished just a tad. The Department of Fish and Game says the dog was attacked -- but by a racoon, not a cougar.

Department personnel checked paw prints and feces to come to their conclusion.

Marquel Dawson, 19, was playing fetch with his dog Stunna earlier this week in their wide-open backyard when the two came face to face with a big creature that Dawson believed was a mountain lion. The dog immediately moved to protect his master.

"He turns and looks at the bush, and turned back and looked at me, he takes off running into the bush and I hear tussling around," Marquel said.

Marquel said he ran 150 yards back to his house and grabbed the only think he could think of: His samurai sword.

"By the time I got down there it was on top of him, so I swung the sword and hit him once and I threw my arms up and made a loud noise," he said.

The startled animal took off, but Stunna was unable to move. Marquel rushed the dog to the veterinarian, who is keeping him overnight to treat him for lacerations to the side of his face and the top of his head.

Marquel says he would make the same choice to help his dog again.

"I've had that dog since he's a puppy and he feels like family," he said.

uki

02-12-2010, 04:35 AM

How many of you train to defend against non-human opponents?to be honest... i do - it develops inter-dependently with fighting human(oid) opponents, the only difference is actually training it. years ago i lived in florida and there was a neighborhood stray pitbull, "mocha", i spent alot of time getting it all wound up and then deflecting it's attacks - imagine pushing hands with a dog, much like jou tsung hwa was reknowned for pushing hands with his farm goat... which reminds me how much i miss my goat. :(

Dragonzbane76

02-12-2010, 06:13 AM

which reminds me how much i miss my goat.

and you make fun of WV. lol...comments like this i wonder.

uki

02-13-2010, 04:59 AM

lol...comments like this i wonder.what's to wonder about?? i bought a goat for the family as a christmas present one year, it was a nuetered male(i didn't know this), my girlfriend pointed it out, we returned the goat and she picked out a different one, only this one happened to be unknowingly pregnant - she gave birth to a male a few months later that we named "wang", who lived for about 9 months and got to a weight of about 120... he was dangerous to anyone not paying attention, especially the children... unfortunately he died of some crazy male goat problem where the uretha gets a knot in it or twisted and they cannot urinate, so they slowly poison themselves. i found this out after racing wang to the vet after he got sick... i was balling my eyes out when they said there really isn't anything to do, so they put him to sleep and i brought him home and fed him to the turkey vultures. before he died, we took the mom and shot her and ate her... i butchered her up on a butcher block thrown across the hood of my old '81 jetta. :)

Jimbo

02-15-2010, 12:18 AM

I had always thought that capoeira was "hiding" reality combat grappling moves in its aerial dance moves, but I'm not a capoerista.

In any case, the bully thing in high school applies just as much to CMA circles as well. Anybody who's perceived as "different" or "uncool" is going to face lots of social opposition from the "in crowd". Bullies don't change their stripes as they get older.

By the way, I'm sure people remember that incident where that guy robbed the US track and field team and then got chased down by Olympic caliber athletes. I remember thinking "Those track athletes were very fortunate that the guy robbing them didn't have a GUN".

I'm reciting this from memory, so forgive my lack of details. But this was a fairly big local story in 2009.

Last year, there was a series of home invasions in the San Diego area in which a Caucasian man was targeting lone Asian women and raping them. He was probably targeting them as they shopped, and would attack them as they were entering their houses/apartments. Finally, he targeted the wrong woman. As he attacked her in her open garage, she fought him off and he ran. The woman (who was not Asian), a marathon runner, then proceeded to chase him for several blocks. At one point she caught up to him and he turned and punched her in the face, but she got up and continued chasing and yelling. Eventually the man was subdued (by either passers-by or a cop, I don't remember) and arrested. His DNA linked him to the earlier series of rapes. The man (if I remember, 39 years old) was married and the respected owner of a popular coffee shop in San Diego's Little Italy district. While in jail awaiting a court date, he committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell.

I know this wasn't martial arts, but thought it a fitting story. This woman sure has the fighting spirit.

GeneChing

02-22-2010, 11:06 AM

The old 'I know kung fu' warning worked!

Kung fu cyclist catches crook in Hatfield (http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/5021830.Kung_fu_cyclist_catches_crook_in_Hatfield/)
4:54pm Monday 22nd February 2010

A HATFIELD boy of 14 helped catch a shoplifter yesterday by cycling after him and threatening to use his martial arts skills.

After seeing a security guard chasing two thieves out of Asda in the town centre at 1.50pm, the youngster chased one on his biycle, caught up with him and warned him he practised kung fu.

The 19-year-old crook dropped his loot, but was soon arrested by police arriving at the scene, and accepted an official caution for theft.

Inspector Ian Grout said: "Whilst we would not encourage members of the public to intervene in any situation for their own safety, the actions of this community spirited young man should be highlighted.

“If he had not intervened we may not have arrested this man."

The boy was rewarded with a £10 Asda voucher.

uki

02-23-2010, 12:17 AM

Whilst we would not encourage members of the public to intervene in any situation for their own safetyLOL... i love how they are sooo concerned about our safety. of course they don't want people to develop a backbone and learn to stand up for themselves - there would be little need for the police then. :)

Jimbo

03-02-2010, 09:43 PM

Sadly, today a body was found during a search for missing 17-year-old Poway High School student Chelsea King. She disappeared Feb. 25th while jogging in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. John Albert Gardner III, a convicted sex offender, has been arrested in the case.

(The following is a partial excerpt from the San Diego Union-Tribune, March 2).

'He appears to be the same man who attacked a 22-year-old woman jogger in the same park on Dec. 27. The woman, Candice, was visiting her parents who live near the park. Her mother, Lorie, says that back home in Colorado, her daughter usually runs with her pit bull and a can of mace, but Candice was on her own that Sunday morning in December.

She was walking on the trails headed back toward her family's home about 10:30 a.m. when she passed a man walking the other way, her mother said. She said "hello" to him and he nodded back. He then body-slammed her to the ground and asked for money. When she screamed, he told her to "shut up."

She responded, "You're going to have to kill me first." He said, "That can be arranged," the mother recounted.

The assailant, who she described as football-player big, then pulled her up and started shaking her by the shoulders, and Candice elbowed him in the nose and ran. She thought she might have broken his nose. She stopped at the first house she found, banged on the door and called 911.

Officers showed up moments later to begin a search of the area, and a police helicopter broadcast the man's description to residents.

Lorie and her husband, who live nearby, heard the helicopter and decided to take their dogs down to the park, she said. As they were walking, they didn't think for a second that their daughter had been the victim, even joking that if he had come across Candice she would kick his butt.

When the couple returned home later, they found their daughter with bruised shoulders and evidence that she had been in a fight for her life. Candice had trained in martial arts since she was a little girl.

"I've never been so grateful for that training in my life," her mother said.

Collins said Candice left town before she could work with police to do a composite sketch of the assailant. Candice's sister, a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School, wrote an editorial in the school paper last week about the ordeal, saying police swabbed Candice's elbow for DNA evidence in hopes of getting a hit.

Police did not disclose what evidence was obtained in the case, nor if any tests were conducted.'

TaichiMantis

03-03-2010, 05:08 AM

Wow, just saw that guy on the news. Gotta love the old elbow to the nose! Whatever you can do to give yourself time to get away is a win!

GeneChing

03-15-2010, 09:40 AM

"a more gentle part of his fist" indeed. What is up with this guy getting in so many self defense situations?

Student picks wrong home for break-in (http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100315/ARTICLES/3151011/1002)
By Lise Fisher
Staff writer
Published: Monday, March 15, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 11:37 p.m.

A man trying to break into a southwest Gainesville home early Sunday made the mistake of picking the home of a martial arts trainer with a black belt.

When police arrived at 17 S.W. 24th St., they found Christopher Brunson, a 22-year-old University of Florida student in criminology from Gainesville, on the ground with Mark-Jason "M-J" White, 26, standing guard. White, also a UF masters student who has a second-degree black belt and teaches a form of martial arts called Cuong Nhu, caught Brunson entering the downstairs part of the home he shares with his two sisters.

"In essence, he gift wrapped this case for us. He did a great job," Lt. Keith Kameg said about White.

Brunson later told police he had been out drinking, had too much and thought White's residence was his home, which officers reported is located almost four miles away.

White said he heard something in the downstairs part of the home where his sisters live at about 7 a.m. Sunday.

He rushed downstairs, wearing shorts, no shoes or a shirt, and carrying a short stick and a sheathed knife and found a man starting to climb through a broken window.

"I told him to get down," White said. At first the man seemed to be following orders but then, White said, the man started getting up. "I quickly moved behind him and struck (him) once in the middle of the back and he basically flattened out," White said, describing how he used a more gentle part of his fist to hit the man on the back just below his shoulder blades.

"At that point, he was more pliable," and followed commands, White said.

Police reported Brunson, arrested for burglary of an occupied dwelling, had been banging at the front door of the home and then picked up a chair and threw it into a window. Brunson later told police he did remember throwing the chair but nothing else afterward.

Police said there was no indication Brunson had any injuries.

White said his sisters weren't home at the time and they didn't know Brunson.

This isn't the first time White, who has lived in Gainesville since 2002, has had to ward off an intruder or attackers locally.

He surprised a woman who broke into his home when he was living behind Norman Hall. He also twice fended off muggers when he worked as a pizza delivery man.

Currently in a master's program in children's literature, White also runs a dojo on campus and helps out at the Unified Training Center in Gainesville. He's been training in different forms of martial arts, focusing on Cuong Nhu, since 1998.

White said he wasn't sure why Brunson tried to get into the home. "People make mistakes. He was saying some weird stuff about it being cold," he said.

"That's why I didn't go any harder on him. I didn't use a more painful hit. I tell my students all the time, if there is a situation where you have to use self-defense, you have to monitor what you're doing."

Nonetheless, White said he was prepared for a tougher adversary. The knife he had, called a karambit, has a brass knuckle edge on the front and a curved dagger.

The stick is called a tambo and is a basic weapon a martial arts student would start out with, he said. But it only takes one shot with the stick to cause injury.

"It's nothing to joke about," he said.

GeneChing

03-19-2010, 09:17 AM

Robber picks wrong victim who opens up can of kung fu (http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/198568.asp)

One robber picked the wrong place to hit early Thursday morning. His victim, a self-defense instructor, fought him and forced him to run away.

The victim called Seattle police at 3:32 a.m. to say a suspect walked into his business in the 400 block of Dexter Avenue North and tried to take the cash register.

Our victim/self-defense instructor went all Bruce Lee on him and tried to grab him.

The robber escaped, but dropped the cash register and left behind his cell phone and bicycle. (Well, at least he was an environmentally sound robber.)

A police search with dogs failed to find him. But an officer spotted the robber at Fourth Avenue West and West McGraw Street before 5 a.m. The victim identified the suspect, who is in jail.

Posted by Scott Sunde at March 18, 2010 10:26 a.m.
went all Bruce Lee on him...:D

TaichiMantis

03-19-2010, 12:05 PM

Whew! If he had failed, this would have been in the Bruce Lee Wannabe thread...;)

Jimbo

03-19-2010, 10:51 PM

Frost

03-22-2010, 04:35 AM

I have been showing a friend of mine basic boxing so he can work the heavy bag for fitness...also throwe in some slipping and covering up now and then for fun.......long story cut short he whilst on a stag night he was attacked by a drunk, he slipped the drunks attack and hit him with a hook punch tot he ribs, he later found out he had cracked two of the guys ribs

GeneChing

04-09-2010, 10:45 AM

More apps for samurai swords (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html). Every home should have one.

Apr 8, 2010 3:18 pm US/Eastern
Erie Man Won't Be Charged For Killing Burglar (http://kdka.com/wireapnewsfnpa/District.attorney.says.2.1620294.html)
ERIE, Pa. (AP) ― Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri says an apartment resident won't be charged for killing a burglar with a samurai sword last month.

Authorities have not released the name of the tenant who stabbed 24-year-old Delvon Crockett in the chest about 11:30 p.m. March 9.

Daneri says Thursday that "The actions of the homeowner do not rise to the level of criminal conduct."

Authorities say Crockett had a walkie-talkie when he broke into the home, but they haven't determined if anybody else was involved in the crime.

Crockett's family has said he got a call about an opportunity to make money earlier the day of the burglary.

Family court judge says Samurai sword attack not grounds for divorce (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/09/2010-04-09_got_divorce_but_felt_like_sword_loser.html)
BY Thomas Zambito
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Friday, April 9th 2010, 4:00 AM

Shlomo Kupperman tried to divorce his wife on 'cruel and inhuman' grounds after he said she attacked him with a Samurai sword.

You can live by the sword or die by the sword. But one Long Island couple can't get divorced by the sword.

Computer analyst Shlomo Kupperman tried to dissolve his hellish 30-year marriage on the grounds that his wife, Irene, had threatened him with a Samurai sword.

But Nassau County Family Court Judge Edward Maron ruled that since Kupperman wasn't hurt, it didn't amount to "cruel and inhuman" behavior.

Shlomo Kupperman, 58, claimed that after Irene had repeated affairs, she went ballistic when he asked where she had been one day in August 2005.

He claimed she grabbed a sword with a 3-foot blade from his collection and charged at him while he was standing in the kitchen with his daughter - coming within inches of his chest.

"He testified that he slowly retreated back in the bedroom and locked himself in for the night, fearing that his wife would come back and hurt him in the middle of the night," Maron wrote, noting that no one called cops or went to the hospital.

After the incident, Kupperman said he developed a sleeping disorder because he feared "sneak attacks" by his wife.

Irene Kupperman, 57, claims she never attacked anyone.

"It's beyond ridiculous," said her lawyer, Andre Ferenzo, who noted that the husband is a black belt in karate. "The first thing he would have done was call the police or report it to the court."

The judge rejected the "cruel and inhuman" grounds, but granted the divorce because Irene Kupperman moved to Virginia to open a bath and shower business in 2007.

Ferenzo said she may appeal. Shlomo Kupperman had no comment.

"He's happy he's divorced," said his lawyer, Anthony Capetola. "It has been a dead marriage for years."

sanjuro_ronin

04-09-2010, 01:00 PM

uki

04-10-2010, 04:37 AM

Back in the '90s, the local paper reported a small story about a woman who successfully defended herself from a burglar in her house. I don't remember all the details, but the gist of the story was, she had "kicked him through a wall" and was able to put him under control until he was arrested (or something). I can only imagine the wall was some cheap drywall(?). The article mentioned that the woman had been a black belt in the "Chuck Norris Karate System".one of my friends in florida was the victim of an attempted robbery - got shot 4 times point black and still managed to beat the p!ss out of the dude and was sitting on him when the police arrived... he survived, but is kinda mangled from the gunshot wounds... it's all about willpower. :)

Frost

04-10-2010, 09:19 AM

Impossible, boxing is a sport and not created for the street !!
:D

just as rugby is a sport, however i would much rather mess with a wing chun guy than a good AM boxer, or a prop who is drunk and looking for a fight :)

GeneChing

04-29-2010, 11:42 AM

I had a similar thing happen once in our kung fu class. Some fool tried to grab the tip jar from our neighboring pizzeria. The tip jar was one of those water cooler jugs and it was like a third full, so it weighed a ton. The perp came running down the back alley where we all trained. Of course, we all knew that pizzeria well as we spent many hours after class there, so when the store manager yelled 'stop that guy' we did. As luck would have it, we were working on staff sparring at the time, so there was about a dozen of us with eyebrow height rattan staffs (http://www.martialartsmart.com/31s-6072.html). We were all warmed up and ready to bang. The perp gave up immediately. It makes me chuckle, just thinking back on it...

Tai chi class helps nab kidnap suspect in Asheville (http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100429/NEWS/304290027)
Montford woman held at knifepoint
By Clarke Morrison • April 29, 2010

ASHEVILLE — Sharon Fahrer was looking out her kitchen window when the attacker surprised her from behind, put her in a chokehold, held a switchblade to her face and demanded her purse.

He might have made a clean escape, had it not been for the tai chi class practicing in nearby Montford Park.

The attack happened just after Fahrer, 60, and housemate Kaylen Marks had walked into their Montford Avenue home around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The suspect barged through the door behind them and demanded her purse, Fahrer said Wednesday.

“I was scared, but I remained calm,” she said.

Fahrer, coordinator of the Montford Music and Arts Festival, said she screamed as the man maneuvered her through the dining room to her purse in the foyer.

He asked her were her car keys where, and she said she didn't know, even though they were hanging around her neck.

That's when he fled out the door with her purse and toward the park, where Trey Crispin was getting ready to start his weekly tai chi class.

He spotted the man running and then heard Marks yell out that a man had stolen Fahrer's purse.

So Crispin and two of his students chased the man, while another student called 911.

The suspect ran behind a house.

“We fanned out,” he said. “Everybody kept their distance. We just kind of held position until he started making another move.”

Meanwhile, a police cruiser siren could be heard approaching the area.

“I said, ‘If you run, I'm going to chase you,'” Crispin said.

Officers soon apprehended the suspect, identified as Jeremy Chad Hall, 34, of Asheville.

Crispin said Fahrer's purse was found stashed behind a garage.

“There wasn't even a question about chasing the man,” he said. “It was nice that we could help out.”

Police charged Hall with first-degree kidnapping, breaking and entering and larceny, misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, according to arrest warrants. He was jailed under $50,000 bond.

Hall spent nearly eight years in prison before his release last year, according to N.C. Department of Correction records.

His felony convictions date back to 1993, and include being a habitual felon, breaking and entering and larceny, embezzlement and breaking and entering motor vehicles.

Fahrer called what happened “a tremendous triumph of neighborhood and police cooperation.”

She also said she should have locked her door when she went into the house.

“That's the sort of lesson from this,” she said. “My message to other people is to make sure to lock your door.”

GeneChing

04-30-2010, 12:28 PM

"Not very graceful" that's such a tai chi comment.

Police: Tai Chi Class Catches Crook (http://www.wyff4.com/news/23314445/detail.html)
Jeremy Chad Hall Charged With Kidnapping, Larceny, Assault
John Eby, WYFF News 4 Reporter
POSTED: 11:12 pm EDT April 29, 2010
UPDATED: 12:26 pm EDT April 30, 2010

ASHEVILLE, N.C. --
Asheville police arrested an alleged thief Tuesday evening with the help of a tai chi class.

Jeremy Chad Hall, 34, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, breaking and entering, larceny, misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

Sharon Fahrer said she was standing in the kitchen of her Montford Avenue home when Hall robbed her.

Fahrer said, "All of a sudden, this person came up and puts me in a choke hold and shows me his knife and says, 'I want your purse.'"

She said she led him to the spot where she kept it; on the way she said he asked where she kept her car keys.

"I said, 'I don't know,'" she said. "They were around my neck, but you know, I figured if he's getting my purse, I'm not giving him my car keys."

She said he ran outside with her purse, straight into nearby Montford Park, where a tai chi class was practicing.

The teacher, Trey Crispin, said he saw the man running by.

"And he seemed out of sorts, in a hurry. Not very graceful," Crispin said.

When the class heard Fahrer's roommate screaming that someone had stolen a purse, the class snapped into action.

Crispin said two people went to check on Fahrer, one called 911, and two more followed him to confront the thief.

Crispin said that when he confronted the man, he acted as if he had done nothing wrong.

"He's like, 'No, no, I'm being chased by people!' And I was like, 'I understand, but if you run, I'm going to chase you.' And then he kind of like short-circuited and then took off," Crispin said.

Crispin said he and the students took positions around the man as he hid behind a nearby house.

When police arrived, the tai chi class made their move.

"I had my good friend Cory Pines to my left. He was running flank. And my good friend James coming up behind me, and we just kind of did a nice little pincer move..." Crispin said as he drew his hands to a point in front of him, "...right to a cruiser."

Fahrer said the capture was a victory for the historic Montford neighborhood, which has worked to set up a neighborhood watch and which she said works closely with police.

"I feel like this is a very close-knit place, that people are willing to help other people," she said.

As of Thursday evening, police said Hall was in the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.

TaichiMantis

05-06-2010, 04:51 AM

5 Maine students, including one trained in self defense, jump to aid of peer (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36969903/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/)

BANGOR, Maine - Five female students, including one who'd recently completed a self-defense class, jumped to the aid of a fellow student, grabbing her knife-wielding attacker and holding him until police officers arrived at Husson University, officials said Wednesday.

Jesse Hladik put her new skills to work when she lunged for the hand holding a knife, while fellow students grabbed the man's other limbs and wrestled him to the ground. Hladik, 21, of Buckfield, said she knew the pressure points to make him drop the knife, thanks to the class.

"It was really scary, but I'm glad we got involved," said student Heather Mann, 18, of Rochester, N.H. "Because I really think he would have killed her."

Officers responding to the report of a domestic fight at 7:40 a.m. arrived to find 45-year-old Horst Wolk of Bangor subdued on the pavement. A campus officer cuffed him, and city police hauled him away.

John Michaud, professor of legal studies, heard the commotion and saw a pile of people on the pavement, while more women stood by, ready to jump in, if necessary.

"I was very impressed by the students," Michaud said. "How many times do you hear about people walking by incidents like this? These young ladies weren't going to walk by this incident." He said the young women disarmed the suspect and "had the situation well in hand."

Wolk has been charged with attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault, aggravated assault and violating a protection order, said Bangor Police Sgt. Paul Edwards. He remained jailed Wednesday afternoon on $25,000 bail. There was no indication whether he had an attorney.

The incident unfolded in a parking lot next to Husson's O'Donnell Commons. Wolk, who isn't a student, rammed the victim's vehicle after she pulled into a parking space at 7:40 a.m., then jumped out of his vehicle with a knife in his hand, said Julie Green, Husson spokeswoman.

The injured woman, who was not identified, was treated at a local hospital and released.

Edwards said officers generally don't want bystanders to put themselves in harm's way.

"We would never recommend getting involved to the point where you might get hurt yourself and become a second victim. But am I proud of what they did? Of course I am. Am I glad they did it? Yeah. I'm happy because the outcome was good," Edwards said.

Hladik said she realized the importance of self defense.

"Not that the situation is going to happen again here, but it is so much better to know what I was doing, to make a little plan in a couple of seconds before doing something because I can't imagine being one of the girls without training and not knowing what to do," she said.

"I think that is bravery because they had never fought ... they had no idea what to do and they still stepped in."

Xiao3 Meng4

05-20-2010, 09:14 AM

Aussie Ninjas. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10130346.stm) Do they have boomerang shuriken?

Three muggers in Australia got the fright of their lives when their attack was interrupted by five black-clad ninja warriors.

The thieves were assaulting a German medical exchange student in Sydney, but the alleyway where they struck was next to a school for ninja warriors.

One of the pupils raised the alarm after noticing the attack.

Police say they have arrested two men and charged them with robbery, and are still looking for a third suspect.

"We just ran outside and started running at them, yelling and everything," said ninja master Kaylan Soto who instructed his students to take action.

"These guys have turned around and seen five ninjas in black ninja uniforms running towards them. They just bolted."

The victim suffered minor injuries, and the men stole his mobile phone and iPod, according to police.

Mr Soto said the man could have escaped the assault with some training in ninjitsu - a Japanese martial art. As for the attackers, "They just picked the wrong spot," he added.

GeneChing

06-29-2010, 09:49 AM

Kung Fu experts tackle Newport burglar (http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8244640.Kung_Fu_experts_tackle_Newport_burglar/)
2:10pm Tuesday 29th June 2010

A BURGLAR picked the wrong house to raid in Newport - being caught red-handed by the former policeman owner and his son, who both have black belts in Kung Fu.

Lewis Welch, 20, was jailed for two and a half years yesterday after admitting burglary and two offences of battery during the raid on the home of former Gwent police constable Mohammed Deen at 11.10pm on June 2.

Welch, of Thames Close, Bettws, had woken Mr Deen's terrified daughter Rukeya, 19, by walking into her room, running out of the house in Maindee when she screamed at him, Newport crown court heard.

Mr Deen and son Hussan, 21, who gained his black belt the day before the raid, were on their way home from a local mosque when the dad saw Welch acting suspiciously outside their nearby home.

Mr Deen, a police constable between 1991 and 2001 commended for bravery after disarming a woman with a knife in 1995, heard his daughter's scream and looked over the wall where he saw three people filling up a bag.

Mr Deen said he was punched or kicked in the neck which dazed him but managed to hold on to Welch until he slipped from his grip and tried to make a run for it. His son rugby-tackled Welch.

Mr Deen said Welch punched his son in the face and cut his lip before a few members of the mosque came out and helped including Shufqut Khan and Mr Deen's brother Asif Deen, who broke his wrist in the struggle.

“He was very determined to get away. He fought like mad,” Mr Deen said.

Three people helped the father and son keep Welch down while they waited for the police, with Mr Deen holding him.

Welch had tried to get away with two laptops worth £1,100, £40 in cash, a hairdryer and a sports bag.

Mr Deen said the incident had left his daughter suffering from depression and said she no longer likes being in the house on her own.

He praised his son's actions, saying he was very proud of him.

“If it hadn’t been for him we wouldn’t have caught anyone that night,” he said.

Defence barrister Gareth Williams said Welch had accidentally landed on Mr Deen as he jumped over the wall to escape and then lashed out at him and his son in panic.

He said Welch had been released from prison three weeks earlier following a prior offence and needed money.

Judge Patrick Curran QC sentenced Welch to 29 months for burglary and concurrent sentences of one month each for both batteries.

These will run consecutively to the first term. Welch will serve half of a 30-month sentence.
"gained his black belt the day before the raid" I love it!

GeneChing

07-06-2010, 06:05 PM

Would-be robber gets the point (http://www.yumasun.com/news/moody-61996-purse-knife.html)
June 27, 2010 3:41 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

A knife-wielding, would-be thief should have thought twice about trying to steal the purse of local sword-wielding belly dancer.

“It was one of the weirdest things, one of those things you only see on TV,” said dancer Zarmineh Moody. “I guess it was like the police officer said: I had the bigger knife.”

The Yuma woman was the victim of an attempted armed robbery at the Fry's parking lot on 24th Street and 4th Avenue.

After having taught a class at World Gym, 5-foot 3-inch tall Moody said she stopped off at Fry's grocery store to do some quick shopping. While she was putting her groceries into her car, Moody said, she was approached from behind by a man with a knife who called her a nasty name and demanded her purse.

“I kept thinking ‘This can't be happening,'” Moody said, recalling the event from three weeks ago. “I looked back and saw the knife and had a panic attack.”

Moody said she told the robber that her purse was on the back seat of her car and that she would get it for him. “He kept calling me the ‘b' word and telling me to hurry up.”

Instead of getting her purse as the robber had demanded, Moody, a professional belly dancer whose specialty is dancing with swords, grabbed her 25-inch Turkish scimitar sword. She held it up to his stomach and asked, “You still want my purse?”

“I usually don't keep it there. It is usually in my trunk,” Moody said. “The only reason it was there was because I hadn't put it away yet.”

Moody said she and the robber stood facing each for a few moments, blades in hand, before she asked him a second time if he still wanted her purse.

