Karate woman floors thugs
NZPA May 30, 2011, 7:11 am
Two thugs got more than they bargained for when they attacked a young Wellington woman as she walked home from her nightshift at the weekend.
They found they were no match for the waitress who floored the pair by using her martial arts skills.
Police say they were impressed with the young woman's bravery.
"Often we don't encourage people to fight back, because it can make things worse, but she acted with a great degree of bravery and she's done a great job," Detective Sergeant Shane Dye told The Dominion Post.
The 18-year-old was walking along Taranaki about 6.15am on Saturday when she noticed a man watching her. When she passed him, he attempted to grab her.
Mr Dye said she had been studying karate for about seven years and knew to elbow the man in the chest and stomp on his foot.
"She was then attacked by a second male who she hadn't seen, and he began to pull at her handbag -- then she punched him in the stomach."
During the scuffle the woman fell to the ground and was attacked again by the first man, but the woman was able to kick him and escape.
Police are hunting the two attackers. I will choose to assume that the "Often we don't encourage people to fight back, because it can make things worse..." comment has been taken out of context by the media given that is it wrong, dangerous, and irresponsible advice which I am sure no senior police officer would give.
Great job by this young lady and I hope her emotional recovery from the event is strong.
Footnote:
Another article from NEWSTALK ZB gives further context to this situation in case anyone was thinking "It was a robbery, she should have just given over her bag" with:
Detective Sergeant Shane Dye says one man grabbed her from behind as she was walking down the road, trying to drag her towards his car. He says she used her karate to fight him off, but then a second man tried to grab her handbag over her shoulder.
The young woman continued to fight and managed to escape, but has been left shaken with a knee injury.
