Spendid self-defense

Words are really not necessary - rather than this: "You suddenly don't look quite so tough with your pants around your ankles." :-)

A common set-up

California -- Sfgate.com has a very informative article about a very common tactic or set-up used by robbers, thieves or criminals alike. It goes something like this:

- You are being approached by someone face to face
- The person distracts you or even attacks you (as in the above story)
- You are being attacked from behind by the persons accomplices
- This can also be a set-up for theft (pickpocket)

The people behind you are there either as a back up for the person in front or as the ones doing the actual hit.

In either case it is always recommended you walk, move (or if needed push) past the person confronting you. This goes even if you are stopped for directions, time, a dime or what ever. You are in a far better situation to evaluate and act when you're able to turn and face the person - and consequently any other persons - confronting you!

Read the above story and judge for yourself how bad it is to fight someone with your back to someone you don't know is there...

"That'll teach you!"

How about teaching someone self-defense moves ... whether they want it or not :-)

In Louisiana, a university student was arrested for simple battery of another student, according to lsureveille.com.

The alleged victim complained to police that an 18-year-old fellow student, of Metairie, subjecting him to a "series of submission holds without his permission".

The suspect aggressor reportedly told police he was trying to teach the young man self-defense and had no intention of hurting him.

Improvising talent

All right, I'll admit it ... I like banjo. I even play one when ever the mood hits me. And now there seems to be more more reason for picking one. Self-defense. Yes, you heard that right.

A 21-year-old Overland Park man was able to swing his banjo. in self-defense when he was attacked recently with a knife and a frying pan by another young male, according to blogs.kansascity.com. Police said the banjo blow to the head stopped the "pan-handler", who was treated for a cut and later arrested.

Banjolly good... Obviously great improvising :-)

Coffee to go

Hot liquid can be a great self-defense solution. Hope McDonald's won't be sued this time around for serving their coffee too hot...

Maine -- Portland police said a 25-year-old man's craving for drugs lead to a crime spree that included an attempt to drive of with an ambulance, three armed robberies and attempted theft of a cash register.

The suspect was arrested after he was doused with hot coffee by a McDonald's restaurant employee as he allegedly attempted to steal a cash register, according to wbztv.com.

Brass knuckle umbrella?

Here's a combined umbrella and brass knuckle, from what I can see called an Umbuster (umbrella and knuckle buster - geddit?).

Although it may potentially be a handy protection gadget (perhaps something for the James Bond wannabe?), I would definitely check my local laws first.

I do suspect this would be classified as an illegal weapon many places.

Hit like a girl

"You hit like a girl!" Yeah, right....

Lame excuses #9

UK (Scotland) A 35-year-old African man who attempted to rape a woman in Glasgow has been jailed for four years.

The man, who was caught on CCTV attacking the 35-year-old in July 2008 after she had become separated from friends after a night out, blamed the devil for his actions.

The man attacked the woman as she stood alone in a street in the city's Royston district. He was convicted in November 2009.

The slap

Here's a video showing why a punch with a closed fist is highly overrated as far as self-defense goes.

You can see that the person doing the slap here clearly knows what he's doing. First, he holds his left hand to his chin in a defensive posture - some times referred to as a "fence".

He then drops his left hand, which draws attention away from his right, and then wham...

Note also that the person who does the slap turns the man on the ground on his side. It may also (hopefully) look like he's going for help. Probably a bouncer.

A rough week

Ohio -- An 80-year-old man have had a rough week. First, he was beaten during a home break-in and then later shot while trying to learn about guns.

When intruders broke into his home, the Columbus area resident was tied up and pistol-whipped. Four days later was shot in the hand during a self-defense lesson.

Paramedics assaulted

Australia -- The Emergency Medical Service Protection Association in Australia, which represents 800 Queensland paramedics and ambulance workers, have said assaults were becoming both more frequent and severe.

As a consequence, the ambulance Service bosses are becoming increasingly criticised for failing to provide adequate self-defense training to paramedics who are reportedly being assaulted at a rate of two a week, according to news.com.au.

Titanium knee

Wow, titanium "I-knee-do" to the groin ... I really do hope this left a lasting and painful impression.

Australia -- A 72-year-old Olympic swimming great reportedly fought off an intruder who threatened to kill her, according to int.iol.co.za.

The 72-year-old Australian swimming legend claimed she might have "lost it" when she confronted two youths who woke her when they entered her daughter's home in Noosaville, Queensland. She said a young male grabbed her around the throat threatened to kill her.