“This time I poked him in the belly with the tip of the sword. I didn't blink. I kept eye contact with him the entire time.”

Realizing he wasn't going to get Moody's purse, he left the parking lot on a bicycle. Moody immediately called 911 on her cell phone to report the incident.

“I was unbelievably scared and shaking the entire time. I guess he wasn't expecting someone to challenge him like that.”

When police arrived, they asked Moody to explain what had happened.

“I could tell they were both amused but were trying to keep straight faces. They said ‘You are one brave and dangerous woman and I guess you had the bigger knife!'”

Moody said she still has the police report of the incident and is considering framing it as a keepsake.
http://common.onset.freedom.com/images/copyrighted.gif
Zarmineh Moody is my hero for today.

TaichiMantis

07-06-2010, 07:15 PM

just....wow:p

GeneChing

07-09-2010, 09:38 AM

Japanese railway staff trained in martial arts after spike in attacks (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/7880765/Japanese-railway-staff-trained-in-martial-arts-after-spike-in-attacks.html)
Railway companies across Japan are training their staff in martial arts and equipping them with pepper spray due to a sudden increase in the number of attacks on employees.
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Published: 6:42AM BST 09 Jul 2010

Figures released this week by 25 railway firms show that there were 869 attacks on station staff or train crew in the fiscal year that ended in March, up 117 incidents from the previous year.

That figure was a new record for the third consecutive year, the operators said.

"We recorded 344 attacks on our staff last year, the vast majority in the evenings or on weekends," Koji Takano, a spokesman for East Japan Railways, told The Daily Telegraph.

"Mostly these incidents people who have been drinking and get into arguments with other passengers or our staff and then they become violent," he said.

JR East has apparently borne the brunt of the upswing in violence as it provides services in Tokyo and surrounding areas, where companies have been feeling the economic pinch. Train companies have responded by providing martial arts training for staff, as well as teaching them how to use restraining equipment, such as long poles with U-shaped attachments designed to pin down suspects. Women staff are also being equipped with pepper spray to ward off assailants, while more security cameras are also being installed in stations.
I would like to see one of these U-shaped restraining poles.

Jimbo

07-14-2010, 09:24 AM

I also guess its general shape would be similar to one of the ends of a 'monk's spade', the end with the half-moon-shaped blade, except of course it wouldn't be a blade.

It sounds like a good idea for a controlling device, though maybe there should be a small barb in the middle of the U to give a bit of persuasion to violent people.

GeneChing

08-09-2010, 09:40 AM

I'm just glad that a kick in the crotch is classified as kung fu. ;)

Home alone Kung Fu (http://www.fox8live.com/content/news/watercooler/story/Home-alone-Kung-Fu/i0iO97MFNU6_jU9L_LAKFg.cspx)
Last Update: 8/04 8:22 pm

A 12-year-old British girl sent a burglar packing by kicking him right between the legs.

Georgia Bulis-Gray heard a door slam in her parents' kitchen and found herself confronting a hooded intruder.

Bulis-Gray said she didn’t want the smirking man to think she was helpless, so she kicked him hard, forcing him to flee in agony.

Georgia then called the police and even made a sketch of the man she had just seen.

Police are still searching for the suspect.

GeneChing

08-12-2010, 09:45 AM

Cane Kung Fu: Man, 64, wards off drugstore bandit with his cane (http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/specials/weirdflorida/blog/2010/08/cane_kung_fu_man_64_wards_off_1.html)
By Barbara Hijek August 12, 2010 10:50 AM

Cliff Bisek, a regular customer at this Tampa Walgreens, had come in to buy a newspaper and was talking to the clerk for 15 minutes when a man approached the clerk and said, "'Give me your money,'" Bisek said, reports The Tampa Tribune,

When the man demanded money the second time, 64-year-old Bisek, a Vietnam veteran, had had enough.

So Bisek decided to raise a little cane.

He swung his cane at the would-be robber, missing him by inches, and the man ran off, reports The Tampa Tribune.

Tampa police are still searching for the culprit. He was last seen wearing a baby blue, sleeveless hoodie with "971" embroidered on the back, and a white T-shirt underneath.
If only it was a Cane Masters cane (http://www.martialartsmart.com/canemasters.html). If only...

SnowDog

08-16-2010, 12:09 PM

Click on the linked video in the story to watch the gamers in action........

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Gamers-fight-back-after-robbers-target-PC-Gamerz/WMy-MNzMI06S172O3OfJTg.cspx

Two masked robbers that targeted an internet gaming center in Kaneohe Wednesday night never expected their victims to fight back. But they did and it was all caught on video.

This isn't something police encourage but the gamers say they were protecting their home.

It is just before midnight on Wednesday. Devin Wolery is sitting at the counter at PC Gamerz in Kaneohe watching over his nine customers when two masked men walk in.

"They came in and they started yelling at me like they had a problem with me," said Wolery.

Video surveillance shows him reaching to push a panic button to alert police when things escalate.

"Boom right there, jumps and punches me in the face -- knocks my glasses off."

Customers are unaware what's happening when he's struck again and that gets their attention.

"They start yelling at the customers, tell them to give them their money," said Wolery. "They were also making movements like they had a gun or some other kind of weapon."

Customers hand over whatever change they have while a suspect punches video monitors at the counter but the cameras are still rolling. That's when the suspect in black approaches Dylan Hays.

"They tried to take his DS, his Nintendo DS and he wasn't having that -- so he came back swinging," said Wolery.

"Then he hit me and I kind of just got angry and I bull-rushed him out there door," said Hays.

"I pulled him down the ground over here, the table got moved and I had him down on the ground he was still hitting me," said Wolery. "Dylan pulls off the guys mask -- he runs out the door -- his friends are outside waiting. Let's get out of here, let's get out of here and we were holding one guy in and still fighting him and the other guys come into the store --pull him out and take off."

Police are on the scene in minutes. Three teenagers are caught and arrested a block away, two 17-year-old boys and 18-year-old Brycen Iona. All three are familiar to the gamers.

"They were customers of us they gave us their information their personal information," said Wolery.

"I wish I was there," said Jim Wolery who is grateful his son's customers were there for him.

"I mean we're gamers, we've been immersed in that culture where like we all want to Superman, you know we're missing something partial in our brain that says yeah this might be dangerous," said Hays.

"We want to have people think of this as their home that they can come play games, find new friends talk to people," said Wolery.

"I mean its Devin's place but it's also ours, like this is where we come to hang out," said Hays.

All three suspects were released pending further investigation.

------ I don't know how successful their street aplications were, but they got them out of the store. I'm thinking they might want to try a different tactic than get punched in the face while you push burgler out the door style next time. :D

GeneChing

10-11-2010, 06:01 PM

Roommates use mixed-martial arts moves to subdue burglar (http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/oct/11/roommates-catch-burglary-suspect-inside-their-down/)
By Andy Paras aparas@postandcourier.com
Originally published 11:26 a.m., October 11, 2010
Updated 03:32 p.m., October 11, 2010

Charleston police charged Kenneth Jackson, 50, of Charleston with first-degree burglary after they say he broke into the home at the corner of Woolfe and Nassau streets about 4:20 a.m. Saturday.

Kilian Hammerbeck was asleep in his downstairs bedroom when he heard someone unplugging his iPhone from the wall. Hammerbeck quickly realized the man standing less than a foot from his bed wasn’t one of his roommates when the phone’s light lit up the suspect’s face.

The 35-year-old was still lying down when he grabbed the suspect’s wrist and arm and forced the man to the ground while using his legs to scissor the suspect’s torso. He held the man in an arm-bar for about a minute while waiting for his roommates’ help.

“He’s screaming and yelling and I’m calling out for my roommates,” Hammerbeck said. “It sounded as if he had friends outside the door. I was worried two or three more guys would rush in to help their friend.”

Travis Ross woke from a deep sleep and found his roommate wrestling with the unknown man. Like a wrestler tagging out, Hammerbeck turned the suspect over to Ross so he could check for accomplices. The 29-year-old Ross said he shoved the suspect into the kitchen and held the guy in a sleeper hold.

Ian Martens, the third roommate, said he slept through the first two minutes of the ordeal before he heard his roommates yelling. He knew something was wrong when he heard a third, unknown voice.

Martens, Hammerbeck and Ross said the suspect first tried to fight his way out, then feigned a heart attack and finally begged for the roommates to let him go.

“He was screaming at the top of his lungs and begging us not to call the cops,” Martens said. “In retrospect it was quite comical.”
Good ol' leg scissors. Locks 'em up every time. :D

Faruq

10-12-2010, 07:08 AM

Good ol' leg scissors. Locks 'em up every time. :D

So I guess this means these guys were accomplished MMA practitioners, or blue belts in BJJ. It doesn't really say anywhere in the article....

GeneChing

10-27-2010, 10:57 AM

Follow the link and watch the vid.

Motorcyclist survives head-on collision, pure luck or martial arts skills? (http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/motorcyclist-survives-head-on-collision-pure-luck-or-martial-arts-skills-20101022/)
Oct. 22, 2010 (2:15 pm) By: Matthew Humphries

If a motorcyclist is involved in a head-on collision with a larger vehicle at speed the chances of him not getting injured seriously are pretty slim. If you remove the helmet and padded biker gear then the probability of serious injury or even death occurring goes up substantially.

This Chinese motorcyclist beats the odds, though and is either incredibly lucky or a master of martial arts. In the video above you see him hit the side of a mini-van at high speed being flung over the handle bars. His bike is destroyed but it looks as though some natural talent takes over and you see him control his flip and land on his feet. A few seconds later he reappears on camera looking at the crumpled mess that is his bike apparently unharmed.

He could just be lucky, but I’m going with martial arts expert at the top of his game.

ShaolinDan

10-27-2010, 11:17 AM

That was amazing.

Syn7

10-29-2010, 03:59 PM

I occasionally get news feed articles about these. I'm going to start collating them here. It's sort of the opposite of the Busted Teachers thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48947).

maybe a bit of a local hero but not very smart... shes lucky the guy didnt stop running, turn around and stick a flathead screwdriver thru her little neck... shes lucky, thats all... he was probably just some junkie, but he could have had weapons and/or skills of some sort... lucky for her he either didnt have these skills or simply chose to just go thru the motions rather than tearing her apart...

i have serious issue with martial arts that give people a false sense of security that, more often than not, gets people hurt...

in my youth i fought so many people who had done MA's their whole lives... and, more times than not, their false sense of security was my main advantage... their faith in the moves their teachers told them were so deadly are the same technigues that allowed me to exploit their position and move in for the finish... while they try and engage in some f@agged out game of chess, im moving in with double underhooks and slamming you ass on your head...

its ok to do MA's and focus on the art aspect more than the martial aspect, theres nothing wrong with that at all... i love it... i love classical animal forms and the like... always have, always will... but how many times have we all seen a teacher teach a move and then talk about how great it is rather than being honest and saying the simple truth... on an ametuer level, size and aggression will overcome technique more times than not... you have to put alot of time into these techniques to make them applicable...

we've already talked this to death, but i dont feel that many traditional MA's train in a realistic manner... its not the techniques thats at fault when we are talking fundamentals, its the training methods... i do believe that alot of over complicated forms, created by men who never fought anybody worthy, are garbage... but the fundamentals and the basics are pretty sound, in most MA's...

Syn7

10-29-2010, 04:10 PM

This is quite the development.

The big development is that a store-owner can make an arrest after the fact if the thief is caught on camera and escapes but returns to the premises afterwards.

interesting story... it begs alot of questions, doesnt it...

so what are the rules with citizens making arrests??? i thought anyone could hold anyone aslong as it was only when the police are called immediately and they only hold them long enough to let the police get there and that they dont hurt the person any more than is needed to hold them... i never really thought much about it... i live by my own laws... i protect myself when i need to and i only ever called the police when i had to for property crime, for insurance purposes... otherwise ive never once asked them for anything... i have my own code of ethics and i stand by it... these are my laws...

is it unlawful confinement to hold a thief? i know security can, but they have some papers usually... a little course or whatever... what about regular citizens who simply witness a crime? i wouldnt really think twice about stepping on some crooks neck untill the wagon arrived... is that illegal?

i dont see any reason why Chen should not be allowed to hold a theif... simply put, the police arent able to make a quick enough response to be effective in small crimes... and we cant expect small biz owners to have security teams like the box stores have, handcuffs, pepper spray, batons and all...

mooyingmantis

10-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Citizen's Arrest powers in Ohio only cover FELONIES. You can find out what the law says about citizen's arrest powers by reading your state's criminal code. In Ohio the laws can be found in the Ohio Revised Code.

Here is what Ohio Legal Services says about the issue:

Citizen's Arrest

The arrest of an accused without a warrant by any person, upon probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed and that the person detained committed it. In Ohio, a citizen's arrest is the only power of arrest conferred on the general public. Law enforcement officers have the same powers of arrest without a warrant as any citizen. Law enforcement officers have the additional power to arrest without a warrant for misdemeanors, and to execute arrest warrants issued for any offense.

Syn7

10-30-2010, 10:32 PM

yeah canada doesnt work the same way... whatever our rule on that is, im sure its the same all over the country...

GeneChing

12-01-2010, 10:58 AM

You'd think a police commissioner would have a gun...:rolleyes:

Mighty with a pen and a sword: meet the new police chief (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10691149)
5:30 AM Wednesday Dec 1, 2010

New Police Commissioner Peter Marshall is the only commissioner in recent memory to hold off a band of 13 thieves in a hallway with only a ceremonial sword.

Mr Marshall, who was named yesterday as the replacement for Howard Broad, was the victim of a home invasion last year in the Solomon Islands, where he has headed the police force since 2008.

"We had 13 people smash into the house, and my steel ceremonial sword was put to good use," Mr Marshall, who is now commissioner for the Solomon Islands, said.

As he and his wife Pamela barricaded themselves in their bedroom, Mr Marshall used the sword whenever the door was forced slightly open.

"The sword went through with a bit of a parry, and eventually they decided to leave."

Mr Marshall will step in on April 3, when Commissioner Broad retires, and the Government has made it clear that he will be on a tighter leash than his predecessor - his term will be for three years rather than the usual five.

Prime Minister John Key said the shorter term meant more opportunity to "review performance and make sure that these very senior appointments realise that they have to deliver.

"There are changes that will have to take place in the police."

Mr Marshall's resume after 38 years with the police includes being the New Zealand police liaison officer in Canberra, head of the Hawkes Bay armed offenders squad and then the area commander, head of Auckland city area, and assistant commissioner of operations before taking charge in the Solomon Islands.

He was also in charge of police operations covering Apec and the America's Cup in 2000.

He is widely respected, although former Solomon Islands Attorney-General Julian Moti criticised him for taking part in Mr Moti's deportation to Australia to face child sex charges.

Police Association vice-president Chris Cahill said Mr Marshall had a proven track record.

"He's got a good personality and relates well to people, which is important."

One senior officer said Mr Marshall was a leader who knew what he wanted and had great management skills.

Mr Marshall, 58, said he wanted to be on the frontline as much as he could.

"I certainly want to be very visible, out in the districts, the voice for New Zealand police and an advocate for the staff who I believe are doing a fantastic job."

He was also a great believer in the preventive measures that have been adopted in Counties-Manukau.

"There is an absolute desire from the public to see police on the street, being visible and available.

"That is something dear to my heart in the context of what I would like a police force to offer the public."

* * * * *

NEW JOB BUT FIRST THE RIOT

The next Police Commissioner marked his appointment by spending three hours dealing with an unruly crowd in the streets of the Solomon Islands.

Peter Marshall, the head of the Solomon Islands police, was yesterday on the frontline with police in the capital Honiara to control rioting after a disgraced politician was sent to prison.

The violence erupted after a court sentenced cabinet minister and former militia leader Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea to two years and nine months jail for wounding another person and assaulting a police officer.

The group began throwing stones at police outside the High Court and then moved into the centre of the city, sparking panic among businesspeople and shoppers.

The police deputy commissioner, Walter Kola, told Radio New Zealand that the situation was under control.

"The situation now is being contained. We have cleared Pt Cruz, we have cleared the High Court, we have cleared the market as well and also Chinatown. We have pushed them away and they are now going back to their homes, but we will try and contain the situation from now up until late this afternoon.

"There are a few pockets of individuals that are showing anger to the police in certain spots in Honiara, especially at the commercial areas."

Mr Kola said those causing the strife were opportunists, not necessarily supporters of Lusibaea.

He said they were yet to make any arrests.

- staff reporter
By Derek Cheng | Email Derek

GeneChing

12-17-2010, 10:35 AM

Teen uses Samurai sword to scare off burglars (http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13689206)
Posted: Dec 16, 2010 7:51 PM PST Updated: Dec 17, 2010 9:02 AM PST
By Kay Johnson

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Three teens have been arrested after police say they tried to break into a home off Stillwell Oaks Circle.

Jesse Endsley was at home at the time and used a samurai sword to scare off the would-be burglars.

Police charged 19-year-old Jarod Pearson, 18-year-old Keith Byers and 16-year-old Christopher Henry with attempted breaking and entering and conspiracy.

Endsley says he was asleep when he heard a knock on the front door. He looked out the window and saw one of the men on the porch. Endsley says when he didn't open the door, the man motioned to two others to go around back.

"I kinda had a bad feeling because three guys, dressed in jumpsuits going back there isn't for something good," Endsley said.

Endsley says he ran upstairs and grabbed a samurai sword he bought at a convention earlier this year.

"I was lucky to get his because it came in handy later down the line…it never crossed my mind that I would have to swing it on somebody or try to swing it on somebody," Endsley said.

When Endsley made it back downstairs, he said the men were trying to break down the back door. That's when he went after the trio, chased them down the street swinging the sword.

"At the time when I first thought about it, I was scared but when I went outside with the sword the fear left my body and it was like just get 'em," Endsley said.
Samurai swords (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html) for home defense. :cool:

crashhelmet

12-21-2010, 04:43 PM

Samurai swords (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html) for home defense. :cool:

They're also for "Acts of Terrorism"

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/May-17-Fri-2002/news/18771901.html

Freddie Blodgett III made his first appearance Thursday in Pahrump Justice Court on charges he used a samurai sword to hijack a school bus and plotted to blow up the town's high school.

The quiet, baby-faced 15-year-old sat subdued, his handcuffed hands in his lap. His intent eyes, framed by thin-rimmed glasses, darted from the attorneys to the judge during the proceedings.

Prosecutors filed a motion asking the judge to certify the boy as an adult because of the seriousness of the charges. Blodgett's attorney argued the boy is immature and has emotional and mental problems that would indicate he is not a good candidate to be tried in the adult system.

The boy's parents, who met with him earlier in the day, according to attorneys, were not present and could not be located in time for the hearing.

"We believe (Blodgett) should be tried as an adult because of the severity of the act and the use of a deadly weapon," said Robert Beckett, Nye County district attorney. Beckett said the samurai sword and the hijacked bus, which was used to ram a police car, are considered deadly weapons.

Justice of the Peace Margaret Whittaker ordered psychological evaluations of the boy within 30 days to determine whether he should be certified as an adult for trial in Nye County District Court. She scheduled a hearing for June 20 to check the status of the evaluations, which will determine the boy's competence, capacity and maturity.

Based on the findings of the evaluation, Whittaker could recommend the case advance to District Court for a certification hearing.

Harry Gensler, the public defender assigned to Blodgett's case, said he did not oppose the evaluations, but argued the boy should not be tried as an adult. He also asked that evaluators avoid delving into the incident to prevent the boy from making statements that could be used against him in court.

"You have a very immature young man -- boy -- with a lot of emotional problems charged with some very serious allegations," Gensler said after the hearing. "He realizes he's in a big mess, but I don't think he appreciates the ramifications of that."

Gensler described Blodgett as a "meek kid" who is unlikely to have masterminded the kind of plot authorities say he devised.

Blodgett was arrested April 29 after authorities said he used a sword to hijack a school bus. The bus crashed in California after a high-speed chase with authorities. Gensler said if Blodgett stole the bus, he probably didn't plan to blow up the school, because the bus was moving away from it.

But Nye County Assistant Sheriff Richard Marshall has said authorities searched the boy's backpack and found ammunition and written plans to "blow up Pahrump Valley High School." Marshall said the boy told Nye County sheriff's investigators he intended to plant gasoline bombs at the school, but he did not have time to carry out his plans.

Blodgett is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, robbery with the use of a deadly weapon and fourth-degree arson. If convicted as an adult, Blodgett could face up to 50 years in prison.

A source close to the investigation has said Blodgett left his parents a letter explaining the purpose of his plans: to change the government.

According to the source, the boy planned to hijack a bus full of students, hold them hostage, blow up Pahrump Valley High School, then take over the Nye County Courthouse, where he would unveil his demands. The letter to his parents did not specify these demands.

Investigators have said they believe Blodgett plotted with several other students to hijack the bus and destroy the school.

Two brothers, ages 14 and 16, were arrested May 1 after classmates overheard them discussing the plan, authorities said. The younger brother was arrested at school, and the older brother was arrested at his home later that evening.

The 14-year-old is charged with threatening to cause death or bodily harm to a pupil or school employee and conspiracy to make a bomb threat. The 16-year-old is charged with conspiracy to make a bomb threat.

The brothers had been held at a juvenile detention center in Hawthorne until last week, when Whittaker placed them under house arrest.

The brothers are expected to make their first court appearances today in Nye County Justice Court.

Joel Blodgett, Freddie Blodgett's cousin, said the whole family was shocked by the incident. Joel Blodgett described his cousin's parents, Katherine and Freddie Blodgett Jr., as "real nice people" who work hard and get along with family members and neighbors.

"I don't know how he got treated at school, but he was just quiet, not out of the ordinary," said Joel Blodgett, 24. He said Freddie Blodgett III had never been in any trouble. The 15-year-old enjoyed playing video games and got along with other family members at monthly gatherings.

"We're all surprised. We don't understand. We don't know what to say," Joel Blodgett said.

GeneChing

02-14-2011, 11:43 AM

I would think that would have more impact.

Army Reservist credits martial arts training for stopping arsonist at restaurant (http://www.suntimes.com/news/3809255-418/army-reservist-credits-martial-arts-training-for-stopping-arsonist-at-restaurant.html)
By James Scalzitti Staff Reporter Feb 13, 2011 08:12PM

A 21-year-old Buffalo Grove man who recently completed 10 months of Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training for the U.S. Army credits his martial arts training for making him act against a man who tried to set fire to a River North restaurant last week.

Ajay Kumra was in the area of Chicago and Orleans late Wednesday afternoon when he decided to stop in the Baba Palace, 334 W. Chicago Ave., for dinner.

“I had my back facing the door,” he says, when he heard a man yelling. “I turned around and saw him slashing (a) gas can around.” The man, later identified as Asif Kahn, 42, had apparently been refused service at the restaurant earlier and returned with the gas can.

“I was about to walk out because I knew it wasn’t safe, but I turned around and saw him about to light the match, so I reacted by stopping him instead of leaving.”

He confronted the man, and hit him, in an effort to subdue him. Asked if the man put up a fight, Kumra said, “Not really, he was drunk. He was fighting back. He did grab my leg. Then he threw a chair, but I reacted to that by finally stopping him.”

Kahn, of the 8900 block of South Commercial Avenue, was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property, police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety said.

Kumra says it was the “decisiveness” to react in such a situation that he learned through his martial arts training that made him take action.

“The other 20 people in the restaurant, (were) going to stand by and watch themselves go up in flames. I just had the decisiveness to do that.” For that he thanks his martial arts teachers, Instructor Richard Baron, who teaches in Highland Park and Sifu James McNeil, who teaches in Irvine, Calif. They’re part of Little Nine Heaven Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Highland Park. “Without them I don’t know,” Kumra says. “I’d have been like the other people waiting to be lit on fire.

Kahn apparently returned to the restaurant after the incident on Wednesday, according to police and Kumra.

Kahn was arrested again on Friday, Baety said, and charged with criminal trespass and violation of the conditions of his bail bond.

Kumra, who is a DePaul University student studying math and finance, is in the Army Reserves and has a contract to become an officer through ROTC. He went through Basic Training at Fort Knox, and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Bragg.

“I plan on going on active duty once I graduate.”

SnowDog

02-15-2011, 01:34 PM

Now this guy has the REALZ Kung Fu :D -

http://www.logiccool.com/blog/591281-lone-nepali-soldier-defends-potential-rape-victim-against-40-men/

Lone Nepali Soldier Defends Potential Rape Victim Against 40 Men
January 28, 2011

Whoa...holy cow! Every once in a while someone in the world comes along and reminds us what a true hero really looks like. A 35 year-old Gurkha soldier named Bishnu Shrestha was riding a train when he suddenly found himself in the middle of a massive robbery. 40 men armed with knives, swords and guns stormed the train and began robbing the passengers.

Bishnu kept his peace while the gang snatched cell phones, jewelry and cash from other riders. But then, the thugs grabbed the 18 year-old girl sitting next to him and forcefully stripped her naked. Before the bandits could rape the poor girl in front of her helpless parents, Bishnu decided he had enough.

“The girl cried for help, saying ´You are a soldier, please save a sister´,” Shrestha recalled. “I prevented her from being raped, thinking of her as my own sister.”

Here's the part of the story that makes you cheer. He pulls out a kukri (i.e. a knife) and proceeds to kill 3 of them, injure 8 of them, and causes the rest to flee. During the battle, he suffered a severe knife injury to his left hand, from which he's now recovered.

For those who don't know...this is a kukri. Maybe it's okay to bring a knife to a gunfight, after all.

Honestly, the article isn't revealing the whole story because clearly he was also armed with 2 GIANT F***ING BALLS OF STEEL which he clobbered the bandits with.

Bishnu, you're never going to see this post, but we got movie stars who can only play act what you did for real. I think quite a few men often daydream of a moment where we prove ourselves a hero. We salute you in our admiration.

Someone please mail this guy a "Bad Muthaf*cka" wallet. And by the way, if you're courting his sister, you better treat her right. Note, the video below is NOT in English.

GeneChing

03-02-2011, 11:07 AM

I know Nicola. We met over half a decade ago at the Zhang San Feng Festival (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30555).

Bronxville Tai Chi Instructor Awarded for Bravery (http://scarsdale.patch.com/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-tax-help-cheerleading-registration-and-bronxville-tai-chi-instructor-awarded-for-bravery)

a Tai Chi instructor honored by Scarsdale's D'Errico Jewelers will receive more accolades this evening in New York City

By Kirstin Fawcett | 9:50am

Last fall, D’Errico Jewelers honored Nicola Briggs, the Bronxville Tai Chi instructor who defended herself against a sexual predator on a New York subway train, with an awards ceremony and a diamond peace sign necklace. Tonight, the 5th Annual Women’s Awards in New York City will be commending Briggs’s bravery as well! The event will take place at The Stonewall Inn on 53 Christopher Street from 7 – 10 p.m. To purchase tickets for the 5th Annual Women’s Awards, e-mail zosherafatain@kurlandassociates.com

click below for vid

VIDEO: Woman gets award for confronting flasher (http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=163089&catid=58)
Daniel Trotter 3 months ago

SCARSDALE, N.Y. - When Nicola Briggs confronted a man who flashed her on the No. 4 train, it landed her three things: a YouTube hit, an award and diamonds.

