'Aero-solved'

Illinois -- Without pepper spray to defend himself, a cabdriver was forced to improvise when he was attacked by a knife-wielding passenger early Thursday morning in Elgin. He sprayed the would-be robber in the face with an aerosol deodorant, according to foxnews.com.

Police said said the 51-year-old driver felt something was wrong when the passenger changed his destination. Consequently, he discreetly placed the small canister between his legs.

When the passenger held a large knife to the driver's neck, he sprayed the robber in the eyes, causing him to drop the knife. The passenger then punched the driver, but did not seriously injure him. He took off on foot, leaving the knife behind.

The weapons myth

Hop over to my Squidoo women's self defense lense and have a look at the latest article.
It's about things to think about if you consider utilising a weapon (such as kubotan, spray, keys, taser, knife or gun).
I'd love to get your feedback on this topic!

Seeing red

Sweden -- An alleged sexual assault occurred in Vaxjo just before 7 p.m. Friday night.

A woman told police she was followed by two young men. As the woman began to walk faster – so did her stalkers. The woman then began to run, but the two people behind her easily followed.

The woman tripped and fell. One of the young men caught up with her and grabbed her by the legs.

Police says the woman managed to bring out a can of red spray paint she was carrying in her purse.

The woman sprayed her attacker in the face, police said. She was able to free herself, and ran from the place.

Unsafe deposit

California -- A businessman en route to make a deposit in Antioch was robbed in a bank parking lot Tuesday afternoon.

The 3:24 p.m. robbery occurred at a Bank of America branch parking lot. The 59-year-old victim had exited his vehicle when a pickup truck pulled up.

A man exited the passenger side, sprayed the victim in the face with peppers spray and tried to grab a deposit bag. The victim fought back but the assailant overwhelmed him.

Source

It's a gas

Texas -- An East Texas grandma is gaining national celebrity for her quick thinking.

75 year old Mary was carjacked at a Tyler Brookshires gas station, and fought back by spraying the suspected carjacker with gasoline.

Police used the OnStar in Mary's SUV to track it down and arrest the suspect.

"It had nothing to do with courage it had to do with fury. I was so mad. I didn't think about consequences. Bill (Mary's husband) said I wish you would have thought about the inside of the car," says Mary.

Source

Hammer guy

A 48-year-old man walked to his garage in Milwaukee to wash his car August 9 and found a masked man with a hammer standing outside. The homeowner asked the guy what he wanted.

"Everything that is in there," hammer guy replied.

Luckily for the car washer, he was holding the business end of the hose, so he sprayed the suspect before he ran and yelled for his wife to call police.

The soaked suspect ran off empty-handed.

Source

Violent students

A teacher friend of mine says it is no wonder that a lot of his colleagues get into trouble.
In his opinion many of them - most of them female teachers unforunately - has no natural authority at all, and as such little or no control over the teaching environment.

Story:
Australia -- Teachers have been karate-kicked, punched, headbutted, sprayed with acid (!) and attacked with weapons in a disturbing range of assaults by violent students in NSW public schools.

There are more than 60 attacks on teachers in the past six months alone - including several in their own homes.

The growing threat to teacher safety has led to State Government plans for the most dangerous students to be sent home for tuition in addition to the option of placement in behaviour schools.

The crackdown on anti-teacher violence follows a 16-year-old student from Randwick Boys High School appearing in Bidura Children's Court for allegedly choking a female teacher on June 19.

Source

It's a gas

For sure, you use anything and everything at your disposal - if and when you decide to fight back.

Story:
North Carolina -- A robbery victim in Charlotte fought back against his attacker by spraying him with gasoline.

Officials said the alleged robber approached the man at a Shell Station around midnight.

Eyewitness News was told the victim sprayed the alleged robber with gasoline. The victim was then shot in the arm.

Officers arrested the suspect at the scene. The victim went to the hospital.

Source

Blending

Here's a great example of what we refer to as blinding or blending. It involves impairing the attacker's vision by the use of hands/fingers, spit, coins, sand, spray, liquids, flames or similar.
This has been used over and over again to get a potential victim out of a tight spot. It can be used to get free from a hold, to set up another technique like takedown, punch or kick, or to make sure you can escape safely.

Story:
A 50-year-old woman fended off an attack by a 43-year-old convicted sex offender on a Santa Cruz beach by throwing sand in his eyes on Tuesday, Santa Cruz police said today.

The woman told police the man had chatted with her briefly before he allegedly pushed her down on the ground and forced himself on top of her.

The woman, who was alone on the beach, said she warded him off by screaming and throwing sand in his face, police reported.

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