Here he comes to save the day!

[Ironberg]

Hmm... I feel a bit inadequate when I envision myself in the same situation. My first instincts are to strike repeatedly and hard. The only time I'd ever grab is to keep my opponent from running away from my next blow. I think my Karate training would land me in jail if I ever got in a struggle.

[SevenStar]

cops aren't always quick to thank anyone. Last year, I saw a paperboy being mugged - borad daylight, and nobody was helping... and a cop was right across the street. Long story short, I get out and run towards the mugger, who takes off running when he sees me. He hops in the car, his friends drive off, I talk to the paperboy while someone else with me was calling the 911.

 

I go to the cop across the street and he tells me that since we called 911, someone would be out to take care of it. He then left the scene.

 

it turns out that cops don't HAVE to stop a crime in progress - it's a personal choice. Their job is to make reports, clean up afterwards, etc., not necessarily to stop it. So the cop was actually justified in not helping me, as it technically was not his job. sucks, huh?

[ZR440]

My class used to train at the same time as police cadets in a gym, only with a big retractable curtain seperating our classes. I've always had the feeling as if they despised us for being some sort of trouble makers. Trouble makers, no. More capable of twisting up a perp, yes. They just have a hard time admitting or accepting it.

[delta1]

it turns out that cops don't HAVE to stop a crime in progress - it's a personal choice. Their job is to make reports, clean up afterwards, etc., not necessarily to stop it. So the cop was actually justified in not helping me, as it technically was not his job. sucks, huh?

 

The courts have held that for years. They don't have a duty to respond, either. Most individuals and departments will, and do. But legally, they don't have to, and there have been many cases where they did not. Just something to think about whenever someone trrys to convince you to give up realistic training, including weapons, for a kinder, gentler way.

[White Warlock]

Hmm... I feel a bit inadequate when I envision myself in the same situation. My first instincts are to strike repeatedly and hard. The only time I'd ever grab is to keep my opponent from running away from my next blow. I think my Karate training would land me in jail if I ever got in a struggle.

I do agree it is a good example of how aikido, and some of the other soft arts, can play a role in increasing your options on just how much force you need apply, thereby helping you to stay out of the range of lawsuits and jail time.

 

As an example, I encouraged a friend of mine to study wing chun, which he did for 3 years. But, when he almost 'accidently' smacked his own sister, and pretty well freaked about that, it became apparent to me he needed to relearn degrees. Essentially, the all or nothing he was exposed to in wing chun was overshadowing his natural ability to gauge and apply appropriate force. So, i pushed him to study aikido, and now he is far more balanced.

 

In this particular case, i applied just enough force to manage the situation and not escalate it. Had i applied more force, i may have had a fight on my hands. If i had applied less, same result. Gauging, in my opinion, is an essential 'civilized society' oriented skill.

it turns out that cops don't HAVE to stop a crime in progress - it's a personal choice. Their job is to make reports, clean up afterwards, etc., not necessarily to stop it. So the cop was actually justified in not helping me, as it technically was not his job. sucks, huh?

Yes, it does suck and pretty much defeats the purpose of us having them there in the first place. It does, however, bring light to some of my personal experiences with them not acting on the few occasions they were 'lucky enough' to be right where a crime was being committed.

 

And yes Delta1, it is a good thing not to rely on the the police. Moreso in many third world countries than here in the U.S., but still nonetheless a critical insight into the concept of personal defense.

So long story short, your guy might have seen your confidence and from your comment to him may have put doubt in his mind.

Good insight and i believe you're right. I do recall that moment where his comment placed me in a psychologically disadvantageous position, which very likely prompted my sarcastic remark as a means to turn the table and remove the tiny fragment of doubt that slipped into my consciousness.

 

"His verbal kung fu was good, but not as good as mine."

 

Seriously though, this is an important element that i will give more 'awareness' to in the future, as it may have been the pivotal action in the entire incident and the underlying reason why he seemed to confuse me with a Borg.