In the 80’s, two researchers–Grayson and Stein–conducted an experiment. Over the course of several hours, they filmed numerous people walking. They then took this footage to a prison and asked multiple violent criminals (robbers, rapists, murderers, etc) to identify who they saw as potential victims and who they would leave alone. What the research concluded was that the main decision on choosing a victim was more about how they walked and held themselves and less on sex, age, etc. On the other hand, the researchers were able to note which elements made certain people less of a potential target. The six key elements that were shared amongst people who weren’t viewed as victims were: + Their stride was smooth and natural, stepping in a normal heel-to-toe walk, didn’t drag their feet or take too short or too long strides. + They walked at a speed that wasn’t too slow or too fast. + They kept the same fluidity in their walk the entire time, not walking awkwardly or with jerking movements. + Their arms and body moved in a coordinated manner, not swinging or shuffling wildly. + Their posture was upright and strong, and not slumped over. + They weren’t afraid to look at people or make eye contact with others, while victims often looked downwards and avoided eye contact. To put it simply, the multiple criminals who were questioned made it known that they are much less likely to target individuals who walk and hold themselves confidently. They were more likely to target those who projected themselves as weak, submissive, nervous, or had physical disabilities, ailments, or injuries. Changing the way you walk to project confidence and surety in yourself can drastically reduce your potential as a victim. **emphasized text
Elisjsha Dicken is making my home state proud. It is re-assuring to know that Indiana continues to churn out fine Hoosiers who are ready to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
He obviously took the burden of carrying a gun seriously. He obviously trained not just marksmanship but tactics. He obviously ran towards the danger.
I’m far from an expert on mass shootings, but I recall reading many years ago that many or even most mass shooters crumble at the first viable resistance mounted against them. The idea is that their fantasy scenario of ultimate power over other people gets shattered quite suddenly the moment that someone starts shooting back. Then they panic and act stupidly.
Bar security ain’t gunfighting, but the same phenomena was still present. Guys would go from a defiant tough guy who can’t be controlled by security into “Hey bro it’s cool man” in a matter of seconds, but only after physical contact was made and they realize that they’ve got no chance. Same sort of deluded fantasy, only with lower stakes due to hands being involved instead of guns.
My heart goes out to the victims, who had to suffer the consequences of a deluded weakling’s perverse fantasies of violence and power.
This has been stressed many times in training and lectures I have attended on active shooters. The concept of officers taking the point immediately grew out of this theory. It doesn’t matter whether you have back up or not, you go and confront the shooter to break that mental video game he is playing in his head. Un believable what the response was in Texas, I am disgusted and ashamed.
“People die every second you wait for action, illustrating the importance of time and the fact that you cannot waste time”.
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
If someone pointed a gun at me from a distance, and I didn’t have a gun like the victim in the video, I don’t know exactly what I would do. Give up my money and hope he doesn’t shoot me maybe. But in this case, the victim and suspect were close enough to touch one another so my bjj instincts would have kicked in and that person would have had a bad day. If that criminal were genuinely tough, he wouldn’t have needed a gun to rob that person.
Then I would have called his father to let him know his son was misbehaving.
On a serious note, I think we will be seeing more crime like this happening in nicer neighborhoods. Residents are not as vigilant and aware of their surroundings, are assumed to be unarmed, are assumed to be cowardly, and have something worth stealing. But we will be told we shouldn’t be allowed to have guns.
You are correct about this. “Nice” areas don’t have crime, or, so people tell themselves and the when crime comes calling, you hear the time honored quote, “Nothing like this ever happens here”
Just some simple BJJ training would have been very beneficial here. LEO was lucky to have not had his weapon taken away and shot with it. His backup could use some training also.
Not to get off track, but the defund and even abolish police movements base their beliefs on some truth. But the issues that do exist won’t get fixed by less funding and fewer, or no, police. Many departments could probably use more cops. Cops can use more training, or rather, more continuous training. This will cost more money. I believe that a cop’s workweek should set aside time everyday for training. Three days could be an hour, on the clock, of bjj. Two days could be something else. This means out of forty hours, 5 or so will be training, or if you add those hours onto the forty, they would be getting paid for those extra hours they work per week. It won’t happen but if we really want to be sure cops are getting the training they need, especially on perishable skills, incorporating it into the job itself is the best way.
Really good post. A local department has contracted with a Gracie based school and requires officers to train 4 hours a month and are paid overtime. A small start but any training with BJJ will only improve their skills.
If you can’t fight with your bare hands, I don’t believe you should put on a uniform, a badge and a gun and think you will be effective or safe if someone decides to try you.
The reality of violence is that it most often comes with motive (jealousy, envy, love triangles, financial gain, power gain, control, perceived freedom) while other forms are the direct result of antisocial personality disorders such as malignant narcissism, sociopathy, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.
Roughly 90% of victims of violence worldwide knew their attackers. Roughly 30% of violence
worldwide is committed by immediate family members. Over 90% of murders committed are via ambush.
I have not fact checked these numbers. Not sure what criteria they are using for “ambush”.
I agree in theory, but in practice right now I’ll take any non-criminal able to pass basic competence/intelligence exams who signs up to be a cop. It isn’t ideal, but it’s better than not having police at all.
If they learn how to bang afterwards, great, but we’re at a “something’s better than nothing” arc of society at the moment. We’ve managed to drive away all of the toxic males who are drawn to that sort of work and ready to do the dirty bit of responding to violence as it is happening.
Military recruitment is in shambles as well.
IMO part of a long-term solution is to include basic self-defense and grappling techniques in public high school gym class along with getting more martial arts into public high school sports curriculums. Show a few escapes, how to breakfall, how to punch block, how to move your feet and other basic elements of defending against violence. Make sure every dork, dweeb and weirdo gets a little taste of the game and understands that they too, can be like the dork, dweebs and weirdos who can rag-doll the football team’s entire offensive line.
Wrestling is great but sport BJJ is also ripe for adoption into public schools. Let’s show everyone how to whoop a little ass, and we’ll all be better off because of it.
Totally agree. I wish we would return to some form of a basic martial society. As you said, a little training through the educational system would be a great start, however, I think I will see a unicorn in my front yard before that will ever happen.
