A 13-year-old girl from California bravely used her jiu-jitsu skills to fend off an attacker while she was walking home from school. Reports indicate that the assailant came out from between two parked cars and attempted to strike her in the face. The quick-thinking teen managed to subdue him, knocking him unconscious, according to her teacher.
“She landed a punch, got him in a headlock, and brought him down to his knees several times,” said Professor Michael Blackburn, who detailed the incident that took place in Carmel by the Sea on May 6th.
As she confronted her attacker, she stepped on his foot and threw him down, resulting in him breaking his ankle in the process.
The young girl then managed to escape, leaving her assailant lying injured on the ground.
Blackburn, who has been teaching Brazilian martial arts to teens for three years, expressed relief that his student had the training to protect herself. “We told her we were proud of her for responding appropriately,” he remarked. “In class, you have to fight like you’re defending yourself on the street.”
Although local authorities currently have no leads in the case, they suspect the attacker might have personal issues that contributed to his aggressive behavior during the encounter.
Law enforcement officials have produced sketches of the suspect and are seeking assistance from the community in their investigation. “Such bravery is not often seen, especially in younger individuals,” noted Carmel Police Commander Todd Treyer.
The empowered teen, who prefers to remain anonymous, hopes her experience will encourage other girls and women to equip themselves with self-defense skills that could prove vital in difficult situations.