Briggs, who was flashed on the New York City subway in early September, confronted the man with an expletive-laden tirade and then engaged her fellow passengers in ensuring his arrest.

Tonight she will receive the first "Shero" - woman hero - award from the Professional Women of Westchester and a diamond peace necklace.

"We appreciate the way she stood up for her rights and did not become a victim," said Richard D'Errico, who designed the white gold and diamond peace sign. "I am a father myself, with a daughter, and the way she stood up was clear and concise.

Briggs, a Manhattan resident and head instructor at the Tai Chi School of Westchester in Bronxville, N.Y., recalled the confrontation.

Briggs, 38, turned to Mario Valdivia, screaming, "Oh, you're getting (expletive) arrested tonight! I am not leaving your sight! My plans are done for tonight! I am escorting you to the police station! Oh (expletive) yes!"

Valdivia, a 51-year-old Queens man, was sentenced to four months in jail for forcible touching.

Someone videotaped the encounter on a cell phone and posted it Nov. 24 on YouTube. Various versions, one with a song dubbed over, have since appeared. One had more than 800,000 hits before it was taken down.

Briggs said she felt empowered.

"I was not fearful because I knew, if I showed enough anger and confidence, that this person could not hurt me or get away," she said.

Briggs had been headed to meet a friend for dinner in Chinatown.

"The train was running local that day and it started to fill up rapidly," she said. "There were many people and it was standing room only."

In Midtown, when the train cleared, she noticed a man standing too close to her.

"He had a messenger bag that kept pressing up against me, and I did not like that," Briggs said.

She looked down and saw Valdivia's private parts were exposed and that he was wearing a condom.

"I was deeply disturbed," she said. "I started screaming, and he threw up his hands and said, I am sorry.' "

Briggs grabbed Valdivia's bag and started cursing at him as he stood there, looking mortified. She told men on the train to guard the doors before the next stop.

"Men on the train told him that if he took one step, they would punch him in the face," she said.

Briggs said others on the train began yelling at the man and taking pictures of him.

"They helped me shame him," she said.

Briggs screamed for more than seven minutes as she stood in front of Valdivia. He tried to walk around her to get off the train, she said.

When the train stopped, he was arrested. She said she was thankful to the other riders.

"They were great," she said. "Many people in this city will help you."

Briggs said she was happy she confronted Valdivia.

"I have spoken to women who this has happened to - or worse - and they walked away," she said. "They were very upset that they let fear get the best of them."

GeneChing

03-22-2011, 09:29 AM

UFC Champ takes down a purse snatcher with a figure 4 and then goes on to beat Shogun Rua! See our jones... freak thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1084835&posted=1#post1084835).

GeneChing

03-25-2011, 10:16 AM

There's a news vid if you follow the link but it crashed on me part way through and I didn't try to reload it.

Sisters Trained in Martial Arts Fend Off Intruder (http://www.kptv.com/news/27303228/detail.html)
Police: Newberg Man Kicked Down Front Door
POSTED: 9:59 pm PDT March 23, 2011
UPDATED: 8:17 am PDT March 24, 2011

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Martial arts training helped two sisters fight off an intruder in Newberg on Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the incident started just before 1 p.m. in the 200 block of Ardus Drive after they received reports that a man was trying to break into cars.

Newberg-Dundee police say a teenage girl reported that a man had kicked down her front door and was holding down her adult sister.

"My youngest daughter told him to go away, but he forced himself in," says Kim Halstead, the victims' father. "After that, he went upstairs and met with my oldest daughter and they got into a scuffle. She takes martial arts, so she was able to fend him off."

Halstead says he saw the same man in his backyard earlier in the morning.

Police say the Halstead house wasn't the only spot Erik Rosario-Flores was targeting.

Minute before Rosario-Flores broke into this home, police received a call from a homeowner reporting that a man had just walked up to his car and kicked it. Rosario-Flores was also responsible for that incident, officers say.

They say he tried to break into other cars before running through someone's backyard and over to the Halstead home.

"I was pulling out of the driveway and there was three cop cars this way, and they had a kid down on the ground. They had him hog tied with a gun on him," said Debra Bryant, who lives nearby.

"(It was a) very scary, very scary situation. We have a lot of kids around here that play all day," said Meggan Stevahn, who lives across the street.

Rosario-Flores caused some damage to the Halsteads' upstairs bedroom when he started going through some of the dresser drawers.

He is now facing numerous charges, including burglary and kidnapping.

GeneChing

05-04-2011, 10:35 AM

Okay, so there's no overt mention of martial arts in this one but an 81-year-old vs. 8 teenagers in a tunnel at 4AM in HK? I'm gonna dub Mak a grandmaster whether he studies kung fu or not.

Updated Tuesday, May 3, 2011 10:19 pm TWN, AFP
81-year-old fights off HK teen muggers (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/life/offbeat/2011/05/03/300851/81-year-old-fights.htm)
HONG KONG--An 81-year-old man in Hong Kong single-handedly fought off a gang of teenage muggers, police said Monday, with eight youths arrested and some requiring hospital treatment.

The elderly man, only identified as Mak, was assaulted by the gang aged between 15 and 19 in a pedestrian tunnel during the 4:00 a.m. incident when he was on his way to do morning exercise. He was attacked from behind.

“They pushed him to the ground and tried to rob him. The man fought back and the gang ran away empty-handed,” a police spokeswoman told AFP.

Some of the teenage muggers, five boys and three girls, sustained cuts and minor injuries after the man put up a fierce fight. Police later traced a trail of blood to a nearby flat and detained the teenagers.

The injured were taken to hospital for treatment.

“They are still being detained and under investigation for assault with intent to rob,” the police spokeswoman said.

JamesC

05-04-2011, 11:21 AM

That's awesome Gene. :cool:

I wonder if he had a knife on him. It would have to be a steady flow of blood to track them back to their apartment. :eek:

Perhaps this guy is the inheritor of the ever-elusive Chinese knife fighting style...

TaichiMantis

05-04-2011, 08:47 PM

hmmm....on his way to morning excercises. yeah, I'd say he's a master;)

GeneChing

05-10-2011, 09:48 AM

If only he tossed vinyl like shuriken (http://www.martialartsmart.com/16-12pak.html). Records flying, versus bricks, I can see it all in some crazy kung fu flick.

Martial arts DJ tackles pub raiders (http://www.bearsdenherald.co.uk/news/martial_arts_dj_tackles_pub_raiders_1_1615928)
Published on Tuesday 10 May 2011 09:14

A radio DJ used his martial arts skills to thwart an attack on a pub and carry out a citizen's arrest.

Breakfast show presenter Wayne Allen, a 36-year-old karate black belt, was drinking with friends at the Dr Syntax pub in Prudhoe, Northumberland, when a masked man threw bricks and cement blocks through its windows.

Mr Allen, who works for Teesside's TFM, ran out and tackled a man in a balaclava who was armed with more bricks, knocking him to the floor and kneeling on him even though his two accomplices in a Subaru Impreza came close to running him over.

Police were quickly on the scene on Friday night and took a man in for questioning.

The force praised the DJ's bravery, but urged others not to take the risk.

Afterwards, Mr Allen told the Sunday Sun newspaper: "My karate licence says 'protect your family, friends and uphold the law' and that's exactly what I did.

"And I'd do it again if I had to. I don't advocate violence but women were screaming and I truly believed the pub was about to get robbed."

The father-of-two, who used to work in Tyneside for Metro Radio, recalled he used a leg sweep to knock the man down, put him in an arm lock, then knelt on his elbows.

The Subaru driver then made to reverse over Mr Allen's legs, but screeched away at speed instead.

A 33-year-old local man will appear before magistrates on Monday charged with criminal damage.

JamesC

05-10-2011, 09:51 AM

What's a "karate license?"

sanjuro_ronin

05-10-2011, 10:15 AM

What's a "karate license?"

http://images9.cpcache.com/product/wnyx-super+karate+monkey+death+car-super/200430579v7_225x225_Front.jpg

http://www.carstickers.com/prodimages/warning_i_know_karate.gif

GeneChing

07-14-2011, 09:41 AM

I used to live in a house that had one of those old sliding glass doors you could just lift up and open. Do they still make those?

Aurora Woman Fights Off Violent Home Intruder (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28546842/detail.html)
Attacker Got In Home By Lifting Locked Sliding Glass Door Off Its Track
Alan Gathright, 7NEWS Content Producer
POSTED: 9:41 am MDT July 14, 2011
UPDATED: 10:07 am MDT July 14, 2011

AURORA, Colo. -- A woman with martial arts training fought off an intruder who broke into her home by lifting a locked sliding door off its track.

Aurora police are now asking for the public's help in identifying the man who violently attacked the woman on July 1 and attempted to sexually assault her.

"The victim, who has had some martial arts and self-defense training, bravely fought off her attacker. Her efforts caused the man to flee," Aurora police spokesman Detective Bob Friel said in a Thursday new release.

Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward of up to $7,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker.

The crime happened just after 4 a.m. on July 1, when a man entered the woman's home in an area between Yosemite and Dayton streets and Montview Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue, Friel said.

The man entered the home by lifting a locked sliding glass door off its track, he said. The door's safety bar had not been used, allowing the man to circumvent the door lock, he said.

Police released a computer sketch of the attacker. He is described as a black man in his 30s, who stands about 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build and braided hair. The victim said the man had one braid that stuck out from the side of his head.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Lana Maddox at 303-739-6136 or Aurora police dispatch at 303-627-3100. Those who want to stay anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867, or they can text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES), then use the title DMCS and enter a message.

Becca

07-14-2011, 11:25 AM

Wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured someone would find it interesting.
Here's the link (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28546842/detail.html?treets=den&tid=2659772064813&tml=den_12pm&tmi=den_12pm_1_01000207142011&ts=H).

AURORA, Colo. -- A woman with martial arts training fought off an intruder who broke into her home by lifting a locked sliding door off its track.

Aurora police are now asking for the public's help in identifying the man who violently attacked the woman on July 1 and attempted to sexually assault her.

"The victim, who has had some martial arts and self-defense training, bravely fought off her attacker. Her efforts caused the man to flee," Aurora police spokesman Detective Bob Friel said in a Thursday new release.

Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward of up to $7,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker.

The crime happened just after 4 a.m. on July 1, when a man entered the woman's home in an area between Yosemite and Dayton streets and Montview Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue, Friel said.

The man entered the home by lifting a locked sliding glass door off its track, he said. The door's safety bar had not been used, allowing the man to circumvent the door lock, he said.

Police released a computer sketch of the attacker. He is described as a black man in his 30s, who stands about 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build and braided hair. The victim said the man had one braid that stuck out from the side of his head.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Lana Maddox at 303-739-6136 or Aurora police dispatch at 303-627-3100. Those who want to stay anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867, or they can text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES), then use the title DMCS and enter a message

Lucas

07-14-2011, 11:43 AM

gene beat you
:p
http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1115097#post1115097

Becca

07-14-2011, 01:10 PM

Figures. I did a search to see if he had and started giggling evilly when I didn't find it. I should have know Gene's post-fu would be better than mine...:mad:

Becca

07-14-2011, 01:17 PM

... But I bet he missed this (http://www.theonion.com/articles/china-agrees-to-erase-portion-of-us-debt-if-americ,20913/)one!

China Agrees To Erase Portion Of U.S. Debt If Americans Dress Up In Costumes And Perform Silly Dance For Them
BEIJING—In what it's describing as a magnanimous gesture toward an economy in decline, the Chinese government announced Monday it would forgive a portion of the staggering U.S. debt if Americans agreed to dress up in costumes and perform silly dances for their amusement.
With his nation holding $1.16 trillion in federal bonds and the U.S. showing no signs of ending its dependence on foreign credit, President Hu Jintao told reporters that allowing Americans to ease their fiscal burden in proportion to the number and quality of colorful dance numbers they perform is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both countries.
"Our great nation has generously agreed to decrease the considerable financial obligations of the United States," said Hu, standing before an enormous rack containing elaborate dance attire such as sequined vests and metallic lamé pants. "All we ask in return is that Americans put on outfits such as these and amuse us with buffoonish little kicks and twirls, preferably while slapping their big fat tummies. The U.S. will receive much needed debt relief, and China will enjoy watching the graceless flailing of decadent capitalists."
Addressing Americans directly, Hu continued: "In the seconds it will take you to object, your nation will slip hundreds of thousands of dollars further into our debt. That will mean 50 more of your countrymen having to put on a George Washington costume with a skirt and prance around with big smiles and heavily rouged cheeks while we pelt them with bits of your worthless currency from the windows of the Chinese embassy."

GeneChing

07-20-2011, 10:22 AM

I know, I know, this isn't real authentic kung fu, but when kung fu gets mentioned in an international scandal like Murdoch's, it's worthy of note here, even if it's a borderline racist satire.

By Quentin Letts
Last updated at 2:09 PM on 20th July 2011

Pied him! A great British tradition of custard pie hurling was maintained when old man Murdoch nearly took one in the hooter near the end of his long interrogation by MPs.

Some parts of the world will regard this with stern disapproval but must we be entirely po-faced? A billionaire media mogul, most powerful fella in the world, appeared in the public assembly of our ancient, satirical isles and found himself under attack by – a creamy plate full.

Worse things happen at sea.

His assailant, a scruffy chap in lumberjack shirt, had not reckoned with Wendi Deng, the third Mrs Murdoch.

She was sitting behind her husband throughout the hearing, maintaining the elegant poise of a Cathay Pacific stewardess. From side to side did she lean her long hair, lean-necked, devotion in fuchsia. Then, in the last dibs, cometh the pieman.

With reactions which would not have disgraced the Chinese secret service, Mrs Murdoch flew to her husband’s defence. Kung fu! Hnawww! She leapt into action, right claw coming down hard in the direction of Matey in the lumberjack shirt.

TV footage afterwards showed the bloke nursing his head, spattered by his own pie. He was lucky not to have been karate-chopped in two.

‘Oh no!’ cried a female MP who had been speaking at the time. ‘Outrage!’ shouted another. The room was cleared, sitting suspended. The slapstick attack certainly distracted attention from what had been a drawn-out – and yet still memorable – hearing of the Culture Select Committee.

Mr Murdoch appeared alongside one of his sons, James. Last time I saw James was at 10 Downing Street on Tony Blair’s last day as Prime Minister. Murdoch fils had a tight-zipped hairdo, calcium-rich fingernails, tanned hands and an executive manner. He spoke in a hybrid accent camp with Californian uplift. It was a cross between Kermit the frog and the Radio 2 disc jockey Paul Gambaccini.

The younger Murdoch tried to protect his father and led the case for the defence. Rupert touched the lad’s left arm and said: ‘This is the most humble day of my life.’

With that he leaned back, tortoise eyes closing together behind his faintly smudged spectacles. He swallowed, lizardish, sitting at a slight angle, as though not entirely part of this awkward occasion.

At the start of the meeting Murdoch pere did not seem entirely with it. He had difficulty understanding some of the MPs’ questions, in the case of Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire N) because he was having trouble picking up a thick Scots accent. Mr Sheridan gave up, saying: ‘It doesn’t matter.’

The two MPs most successful at extracting material from the octogenarian were Tom Watson (Lab, West Brom E) and Damian Collins (Con, Folkestone & Hythe). Mr Watson was exquisitely polite but firm. His questions accentuated an impression that Rupert was doddery. Mr Collins got Rupert on to some personal stuff about his father, to a point he was almost maudlin. We also learned how amazingly close Mr Murdoch had been to Gordon Brown. ‘Our children played together. I felt he had great values,’ said Mr Murdoch about Labour’s Mr Brown.

James Murdoch really did seem very American. Clever tactic, perhaps. He was extravagantly well-washed in that business-school, yuppie way. He kept finding different ways of saying that he did not know the full details of what the MPs were asking him. ‘I have no knowledge of that,’ he said. ‘I cannot answer the specifics of that question.’

Other phrases included ‘not to my knowledge’ and ‘I cannot speak to other individuals’ knowledge’. He spoke about ‘The Company’ repeatedly. His father spoke of its ‘Divisions’, like a five-star general.

James Murdoch also said ‘proactively’, ‘the financial quantum’ and ‘the quantum of danger’, which could be the title of a **** Francis thriller.

When he meant ‘denial’ he said ‘pushback’. At which point the pieman threw himself into the mix and black belt Deng showed us an altogether more exciting, visceral ‘pushback’. Ouch.Click for vid

GeneChing

07-21-2011, 09:56 AM

This is a great story.

12 year old girl credits martial arts for possibly saving her life (http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/12-year-old-girl-credits-martial-arts-for/AShAp6iUMUa2xnQ4AkkYxg.cspx)
Updated: 1:16 am | Published: 12:22 am
Reported by: Annie Cutler

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A walk home for a 12 year old Salt Lake girl turned scary when she became the target of an attempted kidnapping. She’s crediting her martial arts class for possibly saving her life.

While choking back tears, Michelle Adams says, “Out of nowhere this van pops out, then he tries to grab my hand and pull me in the van, but then I kicked him and started running back to my friend’s house.”

Adams credits her martial arts training. She says, “I remember this move that my karate teacher showed me in third grade. You twist your hand around, it hurts their hand and they let go.”

We shared Adams’ story with Brian Corrales, a martial arts teacher. He says self defense and awareness are key lessons in his class, “It’s just your gut instinct and I tell the kids that when you have an icky feeling inside, that’s something of you saying to respond and you need to get out of that situation.”

His classes are filled with girls too small to fight an attacker, but his goal is to arm them with tools to buy them time, seconds that could mean life or death. Corrales says, “The idea is to teach them one technique. You get one chance. Stun your opponent and then the child screams, yells, and they’re told to find the nearest adult.”

These lessons were what came to mind as Adams fought off her attacker. He is described as a Polynesian man with short hair and facial hair, last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, black shorts, and gray and white shoes. He was driving what Adams describes as a dirty white van.

-N-

08-04-2011, 06:42 PM

... But I bet he missed this (http://www.theonion.com/articles/china-agrees-to-erase-portion-of-us-debt-if-americ,20913/)one!

Aren't Americans already doing this? Wushu, right?

GeneChing

10-14-2011, 09:14 AM

I don't agree with his method, but in the end, he busted the perp.

10/13/11
Case dismissed for martial arts business owner accused of impersonating police (http://rosevillept.com/detail/190499.html)
By Toby Lewis, The Press Tribune

All charges against a Roseville business owner who was accused of battery and falsely impersonating a police officer were dismissed Thursday.

The charges stemmed from 2009 when Dave Marinoble, owner of Marinoble’s Martial Arts Center in Roseville, performed a citizen’s arrest of an employee he suspected of stealing money.

Marinoble and another instructor, Justin T. Ewen, entered a Taco Bell on Foothills Boulevard on Dec. 17, 2009 and confronted Riley Lockett, who was captured on surveillance video stealing money from the office of the martial arts gym.

A criminal complaint filed by the Placer County District Attorney’s Office alleged that the two men falsely represented themselves as law enforcement officers when they placed Lockett under citizen’s arrest and detained him.

The complaint also alleged that Marinoble and Ewen committed battery by unlawfully using force and violence on Lockett.

Witnesses told Roseville police officers that Marinoble approached Lockett, who was 17 years old at the time, from behind and placed him in a chokehold before taking him down and restraining him with handcuffs, according to previous reports.

After a five-day jury trial that concluded last month, Marinoble was found to be not guilty on counts of kidnapping and false impersonation of a police officer.

The charge of battery against Marinoble, however, resulted in a hung jury, which continued the case.

Ewen was found to be not guilty on all counts during the trial.

Prosecutor Tracy Lunardi submitted to the Placer County court Thursday that if the case were to go to another jury trial, it would likely return with another hung jury.

After that, the case was dismissed.

“I activated my rights when a felony was committed against me,” Marinoble said Thursday. “I did, apparently, act within my rights in accordance with the law and it took almost two years for the courts to figure that out.”

Marinoble said his business was adversely affected as a result of the charges and he has been trying to rebuild it over the last year and a half.

“The citizen’s arrest that I performed was upheld,” he said.

Marinoble said Lockett stole thousands of dollars over about a one year period and Lockett has since paid him back in restitution.

Lucas

10-19-2011, 02:43 PM

street application of a gun? does that count?

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A convenience store manager grabbed a gun from under the counter and shot a robber in the knee when the man scooped up the clerk's infant daughter, deputies and family members said Wednesday.

The robber tried to get into the cash register Tuesday afternoon at Del's 24-Hour Food Store in Naples but he couldn't open it. He grabbed a stroller with Elizabeth Easterly's 1-year-old in it and headed for the door, according to a sheriff's report and family members. Easterly shot the man and he died at a hospital.

"She's pretty much in shock, but she saved the baby," said Easterly's grandmother, Nancy Ackerman. "He was taking the baby outside, and she went over the top of the counter. I don't know how she did that because it's real high."

Easterly, 22, and her husband run the store for her grandfather, Del Ackerman. She was alone briefly during a shift change with her daughters, ages 1 and 2, when the man came in at about 3 p.m.

Ackerman, 75, said his granddaughter told him the man acted erratically and demanded money. As he fled the store, he tried to grab the baby, but couldn't get her loose from the stroller straps. When he began carrying it out, Easterly, as she had learned in a training course, shot the man once in his knee.

The robber, identified Wednesday as 32-year-old Daniel Ramont Hernandez, was tackled outside by a man coming to work at the store and held down until deputies arrived.

Police said the shooting was under investigation.

"I'm so thankful God saved my granddaughter and my grandbabies, because this guy was really vicious," Ackerman said.

Easterly and her children were not hurt, but the young woman was shaken up, her grandfather said. Calls to her cellphone rang unanswered Wednesday.

Ackerman said his family has run the store continuously for 47 years. It was closed while deputies processed the crime scene, but reopened at about 2 a.m. Wednesday.

"I'm not going to let one person in the United States close my doors," he said.

Naples is about 170 miles south of Tampa.

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Brule

10-20-2011, 07:29 AM

Did i miss something? He got shot in the knee and died at the hospital? Good thing the kids weren't hurt.

JamesC

10-20-2011, 08:22 AM

Probably loss of blood. Femoral artery stops at the top of the knee, I think.

GeneChing

11-22-2011, 10:05 AM

Sounds like this girl reacted well.

Marin girl with martial arts training fights off robber (http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19390273)
By Gary Klien
Marin Independent Journal
Posted: 11/22/2011 07:58:43 AM PST
Updated: 11/22/2011 07:58:44 AM PST

A 15-year-old Larkspur girl with martial arts experience reported that she fended off a robbery attempt on a bike path, police said Monday.

The girl, a tutor, said the incident occurred around 5 p.m. Friday when she was walking home on the bike path at Ward Street after a tutoring session, said Twin Cities police Sgt. Paul Barrolaza.

The girl reported that an attacker approached and punched her in the face, and she fought him off by punching him in the groin, Barrolaza said. Another robber appeared, and she fled.

The girl did not seek medical treatment or report the incident, but she told her boyfriend, who later left a note on a door of the school resource officer.

The first robber was described as white and 16 to 20 years old with very dark hair, a dark green hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, police said. The other was described as white and 16 to 20 years old with "mousy" brown hair, a dark T-shirt and blue jeans.

Twin Cities police have received no reports of similar incidents, but are increasing patrols in the area. Anyone with information can call 927-5150.

Contact Gary Klien via email at gklien@marinij.com

GeneChing

12-01-2011, 03:41 PM

Uploaded: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 4:51 PM
Updated: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 7:15 AM
Martial arts training allows pharmacist to fight off attacker (http://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=8235)
Former employee charged with attempted murder
by Glenn Wohltmann
Pleasanton Weekly Staff

A Danville man is in custody on an attempted murder charge in a Nov. 5 attack on his former employer, according to a Pleasanton police who said the would-be victim' martial arts training saved him.

Benjamin Glover, 27, was arrested Nov. 22 in connection with the stabbing of Henry Ho.

Ho was attacked by Glover inside his store, Medicap Pharmacy, in the 1900 block of Santa Rita Road, police said. Ho, owner and pharmacist at Medicap, said that on the morning of Nov. 5, Glover entered the store wearing a hoodie over his head and a medical surgeon's mask on his face.

Glover approached the counter, asked Ho if he recognized him and removed his mask. Ho told police the behavior was suspicious but he was comfortable with Glover, who had worked for him for four years until he was fired a year ago.

Glover asked to speak with Ho who invited him back to the office of the pharmacy. After a five-minute conversation, Glover attacked Ho, without provocation or motive, by stabbing Ho in the neck with a knife or a similar small cutting instrument the release says.

Ho's quick reflexes and martial arts training enabled him to fend off the attack. After Ho deflected the first attack, Glover stood over him and attempted to stab him two more times, according to police, who said Glover the fled the pharmacy, leaving Ho with a five-inch incision in his neck.

After the investigation was completed, a warrant was sought for Glover and he was arrested at his home in Danville. Glover was booked at Santa Rita Jail where he is currently in custody.

The notification of this arrest was delayed due to the sensitive and complex nature of the investigation, police said. Anyone with information that may aid in the ongoing investigation is urged to contact the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100. Hope Ho is okay. His martial arts may have saved his life, but a 5" neck cut is pretty harsh.

GeneChing

12-05-2011, 02:46 PM

Nice pic! Wish they had more info on the MMA fighter.

Mugger picks wrong victim: MMA fighter (http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/9261611-418/mugger-chooses-wrong-victim-ultimate-fighting-champ.html#.Tt0GssCo_Co.facebook)
SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE December 5, 2011 11:54AM
Anthony Miranda / photo from Cook County Sheriff's office
Updated: December 5, 2011 3:26PM
http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=u0Ttb eKC9P1fFKn_y7iZes$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYtLMGaztvD455S Cu7MSQLI9WCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4 uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_C ryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

A would-be mugger on Chicago’s Southwest Side picked on the wrong person — a mixed-martial artist — and ended up with two black eyes and a gunshot wound to the ankle, the police say.

Police say 24-year-old Anthony Miranda walked up to a parked car near 55th and Kenneth around 11:30 p.m. Friday and asked the driver — whose identity was not released by police** — for a lighter.

When the driver said he didn’t have one, the police say Miranda pulled a handgun on the driver and demanded money. After getting some, he ordered the driver out of the car, Officer John Mirabelli said.

The mugging victim was able to get control of the gun, and the two wrestled, with Miranda accidentally firing his gun and shooting himself in the ankle during the fight, Mirabelli said.

The victim, who told police he’s a mixed-martial artist, held Miranda down until the police and found Miranda with a face full of cuts and two black eyes. He was taken to Holy Cross Hospital for treatment.

Miranda, a convicted felon, was charged with armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm and rdered held on $350,000 bail. Records show he has several convictions, including one for a residential burglary.