"With that I grabbed him around the ear and hair and kneed him in the groin," she said. "I have got a titanium knee so it must have hurt him," she added.

Domestic violence

Here are some quite interesting -- and perhaps even shocking -- statistics about domestic violence arrests (from mirror.co.uk):

UK -- Researchers have found that female suspects are proportionately more likely to be arrested when police investigate allegations of domestic violence.

Despite the fact that women were the victims in 91 per cent of cases, police detained female suspects once in every three incidents, according to a study.

T put things in perspective, men, which are the offenders in 92 per cent of cases, are arrested only once in every 10 incidents.

A Bristol University researcher (Prof Marianne Hester), said the difference was because women were more likely to arm themselves during rows.

She said that women were using a weapon nearly always in self-defense which is treated as a more serious offence.

Brian Moore, Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on domestic violence, said: "It is often only after arrest that an investigation establishes a history of violence."

692 people held for domestic abuse between 2001 and 2007 were studied by a team lead by Prof Hester.

Not very surprised

There' a new US based study which has been presented by the Emergency Nurses Association. The study shows that workplace violence is all too common in the nursing profession. However, it is not the co-workers, but patients and their families it stems from.

Over 3,000 nurses participated in a survey and more than half said they had experienced physically violence on the job, according to channel3000.com. What is even more alarming is that one in four said they had been subjected to a physical assault more than 20 times in the last three years.

"They'll spit, they'll pinch, they'll grab, they'll kick at you," one nurse said. She was not terribly surprised by the findings."The ones that just aren't getting what they want out of their visit, they get very verbally abusive and in your face."

Date rape drugs

From javno.com, here's a really great article you should absolutely take the time to read and absorb.

It is about the ever present dangers of so called date rape drugs like Ketamin, Rohypnol and GHB. Stay safe out there!

Sexual assault at work

Israel -- An annual report from the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel is shedding light on the phenomenon of sexual assault in workplace environments. The number of complaints on harassment at work has risen by 12% in 2008, according to ynetnews.com.

The report which is being submitted to the Knesset (the Israeli National Assembly) is focusing on a particularly touchy subject - sexual assaults in the workplace.

Last year the number of complaints regarding sexual harassment in the workplace rose by 12%. Reports on workplace harassment reveal that 81% (!) of employees have complained of sexual harassment, 11.4% of them referring to rape and attempted rape, and 7.6% to indecent assaults.

Not the brightest robbers

These two robbers are not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer :-)

The two Gainsville, Florida men used a cell phone to imitate a gun in order to rob two women of their iPhone in two separate incidents.

They used a car registered to one of the men - and one of the victims was able to give police the license tag number, according to gainesville.com.

When arrested, one of the men told police the robberies "were a joke" and that they were taped to put on YouTube.com. Police reportedly found no video of the "joke" robberies.

One of the robbers also said he was going to return the women's phones by calling them, according to a police spokesman. "At which point, our detectives reminded him that he stole their phones, so he really couldn't call them," the spokesman said.

'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.

South Africa and rape

South Africa -- Health24.com reports about some scary statistical findings regarding the sexual assault figures in South Africa.

According to a recent shock report by the Medical Research Council, one in every four (!) South African men have raped a woman.

What's more, 4,6% of the men interviewed had raped in the past year. Almost 8% of the men said they had raped more than 10 women or girls.

The study was conducted anonymously in 1,738 households in three different regions in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal, and included men of all racial groups, ages and socio-economic backgrounds.

Oh dear...

Teacher self-defense?

There's probably more to this story than what you can read from a media rapport - it usually is. Even so, it seems like this teacher A. has a serious anger management problem, and B. needs to learn some basic conflict management and control techniques.
Yes a 10-year-old child can absolutely do some harm to an adult, but come on... Do you seriously need a neck restraint technique or a choke hold to control a situation like this? Absolutely not if you know what you're doing.
Another discussion is the possible use of force by teachers. In my book there may be situations where such a need may arise. But again, you really must know what you're doing. And of course, any type of force should always be kept as the very last resort. There are no winners in a situation like this!

Story:

New York -- A 58-year-old substitute gym teacher allegedly put a 10-year-old student in a chokehold when the two got in an argument over a game of dodgeball in New Rochelle, according to wten.com.

Police said the teacher apparently called the student 'a big baby' and a 'crybaby' after they began arguing about a call.

The boy reportedly threw a punch but missed. The teacher then grabbed the boy by the back of the neck and dragged him across the gym floor. Police said the boy was held in a chokehold when he tried to break free.

The student was taken to a hospital with neck and back pain. The substitute teacher claimed he acted in self-defense.