Successful Street Applications

[bodhitree]

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.

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]

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]

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

Modest martial arts expert sees off mugger
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John James, 33, had just withdrawn money from a Lloyds cashpoint machine at Southampton University campus when he was suddenly attacked by a youth riding a bicycle.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]

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

Martial arts expert foils robbery
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]

The female suspect has long black curly hair, about 5'4" tall and skinny and a big old shoe print on her face.

Martial arts expert kicks would-be robber in Bradenton
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 robbers
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]

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

[jackmcmanus21]

The female suspect has long black curly hair, about 5'4" tall and skinny and a big old shoe print on her face.

Shoe print on her face! I love it.

[GeneChing]

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
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."

[Hebrew Hammer]

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.

[GeneChing]

Would you vote for this guy?

2-term incumbent faces martial arts instructor in House District 68
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]

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

[SimonM]

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...