Paal_101 Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 Quite the experience actually! As many of you know, I do martial arts (5 years now) and have always been security conscious. Today I was working at the store when a guy walks in at roughly 8:30 PM. Nothing unusual except that the guy was holding a screwdriver in his right hand, along with a small black bag. And holding the screwdriver like a knife I might add. Without a word he begins walking towards the till, not at the counter but to the side where we walk behind the counter. He takes a step up onto the raised dias behind the counter and at this point alarms are going off in my head. At this point I'm about ready go for him. The first thing that came to mind was to grab his right arm in order to control the screwdriver, followed by slamming his head into the cabinets behind the till. A second plan of attack would be to grab his right arm, break it, then see where I was, probably looking for a way to get out of the store. Just as I was about ready to move something told me just take a breath, which is when he said "Pump?" I'm so bewildered that I watch as he walks right past me (although I'm still on the edge) and towards the back where the breakers are. "I'm here to fix the pump," he says again. Then it clicks into place: he was there to fix the pump that had malfunctioned that morning. Of course my boss forgot to tell me that he was coming, plus the entire situation hadn't been explained to me by my coworkers, what had heard was mostly in passing. Plus he wasn't wearing a uniform or anything that might denote him as a repairman, besides the screwdriver in his hand As a result I wasn't expecting anything. Needless to say I began to relax. Rick, as I later learned his name was, probably has no idea of how close I came to seriously ruining his day. Even more unreal is the fact that he lives in Moberly and I've probably seen him before and simply forgot. I am thankful that I waited and didn't just jump into a fight! Strangely there was no fear, only an overwhelming sense of awareness, confidence, and purpose. No thoughts of "What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?", just simple, logical calculation. Necessity and facts were the only thing going through my mind. My training kicked in and it was all about taking him out as fast as possible if he made a move. Plus I kept waiting to see what his intentions were, which probably saved me from assault charges A very interesting experience to say the least I've never been faced with the very real possibility of having to use violence and it was nice to know that I felt ready and able to take on an armed opponent with confidence of victory/survival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Op Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 False alarms happen sometimes. Well...... all the time within US Homeland Security. But both of you can never be too careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quacker Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 Aww...I wanted to hear about how you took some dude out...martial arts for 5 years? Paul, you're a beast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKen132 Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 Plus I kept waiting to see what his intentions were, which probably saved me from assault chargesYes, it probably did. Good thinking, and nice story. Let's see if something will happen to me today that can compare to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tutankhamun Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 That's a nice story Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 I had a very similar expierience on the 4th of July with a police explorer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uppy Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 Haha That's actually very funny. (I think) I would have been alarmed too if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeOptimist Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Nice job I'm sure you could have pwned him, but 'tis a good thing you kept your cool and waited it out.LOL - the martial-arts-trained cashier taking out a rougue plumber sounds like a plot twist in a comedy film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mythos_Ruler Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 A plot point in "Clerks." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenratiophi Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Lol, that's funny. Didn't you notice anything else that told you he was a plummer, like some company hat or car or something?I took martial arts (taekwondo) for a few years and quit just before becoming a black belt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeZar Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Haha, funny story. Poor guy if you had jumped on him, think about the lawsuit you could have gotten ? anyway, its a good think that you are alert, though my parents always say; "Dont try to be a hero" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red_08 Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Lol, I took Martial Arts for a year or two when I was 8, but we moved and had to quit, not being able to find another center near where we lived at the time. I can tell you this, I don't remember a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paal_101 Posted July 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Yes, I'd definately have a pretty good lawsuit on my hands Øyvind I try not to be a hero, but if he had gone for me that would have been it....for him As for company hats and vehicles, nothing No hat, no logo on his shirt, just driving a regular early 1990s Dodge pickup. Didn't realize so many folks at WFG were former martial artists You guys all need to start up again If you are wondering, I am a blue belt in Wado karate (only brown belt left before black), and will be starting Shorin-Ryu karate in the fall. Hopefully I will get to train with Greg Reid this fall. In Wado karate he is the #1 practitioner in North America, 8th-degree black belt. Evidently he can break your spine and crush your heart by punching you in the chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tutankhamun Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Evidently he can break your spine and crush your heart by punching you in the chest.Wow. I did some taykwondoe (however you spell that) years ago. I've forgot everything I've learned though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCobra1 Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 You shoud've bashed his head dude! Cool story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paal_101 Posted July 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 Why would I want to do that Joseph? He hadn't threatened me or anyone else, so why should I go off on him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProgramZeta Posted July 9, 2005 Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 Call it a pre-emptive srike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paal_101 Posted July 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 But if he had turned out to be harmless (which he was) I'd be in quite the situation, wouldn't I? Not to mention him..... I bet you'd like to have a broken nose, concussion, and hyperextended elbow all at once? Violence is only a last resort, and that line hadn't been crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCobra1 Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 But if he had turned out to be harmless (which he was) I'd be in quite the situation, wouldn't I? Not to mention him..... I bet you'd like to have a broken nose, concussion, and hyperextended elbow all at once? Violence is only a last resort, and that line hadn't been crossed.←How do you know he was harmless? He could've been a spy, planted a bomb, anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paal_101 Posted July 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 He could've been a spy, planted a bomb, anything! ←Right Or he coulda been an average joe who happened to walk into the store where a series of coincedences had taken place First thing about using violence, make absolutely, without a DOUBT that it is warranted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeOptimist Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 First thing about using violence, make absolutely, without a DOUBT that it is warranted.←Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Haha, imagine if you just kicked into fighting gear right away! It would have ruined both your days, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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