Phil Redmond

12-06-2011, 08:47 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00g5a416rdU&sns=fb

Chadderz

12-06-2011, 08:56 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00g5a416rdU&sns=fb

I think that's brilliant that that's one of the very few examples of grappling NOT working on the internet. (:

GeneChing

03-20-2012, 09:33 AM

Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Fists of fury fighting crime on Polk Street (http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2012/03/fists-fury-fighting-crime-polk-street)
By: Rob Nagle | 03/19/12 8:59 PM
SF Examiner Staff Writer
Joseph Schell/Special to The SF Examiner

Martial arts instructors Harold Anthony Short Soriano, left, and Robert Castro, right, have intervened to help neighbors in two recent attacks.

If you’re looking for a safe business environment, being neighbors with a martial arts academy might be a good option.

In the past two months, two separate attacks on workers at a shopping center at Polk and California streets were defused by a couple of heroic combat experts.

On March 9, a grocer was allegedly victimized by a chemical-spraying cretin who grabbed cash from the register and fled before he was arrested with the help of Harold Anthony Short Soriano, a teacher at the Eskabo Daan Filipino Martial Arts School, which is upstairs from the market.

A month earlier, the grand master of the school, Robert Castro, “defended the owner of a doughnut shop” during an attack, Soriano said.

Soriano, 41, an Alameda resident and CAD designer, teaches martial arts at the studio two days a week, he said.

The day of the robbery “was just another training day, a normal Friday,” Soriano said.

He was on his way to use the restroom on the first floor when he heard a woman scream from inside the grocery store. He asked the manager what was going on, and he said the cashier had been attacked and his store robbed.

“So I asked, ‘Which way did he go?’” Soriano said.

The suspect, later identified by police as 54-year-old transient John Ellis, was spotted nearby at Polk and Clay streets, Soriano said. He said he knew he had to chase after the guy, yet there was another pressing matter at hand.

“I still had to use the bathroom too,” Soriano said.

But that didn’t stop him.

Soriano said he repeatedly tried to “lock” Ellis down, but he kept coming back for more.

“He was reaching for anything,” Soriano said. “He actually tried to hit me with a Tanqueray bottle, but I got on top of him real quick. I think he was pretty high too. He was bleeding pretty bad, but he kept getting up.”

Soriano also was bloodied in the battle. After feigning surrender again, Ellis pulled out scissors and jabbed Soriano in the chest. He wasn’t seriously injured, but he also wasn’t happy.

“That’s when I said, ‘No more Mr. Nice Guy,’” Soriano said. “On top of that, I sprained my ankle.”

By the time police arrived, Soriano said, Ellis was spent.

For his troubles, the grocery store owner gave Soriano three crates of produce, which he shared with his class and children.

Merchants can thank their lucky ninja stars that a studio full of martial artists looms over the block.

“They should pay us for security,” Soriano joked.
We caught a robber at our school once. He tried to steal the tip jar from the pizzeria next door. We ate there a lot and were friends with the manager, so when he shouted 'thief!' and we saw him running with the tip jar (which was a converted water jug) we intervened. It helped that we were all outside practicing our staff sparring. The perp ran right into the middle of about 8 or 10 of us, all holding eyebrow-height staffs (http://www.martialartsmart.com/31s-6072.html). One of my kung fu brothers was a deputy sheriff and he got right in front of him as the rest of us circled around him. He had to give up.

GeneChing

03-22-2012, 11:56 AM

Well played by Varner. He helped bust the perps and didn't even have to throw a blow.

Martial arts expert captures two robbery suspects in Stoughton
By Teresa A. Franco (http://www.wickedlocal.com/stoughton/news/x1231829590/Martial-arts-expert-captures-two-robbery-suspects-in-Stoughton#axzz1psCuXrGW)
Wicked Local Stoughton
Posted Mar 22, 2012 @ 11:00 AM
Last update Mar 22, 2012 @ 12:33 PM

A Stoughton mixed martial artist said he came close to putting his skills to work when he encountered two men allegedly attempting to steal from a local business.

Mike Varner, owner of Maxx Training in Stoughton, said he caught two Weymouth men trying to steal metal from Mario’s Railing March 8 at 7:28 p.m..

Stoughton Police arrested Edward Chamberlain, 39, of 48 Pond St., Apt. 5, Weymouth, and Edward Bragg, 41, of 1228 Commercial St., Apt. #REAR, Weymouth and charged them both with larceny over $250, according to police reports.

Varner, who is friends with the owner of Mario’s Railing, Aldo Marginella, said he was driving by the business and noticed a suspicious vehicle parked outside the business. He said the men were sliding a giant I-beam in the back of their truck.

“My gut instinct told me something wasn’t right,” he said.

Varner said he asked the men if they knew Marginella.

“They put the beam down and I knew something was wrong,” he said.

Varner said the men obeyed his orders to stay put by the car after he told them he was an ultimate fighter and got into a fighting stance.

Varner said he attempted to take a picture of the license plate with his cell phone but the numbers didn’t come out because of the glare. Not wanting the men to flee, he said he told them he was going to call the owner of the store to get it straightened out, but instead called police. Moments later, three officers arrived, he said.

Varner said while he was conversing with the men, he was trying to think of ways to keep them there before police arrived.

“I know I couldn’t use force to detain them because they put the I-beam back,” he said. “I used more of my verbal skills and an aggressive stance to hope they’d stay there.”

Varner said he encourages residents to be on the look out for suspicious activity.

“We citizens have to keep an eye on our town,” he said.

ShaolinDan

03-22-2012, 12:14 PM

"Varner said the men obeyed his orders to stay put by the car after he told them he was an ultimate fighter and got into a fighting stance."

Does this work now? It didn't used to work. :)

Hebrew Hammer

03-22-2012, 12:39 PM

We caught a robber at our school once. He tried to steal the tip jar from the pizzeria next door. We ate there a lot and were friends with the manager, so when he shouted 'thief!' and we saw him running with the tip jar (which was a converted water jug) we intervened. It helped that we were all outside practicing our staff sparring. The perp ran right into the middle of about 8 or 10 of us, all holding eyebrow-height staffs (http://www.martialartsmart.com/31s-6072.html). One of my kung fu brothers was a deputy sheriff and he got right in front of him as the rest of us circled around him. He had to give up.

What no free pizza?

sanjuro_ronin

03-22-2012, 01:10 PM

I remember the time I beat up a redneck at Home depot that was accosting a lady.
My friend was the manager there at the time and got the whole thing on the surveillance video ( that we watched after).
There was a brief article on it that he saved to tease me about it.
This was years ago and I wonder if he still has it?
I was teased and called "Batman" for months.

GeneChing

03-23-2012, 04:37 PM

What no free pizza?
They kicked us down extras and freebees all the time. We were good customers. They made good pizzas. It's all about being good neighbors. Heck, that tip jar the perp tried to nick was filled with our tips!

GeneChing

04-06-2012, 09:20 AM

A mixed-martial-arts dojo probably doesn't teach kung fu, but we'll take it. ;)

Gem heist foiled by kung fu cop (http://www.news.com.au/world/gem-heist-foiled-by-kung-fu-cop/story-fn6sb9br-1226320830012)
April 07, 2012 12:01AM

A GANG of jewel thieves has made a mess of their escape after a daring broad-daylight robbery in New York.

The thieves crashed their getaway Jaguar and had to scatter on foot.

One of the bandits ran right into a mixed-martial-arts dojo and was tackled by an off-duty policeman. Two others were collared nearby, while a fourth member of the crew got away empty-handed.

The heist began around 11:30am local time on Thursday when the thugs, wearing gloves and covering their faces with their shirts, rushed into a Lower Manhattan diamond store, where they held more than a dozen jewelers at gunpoint as they stole about $US60,000 ($58,000) in diamond necklaces and bracelets.

The thieves sped off in a 2007 beige Jaguar X-type with no license plates but came to a halt when the vehicle crashed into a taxi.

One thief who was injured in the crash was taken into custody at the accident scene, while a second was busted as he tried to flee up a nearby fire escape. A third had the worst luck of all, trying to make his escape by running into New York Jujitsu, where an off-duty cop was in the middle of a training session.

"The guy ran straight for the bathroom [and] flushed something, and when he came out, the off-duty cop tackled him and started patting him down," 49-year-old instructor Eddie Hunt said.

Cops found the stolen loot and a gun stashed in the getaway car's battery compartment under the hood.

GeneChing

04-10-2012, 09:06 AM

There's vids if you follow either links.

Kung Fu-Trained Queens Man Saves Woman from Groper (http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Sunnyside-Queens-Man-Saves-Woman-Sex-Assault-Groping-46-Street-146728125.html)
Mike Novak chased the accused attacker away when he saw a woman being assaulted outside his home
By Pei-Sze Cheng
| Tuesday, Apr 10, 2012 | Updated 10:51 AM EDT

A Queens man who heard a woman screaming outside his home early Sunday is being credited with saving her from being assaulted.

Mike Novak, 54, said he was jolted from sleep around 5:45 a.m. by the desperate cries of a woman in distress.

"My wife, who's a nurse, usually leaves that early," said Novak, who's also a father of a teenage daughter. "So I got scared because I thought something happened to her."

His wife was downstairs and had not left the home yet. When Novak ran out the front door, he saw a man on top of a woman in some bushes down the street.

According to police, the 30-year-old victim had been walking home from the 7 train station along 46th Street when the man attacked her from behind.

Police said he covered her mouth, groped her and hit her in the face. He may have gotten away with more, police said, if it weren't for Novak.

"She started screaming and he told her to be quiet," said Novak. "And good thing she didn't, because I heard her screaming."

"I came running out of the house, and he must have heard me and took off," said Novak.

Novak, who has practiced kung fu for 30 years, was ready to take her attacker down, if only he had not run away so quickly.

"I think I was doing what anybody should do," said Novak. "In my opinion, when you hear a woman scream, you need to come out and help her."

No arrests have been made. Police are continuing to investigate.

Man saves woman being attacked in Queens (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=8614102)
Monday, April 09, 2012

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A man in Queens came to the rescue of a woman being attacked outside his home.

He's trained in Kung Fu and when he heard a woman screaming for help, he says he did what he thinks anyone would do.

"This is a tight knit community and we all try to help each other," said Mike Novak, a Sunnyside resident.

Around 5:45 Sunday morning, he was sleeping in his home in Sunnyside, Queens and his bedroom window was open so he could clearly hear someone screaming.

"This was, 'Help me, help me, stop, stop, get away from me, stop help,' like that," Novak said.

It was pitch dark; Novak bolted outside and saw two people struggling in these bushes, a man on top of a woman.

Instead of calling 911, he ran to help.

"I'm not going to stand around and let a woman who's obviously in distress, continue to be in distress, it's not the way I was raised and that's not the kind of man I am, I'm going to do something about it," Novak said.

He did do something about it.

The second the attacker saw Novak he took off running but got away.

"I was in bare feet and he had on sneakers so that's a fight I can't win. (If you had, had on sneakers?) It might be a different story right now," Novak said.

And an even different story, if this 54-year-old had caught up with the man, you see he studies Praying Mantis Kung Fu, a close combat form of the martial art, and has been for more than three decades.

"You don't want to be flowering or show off, you just want to get the guy, take the guy out as quickly as possible. (Going for the eyes and throat?) Yes, yes," Novak said.

Word spread fast about what Novak did.

"When this happens to somebody in our neighborhood streets, we rally and grateful, I'm not surprised," said Bright Owens, a neighbor.

The woman does live here in the neighborhood; she was coming home from a family gathering when she was attacked.

Novak tells Eyewitness News, after he chase the suspect off, he then turned his attention back to the victim.

"She was disheveled and made sure I got her out of the bushes and brought her in the house, my wife is a nurse so we were able to comfort her until the cops showed up," Novak said.

This isn't the first time he's stepped in to help.

Years ago, he witnessed two chain snatchings, and in one he actually caught the bad guy.

"You're a good guy to have around," Eyewitness News said.

"I try," Novak said.

blackjesus

04-13-2012, 10:22 PM

Not sure if it has been posted before

Gangster Loses Fight To Karate Kid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WgvUZglhb8I

The "karate kid" is using some sort of Shaolin style?

GeneChing

05-07-2012, 10:22 AM

Took me a bit until I got that Surprise was the location.

Surprise man uses martial arts on intruder (http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/04/26/20120426surprise-martial-arts-intruder.html)
Father of 3 fights back vs. stranger with gun in home
by D.S. Woodfill - May. 5, 2012 08:51 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

David Jennings slowly emerged from a deep sleep, sensing that someone was standing by his bed.

In the dark room, the blue glow of the television illuminated a man's silhouette. The stranger was pointing a gun at Jennings' head.

"Don't move," the stranger said.

Crime victims often have just moments to react, as they decide how best to keep alive and protect loved ones. With his three children sleeping down the hall and his wife lying next to him, Jennings had a second to decide.

He moved.

2:50 A.M.

Jennings would later say it was almost as if he weren't directing his own actions.

Protect the family.

Jennings, who was lying on his stomach, reached around behind his back with his left arm and grabbed the intruder's hand that was holding the gun -- the same gun Jennings kept by his bed for protection, a Bersa .380 semiautomatic.

Jennings used his free hand to push himself off his bed and swung his left leg off the edge. Turning toward the intruder, Jennings lunged. He slammed his shoulder into the man's midsection, and with his arms wrapped around the stranger's torso, lifted him off the ground to take him off balance. With the stranger digging his fingernails into Jennings' back, the two crashed to the floor, about six feet from the foot of the bed.

Sitting on the stranger's torso, Jennings wrapped his leg around him to constrict his breathing.

"I was smashing his head into the ground, trying to keep him disoriented," Jennings said.

He shouted for his wife to call 911. Jennifer Jennings grabbed the phone and dialed but couldn't remember her own address. She composed herself enough to spit the words out and then ran from the room, jumping over the two men who were blocking the door. She took the children downstairs to the family room.

The intruder stopped struggling when the two hit the ground.

That's when he said something totally unexpected.

"He was just saying, 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry,' as he lay on his stomach," Jennings said. "He wasn't doing anything else. He was just laying there, his arms out to the side."

The gun was a few feet away, dropped during the struggle.

Jennifer unlocked the front door for the police.

Upstairs, she told them.

As two Surprise police officers charged into the room, guns drawn, they grabbed the aggressor, the one who had a man pinned to the bedroom floor on his stomach.

Jennifer, just behind them, saw the mistake.

"Wait, that's my husband."

They handcuffed the intruder and took him away.

David Jennings' hands shook for five hours.
Reaction

Whether Jennings reacted to the situation appropriately depends on who's doing the talking.

Surprise police Sgt. Bert Anzini praised Jennings for his quick action but stopped short of saying that everyone in that situation should react in the same way.

"It's the person -- the victim who's in this situation -- that has to make that choice of whether they're going to submit to the demands of the criminal and hope that there's no type of violence," Anzini said.

Michael Foley, who teaches self-defense, said victims in a similar situation as Jennings should definitely take action. Foley said when someone breaks into an occupied home and has a gun, "they're probably going to do something to you no matter if you comply or not."

"Your best bet is to fight with everything you've got," he said.

James Gierke, director of victims services for the National Organization for Victim Assistance, said taking on a criminal suspect is not always the right thing to do.

"I think (that's) way too black and white," he said. "There's a huge potential for you to escalate a situation. Sometimes compliance is the best approach.

"I cannot and I would not absolutely recommend that in every single situation the appropriate response is to fight. I think in certain situations compliance makes sense."
The aftermath

The man who broke into the Jenningses' home in the middle of the night had the misfortune to run into someone with some experience with fighting.

David Jennings said he briefly studied mixed martial arts five years ago, training that kicked in when he came under threat that night in his room. Mixed martial arts is a combat sport that uses techniques from wrestling, boxing and kickboxing as well as judo, Brazilian jujitsu and other fighting styles. Using his legs to constrict the intruder's breathing, which is known as a body lock, is one of the moves he learned.

The quick reaction came partly from his experience as a bouncer. But it was his life as a husband and father that led the 29-year-old to battle that weekend night in March.

"All those what-ifs -- like if he would have grabbed one of my sons or daughter," he said.

Surprise police arrested Ivan Sanchez, 18, who has a juvenile record for armed robbery and burglary.

Sanchez, accused of entering the Jennings house through an unlocked sliding-glass door, faces charges of aggravated assault and burglary.

Six weeks after the Jenningses awoke to the stranger beside their bed, David Jennings is thinking of putting in an alarm system. He double-checks the door locks every night. He still keeps the gun by his bed at night but started using a trigger lock.

Jennifer still sleeps with the lights on in the hallway and stairs outside their room. She makes her husband investigate every noise, no matter how minor. She is thinking about carrying a gun with her everywhere. She remembers how the intruder looked at them.

"That's what I see every night when I close my eyes."

sanjuro_ronin

05-07-2012, 10:34 AM

Here you go:

Jennings, who was lying on his stomach, reached around behind his back with his left arm and grabbed the intruder's hand that was holding the gun -- the same gun Jennings kept by his bed for protection, a Bersa .380 semiautomatic.

WingChunABQ

05-09-2012, 07:13 AM

Here you go:

My thoughts exactly. The guy was in supreme danger because he left a gun out. Things could have turned out much more tragically.

GeneChing

06-25-2012, 09:39 AM

There's a vid if you follow the link below.

'I think they knew they messed with the wrong girl' (http://www.kval.com/news/local/I-think-they-knew-they-messed-with-the-wrong-girl-159981385.html)
By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Jun 22, 2012 at 7:00 PM PDT

VANCOUVER, Wash. – A Vancouver woman said she used her martial art skills to defend herself after she says she was groped by one stranger and verbally harassed by another last week.

Priscilla Dang was out for a run in her own neighborhood when she says the incident happened on Padden Parkway between 94th and Andresen Road last Friday.

Two teens came up to her on their bikes.

"One went in front and made eye contact with me like a smirk, like I thought he was saying 'hi.' The next thing I knew I was pretty much groped on my bottom behind left side," Dang said.

She fought back and defended herself using her training in martial arts that she's been studying for 18 years. She's been mastering the skills of Kung Fu from her older brother. The family owns Summit Wushu Academy in Clackamas that teaches Chinese martial arts.

"So I grabbed him and said, 'You need to apologize, and he did,'" Dang said.

But it escalated when she says the second teen started swearing at her.

"It just made something snap in me – it's not OK. It's so disrespectful," Dang said.

That's when her Kung Fu background really kicked in as she punched him twice in the face.

"He started coming in for a few, and I was lucky enough to dodge his shots. I came up for another one and I got him good, and I think that upset him," she said.

After the second hit, Dang said the teen pulled out a four-inch blade.

"That was when my instinct came in to back off – don't get so close because he might grab me," she said.

Two people saw the confrontation and called 911. Dang wasn't hurt but thinks the teens definitely got the message.

"I think they knew they messed with the wrong girl," she said.

The suspects are 18 and 16 years old. The 16-year-old was released to his parents, and the 18-year-old, Josiah Sullivan, was arrested.

Investigators say they never found a knife. And they say in situations like this one they recommend people avoid confrontations.

sanjuro_ronin

06-25-2012, 09:48 AM

There's a vid if you follow the link below.

At least she was smart enough to back away when a knife was pulled.
While I appreciate her courage in protecting herself, I am not sure how to read into this part...

"So I grabbed him and said, 'You need to apologize, and he did,'" Dang said.

Seems like things escalated into the other guy pulling out a knife, when they may NOT have had too..

TaichiMantis

06-25-2012, 02:05 PM

With a spin kick, (http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Would-be-thief-feels-wrath-of-kung-fu-kid/7625476/) a 12 year old with three years of Kung fu training neutralizes the bigger bad guy!:eek::D

pateticorecords

06-26-2012, 09:00 AM

Harassers 'messed with the wrong girl' (Wushu Practitioner)

A young woman uses her martial arts expertise to defend herself from a stranger she said groped her. KATU reports.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/bestoftv/2012/06/25/dnt-your-martial-arts-expert-defends-herself.katu

bawang

06-26-2012, 09:07 AM

i bet it was a skinny white man. if it was giant black man, no can defend.

Raipizo

06-27-2012, 08:51 PM

I like seeing the good guy win. The honest law abiding citizens just going about their business and using their hard earned ability through years of training.

Raipizo

06-27-2012, 09:04 PM

David Jamieson

06-28-2012, 12:56 PM

I like seeing the good guy win. The honest law abiding citizens just going about their business and using their hard earned ability through years of training.

Just keep watching TV ...cause that don't happen in the real world... :(

Hard working honest people don't tend to gravitate towards violence.

If it's not being done in a ring as a contest, or as a form of study, it's generally done in the commision of a crime.

Your average martial artist that is not into competition will likely not get in many fights in his/her life.

Raipizo

06-28-2012, 02:23 PM

Just keep watching TV ...cause that don't happen in the real world... :(

Hard working honest people don't tend to gravitate towards violence.

If it's not being done in a ring as a contest, or as a form of study, it's generally done in the commision of a crime.

Your average martial artist that is not into competition will likely not get in many fights in his/her life.

Sadly enough that is very true. I wish there was a way to prevent martial arts from being used to do crime, and that itself sometimes gives us a bad reputation. Martial arts as sport is idiotic. Not the people who do it themselves but the fact that it's used as entertainment. And that's a good thing that martial artists don't usually get into fights or they become the criminals who use their skills for the wrong ideals.

Raipizo

06-28-2012, 02:26 PM

I'm just saying it's nice to see them win for a change, not most people have years of experience under their belt or are aware of how to defend themselves.

GeneChing

07-19-2012, 09:49 AM

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting ... to Stop Jewelry Store Robbery (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/07/chhom_choy_vi_mean_chey_jewelr.php)
By Matt Coker Tue., Jul. 17 2012 at 9:04 AM

Their hands were fast as lightning . . .

They would be the three martial artists who helped an agitated owner of a jewelry store foil an attempted armed robbery in Long Beach's Cambodia Town.

Thanks to the Good Samaritaninjas, one of three baddies is in custody.

Just before noon Monday, three men came into Vi Mean Chey Jewelry, 200 E. Willard St., near the 1200 block of Anaheim Street, saying they wanted to buy gold chains. But one man pulled out a gun and hopped over the counter.

Owner Chhom Choy, who is a grandfather, began fighting off the intruder and a shot was fired in the scuffle. The gunman then tried to run out of the back of the shop, but there was no exit.

Martial arts masters Bunsong Seng and Sangva Chan Mam and their student Seiha Hak just happened to be in an adjacent store, having flown in from New York for the 25th anniversary of Khmer kickboxing legend Oumry Ban's LBC studio.

The trio heard the commotion in the jewelry store and rushed over. By then, two of the would-be robbers were getting into a car, possibly a Ford Thunderbird, and driving off. But Hak managed to help Choy and other family members subdue the gunman, who possibly suffered a broken arm in the struggle.

Once Seng, Mam and their mad skills joined the party, the suspect was not going anywhere until police arrived.

The arrestee, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital, as was Choy, whose hand was injured either by fighting or getting grazed by the round that was fired. No one suffered life-threatening wounds.

The jewelry store's surveillance video should help police investigators, but the cop shop is also reaching out to the public for any information that can lead to the arrest of the outstanding baddies. Call the Long Beach Police Department robbery detail at 562.570.7464 if you can help. Don't think that Martial arts masters Bunsong Seng and Sangva Chan Mam and their student Seiha Hak were kung fu (http://www.martialartsmart.com/kung-fu-tai-chi-shaolin-styles.html) or ninjitsu (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-styles.html) practitioners...but we'll take it.

GeneChing

07-19-2012, 10:02 AM

This is pretty brutal stuff. It's very 'China' as I'm sure anyone else who's spent an extended stay there will testify. PRC is pretty rough sometimes.

It always strikes me as funny that so many Americans comment on the ineffectiveness of kung fu, while in China, where street violence is so much more prevalent, it's all about kung fu.

Flying Kung-Fu Kick Takes Down Knife-Wielding Attacker During China Campus Violence (VIDEO) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/flying-kung-fu-kick-takes-down-knife-attacker-china-campus-violence-video_n_1676465.html)
The Huffington Post | By Andres Jauregui Posted: 07/16/2012 1:24 pm Updated: 07/17/2012 4:19 pm

Like the climax of a kung-fu movie, the hero in this grim scenario came out of nowhere to save the day.

According to ChinaSmack, a man wielding a large, machete-like knife rushed the campus of China's Guizhou Normal University on July 2, allegedly headed toward the cafeteria. Several security guards tried to stop him, but were cut down in the process. The man, described by police as mentally ill, stabbed and killed two guards with a 27-inch steel blade and seriously injured a third.

In footage captured by a bystander's camera phone, the suspect can be seen attacking and stabbing a guard. As he turns away from his victim, a man dashes onto the scene and delivers a powerful flying kick to the suspect's back, knocking him over.

The video has been viewed more than 2.7 million times after it was posted to the Chinese video-sharing site Youku.

The man who delivered the kick, whose name reportedly is Zhang Huaiqian, has been nicknamed "Flying Kick Brother" by social media users and the Chinese press. Zhang can be seen in the car's side view mirror, waiting for the right moment to act.

"He wanted to beat me but he had to pick up his knife first. I felt that he was hesitating and I gave him a second kick," Zhang told China Daily.

A gang of security personnel and bystanders mobbed the suspect after he was taken down. The group then proceeded to punch, kick and beat him into submission with various objects before he was later arrested.

The security guard stabbed by the knife-wielding man can be seen in the video clutching his wound as the commotion subsides. Another person, who appears to be a guard, is seen lying motionless on the sidewalk late in the video.

China Central Television reports that two university guards, Ni Bing, 48, and Han Yimin, 49, died from their injuries at a local hospital.

TaichiMantis

07-19-2012, 11:25 AM

A link to that kick would be nice....;)

sanjuro_ronin

07-19-2012, 11:37 AM

Raipizo

07-19-2012, 07:26 PM

A link to that kick would be nice....;)

Check YouTube mabbe?

GeneChing

07-31-2012, 09:08 AM

Homeless woman uses "Kung Fu" to escape S. Wichita attack (http://articles.kwch.com/2012-07-30/homeless-woman_32946569)
July 30, 2012|By John Boyd | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — A homeless woman is recovering after being attacked under a bridge in S. Wichita early Sunday morning. Police say the woman and her 29-year-old brother were confronted by eight people walking under the bridge in the 3700 block of S. Broadway where the two were staying.

The woman reports the group was making a lot of noise, so the woman told them to be quiet and to go find another bridge.

That's when one of the people in the group attacked her and held a hatchet to her throat.

The woman told police she was able to get out of the situation and get the hatchet away because "she knows Kung Fu."

She and her brother went to the hospital for help. The woman suffered cuts and bruises to her throat.

Police went back to the bridge and confirmed evidence of a fight.

No arrests have been made. I would love more info on this one...

GeneChing

09-26-2012, 09:28 AM

Girls turn to martial arts to combat Romeos (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-25/allahabad/34081250_1_martial-arts-brave-girls-eve)
Abbas Ali, TNN Sep 25, 2012, 05.52AM IST

ALLAHABAD: Two recent incidents, in which brave girls taught eve-teasers a lesson by hitting back, has sent the message across that females, especially school and college-going girls, should muster courage to fight back instead of becoming victims. While most of the girls believe they should not only stand up to speak against the mischievous acts of the road Romeos but also learn martial arts to deal them a serious blow.

