Getting mugged

[Tomek]

Hi Polonel, I'm really sorry to hear about this second attack, martial arts might be a good idea, as long as you don't approach it from the point of view of "preparing yourself for the next time". Martial arts is really only beneficial from an exercise/body-awareness perspective, if you use it as a preparation for physical violence it can get you into more trouble than you need. If I were you, I'd start looking at my general awareness, where my thoughts usually are when I am out walking in the city, do I dissociate a lot? I think the main reason that such things happen to people is 1) lack of general awareness and tendency to dissociate 2) they are an opportunity to learn something important that we are missing. Maybe if you pondered this angle you might find something useful.

Without knowing much about you personally, I think it could be said that, in a general sense, you need concentrate on being more aware of your surroundings.

Apart from that, just try to be more careful! We don't like seeing our friends getting attacked!

Thanks, Perceval. I'm not a violent person, and I'm not looking to a combat sport who teaches you how to kill, like the infamous Krav-Maga (invented by the Israel militaries... should we be surprised ?). This sport is unfortunately very popular in France. I'm looking to a martial arts that could be complementary, maybe even colinear, to the esoteric knowledge I've acquired so far. Just like you said : self-awareness, control over body & mind... I heard good things about Ninjitsu & Bujinkan .

 

[kenlee]

Well... There's so many martial arts classes available in my city, I'll do some researchs before signing. If you have some suggestions, that would be great !

Any Karate or Gung-Fu school should be OK IMO. You might want to tell the instructor why your there and what happened to you and I'm sure that he'll have specific advice for you on how to deal with and prevent these kind of situations from happening. Maybe try to find a dojo where you might eventually do some sparring so that your body gets the feel of dealing with an aggressive opponent attacking you (actually it's only an approximation to that since its much more intense in a real street situation where the adrenaline is pumping) but its still good training for the body so that your body intelligence learns to 'understand' these kinds of situations and gets the feel of it all.

When you become somewhat proficient in the training then your body will become more sensitive to the kind of bums that jumped you the other day. It's like if there is a situation forming around you that's potentially threatening then your body might start to pick up on it because of the training (like an antennae) even though your everyday 'conscious' mind is not aware of anything unusual. Kinda like a warning system. Then your conscious mind might start to suddenly notice things because its more connected to the body because of your training. Your attention, even though it might be occupied with something, may suddenly for no reason shift it's focus in this direction or that direction because your body may be telling you something and now your a little more sensitive and responsive to this communication. This doesn't mean that there is necessarily anything threatening around you but if there is then your chances of picking up on it will have increased. Your training can be a lota fun too!

 

[3DStudent]

Hi Polonel, sorry to hear about this. Glad that you are physically ok. I agree with others that some Martial Arts would be a good idea, as well as thinking about moving. Take care of yourself.

 

[ytain]

I was reading a book 2 weeks ago - "The Way of Aikido - Life Lessons from a Sensei" by George Burr Leonard, it contained the following excerpt:
"At Rahway State Prison in New Jersey, convicted muggers were shown videotapes of people walking on New York City sidewalks and asked which ones they would have mugged during their criminal careers. In most cases, the muggers were in complete agreement with one another. The people they would have picked as victims were not necessarily the smallest or weakest-looking, but rather those who were in some way out of balance, out of sync. Those walking in a balanced and centered manner were hardly ever chosen as potential victims. It's possible, but not easy, to exaggerate the power of centering."

Likewise, I have read about the centering (aligning your center of weight with gravity) in the book "Zen Body-Being" by Peter Ralston.

Not being centered equals being dissociated.

I suggest that you learn some martial art that focuses primarily on centering.

Ytain

 

[mada85]

I didn't noticed anything before the attack begins. Being followed by four hoodlums should be something pretty noticeable... Plus the fact that my Christmas Eve dinner wasn't particularly "paleo-savvy", my awareness must have been quite low.

Hi Polonel – I'm really sorry to hear that you got attacked again. I agree with others that the universe could well be trying to tell you something, especially since this second attack was worse than the first.

Have you read 'The Gift of Fear' by Gavin de Becker? De Becker talks alot about how there was always some small thing that alerted the victims' unconscious just before an attack, even if it was not noticed consciously, but could be recalled in therapy sessions later. It's a while since I read his book, but I think you might find it helpful.

Most of what attracts assailants is the body language of potential victims !

Yes. Either the assailant sees the person as an easy mark, or wants to prove their strength against the victim. Either way it's not a good scenario.

Qi Gong is an excellent method for developing greater body awareness and centring without the martial aspect, which you may like to look into. Here's a couple of videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvgee78Rx1o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3YsVj6Ia0w&feature=related

Ultimately you need to choose the method and style in which you feel most at home, OSIT.

 

[davey72]

I just wanted to let you know that i have been assaulted,and robbed more than once,but the worst was me and a friend left work. We are waiting at the train station. Popular and lots of people there. Two guys walk by,and this is the first time i ever heard a guy call another Bitch. He said to us "what are you looking at, bitch?". My friend,to my dismay, says f you. Well they both came and started beating us while sitting. I remembered seeing a train cop,so i got away and found him. They were chased away,andran down by some skateboarding kids.but my friend had his jaw broken. He was unrecognizable. He also told everyone that i ran away. I felt so small. Turns out these two were from the states. We were supposed to go to court,but then were notified that they got murdered,so no more court. I felt so bad at how people thought of me,that i quit my job. I hope that might help in some small way.

