22 June 02

One of our students successfully disarms a gun-wielding "resident" at a school for wayward boys:

"Hours ago, I disarmed one of our residents. As you know, our school specializes in boys with ‘behavioral problems.' (Loosely translated: ‘They're no good')

This afternoon, I observed a pack of students screaming as they ran toward the front on the campus. I rushed out of my office and saw a single student brandishing a shiny, black pistol as he verbally threatened other students. At our school, students are searched randomly every morning, but the entire process is haphazard, and the people doing the searching are unenthusiastic and anything but thorough.

My internal, DTI switch suddenly engaged with a nearly audible ‘click.' I move quickly toward the student in question. He was already into tunnel vision and never saw my approach. With a single motion, I disarmed him from his strong side, using the shearing technique. In startled disbelief, he eyed his now empty hands and then looked over at me. I was nearly as surprised as was he, but the difference was that I had a plan. He didn't.

As soon as I had his ‘pistol' in my hands, I realized that it was a plastic squirt gun. Nonetheless, I quickly separated from him as he continued in disbelief mode. Other staff finally arrived, and we quickly got the situation under control.

While being escorted away, I overheard this malefactor saying to one of his friends, ‘Why didn't you tell me he was there?' He obviously never knew what hit him.

Lessons:

Continuous condition yellow is critical. When it's least expected, you're elected! Disarming a pistol wielding student was the last thing I thought I'd have to do today.

Weigh suspect capability instead of guessing at suspect intent. Who knows what he intends to do? The only important thing to consider is what he is capable of doing.

To be successful, fighting techniques must be simple and free from flashy drama. Bruce Lee once said, ‘In a real fight, I would no more attempt to kick an opponent in the head than I would try to punch him in the foot.'

Have a plan. When you have a plan, you always know what comes next. You'll never dither or hesitate."

Good show!

/John