Karate trainer of city Tiger Praveen Srivastava says, "In the current scenario, more and more girls are approaching trainers to learn martial arts. We have been organising special camps for girls to teach them self defence and help them walk fearlessly. Over 800 girls are learning in various camps in the city."

Shefali, an Arts under graduate of Allahabad University, says "There were several occasions when we had to resist eve-teasers and once we are trained in martial arts, we can defend ourselves and also teach them a lesson." Class XII student Kavita says "I have been learning martial arts since childhood and it proved useful when eve-teasers made an attempt to assault me when I was returning home from tuition classes." Two youths were following her and sensing trouble, she dealt a quick blow to one of the youths making the surprised duo beat a hasty retreat. "All girls have right to protect themselves and they must learn martial arts. She also claims this art of self -defence has equipped every girl to defend herself in any situation.

With reports of acid attacks, eve-teasing and physical harassment on the rise, college and school going girls in the city are approaching experts offering training in martial arts. "Currently, two batches comprising 30 girls each in the 15 to 15 years age group are learning the art of unarmed combat," said an instructor at a martial arts academy. He added: "Some girls are even planning to attain the black or green belt, a distinction in the discipline."

Victims of eve-teasing or their family members do not lodge complaints with the police due to the social stigma. In the past eight months, only 73 cases of eve-teasing have been registered with the police under section 294 of IPC, though the nuisance is far more rampant. Section 294 of the IPC is the only section which doesn't require any evidence or witness.

(Names have been changed on request)

DM orders measures to check eve-teasing

District magistrate Raj Shekhar on Monday asked district inspector of schools (DIOS) and regional higher education officers to take measures to curb eve-teasing near educational institutions. The DM has asked the officials to set up boards at all educational institutions with telephone numbers of senior police officers, schools managers/management and principal so that girls can contact the officers concerned when required. A complaint box will also be set up at every inter college, degree college and technical institutes wherein girls can drop their complaints. The colleges concerned will have to take steps to maintain records like number of complaints received, action taken.
As an editor, I find the language of Indian articles so charming. Eve-teasing is a serious problem, but that term is just downright funny to me.

GeneChing

10-18-2012, 09:23 AM

This article cut&pastes rather poorly as there are a lot of photos and captions. Best to just follow the link and skip to the short vid.

Startling moment abseiler delivers flying 'Kung-Fu kick' through sixth-floor window to stop man threatening to jump with a child in his arms (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2219510/Startling-moment-abseiler-delivers-flying-Kung-Fu-kick-sixth-floor-window-stop-man-threatening-jump-child-arms.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)
By Eddie Wrenn
PUBLISHED: 05:12 EST, 18 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:28 EST, 18 October 2012

It is a horrible situation in which one man, unable to cope with life, threatens to jump from a sixth-floor window - with a child in his arms.

But there is something typically Chinese in the way the man is prevented from leaping - when an abseiling fireman ensures the pair's safety by dropping from the window above and delivering a Kung-Fu-style flying kick.

His actions send the man and child tumbling back into the room, potentially saving two lives with his daring act.

The incident happened in Seongdong-gu district, in Xining City, on October 16.

Scroll down for video:
Grief: The man sat on the ledge of a sixth-storey window in Xining City, threatening to jump to his death with a child in his arms
The man was six storeys up, and threatening to jump as emergency teams tried desperately to prevent a tragedy
Ready to leap: The hero fireman abseils from the window above, and then makes a split-second leap towards the man
The video shows the man leaping downwards, in a bit to stop a tragedy occurring
Contact: In the video, the abseiler can be seen taking the man by surprise as he swoops in through the window
And he's in: The abseiler's quick moves send the man and child tumbling back into the room
Safe from harm: The abseiler's quick moves send the man and child tumbling back into the room

Fire crews from Xining City Police Fire Brigade 119 were called to the scene in the mid-afternoon, responding to calls that a man was threatening to leap following family disputes.

They found the man sitting on his bedroom window ledge in an emotional state, and quickly arranged a cordon, placing an inflatable cushion at ground level.

Two firemen - one an abseiler - then went to the other side of the building, and practiced what would prove to be a life-saving moving.

An hour after the incident started, at 3.54pm, the two-man team was ready, and went to the room directly above the man's bedroom.

And then, in a smooth motion, the fireman jumped from the seventh-floor room, perfectly judging the distance so that he flew into the room with a flying kick that sent the man and his child tumbling back into the bedroom.

Prevention: The fire crew also arranged a safety cushion under the window
Safe: Firemen cradle the two-year-old after ensuring the child's safety

GeneChing

11-01-2012, 09:41 AM

This is my fav so far...

There's a vid if you follow the link...

Woman fights off shark with martial arts (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2012/11/01/07/40/woman-fights-off-shark-using-martial-arts)
Alexandra Pleffer, ninemsn
7:40am November 1, 2012

Black belt Mariko Haugen encountered the shark in Maui, Hawaii, on the weekend after spending the day swimming with turtles.

Ms Haugen told News10 that at first she didn't realise why people on land were yelling out to her.

"All of a sudden, it was like Hollywood," she said.

"You see the big jaws coming at you.

"I can't say how terrifying that is."

Her husband Don Haugen wrote in a Facebook post that his wife "saw it a few seconds before it hit – and she gave it her best taekwondo black belt punch in the nose".

Ms Haugen punched the animal twice, with one fist making an impact but the other hand sliding into its mouth.

Ms Haugen's husband then put himself between her and the shark, but it swam away.

Don Haugen said he was still coming to grips with the attack.

"I've always told my kids there's zero reasons to fear sharks because what is scary is breast cancer," he said.

"That's one in eight (in odds).

"Getting bitten by a shark is one in four million visitors to Hawaii, so we should not have to worry at all.

"Except when you turn around and see that there is a shark biting your wife and then all of a sudden, odds are 100 per cent."

Ms Haugen was not bitten in the attack but received stitches to wounds on her right hand and thigh.

Author: Alexandra Pleffer, Approving editor: Emily O'Keefe

GeneChing

11-05-2012, 02:38 PM

I wonder what that gun man thought he was going to steal.

Updated: 3:22 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 | Posted: 2:35 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2012
Kung fu instructor, students fight off would-be robber in Squirrel Hill (http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/kung-fu-instructor-students-fight-armed-robber-squ/nSxph/)
SQUIRREL HILL, Pa. —

Authorities are looking for a man accused of trying to rob a kung fu studio Wednesday night in Squirrel Hill.

According to instructor Joshua Wang, a night class finished about 8:30 p.m. at the Win Win Kung Fu Studio on Murray Avenue when an armed man walked in and yelled at Wang and two students to get down.

"He said, 'Get down, get down, don't move,'" Wang said.

Wang told Channel 11's Vince Sims that the man walked toward the back room and then ran toward them with the gun.

"I didn't want this guy leaving, so I grabbed his head and twisted it," Wang said. "I twisted him here and I twisted him once more here."

Wang said he tackled the gunman, and while he held him down, one of the students tried to get his gun.

"My student was very good. He was very brave," Wang said.

According to Wang, the robber was "very strong" and escaped. Wang told Sims that he's glad no one was injured.

"That was my first time seeing something like that. In China, I never saw that," Wang said.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the attempted robbery is asked to contact police.

GeneChing

11-16-2012, 10:56 AM

Mixed martial arts fighter stops home intruder (http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/around-oklahoma/Mixed-martial-arts-fighter-stops-home-intruder/-/12530084/17418626/-/e2ga8o/-/index.html)
Man taken into custody
UPDATED 1:57 PM CST Nov 15, 2012
LAWTON, Okla. —
http://www.koco.com/image/view/-/17426040/medRes/1/-/maxh/460/maxw/620/-/9tpg2jz/-/N15MMA-jpg.jpg
A mixed martial arts fighter is being called a hero Thursday.

Tim Johnson, of Lawton, stopped a thief from breaking into his home. Johnson told police that when he confronted the burglar outside his home he had planned to let him go, however, when the thief got violent Johnson took action.

"I let him think he was going to get up then I gave two shots, two really good shots to the ribs," said Johnson.

Johnson called 911 as soon as he gained control of the situation. He said police arrived and arrested the man. Two shots to the ribs. Nice.

Syn7

11-16-2012, 08:28 PM

I wonder what that gun man thought he was going to steal.

That is one dumb teacher. He's so lucky it worked out the way it did.

Does win win have some Chinese meaning that makes it clever? Or am I reading to much into that?

GeneChing

11-27-2012, 11:00 AM

TAEK THAT! Teenage martial artist fights off would-be mugger (http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/TAEK-Teenage-martial-artist-fights-mugger/story-17433735-detail/story.html)
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
By Rachel Gardner

WHEN a would-be mugger approached slightly-built teenager Henry Watts determined to steal his wallet and phone, he got much more than he bargained for.

The criminal, who grabbed the Staple Hill teenager on the Bristol to Bath cycle path and aggressively demanded his possessions, had no idea his potential victim was an expert in the martial art taekwondo.

Instead of handing over his valuables, Henry, 15, put his self-defence skills to good use. And in a scene straight out of the movie The Karate Kid, he freed himself from the mugger's grasp and punched him in the face.

But rather than bragging about what he had done, Henry carried straight on to school, where he did not tell anyone about his unusual start to the day.

It was only that evening when he told his dad, Paul, what had happened. Mr Watts then contacted the police. Henry told The Post: "I usually walk to school with my younger brother Josh but was running a little bit late, so was on my own.

"I saw a man walking towards me with his head down, but suddenly he had hold of my jacket and was asking for my phone and wallet.

"I used an arm lock move to get his hand off my jacket – it basically involves getting his arm and twisting it around – and then I punched him in the face so that I could get away.

"I got off the track and ran up some stairs onto the common before carrying on to school.

"I didn't really think much of it until later in the day, and then I felt quite shocked.

"I didn't really want my dad to tell the police at first but he said what if it had been my brother, who is only 11?

"That made me realise that what had happened was quite serious."

Henry wholly credits his twice-weekly taekwondo lessons for his quick-thinking reaction.

"The whole thing didn't take longer than 15 seconds," he said.

"It never crossed my mind to hand over my things.

"My first reaction was to defend myself, and I think that's because of my taekwondo lessons."

His mum Alice Watts, 41, a finance officer, told The Post: "Henry is quite slight for his age and was wearing headphones.

"I think the man might have thought he was an easy target, but didn't realise that he knew how to defend himself. He's been doing taekwondo on and off for about five years and obviously used some of those moves to defend himself."

Andy Davies, chief instructor at Black Belt Academy in Staple Hill, has been Henry's taekwondo teacher for around 18 months.

Henry, who is in Year 10 at Mangotsfield School, is graded a green belt, which means he knows around half the skills needed to be awarded the elite black belt.

"We teach a mix of taekwondo and kick boxing using a range of oriental weapons," said Mr Davies. "The biggest thing that we try to do is to keep things simple and practical.

"Henry is a very diligent and quiet person – he's the last person I would have expected to do what he did.

"But it shows that he had the confidence to use the moves he'd learned in a real setting to defend himself.

"It's that confidence that we really try to instil in people.

"That takes time and training – the moves have to be practised and repeated over a period of time.

"We try to teach martial arts as a way of life and I am very proud of Henry and what he did to defend himself.

"I would like more children to learn the skills that martial arts teaches so that more can learn how to defend themselves in these sorts of situations."

A police spokeswoman told The Post that no arrests had yet been made but an investigation continues into the incident.

It happened between 8.30am and 8.40am on November 6, on the Bristol to Bath cycle track near Rodway Common in Mangotsfield.

Police are looking for a man aged 20 to 30, with a pale complexion, who is about 5ft 7in tall and skinny, with green eyes, a goatee beard and light brown scruffy hair. He was wearing a grey or blue hooded jumper at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the attacker should contact the police on 101.

Or am I reading to much into that? Yep. Too much.

GeneChing

11-28-2012, 10:13 AM

This is kind of funny. A harmless mistake receives some dojo justice.

California karate student pummels intruder found in bathroom (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/30/california-karate-student-pummels-intruder-found-in-bathroom/)
Published October 30, 2012
Associated Press

FRESNO, Calif. – A California man got an early morning beat down after being pummeled by a karate student who found him drunk in her bathroom.

Jannine Ramirez had just won a karate competition when she arrived at her Fresno apartment early Sunday and heard someone in the bathroom. Ramirez, 20, kicked down her bathroom door, then kicked the intruder through a shower door.

She continued with an onslaught of kicks and punches until Wilberto Zapata, 18, was outside her apartment.

"We didn't recognize him," Ramirez said. "Me and my mom live in the apartment, so no guy whatsoever should be in there."

Zapata recently moved into the apartment complex and mistakenly went into the wrong apartment unit, police told the Fresno Bee.

Ramirez has a yellow belt -- a step above beginner -- and expects to be promoted to orange belt next month at during a competition in Fresno.

She has been a karate and Muay Thai kick-boxing student for a year. Saturday was her first competition.

"I was actually more nervous in the competition than I was trying to get this intruder out of my house," said Ramirez, who attends Fresno City College and plans to study physical therapy at Fresno State University. "I literally kicked him all the way through my house."

Police said Zapata was drunk and thought he had broken into his own apartment. He was cited for unlawful entry into a home and released. A phone listing for Zapata could not be found.

Ramirez has no regrets.

"I had to protect my mom and protect myself and get this intruder out of my house," she said. "He sort of did deserve it. If he hadn't broken into my house, it wouldn't have happened."

GeneChing

11-29-2012, 10:53 AM

Can't find it now. Oh well...

There's a vid if you follow the link.

Chinese Kung Fu Expert Beats Up Men Who Came To Evict Him From Home (http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-kung-fu-expert-beats-up-men-who-came-to-evict-him-from-home-2012-11)
Malcolm Moore, The Daily Telegraph | Nov. 29, 2012, 9:53 AM | 2,804 | 7

In China, perhaps even more than in Britain, a man's home is his castle.

So when 38-year-old Shen Jianzhong was faced with a mob of thugs trying to evict him, he asked himself what his hero, Bruce Lee, would do.

The answer, according to a video that has attracted more than two million hits on the Chinese internet, is turn to kung fu.

For 20 years, Mr Shen had been practising kung fu, teaching himself Bruce Lee's system in his courtyard home in Bazhou, Hebei province.

Working in a local gym as a fitness coach, he is also the holder of a world record, at least according to an association in Hong Kong, for the most press-ups in a minute using a roller. "I am now training to break the record for most press-ups on a balance beam," he said.

At the end of October, Mr Shen was able to put his kung fu into action. For six months, a property developer had been trying to get his hands on Mr Shen's house.

"They called it a remodelling project, to turn our village into a town," he said.

"They wanted to tear down the whole street, and promised we would get a new house of the same size in two years, as well as rent to cover the interim.

But I heard of people in a neighbouring village getting a much better deal, so we refused to sign."

At first, the property company stuck up posters warning of dire consequences for any families who held out. Then, Mr Shen said, when 70 of the 100 households had left, the threats escalated.

"This mob of thugs would block the street most days. They would pick on the women, threatening to kill their kids. Then people started tossing bricks through windows and letting off fireworks at night. Some people got beaten on the street."

On October 29, as Mr Shen went to work and his wife popped out for a packet of instant noodles, a mob of "30 to 50 men" materialised at their front door.

"My wife tried to close the door, but they pushed it back and she tripped over. That is how the fight started," said Mr Shen.

With a flurry of kicks and punches, he and his 18-year-old son, a fellow kung fu devotee, set about the attackers, rendering seven of them near unconscious in the hallway.

"It was self defence. I really cannot remember what kung fu skills I used.

It was quite messy. Only seven people were injured because the rest were scared and stayed outside. Some of them ran away," he said.

When the police arrived, however, they were little help, insisting that since the thugs were unarmed, it was Mr Shen and his family who were in the wrong. They urged the family to sign the contract.

Instead, the Shens posted their homemade video online, where it has gone viral as a rare David versus Goliath moment in the bleak fight against China's avaricious property barons.

They then fled, on the evening of November 21, to Beijing. Upon arriving in the capital, however, Mr Shen's son was arrested by the police, who said they would charge him with assault.

"I do not regret the fight, but I am worried about my son," said Mr Shen.

"I think they are trying to fit up him up with some crime. I am concerned that my actions will end up hurting him," he said, acknowledging that officials may try to emotionally blackmail him into signing over his lease.

As the Telegraph interviewed Mr Shen, however, his phone rang. It was, he said, a man named Zhou Jin, who claimed to be a member of the Central Military Commission, which oversees the People's Liberation Army.

"He said he had seen my plight and was outraged. He said I should not give any interviews to the media and he would come and collect me in his car this afternoon," said Mr Shen.

An attempt to contact Mr Zhou on the number he provided failed, but perhaps Mr Shen's bravura has won him a powerful ally.

Additional reporting by Valentina Luo

sanjuro_ronin

11-29-2012, 11:36 AM

I guess no one told him and that a person can't teach himself a martial art and that MA don't work VS multiple attackers.

GeneChing

12-03-2012, 10:01 AM

Get your bokkens (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html) here (sorry, no bear spray)

San Francisco Woman Apprehends Burglar with Bear Spray, Live-tweets the Incident (http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/san-francisco-woman-apprehends-burglar-bear-spray-live-184900837.html)
By Jessica Ferri | Work + Money – Fri, Nov 30, 2012 1:49 PM EST

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/IiN0RMhdAB1yR4MDcZxUww--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/partner/470_2548834.jpg
Sonya Yu

Sick and tired of a burglar stealing packages from homes in her neighborhood, a San Francisco woman took matters into her own hands on Tuesday, according to the Daily Mail.

Luring the thief with a dummy package, Sonya Yu sprayed him with bear repellent and threatened him with a wooden sword, chasing him away. Minutes later, the alleged burglar, Andy Anduha, 51, was apprehended by law enforcement.

Yu, a photographer, recounted the entire incident on her Twitter account as events unfolded.

Yu informed her followers that several items had been stolen by Anduha. "He steals packages from door stoops - stole $1K+ worth from us earlier in the fall. He's been targeting our neighborhood."

"My bear spray, bokken, & I are still not intimidated,'" she tweeted Tuesday at 2:10 p.m. A bokken is a wooden sword used for samurai training.

Shortly after 4:45 p.m. the same day she tweeted (https://twitter.com/sonyayu/status/273551153332113409), "I GOT HIM WITH THE BEAR SPRAY BUT HE ESCAPED." Then, less than 15 minutes later, "I AM PUTTING HIM UNDER CITIZENS ARREST RIGHT NOW WITH 4 COPS."

Constant tweets concerned for her welfare came in. Yu kept her followers informed, giving them a blow-by-blow of events. Less than three minutes later: "8 COPS HAVE HIM & I JUST CONFIRMED ID. HE IS BEIN TAKEN AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE CUZ OF THE BEAR SPRAY I DOUSED HIM WITH." After Anduha was apprehended she wrote, "The bear spray debilitated him & painted him orange so other cops picked him up within 5 minutes. GOT HIM!"

Yu conceded on Twitter that the police were entertained by her unorthodox methods. "Cops were cracking up when they arrived to see me and my weapons." Hikers and hunters use bear repellent for protection. Yu tweeted she had purchased it at a local REI. Like pepper spray, bear repellent contains "Capsaicin and other Capsaicinoids, red pepper derivatives that affect the eyes and respiratory system," according to REI's website.

Yahoo! Shine reached out to Yu, but she did not respond for comment. "Thx everyone for the interest," she tweeted this morning, "but I have not & will not speak or comment to the media abt this. It's still an active police investigation."

Though some of Yu's neighbors praised her scrappiness, ("Thanks for catching the UPS Bandit. You saved Christmas," one neighbor wrote on Twitter), local law enforcement recommended that citizens not attempt to confront criminals themselves.

Other tweeters thought Yu's actions were unnecessary, even crazy. One wrote: "This is assault. Cops can't beat suspected criminals who are fleeing, and citizens can't blast them with bear spray. He had a knife? Please. You mean the one he opens packages with? Sonya was not in physical danger. . . y'all are a bunch of Texans if you think this violence is justified."

Yu insisted to neighbors that she was safe during the incident, tweeting, "He didn't try to attack me but he did have a knife. I was above him on the 1st floor balcony, dousing him with bear spray," though she did get hit by the bear spray in the process. "I WAS ALSO HIT WITH BEAR SPRAY BLOW BACK, SO MY FACE IS BURNING BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD," she tweeted.

GeneChing

12-20-2012, 05:17 PM

Wise looks like a kid who just got schooled.

Burglar wins several parting gifts after breaking into home of kickboxer (http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/12/10/burglar-wins-several-parting-gifts-after-breaking-into-home-of-kickboxer/)
Rick Chandler
Dec 10, 2012, 10:02 AM EST
http://nbcoutofbounds.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/jonathanwise.jpg?w=264

When choosing a house to burglarize, it’s probably wise to make sure that the owner isn’t a kickboxer. The guy in the mugshot here is Jonathan Wise, whose first mistake was choosing a life of crime. His second (and third, fourth, fifth, etc.) was throwing a punch at the homeowner after he got caught in the act.

That’s because the guy whose house he was attempting to burglarize, Norm Houston, is a kickboxer and personal trainer. After Wise landed the first blow, Houston proceeded to land all subsequent punches. Any news report that includes the sentence “the man was taken to jail after a quick stop at the hospital” is a good news report.

KFOR:

“The burglar started out by apologizing to him for getting into the garage and said he had fixed the damage only to follow that up by punching him in the face,” OKC Police Master Sgt. Gary Knight said.

Although he didn’t throw the first punch, Houston beat up Wise.

“You know I ain’t the toughest but I can hold my own,” Houston said.

In Oklahoma City, that’s how they roll.

GeneChing

12-28-2012, 05:20 PM

nasty vodka thief

MMA Fighter Stops Crime, Thwarts Thief In Missouri (http://www.inquisitr.com/458393/mma-fighter-stops-crime-thwarts-thief/)
Posted: December 28, 2012

An MMA fighter stopped a crime in progress in a Missouri greocery store, the area’s Patch reports.

The MMA fighter who stopped the crime is professional kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter Jesse Finney, and Finney happened to be in the store in Crestwood when a fellow patron decided to lift some bottles of vodka.

Unluckily for the thief, the MMA fighter stopped the crime, unwilling to allow the theft to occur unchecked on his watch. Finney — who was shopping for chocolate for his wife on December 21 when he thwarted the criminal — stepped in unaware of the crime that proceeded it, after he spotted a female employee of the shop pursuing a fleeing man on foot.

Finney says:

“I didn’t know if he had robbed the place, or if he’d assaulted somebody, I just saw her. He was pushing her off.”

Patch says the MMA fighter’s skills came in handy to stop the crime in progress, reporting:

“Finney grabbed the man by the coat. When he resisted, Finney slammed him to the ground and subdued him in a hold until Crestwood police could arrive, Finney said … As it turns out, the man had stashed several bottles of vodka before attempting to leave the store, Finney said. One of the bottles shoved in the man’s coat arm busted when he hit the ground.”

Finney credits the discipline and judgment he has developed as an MMA fighter for the relative restraint he used when stopping the crime — he says:

“In the martial arts, it teaches you discipline and respect. If I wasn’t disciplined, I probably would have hurt the guy … Instead, I took him down and a bottle broke in his jacket. That’s what we really try to focus on at the gym here in Crestwood … My wife was like, ‘What if he had had a gun?’ but at the end of the day, I just acted on instinct. I’m not going to let a man push a woman. It was pretty amazing, I was able to stop him, and nobody got hurt.”

While the MMA fighter did manage to stop the crime, the store says it does not encourage customer intervention to prevent shoplifting.

GeneChing

12-31-2012, 10:50 AM

More on Jianzhong here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1198847#post1198847).

If Bruce Lee faced forced eviction in China (http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/29/world/la-fg-china-land-disputes-20121230)
The tough guys who descended on Shen Jianzhong's home didn't know what they were in for. The incident prompts a few sad remarks about social conditions in China.
December 29, 2012|By John Hannon, Los Angeles Times

http://www.trbimg.com/img-50dfb7e1/turbine/la-la-fg-china-kungfu02-jpg.jpg-20121229/600
When Jianzhong and his son used kung fu to drive away thugs hired by developers who want the family's land in Bazhou, China.

BEIJING — The men who barged through Shen Jianzhong's door probably thought it was a routine assignment: Break in and beat Shen's family into submission. Forced evictions to make way for real estate development are an everyday occurrence in China, and the family may have seemed no different from any in that situation.

It was only after they forced open the door, threw Shen's wife to the ground and began to beat her that they learned the 38-year-old Shen and his 18-year-old son are kung fu masters.

"I take Bruce Lee very seriously," said Shen in a telephone interview a month after the incident.

Shen says he does not recall exactly what happened during the fight, but an eight-minute video of the aftermath shows seven of the hired hands piled in a motionless heap in Shen's doorway. Blood pools around the cheek of one; another lies halfway through the doorway, crumpled on the curb. Survivors mill about unsteadily on the street, glaring at the camera.

The video, shot by Shen's wife, has attracted nearly a million views and many admiring comments since it was posted online Oct. 30. It has turned Shen into a minor folk hero in China, where many villagers have been forced out of their homes by da shou ("beating hands" in Chinese) who work for real estate developers.

Land confiscation is one of the most contentious political issues in China and accounts for many of the mass demonstrations that occur with regularity across the country. A report by Amnesty International this year estimated that confiscations have occurred in 43% of Chinese villages in 15 years.

Shen and his family live in Bazhou, a city in Hebei province 60 miles from central Beijing. Shen says he has trained in Lee's Jeet Kune Do style of kung fu for 20 years. He has also been certified by the Hong Kong-based World Record Assn. for completing the highest number of roller push-ups in a minute. The exercise, which involves folding and unfolding at the waist like an inchworm while propped up with a small wheel, is more than a pastime for Shen. He and his wife run a small business teaching the exercise at home and around Bazhou, and they fear that the loss of their house would damage their livelihood.

Shen says he was teaching at a nearby gym on Oct. 29 when a group of more than 30 men assembled outside his house, which a local Communist Party official was planning to redevelop into an apartment complex. The men threatened and verbally abused Shen's wife as she returned home with groceries.

Once Shen arrived and confirmed to the leader of the group that his family would not leave before receiving guarantees for housing, the assailants, he said, burst through the front door and began to beat his wife. In response, Shen and his teenage son, a graduate of traditional martial arts schools, entered the fray.

Many who have seen the video, which has not been blocked by Internet censors, applauded Shen's victory. But the incident has also prompted a number of mournful remarks about social conditions in China.

"So do all Chinese people have to go to the Shaolin Temple [a historic martial arts academy] and study kung fu to do something about forced evictions?" wondered one recent blogger.

Shen said his troubles have actually increased since the attack. The next day, he said, nearly 100 men arrived in buses from out of town and surrounded his house. When the police refused to drive off the men on grounds that they were behaving peacefully, Shen fled with his wife to Beijing, hoping that media attention and the central government would help his family.

