This “Brutal Attack On a Senior” is painful to watch, but an important one with some lessons we can learn regarding violence prevention and self-defense. First, I am glad it appears this older gentleman is okay. Now, I do not know the dialogue exchange that took place between them but can make some observations based on what I believe I am seeing.
To me, it appears as if the assailant knew the victim’s routine, waiting for him to open his business. The victim did as he probably did thousands of times without incident, placed the key in the door with little to zero awareness of who was around him. When we perform certain activities over and over for perhaps years, it becomes part of our habit. To me, it appears as if the assailant knew the victim’s routine, waiting for him to open his business. The victim did as he probably did thousands of times without incident, placed the key in the door with little to zero awareness of who was around him.
.TWhen we perform certain activities over and over for perhaps years, it becomes part of our habit. So, if he had never faced an attack like this, it would be the exception, in my opinion, to do it with a heightened state of awareness. If he encountered any threats previously, he might have been more cautious. Sadly, most of us do not consider violence like this until it does happen. You might look for people exhibiting odd behaviour as you approach your shop or anyone who appears to be misplaced, but you need to be looking for this as you approach. Too late if your head is down, and zero awareness.
As he begins to open the door, he is struck in the back of the head with brass knuckles. He does an excellent job of facing his threat immediately, and the brief pause of the aggressor allows him to put the door between him and the attacker as a barrier. He is doing a good job, but the strength of the younger man wins out. They get into a wrestling match struggling with each other resulting in the older man falling to the ground and being struck in the back of the head repeatedly.
The older man stands up and appears to be passive as if he does not want any further trouble, and it seems as if it is working, causing the attacker to leave. He is going, but sadly the victim re-engages, which brings on another level of violence. My advice here is if your attacker is leaving, please let them leave. I completely understand with the adrenalin of the moment why the older man wants to re-engage, but his survival is more critical than revenge. But again, easy to say when you are watching a video and not the one living the violence. Then the fight continues as a close-quarter struggle, wrestling match. Extreme close quarters are where self-defense courses and violence prevention education fails for many. When you are that close to a threat, it is difficult to throw any strikes of significance as most people attempt. If you have to defend from this position, it is essential to understand principles and concepts that do not require as my friend Richard Dimitri says, “Distance, grounding, and torque” as strikes need to have significant effects.
After repeated punches and kicks, the victim still manages to be aware of what is going on. Once more, he puts his hand up in a passive manner, which causes a pause in his attacker. It now appears he is demanding money from his victim. The older man gives the money, and still, as the attacker is leaving, once more attempts to shut the door by kicking it, but the punk leaves.
A few other considerations are if this had been a knife instead of brass knuckles, very high chance the older man would be dead. He is fortunate to come out with seemingly little damage compared to what could have been the result.
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Keep SAFE!
Chris Roberts
Managing Director, SAFE International