Police Search for Man Who Attacked California Teen
Authorities are on the lookout for a man who assaulted a 13-year-old girl in California. Interestingly, her jiu-jitsu training may have turned the situation on its head, according to her martial arts instructor.
The girl, whose identity is being protected due to family requests, was attacked on May 6 while walking home from school in the affluent coastal town of Carmel. Her instructor, Michael Blackburn, noted that the attacker picked the wrong person to mess with that day.
Reports indicate that the man, positioned between two cars, approached her and “punched her in the face.” However, he quickly found himself on the receiving end of three years’ worth of jiu-jitsu training, as explained by Blackburn.
“She punched him back, got him in a headlock, brought him down to his knees a few times, and tossed him to the ground,” Blackburn noted in a statement. “While she was doing all this, she even stepped on his foot, and when she threw him down, she ended up breaking his ankle.”
Jiu-jitsu, as a martial art, focuses more on leverage and control rather than striking. It employs techniques like joint locks and chokeholds to subdue opponents.
The Carmel Police Department is actively investigating the incident. Commander Todd Treyer mentioned, “We’re doing everything we can to identify this individual.”
Authorities have released a sketch of the suspect. Treyer added that the man’s unusual behavior might indicate he was under the influence of substances or facing other personal issues.