Shen said that in his absence his house has not been demolished, but that shortly after his departure for Beijing, the Bazhou police arrested his son.

Gangs like the one that attacked Shen's home often operate with the consent of officials. After tax reforms cut into revenue across the country in the 1990s, local governments began exercising their right to rezone and sell land for real estate development. Chinese reports have said that the proceeds from recorded land sales, which go directly to the governments, far exceed the compensation offered to evicted inhabitants.

Rural Chinese, who receive plots of land allocated by local governments, have no individual land rights and cannot dispute rezoning plans drawn up by officials. But when officials do not offer sufficient compensation to households to relocate, the residents sometimes refuse to leave. Developers then evict the holdouts by force.

These forced evictions can provoke desperate responses. Some villagers have set themselves on fire, according to Chinese media reports.

Spectacular cases of armed resistance have also attracted attention, as when a farmer named Yang Youde used a homemade rocket launcher to drive away assailants from his house near Wuhan in 2010.

Chinese prosecutors often bring serious criminal charges against individuals who fight back. In a similar case in north China in 2009, a man named Zhang Jian was charged with murder after he stabbed and fatally wounded a man beating his wife during a forced eviction.

Shen returned to Bazhou on Nov. 28 to negotiate his son's fate with the police and the developer. He says his son is still in detention, and unless he comes to an agreement with the developer he is afraid criminal charges will follow.

So while Shen is hopeful that the compensation for his property will increase, he also knows where the hard-won money is bound to go: He's had to retain a lawyer for his son.

Hannon is an intern in The Times' Beijing bureau.

GeneChing

01-04-2013, 10:29 AM

56-year-old dude has a 31-year-old gf, a samurai sword (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html) and a road flare at bedside. Nice.

Santa Cruz burglar thwarted by man with samurai sword (http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22299942/santa-cruz-burglar-thwarted-by-man-samurai-sword)
By Stephen Baxter - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 01/02/2013 05:21:13 PM PST

SANTA CRUZ -- A man on Walnut Avenue used a samurai sword and a road flare to protect his girlfriend from a burglar early Tuesday morning. A few hours later, another woman was awakened by a burglar who took a pair of her panties, authorities said.

About 4:25 a.m., a 31-year-old woman was asleep in bed with her 56-year-old boyfriend, said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.

She woke up and saw a 23-year-old man standing over her. The boyfriend woke up, grabbed a samurai sword in the room and fended off the intruder, Clark said.

The woman then grabbed a road flare from her night stand drawer and lit it, according to police. Her boyfriend took the flare and chased the burglar out of the home.

They called 911. No one was injured.

Police arrived and found Jose Manuel Gomez urinating on the home's front door.

Gomez was arrested on suspicion of burglary about 4:35 a.m., authorities said. He is being held in Santa Cruz County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

Gomez, a transient from Watsonville, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor offenses four times in 2011, according to Santa Cruz County court records.

He was arrested on suspicion of battery, trespassing and disturbing the peace in separate cases, as well as obstructing business at Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street in Watsonville, according to records.

All the cases were dismissed. In his most recent case in the fall of 2011, a county mental health official asked a judge to place Gomez in a locked psychiatric care facility.

It was not clear if Gomez received care because health records are not public. A call to Gomez's public defender was not returned Wednesday.

"For someone to be at the level where he's at -- to be able to stand over a woman in their house -- tells me that this is not their first foray," Clark said. "It demonstrates some serious behavior and hopefully the courts will take notice."

GeneChing

01-08-2013, 10:27 AM

Score another for kung fu. Or maybe score one for China viral vid fraud. :rolleyes:

China's 'Beautiful Leg Heroine' Goes Viral After Kung-Fu Kick Appears To Stop Woman Wielding Blade (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/08/chinas-beautiful-leg-hero-video-goes-viral_n_2430152.html?utm_hp_ref=uk?ncid=GEP)

The Huffington Post UK | By Jessica Elgot Posted: 08/01/2013 11:22 GMT | Updated: 08/01/2013 11:22 GMT

Hot chick in China kicks blade out of madwoman's hand, dubbed "Beautiful Leg Heroine) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8cI7rCSmgw#!)

A high-kicking, high-heeled heroine has taken China by storm, as a video emerged of a young women in bare legs apparently subduing a weapon-wielding woman.

Dubbed "Beautiful Leg Heroine" by local media, the video gained more than 1.3million views in seven hours on Youku, according to blog Beijing Cream.

But many on social networks have raised eyebrows at the video and questioned its veracity, especially seeing as the woman is wearing bare legs in extremely cold temperatures.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/930883/thumbs/o-KUNG-FU-HEROINE-570.jpg?7
Neither women in the video have yet been identified, but the clip has gone viral in China

A news anchor described the girl as “walking the street with a pair of exposed snow-white legs, and they pack some serious kung-fu. With just one move, she rescued a woman trying to commit suicide on the street.”

According to eyewitnesses who shot the video in Guangzhou at around 8pm on Saturday evening, "Beautiful Leg Heroine" subdued a woman who was "screaming about the end of the world", holding a knife or a pair of scissors, with bleeding hands, looking like she was "preparing to kill herself."

She began to throw money onto the floor, Chinese media described, chucking aside 50 and 100 RMB notes (£5 and £10). The young heroine appears to approach the woman to offer her the money back, and quickly smashes the blade out of her hands.

Chinese news channels recreated the scene and the moments before the kung-fu kick, using an animated sequence.

No-one has traced the woman, but it can't be long before Hollywood tracks her down.
'bare legs in extremely cold temperatures'? In China, beautiful women wear bikinis in the snow? (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1205019#post1205019)

GeneChing

01-10-2013, 11:13 AM

...well, it's not really clear what style Stevens does.

How about score one for black belts (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ranking-belts.html)?

Police praise for Canterbury martial arts instructor Darren Stevens' aid at drink-drive arrest (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/2013/january/10/martial_arts_arrest.aspx)

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/stevens%20kg%20090113%20bh1_v_Variation_2.jpg
Black belt martial arts instructor Darren Stevens
by Jamie Bullen

A drink-drive suspect accused of attacking a policeman was arrested after a martial arts expert stepped in to help the struggling officer.

Black belt Darren Stevens was driving through Broad Oak, near Canterbury, when he spotted the PC pepper-spraying a man he was attempting to arrest.

He pulled over and jumped out of his car to help restrain the man, who was said to have injured the officer in the struggle.

Mr Stevens, who runs Fusion Martial Arts and Fitness, in Broad Oak Road, was praised for his actions and even received a letter from police applauding his bravery.

He shared the story on Fusion's Facebook page, winning resounding support from hundreds of people.

He wrote: "A copper in front of him [the suspect] had been hit by this guy and was unloading a full can of spray in this guy’s face; didn't work and the copper was alone at this time, truly scared at the aggression of this monster.

"So me being me, 5ft 6ins, stopped and took this guy down to help the officer.

"Note to all my students, no matter how small you are or what sex you are, with true martial arts training you can have the confidence to take on any situation, but it takes dedication and persistence in your training."

Police inspector Kevin Dyer wrote to Mr Stevens on the day of the incident to thank him for his help and avoiding serious injury.Black belt martial arts instructor Darren Stevens helped police arrest a suspected drink-driver

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/stevens%20kg%20090113%20bh3_v_Variation_1.jpg
Instructor Darren Stevens helped police arrest a suspected drink-driver

Insp Dyer wrote: "I am writing to thank you for the assistance you gave to my officers today.

"Not all members of the public would put themselves into such situations and having spoken to the officers they are very grateful for your assistance.

"As a result of your help the male was detained with only minor injury to one of the officers."

Martin Barnard, 33, of Ashburnham Road, Ramsgate, is due before Canterbury magistrates on January 21 charged with failing to provide a breath specimen and assaulting a police officer.

"With true martial arts training you can have the confidence to take on any situation..." – Darren Stevens

GeneChing

02-12-2013, 05:39 PM

You know where to get your nunchuks. Get them right here (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-nunchakus.html) (unless you are in CA, MA or NY :o)

85-yr-old nunchaku wielder defeats 3 armed robbers (http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/society/85-yr-old-nunchaku-wielder-defeats-3-armed-robbers-1.97945)
Tuoitrenews
Updated : Mon, February 4, 2013,4:13 PM (GMT+0700)

http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/polopoly_fs/1.97947!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg
The 85-year-old man used this nunchaku to fight back one of the three robbers on January 31, 2013
Photo: VnExpress

Words are spreading that an 85-year-old man managed to disarm and defeat three young men who used scimitars and knives to attack him to rob his motorbike on January 31, 2013 in Phu Xuan Commune, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City.

The aged but strong man is Mai Van O, a native of An Giang Province, who learned martial arts from three instructors when he was a child. When he was 20 years old he defeated three robbers armed with guns in Cambodia where he was a trader.

After working as a stevedore for six years, he arrived in the commune and made a living as a duck breeder.

At 2 am on January 31, O was startled out of his sleep after hearing the voice of a young man. The old man immediately sat up and crawled out of the mosquito net.

O noticed a young man moving his motorbike out of his hut (where he was sleeping to tend to the ducks he was raising nearby). He then felt a sharp object pressing against his hip and heard another voice “Keep silent, or I will stab you to death.”

O understood that at least two robbers were in the hut and they had switched off the light. The old man raised up his hands but when seeing the robber approach closer, O gave him a hard kick, causing him to fall to the ground but the robber immediately stood up and brandished a scimitar.

O rapidly took a 2-meter pointed bamboo bar that had been stuck on the wall and used it to shield off the stabs from the robber and finally wrestled the knife from him.

http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/polopoly_fs/1.97946!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg

Mai Van O, 85, recounted what he had done to fight back the robbers (Photo: VnExpress)

"I then thrust the bar into the robber’s face and then into his chest. The robber fell onto another robber who was taking the Honda dream motorbike out of the door. I gave the second robber several strikes with the stick when he rushed up to me”, he told the media.

O had by then become worn out and collapsed onto the hut wall. At that time, the third robber who was standing watch outside the hut rushed inside with a scimitar in hand.

At this time, O took a nunchaku (a weapon consisting of two sticks connected at one end with a short chain, often seen wielded by Bruce Lee) from a corner of his bed and used it to strike the robber, causing the scimitar to drop from his hand.

O then shouted loudly, “Help me, help me!”. Two neighbors rushed to the hut and the three robbers fled, leaving the motorbike behind.

After the robbery, O sold out all his ducks and has returned to his house nearby. He no longer sleeps in the hut now.

He said he bought the motorbike for VND3.4 million (US$163) a few months ago with the money he had saved for years. Currently, he wanted to sell it to have money for the coming Tet.

A few days before the robbery, two of the three robbers came to the hut and asked him for advice on selecting the best fighting ****s.

During their talk, the young men also asked about the motorbike and said they would seek a buyer for him, the old man told police.

Co is married with 5 children.

http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/polopoly_fs/1.97948!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg

The old man said when he was 20 he defeated three robbers armed with guns in Cambodia (Photo: VnExpress)

GeneChing

02-27-2013, 10:52 AM

Sawed-off handgun? :confused:

Martial arts skill trumps gun in Newton road rage conflict (http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/16/martial-arts-skill-trumps-gun-newton-road-rage-conflict/hReA6PggZhi3AH8Gzo4vCN/story.html)
By Deirdre Fernandes
| Globe Staff
February 16, 2013

A road-rage rumble that erupted along a quiet Newton street Thursday afternoon pitted one driver carrying a sawed-off handgun against another armed with his championship martial-arts skills.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu *expert prevailed.

He put the other driver in a chokehold, landed a couple of strikes to his head, and wrestled the gun away, all before the police arrived, according to court documents.

Police later arrested Byung Jin Kang, a 21-year-old college student from Newton, who is accused of pulling out the *revolver and threatening the Jiu-Jitsu-trained driver.

Kang pleaded not guilty Friday to assault and gun charges. He was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail at his arraignment in Newton District Court. Kang took out the gun in self-defense, said Alice Purple, his lawyer. Kang plans to file assault charges against the other driver, she said.

“He was afraid,” Purple said.

The judge withheld the name of the other driver, *described in a Newton police report as the co-owner of a mixed-martial arts school. The two did not know each other, police said. The driver declined to comment when reached by phone Friday.

The confrontation began around 3:40 p.m. when the martial arts instructor made a right turn and pulled out in front of Kang’s car on Dedham Street, according to the police report. He told police that a snow bank blocked his view.

Kang blew his horn, flashed his lights, and continued to follow the driver, the report said.

They pulled over onto a residential side street and got out of their cars.

According to the martial arts instructor, Kang pointed the gun at him and said, “Do you want to go?” He tried to calm Kang down and told him “to put the gun away because he had a wife, and kids and didn’t want to be shot,” the police *report states.

The martial arts instructor persuaded Kang to put his gun in his pocket, the report said. Then he charged Kang, pushed him to the ground, and wrapped his arm around his head.

When Kang struggled, the martial arts instructor struck him in the head and grabbed the gun, the report said.

Kang left the gun there, got in his car, and drove away, accord*ing to the report. He was stopped by police nearby.

Kang faces one charge of *assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, and illegal possession of ammunition.

“This was a very dangerous assault on a stranger,” said *Alexandra Watson, a lawyer with the Middlesex district *attorney’s office.

Purple declined to comment on how Kang allegedly got his gun. MassBay Community College, where Kang is a student, is awaiting a report from the Newton Police Department *before making a decision on Kang’s enrollment status, said Jeremy Solomon, a school spokesman.

“A violation of state or federal laws is subject to disciplinary action under the student code of conduct, up to and including expulsion from the college,” *Solomon said in an e-mail.

While this case ended without any serious injuries, Lieutenant Bruce Apotheker of the Newton police warned people against charging toward anybody armed with a gun.

Instead, get a good description of the assailant and call the police, Apotheker said, unless your life is in immediate danger.

“Don’t try to be a hero,” Apotheker said. “Don’t try to do something stupid.”

GeneChing

02-28-2013, 11:08 AM

But I think we should score this one for Kung Fu. ;)

Thursday February 28, 2013
One robber seriously hurt and others flee after martial arts man puts up a fight (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/2/28/nation/12768923&sec=nation)
Compiled by NICHOLAS CHENG, ALLISON LAI and A. RAMAN

FOUR knife-wielding robbers ran out of luck while trying to rob a martial arts master of his gold chain in Kepong.

With help from one of his students, 33-year-old Wong Yaw Min overcame the robbers with his bare hands.

One of the robbers was severely injured during the fight, reported China Press.

The incident happened on Tuesday, right after Wong had finished having breakfast with his student.

Four men on two motorcycles, who were armed with knives, approached him.

One of them tried to grab his gold chain.

Wong fought off the attackers and when his student saw the scuffle, he jumped to his master's aid.

One of the attackers managed to escape unhurt while two others were knocked off their motorcycles before fleeing on foot.

Policemen, who arrived later, took the injured robber to the hospital.

GeneChing

03-12-2013, 09:45 AM

Although it might just be called so because it was a Chinese buffet...:o

Rowdy couple tackled by kung-fu waiters (http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/rowdy-couple-tackled-by-kung-fu-waiters-1-5489050)
Published on Tuesday 12 March 2013 09:19

A COUPLE got more than they bargained for at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet when they attacked restaurant staff and were tackled by waiters like “extras from a Bruce Lee film”.

Waiters served up high kicks to detain Ann Simpson and Jonathon Johnson after the pair caused chaos.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how staff and the public gathered around as the scenes unfolded outside, ending when police arrived and arrested the pair.

Simpson, 26, and Johnson, 30, had appeared drunk when they turned up at the No1 Buffet in Stowell Street, Newcastle, and were refused a table by concerned staff, who told them that all of the tables were reserved.

The couple left the premises, but on seeing empty tables through the window, decided to go back in, and made their way to the back of the restaurant.

They were asked to leave by a waitress. Simpson responded by poking her and punching her, before Johnson grabbed a baby’s highchair and flung it at her.

The scuffle, which happened on September 14, moved outside, where Simpson grabbed hold of the waitress again, and was pulled away by male members of staff.

Johnson punched a male member of staff in the face, leaving him with swelling to the right side of his jaw. More staff emerged, and detained the couple with high-kicks, although none connected.

Katherine Dunn, defending Simpson, said that she is currently overcoming a heroin addiction and has been making progress while in custody.

John Wilkinson, defending Johnson, said “He admits he threw a punch. But the members of staff were less than helpful.

“They were like extras from a Bruce Lee film.”

Simpson admitted affray and common assault and Johnson pleaded guilty to common assault.

Mr Recorder Woolfall, sentenced Simpson, of Spencer Walk, South Shields, to 12 months in prison, including three months for theft in a separate incident.

Johnson, of Buxton Close, Jarrow, was sentenced to three months in prison, which he had already served on electronic tag.

GeneChing

04-22-2013, 11:13 AM

Chinese Woman on Trial for Killing Man by Squeezing His Scrotum (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/04/21/chinese-woman-on-trial-for-killing-man-by-squeezing-his-scrotum/)

2 days ago by Master Blaster

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/168.jpg?w=499&h=321
On 8 April, the trial began for a woman accused of killing a man in an excruciating fashion.

It all started on 19 April of the previous year. The suspect was picking up her child when she parked an electric bike in front of a shop. The man running the shop came out and shouted “you’re blocking my business!”

The resulting argument must have gotten pretty heated as it resulted in the mother clutching the shopkeeper’s testicles in her vice-like grip.

As she held the man in a nut lock, witnesses reported her to have shouted, “I’ll squeeze it to death, you’ll never have children again!”

Apparently she didn’t know how right she was, because soon after the man went into shock from the pain. Paramedics rushed to the scene and treated the victim but he was soon pronounced dead.

With the trial ongoing, the result may hinge on the woman’s alleged statement of “squeeze it to death.” Depending on how it’s interpreted, she may be convicted of murder.

However, it seems this falls under the capital offense of intentionally inflicting injury which states under China’s Criminal Law Article 234.

“if he causes death to the person or, by resorting to especially cruel means, causes severe injury to the person, reducing the person to utter disability, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years, life imprisonment or death”

I think all the male readers can agree this case counts as “especially cruel means.” So any way you slice it this lady is likely to get a heavy punishment. What a way to check out. :o

wenshu

04-24-2013, 08:32 AM

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/CV8j1rElncdFoRpHNI3AlA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MTA3Mjtjcj0xO2N3PTE2NzU7ZHg9MD tkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTQwNDtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/3370d3b0c2cce90d2f0f6a7067000acb.jpg
Kent Hendrix, 47, draws his sword near his house Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Salt Lake City. Hendrix, a Samurai sword-wielding Mormon bishop came to the aid of a woman who was being attacked in front of his house. Hendrix woke up Tuesday to his teenage son pounding on his bedroom door and telling him somebody was being mugged. Hendrix grabbed a 29-inch Samurai sword and rushed out the door. He says the man attacking a woman jumped back and ran down the street after he drew the sword. The man was chased until he jumped in his car and drove away. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
http://news.yahoo.com/mormon-bishop-samurai-sword-runs-off-attacker-233001935.html

stoic

04-24-2013, 08:36 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sword-wielding-lds-bishop-aid-neighbor-article-1.1325905

mawali

04-24-2013, 09:29 AM

ah luv it!
The hero was a samurai sword raising LSD bishop:D pun intended!

GeneChing

04-24-2013, 09:34 AM

Victim Fights Off Attacker, Sends Suspect Running for the Hills (http://brookhaven.patch.com/articles/victim-fights-off-attacker-sends-suspect-running-for-the-hills)

Here's a look at some of the incidents that have been handled recently by the Chamblee Police Department, from Officer Alex Cushenan.

By Brookhaven Patch Staff
April 19, 2013

...

4/7/13 - Criminal Attempt, Robbery, 1800 block of Chamblee Tucker Road, 8:45 pm. Victim was walking home from the store when he was attacked from behind by a White or Hispanic male, 6’2 ft, 200 pounds with short black hair and wearing a black shirt and red and black Nike shoes. The suspect told the victim, “Don’t fight me, white boy.” The victim studies martial arts and while on the ground punched the suspect in the face, fought his way back to his feet, and kneed the suspect in the groin. The suspect then fled on foot towards the trail behind Wal‐Mart that leads to Keswick Park. Score one for the white boys!

KungFubar

05-31-2013, 10:02 PM

Nice heart warming stories. Thanks.

Lucas

06-26-2013, 12:59 AM

An amazing outcome.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=UCUn6m2fPaQ&feature=related

GeneChing

06-28-2013, 08:54 AM

Another martial arts vs. shark (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1194679#post1194679)successful application? WTF have I been training my ground game for then? ;)

Follow the link for a new report video and a graphic shark bite pic.

Shark bite victim used martial arts training to escape shark (http://www.kfvs12.com/story/22684056/officials-swimmer-treated-for-possible-shark-bite-at-kiawah)
Posted: Jun 25, 2013 12:29 PM PDT Updated: Jun 26, 2013 5:18 PM PDT
By Corey Davis - email
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC (WCSC) -

Joshua Watson, a 14-year-old from Summerville is recovering after undergoing surgery for a shark bite that happened while he was swimming at Kiawah Island's Beachwalker Park on Tuesday.

The teen is a 2nd degree black belt in karate. He used his martial arts training to fight off the shark.

"So I tried to jerk my ankle away and I accidentally punched the shark," said Watson.

Delivering a quick punch to the nose, Watson says it was instinct when his karate skills kicked in.

"I think it did scare it," said Watson.

Playing a game in the water that turned all too real, Watson and his sister were pretending to be sharks while swimming.

Watson said, "At first I was actually really surprised because I never thought I would get bit by a shark, so it was kind of scary at first."

The punch may have turned the shark away, but not before it left a row of teeth marks on Watson's right leg.

"I tried to stay calm because the more your adrenaline rushes, the more blood comes out," said Watson.

He learned that trick from a movie, not Jaws the all time classic shark movie, but Soul Surfer. It's a movie about the true story of a young woman's journey back to surfing after losing her arm to a horrific shark bite.

While Watson will make a full recovery, Arnold Postell Senior Bioloigist at the South Carolina Aquarium says low visibility in the water could be the reason the shark bit the teenager.

Postell said, "The animal wasn't out hunting humans. He was out possibly feeding though. In low visibility he bumped into something. He might have smelled food from local bate, possibly a fisherman fishing and it was enough cues that he might have just taken a quick bite on something he didn't see."

Watson's family believes the shark was about four to five feet long. Postell says there are a wide variety of sharks swimming in our waters.

"Some of the more common ones would be Atlantic sharpnose or a sandbar shark, blacktip, blacknose, lemon sharks, bull sharks. We have a wide variety of shark species that could be in the shallows," said Postell.

Watson's parents are thankful he didn't suffer any long term injuries.

"I could've been so much worse and he's really gotten the best scenario possible for recovery," said Watson's mom Rebekah.

Watson's recovery is expected to be about six weeks and he'll be on crutches most of that time.

GeneChing

08-26-2013, 09:51 AM

August 23, 2013 News » Crime & Courts
Arrest made in Chinatown attack as thefts, violence persist (http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/arrest-made-in-chinatown-attack-as-thefts-violence-persist/Content?oid=2556468)
by Mike Aldax @SFExMikeAldax

An elderly Chinatown merchant brandished a sword against a man accused of shoplifting and assault. - MIKE KOOZMIN/THE S.F. EXAMINER

Chinatown merchants are cheering the arrest last weekend of one of several people who they say relentlessly steal from area merchants and street musicians.

Price Wheeler, 41, a transient with a lengthy rap sheet, was arrested after allegedly attacking an 81-year-old gift shop owner in the area of Grant Avenue and Sacramento Street on Sunday.

At the time of Wheeler's arrest, Central Police Station Capt. Garret Tom and Mayor Ed Lee were in the area for the annual Chinatown Ping Pong Festival.

Tom was flagged down by witnesses and Wheeler was arrested soon after.

Wheeler had reportedly attempted to shoplift at one of the 81-year-old man's gift shops, according to Tom. After the elderly merchant kicked him out, Wheeler went to another one of the man's stores and "made a big mess," Tom said.

During the melee, police said, Wheeler pushed the elderly man to the ground, screamed at him and took a fighting stance. At one point, the merchant pulled a sword from its sheath for protection, but then police showed up and reportedly subdued Wheeler.

The transient threatened the arresting officer's family and accused police of racial profiling, Tom said.

But the police captain said the brazen shoplifters are the ones profiling.

"A lot of the time they're targeting older merchants or immigrant workers," Tom said. "They're just bullies."

Merchants agree. Tane Chan, the longtime owner of The Wok Shop at 718 Grant Ave., said she is fed up with another man who habitually robs tips from Chinese musicians who play in front of her store. On Wednesday, Chan said, the man reportedly grabbed a musician's money box and fled.

"This is the fourth time he's done it," she said of the thief.

Chan said she confronted the crook and told him to never come back. She believed he was prepared to attack her, but instead he fled.

Most merchants don't fight back, Chan said.

"The Chinese are peaceful, they don't like to make waves," she said. "And the homeless know that."

Chan added, "They shoplift in my store all day long."

As for Wheeler, he will be in jail for a while. At the time of his arrest, he was on felony probation. Wheeler also was found in possession of a crack pipe, along with a Louis Vuitton bag linked to a previous car burglary, Tom said.

During his arraignment Wednesday, Wheeler pleaded not guilty to multiple charges connected to Sunday's incident and is being held on no-bail status, said Assistant District Attorney Alex Bastian.

Here's another version from Phillip Matier And Andrew Ross Saturday, August 24, 2013 column in the SF Chron (http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Bridge-Troll-s-fate-hangs-in-limbo-4758849.php)

Senior samurai: All in all, it was a pretty rough day for 41-year-old Price Wheeler - who found himself in jail after coming face to face with a sword-wielding senior citizen who was not amused with his alleged antics.

"It really was something to see," said police Capt. Garrett Tom, who along with Mayor Ed Lee happened to be walking back from the city's annual pingpong tournament in Chinatown just as the Tenderloin transient took off running out of a Grant Avenue store.

According to Tom, it all began when Wheeler - who has a long rap sheet, mostly for petty theft - started messing around with the merchandise in the New Shanghai knick-knack store on Grant Avenue.

When store owner Charles Liu kicked him out, Wheeler went across the street to New Peking, also owned by the Liu family.

Liu followed him into the store and a confrontation ensued, with Wheeler allegedly pushing the 81-year-old Liu backward.

Liu took off across the street to a third store that his son manages, with Wheeler in pursuit, police said.

Once in the store, Liu grabbed a 3-foot-long sword off the wall and brandished it at Wheeler, who took one look at the blade and took off running.

Just at that moment, the mayor, his security team, Tom and police Lt. Paul Yep happened by. Yep promptly caught up to Wheeler - who was holding a very expensive Louis Vuitton bag that had been stolen from a car earlier that day, police said.

Wheeler is now cooling his heels in County Jail, where he is facing charges of probation violation, possession of stolen goods and ... elder abuse.

