Let Me Tell You About When I Got Mugged...

I worked in a large Midwestern city.  Every day after work, I'd walk to the YMCA to hit the weights for a few hours.  I would then walk home.  My focus then was on strength, not size.  So I could bench press almost 300 pounds at a body weight of 150.  Plus, I had studied karate for a few years, and I had done club boxing in college, so I really didn't fear anyone.  I had taken several "defend yourself" courses.  I didn't look for trouble.  But I didn't fear it.

So one day, I walked home through a bad neighborhood.  I walked past a Youth Center.  There on the steps were about 6 or 8 teenagers.   No big deal.  But I figured if I crossed the street to avoid them, I would be telegraphing fear, not peaceful intentions.  So on I walked.  As I got close to the steps, 3 kids jumped up and started walking ahead of me, in the same direction.  But slower.  So I would catch to them.  And have to walk through them.. And be surrounded.   And ambushed.  Uh-oh.

So as I got close to this little group, I stepped to my left and went around behind the guy at my forward-left.  So that he was actually between me and everyone else. And I boldly walked on, hoping that I had adequately protected my personal safety.

When he saw this, he quickly turned around and threw a jab at my head.  My boxing kicked in and I ducked.  But the right that followed it up connected a glancing blow.  Since I had kept walking, the one that landed didn't hurt.  Plus, I looked at him and said "What the f---!!" and kept walking down the street.

They 3 guys, and their buddies, yelled and called me names, but didn't follow it up.

I was lucky.  Maybe my boldness and the fact that I didn't fall down saved me.
But I also could easily have been attacked, from the rear, by 6 or 8 enraged teenagers who obviously had no qualms about attacking someone in daylight on a street.  What could have happened?  Beating?  Getting raped?  Murdered?

If I had studied and understood Target Focus Training, not only would I have avoided a violent situation, I would have been better prepared to defend myself.

Looking back, I am grateful for the fact that I survived.  But I wouldn't advise it.
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