We’ve been seeing a disturbing rash of assaults against the Asian community. What makes these racial crimes especially appalling is that they’re targeted at elderly and infirm Asians. Those least able to defend themselves.

That was, until Xiao Zhen Xie, a 75 year old Grandmother in San Francisco who fought back and put her assailant Steven Jenkins, 39 on a stretcher. Mrs. Xie was Jenkins’ 2nd target as he had earlier in the day attacked an 83 years old man, Ngoc Pham.

Most martial artists don’t realize that a street fight is nothing like what they rehearse for in their class. Street thugs do not abide by traditions, rules of respect, honor, fairness or decency. They are cowardly opportunists looking for easy marks to rob or assault.

Most attacks come from sucker-punches or ambush, when the victim is distracted or unable to protect himself/herself. They’ve target mothers with babies on strollers as they’re least likely to offer resistance.

I held this class at Georgetown University when there was a disturbing rise of campus mugging when even the campus security were being attacked.

Stairwells are the preferred locations for predators to strike as thick concrete walls serve to insulate and dampen screams for help. They’ll work in pairs to jam elevators and force victims to take the stairs. Therefore, you should try to avoid using stairs by yourself, especially when in sketchy areas.

Stay safe out there!

One of the worst ambush attacks are shoves from behind. A common attack used to shock and overwhelm a victim. Even if the stunned victim managed to protect from face-planting into the wall, he/she would rapidly find themselves under fire upon turning around to see what happened.

By using a basic rolling technique taught at most any reputable martial art school, the student can not only diffuse the impact of the wall but obliquely remove himself from the line of subsequent attacks to deal with his cowardly attacker.

Truth in training!