EDIT: I now think of it as having gained some knowledge, and will be able to figure out how to avoid these situations, or know better what to do while in it.

 

[cassandra]

Men are always expected to be so damn brave. If this had happened to me, I think I would be quaking mass of jelly from shock, horror and pain, at least for a while. But I know (being female), I would get a lot of support and this would help me get it out of my system.
Are people close to you being supportive?

 

[Aaron r]

I think that these guys had previously marked you as a target and were specifically waiting for you. I understand that you are not a "violent" guy but by now you will viscerally realise violence is a part of life. As Perceval said, becoming more aware of your surroundings is probably the key. Situational awareness in other words.

Remember, these guys operate on the law of the jungle. Which means for you that, you don't have to be the strongest just not the weakest and you should avoid most trouble. Take care.

 

[agni]

Hi Polonel, sorry to hear about what happened to you again man :(

Like others have mentioned there is psychological expression / mental attitude factor in such kind of events. These kind of species rely on fear, confusion paired up with suddenness. If they see fear or that you are not prepared, or confused, they mark you as an easy target.

C's said:

Always expect attack, know the methods of same and know how to counteract them.

If you study how the attack happens, your observations before the events, your state right before the moment, what was on your mind, stuff like that.... May be it can shed some light on how to prevent this from happening in the future or at least how to handle situations like that ?

How did it go exactly ? Did you see them ? Did you walk past them ? I am asking these questions because sometimes even simplest gesture like checking them out and saying something: "How is it going folks ?" might be enough to throw them off. They are cowards, they are weak, it takes 4 of them to mug a person ?!!! They are scared themselves !

Martial arts thing is a good advice. Do not forget that also learning how to cover yourself while being beat up is equally important as fighting itself, because it's probably impossible to win all the fights.

Good luck !!!

 

[Ellipse]

I hope you've get over this attack.

Always expect attack, know the methods of same and know how to counteract them.

Yes, and in a big city, not all places are equal about safety. Perhaps you have to move in an other area. It's a way to anticipate.

 

[Tomek]

Always expect attack, know the methods of same and know how to counteract them.

Yes, and in a big city, not all places are equal about safety. Perhaps you have to move in an other area. It's a way to anticipate.

As I wrote earlier, my neighborhood is considered "popular" but kinda safe. I was most certainly followed from the train station, which is definitely not a safe area... I realized how careless I was, considering I'm living in a capital city : checking if you're not followed should be a basic reflex. I learned that.

This attack also serves its purpose as a shock. As several members hinted, I've checked a dojo to attend martial arts training, I'll subscribe to it as soon as my financial situation will improve, by the end of the month. It also leaves me in some kind of "alerted" state... I don't know exactly how to describe it properly. Besides from "getting ready" aka diet, EE, and other changes in order to raise my awareness and my objectivity, I really feel that there's something more that I should do, NOW, and I have no idea what this is. I had this little glimpse yesterday, during a discussion with friends. I realized how much we're doomed, as a whole, regarding the current state of our planet, unless something has to change right now. Gee, I'm having a hard time describing this...

 

[Muxel]

Polonel, I think your decision to take up martial arts is just a step up from "freeze" to "fight/flight". I hope you do not limit yourself like this. Why not focus more on the "mammalian myelinated vagal complex" and the opportunities it offers?

Or, focus on how to repel attack. Like stealth. Or being conscious of what "signals" you're giving out.

 

[Nienna]

Polonel, I think your decision to take up martial arts is just a step up from "freeze" to "fight/flight". I hope you do not limit yourself like this. Why not focus more on the "mammalian myelinated vagal complex" and the opportunities it offers?

Or, focus on how to repel attack. Like stealth. Or being conscious of what "signals" you're giving out.

I think that taking up martial arts is a good way to go. Not because you can then go out and fight the bad guys, but because it gives you more confidence in yourself. Not a false confidence that you can fight your way out of something, but that you carry yourself differently.

I have read that those who are looking for a mark usually mark those who walk with their heads down and look weak and vulnerable. Those who walk in an erect fashion, with their heads held high and look confident are usually passed by.

Also, being aware of your surroundings is most important, as is knowing when to run, knowing your community and where you can go when in a tough situation to get out of it, etc.

But not looking like an easy target is really an important thing. And I think that martial arts can help in this regard. That's my take on it at the moment.

 

[Ðekel]

Nienna Eluch,

I think that taking up martial arts is a good way to go. Not because you can then go out and fight the bad guys, but because it gives you more confidence in yourself. Not a false confidence that you can fight your way out of something, but that you carry yourself differently.

I have read that those who are looking for a mark usually mark those who walk with their heads down and look weak and vulnerable. Those who walk in an erect fashion, with their heads held high and look confident are usually passed by.

Also, being aware of your surroundings is most important, as is knowing when to run, knowing your community and where you can go when in a tough situation to get out of it, etc.

But not looking like an easy target is really an important thing. And I think that martial arts can help in this regard. That's my take on it at the moment.

i cannot agree with you more.

i feel that if studying self defense is what allows the practitioner to enter into this state of confidence & alertness you are referring to, then THAT is the most important reason to study it.

some people naturally exude a more confident air, but not all.
plus, in addition to studying self-defense, the practitioner gains discipline and a better understanding of the human instrument.

 

[Mortons]

Ouch!. Did they manage to catch the culprit?