Peppers spray - MMA combo

MMA - Illustration, from Flicker.com

OK, so it wasn't the MMA (mixed martial arts) alone that did the trick - a healthy doze of pepper spray was part of the self-defense combo.

Still, it is no doubt that learning martial arts can be of great help when you suddenly find yourself in a dangerous situation like the California based woman here did.

Also, it is definitely a major equalizer to have access to some sort of weapon - here a can of pepper spray.

A Sanger woman used mixed martial arts skills on a man claiming to be a door-to-door salesman.
It was around noon Thursday, when Mayra Villanueva heard the doorbell ring. She looked out and saw it was a man dressed as a Dish Network consultant.
She opened the door and that's when he threw a punch, and tried to get into the house.

Anyone else having good or bad experiences with using martial arts and/or pepper spray for self-defense? Feel free to comment below!

"Iced-te-do"

This is definitely a modern day variety of the ancient Japanese tea ceremony- very cool!

Story:
Japan -- In Tokyo, a woman managed to calm down a knife-wielding robber by offering a glass of iced tea and a chat, according to edition.cnn.com.

The 43-year-old robber pressed a knife to the woman's back and demanded money, in the hallway of her apartment building.

The woman told the man she did not have any cash on her. The robber then is reported to have pushed her and her baby into the woman's apartment.

The calm woman -- in order to buy herself some time to plan her escape -- gave the robber a cup of iced wheat tea to calm him down on the hot summer day, police said.

The robber put his knife down and began to tell the woman how he lost money gambling and its effect on his life and family.

The woman eventually handed over about $100 (10,000 yen). She then ran outside to call for help. The robber took off with the money, but he was reportedly caught the very next day.

In shape

It is without a doubt of great help to be in shape -- both in a physical, as well as mental sense -- if you ever end up in a self-defense situation.

A case in point is this story about a 41-year-old woman from New York City. The intended victim was assaulted by a knife-wielding intruder in her basement apartment.

The woman says her furious, and successful, self-defense response, is due to the fact that she works out at the gym 7 days a week.

When she fought back, by screaming, pushing the intruder and then knocking him in the groin, the man went scurrying out.

Courage beyond belief

I strongly urge you to read this article. It's graphic and disturbing, but it leaves a lasting impression about this young woman's courage. What a will to survive!

stalking, push-in

Here is a "classic" case of a perpetrator using (at least) two means to get to his intended victim - stalking (following), and a push-in.

Story:
UK -- In Newcastle, police say a man stalked an 18-year-old female in the early hours of March 9 (Sunday morning).

The teenager was walking home from a night out with friends at around 2:30 a.m., and footage from closed circuit TV, shows the intended victim being followed through the city centre.

The assault happened at around 2:40 a.m. The perpetrator followed her inside her complex, grabbed and pushed into her home, before sexually assaulting her. Screaming and kicking him, the young woman forced the attacker to flee her home.

Her wits about her

Very resourceful actions from this woman!

Story:
Florida -- A 76-year-old East Naples woman was able to outwit an intruder who was trying to rape her Sunday night nbc-2.com reports.

The woman left her bathroom after taking a shower around 8:30 p.m. when a man attacked her from behind.

The man allegedly forced her to the floor and tied up the woman's hands. He covered her eyes and then attempted to rape her.

The woman told officials while she was trying to reason with her attacker she was able to activate her medical alert bracelet and told him that police were on the way.

She said she was able to free herself and ran to a neighbor's house. The suspect took off.

Bait and switch

This method is quite often used by scam and fraud "artists". The classic case is to have you believe you buy an original, say, watch - and then switch to a fake once you have handed over your money.

As with most methods, it can be turned and utilised against the criminal. Here is one such case.
It also goes to show that these folks are not always the sharpest knife in the drawer...

Story:
Philippines -- Police say a taxi driver allegedly tried to rape a 27-year-old woman inside his cab on Saturday night in Quezon City (Manila), according to newsinfo.inquirer.net.

The woman reportedly told police how she boarded a taxi at around 8 p.m. Saturday. Shortly after, all the other passengers got off at the Metro Rail Transit station in Kamuning.

"The woman, who was in the back seat, said the driver asked her to sit beside him," a police spokesman said. When she did so, the woman said the driver took out a knife, pointed it at her and started touching her breasts.

The woman said she told the man that she would go with him to a hotel if they could eat first at a nearby fast food restaurant. While inside the restaurant, the victim quickly asked the security guard for help but the driver managed to run back to his van and take off.