GeneChing

09-03-2013, 10:33 AM

Allegedly abusive passenger judo-thrown by female station worker (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/09/03/allegedly-abusive-passenger-judo-thrown-by-female-station-worker/)
Master Blaster 21 hours ago

It’s an old stereotype that all East Asians know martial arts and one that’s far from the truth. However, you never know when someone you least expect is going to pop out some taekwondo, karate, judo, or, in the words of James Brown, ka-razy.

Hiroshi Ebina learned that the hard way when a 21-year-old female station attendant he got mixed up with took him down in one move having good old-fashioned judo under her presumably black belt.

It all happened on 26 August in Kanagawa Prefecture when Ebina tried to exit Keikyu Yokohama Station without paying the full fare. In Japan, train and subway fares are based on the distance traveled, so if you exit at a further station than you paid for then you must settle the difference before leaving.

The 34-year-old Ebina, however, figuratively said, “To hell with that!” and hopped the gate instead. At this point, the younger woman who worked there approached him to talk about it. Ebina allegedly replied to her by smacking her in the face several times. To which the woman, who happened to have a background in judo, then retorted with a shoulder throw sending him promptly to the ground. Following this, others helped her to restrain him until police arrived.

In an unusual twist for Japan, Ebina actually denied the charges against him saying, “I didn’t hit her. I just flicked her hat off.” Honestly, after covering scores of crime stories for RocketNews24 this might be the first time I read of a Japanese suspect not admitting to the charges against him. I’m almost inclined to believe him.

Source: Yomiuri Online (Japanese)
Top Image: Wikipedia – Mhultstrom
Video: YouTube – TomoNewsJP

▼ A fine video report from Tomo News. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p7P0AWMjKo)
I copied the vid link because it has one of those CG simulations. I love those.

TaichiMantis

09-03-2013, 10:58 AM

Love the vid!:D

Egg fu young

09-05-2013, 04:46 AM

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Landover-Woman-Charged-With-Attempted-Murder-of-Ex-Boyfriends-Child-222202121.html

An 8-year-old Maryland boy using karate moves was able to escape what police are calling an attempted murder overnight last weekend.

Helen Marie Newsome, 26, is accused of breaking into a Landover home where the young boy was sleeping around 8 a.m. Saturday. Police say she had dated the boy's father, and they had recently broken up.

TaichiMantis

09-06-2013, 03:08 AM

GeneChing

09-09-2013, 11:37 AM

Kick to the face. Sweet!

Woman fights off abductor with kung fu skills (http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=93935)
By IDS Reports
POSTED AT 12:02 AM ON Sep. 9, 2013 (UPDATED AT 12:43 AM ON Sep. 9, 2013)

When a man tried to abduct a 20-year-old woman Saturday, he got a foot to the face.

A 20-year-old woman told police she was walking near East Eighth Street and North Lincoln Street at about 1 a.m. when a dark-colored SUV occupied with three men pulled up beside her, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Dana Cole said.

One of the men in the backseat got out of the vehicle and grabbed her by the arm and tried to bring her into the vehicle, the victim said.

The victim said she is trained in kung fu and kicked the male in the face. He then reentered the vehicle, and the occupants drove off.

She didn’t sustain any injuries, Cole said.

No license plate number was obtained, and the case is listed as inactive, Cole said.

— Matt Stefanski

TaichiMantis

09-09-2013, 03:25 PM

Saweet!:D I can picture various moves to get out of the arm grab followed by a swift front snap kick to the face ;)

GeneChing

09-20-2013, 09:31 AM

Good thing he had his katana (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-samurai-kendo-samurai-kendo-weapon.html) on him...:rolleyes:

VIDEO: Man draws samurai sword to break up fight on Phoenix light rail train (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/video-samurai-breaks-fight-phoenix-train-article-1.1188257)
A wannabe samurai scared away two fighters when he unsheathed a katana on a Phoenix light rail car.
By Michael Walsh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Saturday, October 20, 2012, 1:46 PM

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1188256.1350756307!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/sword21n-1-web.jpg
A man simply unsheathed a katana and inched slowly toward the fighters.

A vigilante drew what appears to be a samurai sword to break up a brawl on a Phoenix light rail car. The fisticuffs ceased once the fighters beheld the long single-edged blade.

The martial arts weapon, long-associated with feudal Japan, does not appear often on American public transportation. Whether the man is a true master of Bushido — the code of the samurai — or simply someone who has seen one too many Akira Kurosawa films is a moot point. After all, his intimidation tactic worked.

The two young men who had the upper hand during the fight fled from the car, as the man who was punched and kicked repeated cursed at them from the doorway.

The unidentified man, wearing a baseball cap and headphones, did not need to execute a single martial arts move to scare away the fighters. He simply unsheathed the katana and inched slowly toward them.

"Let me see it! Let me see it!" said the man who had been losing the fight, but the wannabe samurai held up his fist to signal that he was in control of the situation.

A fight on a Phoenix light rail train came to an abrupt end when an unidentified stranger broke up the fight by wielding his samurai sword.

At least one passenger does not think the mystery peacekeeper's presence was a coincidence.

"There's no accidents and, he was totally there for a reason," one passenger told ABC 15. "And I feel like, hey you know dude, wherever you are, rock on!"

Another witness recorded video of the fight and samurai intervention and uploaded it to YouTube on Oct. 13. The video has already received nearly 300,000 views.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL VIDEO (WARNING: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MRMNwq3ehFc)

The incident appears to have occurred Oct. 6 around 2 a.m. according to comments from the YouTube user who uploaded the video. Valley Metro Rail and Phoenix police are currently investigating the incident.

For at least one minute, the way of the samurai was somewhat alive in Arizona.

GeneChing

09-26-2013, 02:30 PM

Slow news day....:o

Washington's Teacher of the Year teaches English as second language, is a martial arts expert
BY Chris Sullivan on September 24, 2013 @ 7:47 am (Updated: 8:30 am - 9/24/13 )

http://www.mynorthwest.com/emedia/seattle/10/1089/108902.jpg?filter=mynw/300wide
Katie Brown uses her martial arts to help her in the classroom. "All of those things are the same traits we are trying to build in our students in the classroom too." (Photo courtesy Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

A martial arts expert who helps 6th-to-8th graders who don't speak English learn the language is your Washington Teacher of the Year.

Katie Brown, 35, of Shukson Middle School in Bellingham works with about 70 kids a year who don't speak English as their primary language, and she said when they finally "get it," that's when she knows she's making a difference.

She recounted a story of two kids that came to her as 6th graders with no English skills at all. "By the time they reached 8th grade, not even the end of 8th grade, they exited the ELL (English Language Learners) program, level four language proficiency, which means there really isn't a difference between them and their English-speaking peers." Brown said that happens all the time and makes her job so rewarding.

Brown also coaches other teachers on how to handle these ELL students so they can succeed in other subjects.

But is there one thing that she loves the most about her job?

"It's absolutely a team effort," she said. "I really feel like I'm a coach of this fantastic team, and we get to go out there every day and cheer each other on and have fun. It's just a fun job. I wish more people could come into the classroom and experience that."

Brown also co-owns a martial arts gym, teaches martial arts and competes. She just won a Silver Medal in her weight class in an international competition in China. "It's also another huge part of my life that I think drives and motivates a lot of what I do and gives me the energy to do what I do," she said.

She uses her martial arts to help her in the classroom. "Kung Fu and martial arts, I mean the essence of it is teaching character, and perseverance, and dedication, and learning something over time, and commitment, and obviously all of those things are the same traits we are trying to build in our students in the classroom too."

Teacher of the Year is a great title. She's now in the running for National Teacher of the Year, but what other cool stuff does she get for the recognition?

"I get to go to Safeco Field and a Mariners game and throw the first pitch," Brown said. "I get to go to the Governor's Mansion. I get to go to Washington D.C. and shake President Obama's hand. I get to go to Space Camp, which I've always wanted to do since I was two years old," Brown said. "Who doesn't want to do that?"

The National Teacher of the Year will be announced next year at the White House.

GeneChing

10-07-2013, 01:56 PM

...AND THE SWORD WINS! :eek:

:D

Robber with gun sticks-up bodega, employee fights off robber with machete (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fX921aTSlk)

Store clerk fights off armed robber with sword (http://nypost.com/2013/10/07/machete-wielding-store-clerk-fights-off-armed-robber/)
By Bob Fredericks
October 7, 2013 | 12:00pm

http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/mugger.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Store clerk fights off armed robber with sword

A fearless — or plain crazy — Long Island deli clerk dodged a bullet, then grabbed a machete and bravely chased a pistol-packing thug from the store, Suffolk cops said Monday.

Shocking surveillance video of the Sept. 25 incident shows the masked gunman as he burst through the door of the Stop & Shop Deli on Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood about 8 p.m. and pointed a semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun at the clerk.

The crook, carrying an Air Jordan backpack, demanded cash, but the plucky worker hesitated even though the gun was pointed at him only inches away.

The robber then ****ed the handgun and pulled the trigger, firing a shot into the wall that barely missed the clerk, who only flinched slightly when the gun went off, the video shows.

The cool-headed employee then pulled a machete from under the counter and chased the feckless robber out of the store and through the parking lot.

The suspect was described as a young, black male with a thin build, about 5-foot-10. He was wearing a gray mask, black top with white stripes on the sleeves, dark pants and black-and-white sneakers.

GeneChing

10-16-2013, 10:02 AM

An “outside crescent kick” to the suspect’s leg?

October 15, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Suspect leads SPD on wild chase involving 2 crashes, martial arts, a pot grow and burglary (http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/10/suspect-leads-spd-on-wild-chase-involving-2-crashes-martial-arts-a-pot-grow-and-burglary/)
Posted by Colin Campbell

We wouldn’t believe this report if it weren’t posted to the official Seattle police website.

A 21-year-old led police on a chase in South Seattle during which he wrecked two vehicles (aside from his own), fought a martial-arts instructor and was arrested after he was found hiding in a medical-marijuana grow.

It started off simply enough: An officer saw a 21-year-old man and his 18-year-old female passenger driving in South Seattle with no license plate around 2 p.m. The officer flashed his lights for the man to pull over.

Instead of stopping, the car sped through a red light at the intersection of Seward Park Avenue and Rainier Avenue South, hitting two other vehicles. No one was injured in the crash.

The suspect’s car “rolled down the street for several hundred feet,” the report said, and when it stopped, the man and woman jumped out and made a run for it. The officer caught the woman, but the man ran away down Rainier Avenue.

With us so far? Great. Now this: A martial-arts instructor who happened to be walking down the street saw the man running and threw an “outside crescent kick” to the suspect’s leg, knocking him down.

He and another bystander had the suspect pinned to the ground when yet another unidentified man pushed them off the suspect and helped him escape.

From there, the suspect ran inside a building — one that turned out to be housing a medical-marijuana grow.

Officers descended on the building and found the suspect, along with jewelry, wallets, mail and cash they say he stole. They found a gun and several iPads in the crashed car.

Police went to the address of the mail — which matched information in one of the wallets — and found a family who had come home and discovered their house had been broken into. Several iPads and a wallet were missing.

The 21-year-old man was booked on suspicion of hit-and-run, felony eluding and unlawful possession of a firearm, the report said. He’s also being investigated for burglary. The 18-year-old woman who was with him was released, the report said.

GeneChing

10-29-2013, 09:16 AM

Wait....compressions on a person seizing? That's not right. Dos Anjos got lucky because that could have gone a completely different direction for him.

Martial arts legend rescues man suffering seizure on bus (http://nypost.com/2013/10/24/martial-arts-legend-rescues-man-suffering-seizure-on-bus/)
By Daniel PrendergastOctober 24, 2013 | 3:23pm

http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/edmar2.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Edmar dos Anjos
Photo: Facebook
A quick thinking mixed martial arts legend jumped into action when a passenger aboard a Queens bus he was riding started having a seizure, the fighting legend told The Post.
World renowned Muay Thai fighter and trainer Master Edmar dos Anjos was riding the Q53 bus at around 10 a.m. Thursday while on his way to the gym he owns in Howard Beach when he noticed a man sitting in front of him was having a seizure, officials said.
“He just slumped over and started shaking,” dos Anjos said. “I knew something was wrong.”
http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/edmard.jpg?w=231
Edmar dos Anjos has trained with MMA legends like UFC great Anderson Silva.
Photo: Facebook
Dos Anjos, who has trained and mentored fighters such as UFC legend Anderson Silva, hopped up and shouted for the driver to stop and call 911 as the bus neared the corner of Liberty Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard in Ozone Park.
That’s when he rushed over to the convulsing 30-year-old and laid him on the seat as the other passengers stood and stared or ran off of the bus.
“I told the driver he’s having a seizure but she said she didn’t know what to do,” dos Anjos told The Post. “Most of the other passengers panicked I think. I don’t think any cared about him. They got out out of the bus fast.”
The former champion bruiser said he cradled the convulsing man’s head so he would not hurt himself.
“I put my hands on his chest to start doing compressions but he started coming back.”
As the man started to regain consciousness, dos Anjos reassured him, telling him he was going to be ok.
“He mentioned he was diabetic and thanked me for helping him,” he added. “He looked like he was going to be fine.”
EMTs showed up and treated the man at the scene before releasing him, officials said.
“I just reacted,” dos Anjos said. “He needed help.”

Stickgrappler

11-05-2013, 10:08 AM

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2013/11/tomahawk-throwing-champ-scares-off.html

Woman awaken from burglar in her home trying to take off her watch. She's a tomahawk throwing champion and keeps by her bedside an ax. Scared off the burglar, police caught him later

Not only is a tomahawk an interesting choice for home defense (compared to traditional) but a tomahawk throwing champion to boot?!?!?!?

GeneChing

11-14-2013, 09:23 AM

Luv that pic.

Restaurant Owner Serves Knuckle Sandwich To Alleged iPhone Thief (http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/11/restaurant-owner-serves-knuckle-sandwich-to-alleged-iphone-thief/)
November 11, 2013 9:15 PM

http://cbschicago.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/thief.jpg?w=420&h=314
Justin Ballog (Cook County Sheriff’s Dept.)

(CBS) – A Lincoln Park restaurant owner used his martial arts skills to capture a suspected iPhone thief.

Jason Chan thought a man in his restaurant Juno seemed a little suspicious when he entered last Thursday and approached the bar.

When he left, Chan asked a customer there if the man had taken his iPhone; sure enough, it was gone.

Chan remembered the man’s distinctive striped sweater and tracked him down to another nearby restaurant, Lou Malnati’s.

“I tried grabbing him and at that point he basically fought me off and he then tried to leave the restaurant,” Chan tells CBS 2. “We actually broke the door of the restaurant, of Lou Malnati’s, and then he was very adversarial. He tried getting physical with me, and at that point I kind of neutralized him.”

The restaurateur says he held the suspect for police. Chan tells the Chicago Sun-Times he is a practitioner of the martial art Shidokan.

The suspect, Justin Ballog, was charged with misdemeanor theft. His bond was set at $10,000, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

“What’s right is right,” Chan says.

TaichiMantis

12-04-2013, 08:10 PM

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego State University student used his martial arts skills Monday night to disarm and take down a neighbor armed with a hammer, police said Wednesday.

Campus police arrived at Alberts College Apartments on 55th Street, near Canyon Crest Drive, about 10 p.m. and found James Bono Altamirano, 54, disarmed and on the ground, police agency spokesman Josh Mays said. Altamirano suffered minor injuries and was not in need of paramedics.

No one else was injured.

Mays said Altamirano was upset about a parking spot and knocked on his neighbors’ door, threatening them with a hammer. In self-defense, the 23-year-old resident knocked him down and took the man’s hammer.

Altamirano was arrested on suspicion of making threats with a deadly weapon.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/04/martial-arts-hammer-fight/

GeneChing

01-13-2014, 09:20 AM

Masked robbers chased down the street by Kung Fu shop owner (http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/360046/Masked-robbers-chased-down-the-street-by-Kung-Fu-shop-owner)
BASEBALL-BAT wielding thugs picked the wrong shop to raid when they burst into Darius Adineh's convenience store on Thursday night.
By Sarah Ann Harris/Published 11th January 2014

http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/1/photos/437000/620x/67437.jpgBRAVE: Darius Adineh in his convenience store [MEN]

The reckless robbers hadn't bargained on running into the Kung Fu black belt and Special Forces veteran, who was working alone in the shop.

Darius, who has run Premier Convenience Store in Little Hulton, Salford, for the last three years, didn't take kindly to the masked raiders' demands to hand over cash from the till.

He told the yobs: "If you want the money you'll have to come and get it".

He then picked up a piece of wood and chased the thugs out of the shop and along Manchester Road East.

A customer dialled 999 and police raced to the scene but the offenders were able to escape on foot.
http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/1/photos/438000/67438.jpg THUGS: The robbers threaten Darius with a baseball bat [MEN]
http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/1/photos/439000/67439.jpg, I DON'T THINK SO: Darius tackles one of the thugs [MEN]

“I wasn't going to give up my hard-earned takings to some idiots”
Darius Adineh

Darius, 44, moved to Britain back in 1994 after serving in the Special Forces of the Iranian Army during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

During his time in the military he became a black belt in Kung Fu, which he still trains in up to four times a week.

Darius said: "I saw lots of gruesome things during the war.

"I know how to defend myself and it's like second nature. I wasn't scared.

"They weren't expecting someone like me to be there.

"When they saw my reaction they were just shocked."

He added: "Me and my wife work 16 hours a day. I wasn't going to give up my hard-earned takings to some idiots.

"I don't feel brave, I was just protecting what's mine."

http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/1/photos/441000/67441.jpg ESCAPED: Police are looking for the two yobs [MEN]

Police are investigating the raid at 10:10pm.

The first offender was around 5ft7, slim, and was wearing a light coloured hoody with the hood up.

He was also wearing light coloured tracksuit bottoms and had his face covered, possibly with a scarf. He spoke with a local accent.

The second man was around 6ft, was wearing a red hoody, and also spoke with a local accent.

Anyone who knows who they are, or who has any information, should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Not the way to threaten some one with a bat...:rolleyes:

David Jamieson

01-22-2014, 11:48 AM

I personally advocate environmental fighting when it comes to street mixups.
Use the wall, use the lamp post, use the fire hydrant, use the concrete. Use obstacles etc.
FWIW, there is no 100% method of self defense or self protection. All you can do is improve the odds of success by knowing more, being better armed, having protection or, simply not going to places where you know Sh!t goes down.

Make your move then keep moving and know there is a probability you could lose, even if you start it or are the attacker.
Think ahead, plan ahead. Your home turf should be your advantage at all times.

GeneChing

04-24-2014, 08:18 AM

http://www.thelocal.es/userdata/images/article/w468/77d79089a0952bb7014ae4585201a31bf25bc342d39c5b5cee 7903b154b35fdf.jpgThe Taiwanese visitors to Ronda were among hundreds of tourists who flock to see the town's historic architecture. File photo: zoetnet/Flickr
Martial arts tourists tackle Spanish mugger (http://www.thelocal.es/20140424/martial-arts-tourists-tackle-spanish-mugger)
Published: 24 Apr 2014 12:31 GMT+02:00
Updated: 24 Apr 2014 12:31 GMT+02:00

Two Taiwanese tourists used their martial arts skills this week to take down and detain a mugger who tried to steal a woman's mobile phone in the southern Spanish town of Ronda.

Local newspaper Sur reported that the duo leapt to the aid of a middle-aged woman when a 35-year-old man pushed her in the back and tried to steal her phone.

She had been taking a photograph of the 18th century Puente Nuevo (new bridge), the town's main attraction, and found herself struggling with her assailant.

Her shouts alerted the Taiwanese men, one of whom grabbed the mugger and immediately immobilized him using a martial arts submission hold.

His compatriot helped restrain the would-be thief until the local police arrived a few minutes later.

The mugger, who is reported to be a resident of the picturesque Andalucian town, located in the province of Malaga, was charged with the crime of robbery with violence.

The incident was said to have caused a great deal of commotion in the area which is visited by hundreds of tourists every day. Wish they has said what style - Taiwan has all sorts of styles.

GeneChing

04-29-2014, 08:52 AM

I imagine a baby dolphin is heavy and slippery, and that Pendred's MMA grappling skills were of great aid to this rescue.

Cathal Pendred, Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Saves Baby Dolphin (http://www.newsmax.com/thewire/cathal-pendred-saves-baby-dolphin/2014/04/29/id/568291/)
Tuesday, 29 Apr 2014 06:50 AM
By Michael Mullins

Cathal Pendred, an Irish mixed martial arts ultimate fighter, saved a beached baby dolphin Sunday morning while walking along the coastline in County Clare, Ireland.

Pendred was walking with his girlfriend when he came upon a group of people staring into the water as another man had apparently been attempting unsuccessfully to push the baby dolphin past the current and back into the sea.

Pendred walked out to the other man and after failing at his own attempt to push the dolphin back into the ocean, wound up carrying the dolphin past the waves and rocky coastline until it was in deep enough water for it to swim back into the sea.

"I continued trying to push the dolphin out past the waves but he continued to get washed back in," Pendred told Fox Sports. "He was bleeding and had a lot of cuts so I think it was due to these injuries that he wasn't strong enough to swim past the break."

"At one point the current dragged him into a very rocky, shallow area of the beach and the dolphin became stuck. I couldn't push him as his underside was scratching off the rocks and cutting him. So that's when I picked up the dolphin and brought him to a deeper, less rocky area," Pendred continued.

"I stayed around for a while to make sure he wasn't brought back in," Pendred added. "And when I realized he wasn't going to getting washed back, I headed for the hotel because I was wet and freezing."

The 6'2", 170 pound Pendred, who has a fighting record of 13 wins, two losses and one draw, told Fix Sports that he was visiting County Clare's picturesque coastline to attend a wedding.

As tiring as the ordeal was, the Irish fighter said he left the beach feeling great having been able to save the baby dolphin's life.

"It wasn't my typical walk on the beach, but I felt great about it afterwards," Pendred added.

GeneChing

05-14-2014, 08:04 AM

This one made my morning. Today is going to be a good day.

Kung fu-trained customer stops man from robbing east side bar (http://www.channel3000.com/news/man-who-tries-to-rob-bar-tackled-by-customer/25929590)
Police: Customer holds man to ground until police arrive
Published On: May 12 2014 07:16:31 AM CDT Updated On: May 13 2014 03:55:39 PM CDT

http://www.channel3000.com/image/view/-/25958214/medRes/1/-/maxh/221/maxw/245/-/cj9ulf/-/Jeremy-Stanek-mug-jpg.jpg
Photo courtesy Dane County Sheriff's Office
Jeremy Stanek

MADISON, Wis. -

A 42-year-old man faces charges of armed robbery after he tried to use a large pipe to rob an east side bar before being tackled by customers at the establishment, according to Madison police.

The incident happened just after 1 a.m. Monday at the Alchemy Café in the 1900 block of Atwood Avenue on the city's east side.

According to police, Jeremy Stanek, 42, entered the bar with a 31-inch black pipe and a green T-shirt around his face. Police said Stanek then told the bartender to give him all the money in the bar.

The bartender complied, according to police, but a patron at the bar immediately overpowered Stanek and held him until police arrived.

The 43-year-old who took action did so because of his sense of neighborhood pride, police said. The kung fu-trained customer started to get up, but as he did Stanek pointed the “barrel” of his weapon, and told him to sit down or get shot.

The man did not think Stanek was holding a gun so he hit Stanek in the head with his forearm, police said.

“I saddled him and held him around the torso,” the patron said. As Alchemy employees started thanking the man, he got emotional and said he didn’t want to see something like that happen in his neighborhood.

No one was hurt in the incident.

GeneChing

05-20-2014, 08:35 AM

Well played. Very well played.

Posted: 10:38 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2014
Martial arts teacher confronts burglar in home (http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/national/martial-arts-teacher-confronts-burglar-san-jose-ho/nfxwT/)

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2014/05/15/b0/79/Martial_arts-teacher_confronts_burglar.jpg
By Ken Pritchett
KTVU - California
SAN JOSE, Calif. — If Brian Khun had not forgotten his martial arts uniform at home on Thursday morning, his day would have been far different.
It was then that Khun was traveling between the two martial arts studios, where he teaches kickboxing and MMA fighting, when he decided to go home and pick up his uniform.
With his 5-year-old daughter right behind him, the teacher entered his San Jose home to find a burglar in his dining room.
“Hey, this guy let me in,” the man stood up and said, according to Khun.
Worried for his daughter’s safety and seeing a pry bar in the man’s hand, Kuhn grabbed the burglar. “I grabbed him to take him outside, he didn’t want to go, so then we started fighting,” he said.
Kuhn says he delivered several punches, kneed the burglar, put his head through a window, then dragged him outside in a headlock. Neighbors, hearing a commotion, came outside and called 911.
“He was holding him down, waiting for police,” said neighbor Patricia McHarris. “It was pretty scary.”
McHarris has high praise for her neighbor, calling his actions amazing. San Jose police arrested the man, whose face was bloodied and swollen.
Khun says he would not recommend others try to confront a burglar if it can be avoided.
“Just sort of relieved that it ended the way that it did, that it didn’t end badly for me or my family,” said Khun.

GeneChing

06-24-2014, 09:03 AM

of course, the gun helps... ;)

Martial arts instructor captures Bradley County fugitive (http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/25848903/martial-arts-instructor-captures-bradley-county-fugitive)
Posted: Jun 23, 2014 1:54 PM PDT
Updated: Jun 23, 2014 2:23 PM PDT
By Matt Barbour, Weekend Anchor/Reporter - bio | email

http://WRCB.images.worldnow.com/images/4034240_G.jpg

BRADLEY COUNTY, TN (WRCB) - A Bradley County man is being hailed a hero after helping capture a fugitive on the run. The take down happened Sunday night, not even 200 yards from a police command post at a home on Howard Road.

Mark Howard says he saw David Goode's picture all over the news and knew he was loose in his neighborhood. He says that is why when Goode knocked on his door, Howard, a martial arts instructor, was ready to take action.

"As I opened the door, I pulled it out. I said, 'freeze!'"

Mark Howard was armed and ready when 29-year-old David Goode knocked on his door. Goode was on the run from the Bradley County Sheriff's Office. He was wanted on aggravated assault charges.

"He said, 'Look, I've just got a knife on my side.' Well, that to me, is a threat," says Howard.

As Goode backed into the yard, he knew he would try to make a run for it, so Howard fired his gun.

"He was standing right here and you can see where my shot fired. I knew exactly where I was putting it," says Howard.

Goode thought he had been shot.

"A rock shot up and hit him on the leg and he jerks and he jumps down and starts screaming, 'You shot me! You shot me!' And I knew I didn't shoot him."

Howard says that is when his martial arts training kicked in.

"I told him, I said, 'Get up.' Now, at this point in time he knew that I was serious. He knew I wasn't playing around."

Howard ordered Goode up to his back porch.

"When he sat down, I said, 'Roll over.' My training. This is stuff that we go over and over and over. And so when he rolled over I said, 'Put your hands behind your back!' And he put his hand up and I grabbed the thumb and I grabbed the other thumb and when I did, I chicken-winged this arm, put this knee in the back of this bicep."

