I have studied kungfu or wushu since I was a child. I have progressed to black belt since then.
Anyway, when I was in New York City a couple months ago, I was walking late at night by myself. I was traveling through an alley because it was the shortest way to visit my grandmother. A mugger tried to take my purse. He had a knife.
First thing I did was grab his wrist and break it. He dropped the knife and cried out. Then, I back-handed him and continued to punch him. I was so angry that this would happen to me, I almost couldn't stop. I think back kicked him onto the side of a dumpster. He had blood on his face after I was done.
Do you think I went too overboard? Any experiences with mugging and how did you handle it?
2007-12-12 10:31:19 · 57 answers · asked by Lucilla 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Yes, this really happened. I was very dumb walking alone at night, but I really needed to get to my grandmother's. She's been sick for a while and I was there to help her out.
2007-12-12 10:41:49 · update #1
I think you went a little overboard, It sounds like you could have stopped after you broke his wrist. But I would say that this is all legitament if he was mugging you, it was all in self-defense right?
2007-12-12 10:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
BS, but if it had really happened it would be reasonable.
Kung-fu is useful but it's not some kind of super-power any more than knowing how to elbow someone in the gut or land a decent headbutt. If it ever happens you hand over the purse or wallet but don't let the mugger take you anywhere out of sight. Besides, he'll spend the money of drugs and be regretting it a day later.
2007-12-12 10:44:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, a bit overboard.
Remember, the point of self-defense is to meet the other's level of aggression and not to out-do it. IE: if someone punches you, block it and/or punch back- don't break his arm.
In my opinion breaking his wrist was plenty. The threat was gone when he dropped the knife. As a black belt you need to be careful of legal ramifications for your actions.
Check out the book "The Law and Martial Arts" by Carl Brown for more information.
2007-12-12 10:37:48 · answer #3 · answered by phoenix4404 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally I go for the defensive. If I can disarm and avoid, I do so.
To hit the mark may be to miss the target. You say "I was son angry this happened to me, I almost couldn't stop". Key words: "me" and "couldn't". To refine your technique, there need become no "me", and then there shall be no "couldn't".
Here we had a situation where they who could not defend themselves at least had one marauder put out of commission, if only for a little while, while Little Red Riding Hood went on to visit Granma.
You could likely have killed him, and none would have cared to question the end result.
One can hardly say the result was unfair, nor did you seek the encounter. Your response may well have been a reflection of crude aggression and intent, rather than a refined aggression unpent.
2007-12-12 10:40:42 · answer #4 · answered by Master Anarchy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
U did it right.. Self defence.. Its ok.. But then a Girl break a guy wrist.. impossible :) Im a Black belt too and i have never seen such action before from a female... and the Forward Kick on chest does it all.. why the punching then.. u seems more like a boxer then a black belt..
2007-12-12 10:45:53 · answer #5 · answered by Master Piece 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
people like that mugger will walk around and continue to mug people for an easy buck as long as they can get away with it... you obviously put this guy in his place... good for you, you probably saved several women from getting mugged in NYC this year... i would have done the same if i could have, you have to fight and defend yourself!! why should you get knifed because this guy wants your purse!?! no way!!
i've never been mugged, but a friend was out with her friend at a gas station a few nights ago, and some guy came up and made them give him all of their money and cell phones... i think they said he had a gun... or at least claimed to... they just gave him the money and he left... they didn't know how to fight back, so i bet that guy thought "sweet... let's go see who else i can get now..." whereas your guy was like "oh crap, i'm NEVER going to do THAT again... i better go get a job or something!!!"
karma is a beeyotcchhhh!!! =P
EDIT --- we live in orange county, california... my friends got mugged at a gas station...
2007-12-12 10:41:13 · answer #6 · answered by idgaf 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never been mugged, but my mom was once . She just gave the mugger what he asked for. (since i'm sure she didn't know kungfu) and that was the only thing she could do.
sounds like you did a good job defending yourself but I think after breaking his wrist, you should have just quickly left (since you sway he dropped the knife) instead of continuing to punch him until he was bloody. ...just my opinion though.
2007-12-12 10:34:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You didnt go far enough, you should have called the cops because next time he may have a gun and want revenge and shoot you in the back of the head when you arent looking.
You should have waited till the cops got there, told them some guy came by and rescued you to get YOU out of being charged with anything, then he would have went to the infirmary.Use your HEAD a little more g/f.
2007-12-12 10:36:20 · answer #8 · answered by Joe F 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never had experiences with mugging but if he tried to take your purse I think you did the right thing. Maybe you went a little to overboard. You could have just kicked him in the groin and run but whatever, that's one mugger off the streets.
2007-12-12 10:35:02 · answer #9 · answered by Peter 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No way. He deserved it. I too was once mugged. The coward took my purse and ran. Too bad I didn't know Kungfu I may have killed him. You were violated in the worse way by a coward who preys on weaker victims. Good For You. I bet you surprised him.
2007-12-12 10:39:07 · answer #10 · answered by Just my opinion 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