'Latching out'

You have probably heard the acronym RTFM (which stands for: Read The F****** Manual!)?
Well, maybe this story should give an indication as to why we men (because most of us will not RTFM) need to get over the "I'll figure it out myself and prove I'm a man - then - when everything else fails, I might read the manual" syndrome.

This story shows a very smart young woman. A series of precise observations and actions taking place. Read it!

Story:
Florida -- Abcnews.go.com reports about a woman who was forced, at gunpoint, into the trunk of her own car in Dayonta Beach on February 12 .

Saying to herself she had to get out before he got on the highway, the 26-year-old woman remembered the emergency latch in her trunk. She was able to jump when the carjacker slowed down, escaping with only a small scratch.

The woman said she remembered the latch because she had read the entire manual when she bought the car.

Another bite out of crime

During the night before the "Lucia" celebration in Sweden (which is December 13), a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Lund, according to svd.se

The attacker pushed her to the ground and put his thumb into the woman's mouth. This enabled the woman to free herself by clamping down as hard as she possibly could. The bite was so hard that the woman broke two teeth.

Late Tuesday evening a 24-year-old man came to a hospital emergency ward in nearby Malmoe with injuries that matched descriptions given by the woman.

Hospital staff alerted police, and the man was arrested shortly after at the hospital.

'My-key-do' #8

Texas -- It was a frightening night for a Sherman shopper, according to kten.com. Police say a 57-year-old woman fought off an attacker while she was trying to get in her car.

Police says a man approached the woman in a general store parking lot and threatened her with a knife. She fought the man off with her keys, before another shopper called 911.

The man fled, but police caught up with him just a few minutes later.

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.

Skilled with skillet

Hmmm... a skillet, eh?
This must be the ancient art of cook fu!

Story:
Kentucky -- Lexington Police say two men forced their way into a woman's apartment, and tried to rape her.

The two men asked for her husband, according to wkyt.com. When she told them her husband wasn't at home, the men forced their way in.

The woman was able to reach for a skillet and hit one of the men in the head with it. The two men ran away. One had a head injury.

"My-key-do" #5

At 2:31 a.m. on Saturday, a police foot patrol responded to a call for an attempted sexual assault in Isla Vista, California, independent.com reports.

The woman told authorities she had met the suspect to buy cocaine from him, but when she arrived, he pushed her into a car and starting ripping her clothes.

Using her keys as a weapon between her fingers, she punched the man in the neck and was able to run away. The victim knows the suspect, because she had bought drugs from him before.

Street-wise

Here's a great example of being street-wise, using your awareness and being prepared.
It also clearly shows how a perpetrator often times will ask an intended victim questions before striking.
I must add I'm full of praise for this young woman!

Gilbert, Arizona -- As a 21-year-old female walked home around 12:40 a.m. on Thursday, she became suspicious when she saw a truck parked with its door open and no one visible inside, azcentral.com reports.

The woman said she removed her knife from her pocket "just in case." It was then that a 22-year-old suspect ran at the young woman and first asked her for a cigarette and then to
borrow her cellphone.

The woman said she didn't answer him either time and kept walking, but had flipped open the
knife's blade. The intended victim said she carries her Winchester pocketknife everywhere, "because you just never know."

The suspect then grabbed her purse and started pulling it and her with it, the woman said. "He was just tugging me and the purse, and I just started slashing at him," she said. She's not sure how many times she slashed the attacker, but said she wasn't going to stop until he quit.

"I must have got him good because he finally left," the woman said, adding that she knew she was fighting for her life and her unborn child. The young woman said she is three months pregnant.

She said the men "messed with the wrong girl" and credited growing up in Chicago for being tough.

Another fire

Florida -- Deputies say a purse snatching was foiled on Monday when the 59-year-old victim fought back. The crime occurred in front of a supermarket in Englewood.

Reportedly, two late teen males tried to grab the woman's purse. The intended victim struggled with them and as they tried to pull her purse free she started yelling "Fire!" This spooked the "would-be robbers" and they took off, according to deputies.

Gotcha!

Young woman with firm grip: 1 - Large male with pimped up ride: 0
Probably a good thing for "Mr not-so-tough-now" to have lights in his car that matches the color of his balls...

Story:
Texas -- A large man in a muscle shirt, probably in his 20s, about 6' 1'' and 200 pounds, offered a young woman a ride in Fort worth.

