Earlier this month, a 13-year-old girl in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, used her jiu-jitsu training to defend herself from an attacker while walking home from school. According to her instructor, Michael Blackburn of the Carmel Youth Center, the girl was attacked by a man who stepped out from between two parked cars and tried to punch her. The teen, who’s been studying jiu-jitsu for three years, blocked the punch, put the man in a headlock, kneed him, spun him around, and threw him to the ground, breaking his ankle in the process. She then ran home, leaving the suspect lying on the ground.
Carmel Police Commander Todd Trayer notes that the man was behaving unusually and may have been under the influence or experiencing other personal issues. The department released a sketch of the suspect and is actively searching for him. "We're doing everything we can to figure out who this person is," he says.
Sensei Blackburn praised his student’s response, saying she did exactly what she was taught. Carmel Youth Center CEO Keith Padgett says, “It’s a sad story but a great ending,” also praising the girl’s bravery. The teen says she hopes that her experience will encourage others to learn self-defense.
Source: NEWSER