Howard says this is the first time in 18 years he has had to use his training outside the classroom.

When asked if Goode knocked on the wrong door, Howard answered, "No. He knocked on the right door. That's the way I look at it. If he knocked on the wrong door, someone would have been hurt."

He says he believes in second chances.

"I've got a totaled car and a scar on my hand from drinking and driving years ago. I can't go back and undo that. God spared my life. So now in the process of time, He's given me the opportunity to redirect people's lives and give them a reason to continue on," says Howard.

Howard's 76-year-old mother was inside the home and called 911 while he held Goode down on the porch. Goode was arrested and sits in the Bradley County jail on a more than $25,000 bond.

GeneChing

07-25-2014, 11:11 AM

'acted in self defense' :)

DA clears Torrez in Jan. 1 homicide (http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_26209203/da-clears-torrez-jan-1-homicide)
28-year-old MMA fighter has maintained since Jan. 1 death of Sal Garces, 25, that he acted in self-defense
By James Staley

jstaley@lcsun-news.com @auguststaley on Twitter
Posted: 07/24/2014 11:04:04 AM MDT

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site557/2014/0724/20140724_053844_0725_NWS_LSN_TORREZ1.jpeg_500.jpg
Robin Zielinski - Sun-News Las Cruces attorney C.J. McElhinney, right, speaks with reporters Thursday while his client, mixed martial arts fighter Joe Torrez, 28, looks on. The two learned Thursday that Torrez will not be charged in the Jan. 1 death of Sal Garces, 25, of Las Cruces, which resulted from what Torrez described to authorities as a home invasion. (Robin Zielinski/ Sun-News)

LAS CRUCES >> For nearly eight months, Joe Torrez has maintained that he acted in self-defense when he killed one of four men accused of barging into his home New Year's Day.

Thursday authorities announced that Torrez, a 28-year-old mixed martial arts fighter, will not be charged in the death of 25-year-old Sal Garces, saying evidence does not exist to convict Torrez of wrongdoing.

"It was like a weight was lifted this morning," said Torrez, speaking publicly for the first time on the matter Thursday afternoon at his attorney's office. " ... No matter what, I had it in my mind."

That burden had been there since the early morning hours of Jan. 1, when, according to deputies, Garces and three other men went his former residence near Doña Ana, threatened Torrez and his young son, ransacked the mobile home, then fought.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site557/2014/0724/20140724__LSN-L-Torrez%20cleared-0725~p2_300.jpg
Mixed martial arts fighter Joe Torrez speaks to the media for the first time Thursday since a Jan. 1 home invasion that left Sal Garces of Las Cruces dead. Torrez learned Thursday that he will not be charged by the district attorney in Garces' death. (Robin Zielinski — Sun-News)

At some point during the altercation, Torrez stabbed Garces — the autopsy report noted several injuries all over Garces' body, but stated four stab wounds to the chest caused his death. Garces was found dead about 100 feet from Torrez's home.

Torrez, wearing a black dress shirt and slacks, declined to detail the fatal fight Thursday, saying "I don't like to speak about it, myself. I don't wish that on nobody."

Torrez said it is difficult to think that he took another man's life, and those emotions have hindered his MMA career, but added "I was just trying to protect myself and my family. I didn't know what the outcome would be."

He expressed no ill will toward Garces.

"May he rest in peace," Torrez said. "He's a father like me."

Doña Ana County Sheriff's investigators said inconsistencies with initial statements Torrez made and what evidence showed are what kept Torrez under suspicion.

One example: Torrez told DASO he did not know Garces and the alleged intruders, but the investigation revealed a history of incidents between Torrez, his then-girlfriend and those charged with the break in.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site557/2014/0724/20140724__LSN-L-Torrez%20cleared-0725~p3_200.jpg
Sal Garces

A fight earlier that night between a female friend of Torrez and another woman at Garces' home is what prompted a Garces, the three men and two other women to drive to Torrez's mobile home in the 600 block of King James Avenue, authorities said.

But there was still not clear evidence showing Torrez didn't act in self-defense. DASO investigators had sent weapons found near Garces' body to a state crime lab to have them tested. Torrez's DNA was not found on those weapons, officials said.

It was those test results that caused the process to take nearly eight months; they were the last piece DASO was waiting for, spokeswoman Kelly Jameson said.

Still, Jameson added, the homicide isn't considered closed. That part of the investigation is suspended, meaning DASO won't actively devote resources to it.

That could change.

Wrote Jameson in an email to the Sun-News: "This has been a complicated case from the beginning, and in the beginning DASO was committed to a complete and thorough investigation of the evidence we had. We asked for witnesses to come forward and tell us what they knew about the events of that night.

"Is there a possibility someone else (who we haven't talked to) was there that night and knows something critical to the case? It's a possibility, but until someone else comes forward with what we need to charge anyone criminally in the death of Sal Garces, this case can't go any further."

The other cases stemming from that night's incident — those against Garces' 19-year-old brother Raymond Garces, Leonard Calvillo, 23, Nathan Avalos, 20, Rachel Carrillo, 20, and Cylver Betancourt, 19 — are still awaiting trial.

Raymond Garces, Calvillo and Avalos all have been indicted on aggravated burglary, conspiracy, attempted battery and criminal damage to property charges. Only Avalos has yet to post bond, according to jail records.

Carrillo and Betancourt are facing aggravated burglary charges.

Torrez's attorney, C.J. McElhinney, said Thursday that Torrez would cooperate with authorities in those cases and he hopes to see them prosecuted. He had refused to talk with them, upon McElhinney's advice, since Jan. 2.

Trial for the three men has been set for Aug. 25. McElhinney last month said that prosecutors have approached him about plea deals.

"We're happy that we don't have to fight anymore," McElhinney said. "Now Joe can go on with the rest of his life."

For Torrez that means getting back to work. For several months he bounced around to different states, staying with relatives because of threats made against him.

He wants to continue MMA fighting, but said he worries that if he's put in a competitive fighting environment he could have flashbacks to Jan. 1 and snap.

"What I live for is my kids," he said of his two young children.

Torrez said community support during the past several months was uplifting. McElhinney started an online campaign shortly after the incident, and since then nearly 25,000 people have "liked" the "Support Joe Torrez" Facebook page.

There was also a web page to raise money for a possible legal defense. McElhinney said that money, about $3,000, went to court costs and to pay a private investigator. He said his firm has not billed for its work to help Torrez.

Garces' family could not be reached for comment.

James Staley can be reached at 575-541-5476.

TaichiMantis

07-29-2014, 01:52 PM

One of China's Dancing Grannies thwarts armed robbery attempt

Posted: Jul 29, 2014 4:11 PM EDT
Courtesy NBC News

China's dancing grannies have been under attack by annoyed neighbors -- yelled at, set upon with water balloons, and threatened with angry dogs.

Those neighbors might want to think twice.

One of the dancing grannies -- a group of middle-aged women who gather in public spaces across China to dance to pop music as exercise -- reportedly took down an armed jewelry thief, mid-heist, last week.

According to the Global Times, a 35-year old man named Zhou entered a jewelry store in Taizhou, brandishing a knife. The store owner's elderly mother was chatting with a neighbor outside the shop, and sensed something was amiss. She rushed the robber, grabbing his arm from behind. A salesman then used a taser to subdue him.

The robber reportedly later asked police how the older woman was so strong. "Does she practice kung fu or something?"

The store owner replied that his mother kept in shape group dancing with other grannies.

"I pity the fool that has a run-in with my mother," said the owner.

TaichiMantis

07-29-2014, 02:21 PM

Don't mess wid da mma! Click the link to see the video

http://www.click2houston.com/news/gas-station-clerk-with-mma-training-surprises-thieves/27155936

Score one for the good guys.

A southside convenience store clerk turned the tables on a pair of accused robbers on July 10 on South Wayside near Interstate 45.

Mayura Dissanyake works at a Fuel Depot, but he's also a semi-professional mixed martial arts fighter.

Quick Clicks
Video of semi-pro MMA fighter knocking out robber goes viral
He was behind the counter when he noticed his co-worker returning to the store after a run to the bank.

Dissanyake saw two men jump out of an SUV and attack his co-worker. They were trying to grab the bank bag he was carrying.

The store's surveillance cameras were recording as Dissanayake ran outside and kicked one of the alleged robbers in the face.

"The first guy I saw, I just kicked him in the face," he said. "Then I punched the other guy."

They were moves he learned from cage matches. Dissanyake has been involved with mixed martial arts for more than a decade. He says he was the national champion for five consecutive years in his native Sri Lanka.

"We learn how to punch, how to kick and all that stuff you can use in the streets," Dissanayake said.

In the video, you see the accused crooks begin their retreat and the getaway car getting further away. As they ran, Dissanayake threw a punch that knocked one of the men to the ground. His friends and accomplices left him there.

"I just kicked him until he lays down on the floor," he said. "Until he stopped moving cause I wasn't sure if he had a knife or a gun so I wanted him to stop moving."

Police arrested the man who was identified as 33-year-old Odell Mathis. He has been charged with robbery with bodily injury. His partner and the driver got away, but customers of the Fuel Depot still call this a feel good story.

Of course, everyone feels good except Mathis.

KPRC Local 2 asked the Houston Police Department for Mathis' mug shot, but they said he could be wanted for other crimes and want to use his mug shot for some lineups.

GeneChing

09-19-2014, 08:35 AM

Keanu Reeves Super-Coolly Subdues Home Intruder (http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/19/keanu-reeves-home-intruder-stalker-obsessed-fan-arrest/)
9/19/2014 1:00 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
EXCLUSIVE

0917-keanu-reeves-tmz-01 (http://ll-media.tmz.com/2014/09/18/0917-keanu-reeves-tmz-2.jpg)
Keanu Reeves had his chance to reprise his famous line from "The Matrix" -- "I know Kung Fu" -- because we've learned a woman broke into his house while he was sleeping and plunked herself on his library chair.

Reeves was snoozing at 4 AM Monday when he heard sounds coming from his library ... yes, Ted "Theodore" Logan has a library.

The actor got up, walked in and saw a woman in her mid-40's sitting in his chair, not uttering a peep.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Keanu calmly approached her and began speaking to her. She explained she was there to meet him. He very calmly called 911 and obtusely told the dispatcher cops needed to roll quick.

Police came and took the woman into custody. She was taken for a psych evaluation.

It's another amazing story of an obsessed fan gaining entry into a celeb's house. It recently happened to Sandra Bullock ... the fan ended up at her bedroom door as she was sleeping. Interesting ... that's Keanu's "Speed" co-star.

Keanu lives in an area in the Hollywood Hills tour bus drivers call "Hunk Alley." Leo DiCaprio is his neighbor. Tobey Maguire used to live next door to Keanu. The drivers call out Keanu's house -- which is built like a fort, so it's just amazing someone broke in.

Here's what's even more amazing. Apparently he didn't set his alarm.

just kidding. ;)

GeneChing

10-09-2014, 08:56 AM

These are the stories I like to hear best. :D

9 October 2014 at 4:34pm

Martial arts expert schoolgirl, 14, beats up attacker after he grabs her in a park (http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-10-09/martial-arts-expert-schoolgirl-14-beats-up-attacker-after-he-grabs-her-in-a-park/)

A would-be attacker who grabbed a 14-year-old girl was left battered and bruised after it turned out his attempted victim was a martial artist.

The schoolgirl was walking home alone through Tilgate Park in Crawley when the 35-year-old man grabbed her arms from behind, police said.

Despite being more than 20 years younger than him, the teenager, who has studied martial arts for several years, then managed to break free from his hold and proceeded to punch and kick the attacker.

The attempted attack was in Tilgate Park on Saturday morning.

Police arrested the man shortly after the attempted attack on Saturday morning and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

He is described as being thin and around 5ft 7ins tall.
Last updated Thu 9 Oct 2014

TaichiMantis

10-10-2014, 04:19 PM

Woohoo! Would love to have seen that smackdown!

GeneChing

01-27-2015, 11:33 AM

Whoever mocks Chinese Kung Fu uniforms (http://www.martialartsmart.com/uniforms-kung-fu.html) for being too pajama-like, take heed! :cool:

Canyon Country burglary suspect nabbed after surprise tussle with martial arts instructor (http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/132232/)
Posted: January 26, 2015 7:12 p.m.
Updated: January 26, 2015 7:12 p.m.

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

A Canyon Country man who works as a martial arts instructor had just stepped out of the shower Sunday when he found himself wrestling a burglar to the ground.

The burglary suspect — who lives just two doors down from his target house on Delight Street — allegedly broke into a home owned by a family who runs a martial arts business.

“I just got out of the shower and I was shaving when I heard the front door open and the dog starts barking,” said Andrew Bouciegues.

“I pull on my pajamas and walk out of the bathroom. I looked to the left, and then I looked to the right, and I see this fat bald guy standing there.

“He’s staring at me. His eyes are really wide and I say, ‘Hey, what do you need?’ I reached out to him, he pulls away and I said, ‘Get the f--- out of my house.’”

Bouciegues said he started to follow the guy out of the house, but as they approached the front door the intruder turned and went into the living room.

“I just grabbed him and chucked him really hard, and he crashed into the door and then he runs out,” Bouciegues said. “I watched him go to a house two doors down.”

Bouciegues’ mother, Liz, said she’s proud of her son showing “restraint in not hurting the intruder, as he has studied martial arts for many, many years. This incident could have been a tragedy.”

“He had stolen money from my room and was wandering around my home,” she said. “This was an extremely frightening experience for our family,” said Liz Bouciegues, whose family has owned the Martial Arts Fitness Center in Canyon Country for 14 years.

Neighbors who saw the man bolt from the house followed him to his own home, confronted him and held him for sheriff’s deputies, Sgt. Cortland Myers said Sunday. Deputies were dispatched to the house around 1 p.m. Sunday.

Residents holding the suspect identified him as a rent-paying tenant of the Delight Street home two doors down from the Bouciegues’ house, Myers said. The man was held on $50,000 bail.

jholt@signalscv.com
661-287-5527
on Twitter @jamesarthurholt

GeneChing

02-03-2015, 11:31 AM

Crouching Tiger Kung Fu no less...;)

Chinese would-be mugging victims use kung fu to overpower Albanian gunmen (http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1700192/chinese-mugging-victims-use-kung-fu-overpower-albanian-gunmen)
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 03 February, 2015, 11:38am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 03 February, 2015, 6:11pm

http://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486x302/public/2015/02/03/ablaniamartial3.png?itok=WHHBaiR5
One of the Chinese contractors re-enacts the martial arts moves they used to scare off the armed robbers, in this screengrab from Albania's Ora News.

Three Albanian gunmen met their match when they held up three Chinese contractors only to be outwitted and overpowered by the kung fu skills of their would-be victims.

The Chinese contractors re-enacted for Albania’s News24 TV on Monday what they said had happened on a mountain road in northern Albania on Sunday after they were held up at gunpoint.

“They were masked and armed and stopped us, putting the gun below the chin of our friend. They wanted our mobile phones, money and the sacks with our goods,” said one of the Chinese men, whom News24 did not name.

Speaking in Chinese, the three agreed to fight their attackers, he said.

The man’s demonstration of his techniques for the camera included powerful hand blows and frontal and back kicks.

Having overpowered the gunmen, the Chinese men called the police and had them arrested.

https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/2015/02/03/albaniamartial4.png?itok=nWUvMEIy
The man’s demonstration of his techniques for the camera included powerful hand blows and frontal and back kicks. Photo: Screengrab from Ora News

Albanian police confirmed that gunmen had tried to rob the Chinese nationals at gunpoint and said they had arrested two people, aged 21 and 23. The police also said they had seized old Soviet-era Model 54 guns, a mask and a bag.

Holdups, commonplace in Albania during the Balkan country’s turbulent post-communist 1990s, are much rarer now.

https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/2015/02/03/albaniamartial1.png?itok=8blOGi8p
Crouching tiger... The man crouches for a pounce, in which he swipes at an imaginary attacker with both fists. Photo: Screengrab from Ora News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhVMTATeOJQ

GeneChing

02-03-2015, 11:36 AM

I saw this on sitonmyfacebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kung-Fu-Tai-Chi-Magazine/135964689362) yesterday. Follow the link for the vid.

Watch 'real-life Catwoman' floor three rowdy men with incredible kung-fu kicks

11:09, 3 February 2015
By Kara O'Neill

The female vigilante walks into a restaurant and takes down three customers who appear to be causing trouble

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This is the jaw-dropping moment a Chinese woman knocks out three men who seem to be causing trouble in a small restuarant.

CCTV footage captures the moment one man throws a plate on the floor, before two employees appear to rush in to pacify him.

But when that doesn't work - and the customer appears to become violent - the woman, who appears at the back of the footage suddenly steps in with her incredible martial art moves .

As the man's two friends step in to join the fight, the woman is forced to defend herself with a series of kicks and punches.

After leaving the three men lying on the floor, the woman, who is holding an umbrella is one hand, casually walks out of the restaurant without a second glance.

http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5096792.ece/alternates/s615/TEASER-Chinese-Catwoman.jpg
Real or fake: Are the moves a bit too perfect?

The footage, which was filmed on January 28, was uploaded to YouTube on February 1 and has already racked up over 19,000 views.

But the clip has already been questioned by viewers who are doubtful whether the video is actually real.

Added to the video site by The Multi Channel, the YouTube users claim the forty-eight second footage is completely "real life", when asked by a commenter.

Meanwhile, in more questionable CCTV footage, a woman from South America claims the moment she was pushed over by a ghost - leaving her bed bound for weeks - was caught on camera as she walked through her lawyer's office.

GeneChing

02-18-2015, 10:33 AM

Follow the link to see the vid.

Wife uses martial arts on home invader (http://www.foxsanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/wife-uses-martial-arts-home-invader-10529.shtml#.VOTMZS4bO_t)
Updated: Tuesday, February 17 2015, 06:25 PM CST

http://www.foxsanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories//images/MartialArtsWife_10529.jpg

PENSACOLA, Florida - It was early in the morning when Tom Seeker and his family received an uninvited visitor. A man forced his way into their home, trying to overpower Seeker's wife and son. There was only one problem. Seeker's wife is a martial arts fifth degree black belt, and his son is an orange belt. But it didn't make the encounter any less terrifying, and you can see it in the video from their surveillance equipment.

Members of the Seeker family were lounging around the house when a man approached the front door. In the video you can see him testing the door, seeing if the handle might open. He plays with the lock using a knife, TRYING TO finesse it open.

That's when things get scary.

He picks up a large, heavy concrete statue, and appears to take a practice swing. But then he decides on a different weapon; a potted plant. He feels its weight, appearing to try and figure out how best to swing it at whomever opens the door.

Just before the door is opened, he pulls out a pocket knife. For some reason, he puts the knife away. Then the door opens.

He forces his way in and slams the potted plant into Seeker's wife's head. You can see it fall and shatter outside the door. There's a fight as Seeker's son joins the fray. It happens inside, but according to Seeker, the son was able to punch the victim.

He comes falling out of the house, and that’s the last we see of him before he runs away down the street.

The message on the last frame is from the video Seeker placed on Facebook as a warning to other homeowners.

Seeker says, “If we can have one person, one time, double check, triple verify that the people at the door are the people you want to open the door for, then it's been worth the trouble.”

He says his wife assumed the person at the door was another family member, out for a walk.

Seeker says the family has weapons and security systems in place, “It happened so fast, none of those things could come into play. So the whole reason I posted the video was, I wanted people to see that it really doesn't matter how well prepared you are. The scenario's going to happen, and you're going to have to deal with the scenario."

Seeker says it's easy to assume anyone in his situation would be composed under pressure.

“Even though I thought I'd be prepared, I've been dealing with security for a long time, I wasn't. I was shaken a little bit. I thought ‘I'll be cool.’ But I was shaken up.”

GeneChing

04-08-2015, 07:58 AM

Hold the phone. If she was unidentified, how does the reporter know she was a restaurant owner? I'm beginning to wonder how much of this is staged.

Would-be rapist gets black-belted: Moment mini-skirted restaurant manager fights off attacker TWICE using martial arts training (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3030269/Would-rapist-gets-black-belted-Moment-mini-skirted-restaurant-manager-fights-attacker-TWICE-using-martial-arts-training.html)
Woman was attacked as she closed restaurant in Shandong, China
Her self-defence training pays off as she overpowers the would-be rapist
Attacker strikes AGAIN outside restaurant - but manager escapes unhurt
By ELAINE O'FLYNN FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 06:21 EST, 8 April 2015 | UPDATED: 09:43 EST, 8 April 2015

An attacker got more than he bargained for - when his chosen victim floored him twice with her martial arts skills after he tried to rape her.

The unidentified restaurant owner was attacked by the would-be rapist as she was closing the empty shop in the eastern province of Shandong, China.

She let the man into the eatery when he knocked on the door and asked to use the toilet, The People's Daily reported.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/08/11/275732D900000578-0-image-a-81_1428490611499.jpg
The restaurant owner used her martial arts skills to overpower the would-be rapist and pin him to the ground

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/08/11/275732E200000578-0-image-a-82_1428490712200.jpg
The unidentified woman then raced out of the restaurant - but was followed by her attacker

The man tried to grab her - but had a shock of his own when she used her self-defence skills to overpower him.

CCTV images from inside the restaurant show how the woman, who was wearing a mini-skirt and heels, pinned her attacker to the floor and put her hands around his throat - warning him to leave her alone.

She then fled the restaurant but he tried to attack her again - only for the intrepid restaurateur to knock him down outside the eatery and escape unharmed.

The entire, extraordinary drama was captured on security cameras inside and outside the restaurant, which police used to trace the man.

The assailant was arrested two weeks later and is set to stand trial for attempted rape.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/08/11/275732DE00000578-0-image-a-83_1428490779390.jpg
The woman was followed outside by her attacker but fought him off again using her martial arts skills

TaichiMantis

04-11-2015, 01:51 PM

She let the man into the eatery when he knocked on the door and asked to use the toilet, The People's Daily reported

Just say no...:rolleyes:

GeneChing

04-14-2015, 02:09 PM

A decorative sword no less! Against two men with guns.

Man Slices Up Trio of Alleged Burglars With Decorative Samurai Sword (http://gawker.com/man-slices-up-trio-of-alleged-burglars-with-decorative-1697714852?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow)
Jay Hathaway
4/14/15 11:10am

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dEtO_xI3--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1208460819911903271.jpg

An Argentine steelworker and his wife were awoken early Friday morning by a gang of armed burglars looting their house. Two of the three men had guns, but they didn't get a chance to use them before the sleepy homeowner took a samurai sword off the wall and savagely "smote them in the arms" with it.

The wounded thieves managed to flee in a car after taking around $400 in cash, but lost a fair amount of blood in the process.

Córdoba police found the getaway car had hit a tree in a nearby neighborhood, and tracked a trail of blood to the family home of one of the suspects. Two of the bleeding burglars were arrested, along with another man and a woman. One had lost part of an ear and had deep wounds on his face, while the other had cuts on his arms, according to La Voz.

The third robber, who also suffered deep cuts to his arms, was picked up while trying to get treatment in a clinic a nearby town. None of the injuries in the case are life-threatening.

Police have ordered a psychiatric evaluation for the katana-wielding maniac, who the Daily Mail names as Dias Costa, 49. His relatives told La Voz he's no martial artist, and the two swords he owns were purely for decoration until the Friday incident.

The three burglars are "in the hospital emergency room," Diario24 reports. The fourth man, possibly the getaway driver, is in jail on grand theft charges; and the woman is being detained as an accessory.

[Photo: La Voz del Interior]

Wait....a psych eval for the victim? wtf?!?!

-N-

04-14-2015, 05:30 PM

A decorative sword no less! Against two men with guns.

Wait....a psych eval for the victim? wtf?!?!

Obviously the poor victim was traumatized by being forced to confront the gun wielding bad guys.

Have some sympathy :D

GeneChing

04-27-2015, 08:05 AM

...or maybe not. :confused:

Nakuru woman floors husband with deadly kung fu chop, forces him to lick vomit (http://www.sde.co.ke/m/?articleID=2000159924&story_title=nakuru-woman-floors-husband-with-deadly-kung-fu-chop-forces-him-to-lick-vomit)
By Paul Kariuki
Updated Monday, April 27th 2015 at 10:28 GMT +3

http://www.sde.co.ke/sdemedia/sdeimages/monday/stdgtmpgludwnqjg.jpg

There was a ticklish spectacle to behold at a house in Nakuru East District when a drunk man, in his desperate attempts to assert authority, got more than he bargained for after his wife returned the favour in style.

The man, only identified as Johny, returned home high as a kite, woke up his wife and children and began demanding for a warm meal.

However, his furious and fed up wife turned tables on him, attacking him with an adept and masterful kung fu kick that sent him rolling on the floor, as his tickled children burst out in rapturous laughter.

But the enraged woman was not done yet, she forced him to lick his own vomit, amid drunken pleas from him begging for forgiveness and promising to stop drinking. One of the couple’s children, expressing her shock at how proficient her mother was at Chinese martial arts, scandalised her father as she entertained neighbours the following day with drama that had transpired that night.

Apparently, the man had staggered home way past 11p.m that night from a drinking spree. His angry wife, who had endured him reporting home late, grudgingly opened the door and let him in.
See Also: Curse of being a bachelor: Unmarried Kenyan men reveal 8 agonising things they have to endure

“Amka, nifungulie mlango! Ama niingie nayo (Wake up, open this door. Or you want me to flatten it)?” yelled the man in a garbled up speech, whilst banging the door.

Once in the house, the drunk, as usual, pushed the joke a bit too far by demanding a warm meal — pronto. Little did he know that his fed up wife was a consummate combatants, complete with kung fu skills. Hell broke loose with the woman expressing her anger in a rather muscular way.

She floored him with a skillful chop, which saw him sprawled on the floor as he vomited in the process. The puke splattered on shoes and slippers and soiled a pair of bed sheets.

The woman dragged her husband through the vomit, asking him to lick it. Efforts by the man to plead for forgiveness fell on deaf ears. His wife kicked him around and read him the riot act, even as he begged to be spared.

Laughing stock

The drunken man was no match for the physically agile wife who took the opportunity of his poor coordination and lack of balance to rain massive blows on him.

“Guku nyumba irio gutiri mbeca ciothe uthiaga kunywa njohi nacio. Umuthi ukuria matahiko macio (There is hardly any food in this house because you waste every coin on alcohol. Today you’ll eat up that vomit)!,” fumed the woman.

She only stopped when he sobered up — courtesy of the beatings, and pleaded to be let to clean the mess using a mop. The evidence of the assault — broken and swollen lips, scratched face and all - prompted neighbours to probe one of the couple’s children who spilled the beans.

In a strange turn of events, the woman has since moved back to her parents’ home, fearing for her life. She allegedly left because she has been living in fear. She told neigbours she is afraid her husband could be planning a deadly retaliatory attack on her, since he has been turned into a laughing stock by neighbours. The marriage now hangs in the balance.