The 18-year-old woman was walking at about noon Friday when the man approached her. The female reportedly refused his offer repeatedly.

The man got out of his car, which had blue lights inside and underneath (bling-bling anyone...?). He grabbed the young woman by the hair and ordered her to get in, a police spokesman said.

When she fought back, the man threw her to the ground and kicked her in the ribs, the spokesman said.

The man pulled the woman back to her feet, and that's when she grabbed his crotch (ouch!). The man fell to the ground, and the woman punched him in the face and ran away. She told police that when she looked back, he was lying on the ground.

Source

One tought lady

This is one tough senior citizen. Hats off to her! Another thing all together is to argue how wise it is to fight against a (potentially armed and desperate) robber.

Source:
California -- Ninety-seven-year-old Dorothy Buckingham is the last person you would think would fight off a robbery suspect. She loves to sew, and recently said she sensed her friend Elizabeth needed help.

It all happened in a Bel Air shopping plaza. Dorothy was waiting for her ride when she saw a friend with a woman she thought was up to no good - noticing the strange woman holding her friend's grocery bag.

"I said 'give me her groceries.' Finally, she said 'give me three dollars'," said Dorothy. That's when things got nasty. Dorothy said the suspect then grabbed her friend's purse. That's when Dorothy went into action.

"We kept jerking back and forth. She tried to hit me, but couldn't because strap was too long," said Dorothy.

Dorothy adds, her adrenaline got her going as she fought off a woman, who was 50 years younger. "I wasn't angry; just determined she wasn't going to get away with it," said Dorothy.

Eventually, the woman let go of the purse. A witness called police who found the suspect in the parking lot.

Source

Huge Coldplay fan

Karaoke is a torture instrument the devil himself could be proud of. Consequently, I really can relate to the rage against the "singer" in this story, even though the actions are way over board.

Story:
Washington -- A woman attacked a karaoke singer belting out Coldplay on Thursday night, telling him he "sucked" before she pushed and punched him to get him to stop singing, bar staff said. The man was singing "Yellow" when it happened.

"It took three or four of us to hold her down," a bartender said.

When she was escorted outside, the 21-year-old woman "went crazy," the bartender said, throwing punches at him and others, including an off-duty police officer.

Patrol officers and detectives then arrived at the neighborhood bar and blocked off the street, which inflamed the woman's rage even more, a police report said. Before police could handcuff the woman, she headbutted the off-duty officer at least twice.

Source

Role modelling

Absolutely great!
I do wonder where most kids learn negative and violent behavior. Could it *possibly* be at home?

Story:
A New Hampshire woman has been charged with assault for allegedly throwing pizza at an umpire at a Little League game in Concord last month.

Police say the 35-year-old woman was working in a concession stand. Her son is on the Concord All-Star team, which lost a close game on July 11. A league investigation said Concord parents and Little League volunteers taunted the umps and tried to provoke them.

Police say the woman tossed pizza that hit one ump and a parent. She's charged with two counts of simple assault. The league disciplined nine parents, board members and volunteers, asking some to resign from the board.

Source

How low ...

How low is it possible to get?
Seems that new standards are being set all the time.
And yes, it is easy to criticize this woman for drinking, and placing herself in a vulnerable position.
Yet, think about it - how many can raise their hands and say "I have never done anything that could potentially put myself in danger." At least I know I have - many times.

Story:
Michigan -- Police received a call from a 61-year-old Ann Arbor woman who said she was beaten and raped in her home by a repair man she knew through a mutual friend, reports said. The woman said the 43-year-old man, whom she had known for several years, saw her and approached her in a grocery store. During their conversation she said she was sexually assaulted in early May and that police were investigating but had not made an arrest, reports said. At the end of that conversation he agreed to fix her air conditioner in the near future, she said.

As the victim prepared for bed after midnight, the man came over holding a brown paper bag with a bottle of tequila, reports said. She told police that he said he had a friend in the police department who was interested in the case and suggested they re-enact the incident for "vital" information. She agreed and they began drinking, as on the night of the previous assault. At one point they even rearranged furniture and placed stuffed animals in chairs to represent other people who were there that night, police reports said.

The victim told police she drank five shots of tequila and didn't remember how they ended up in her bedroom, where the man began ripping off her clothes. She said she fought him off and ran into an attached bathroom, but he ran through the doorway before she could close the door. He then forced her onto the bed and beat and choked her during the assault, reports said.

Source