Judo and Self Defense

[peregrine]

I am an east european, who lived in Japan, China and Mexico for the last 15 years.
I was a teenager when the Eastern Bloc crumbled and witnessed and experienced first hand many of the hypothetical scenarios you are picturing here.
I personaly know people from both sides of the law, various military servants (US marines included) and I am describing what I have seen and what those people have told me.

The guy who comes at you and shows you a weapon, doesnt want to hurt you. He wants to take your money, wallet, watch. If you start screaming and defending your self, you might get hurt, because he will panick. If you just hand him over what he wants, he will flee asap. The thief is not a killer and he is as scared as is his victim.
Robbers and burglars are concerned about their identity been revealed, so avoiding eye contact would keep you safer.
People who want to hurt you, are different. They are predators, who operate on known territory and most important THEY HAVE MOTIVE! They are not after your riches. They rarely will hang around good neighborhoods and if not familiar with the behaviour of this type of criminals, you will not see them coming at all, until its too late.

You are assuming that everyone on the street is eager to hurt and kill people, when in reality it takes a special type of mind (or drugs) to even want to do that.
Talk to your local police officer and you will hear this: in case you are robbed at gun or knife point, just part with your belongings and the attacker will most probably leave. If you are getting kidnapped though, fight till the end. So, if anyone points a gun at you and asks you to follow him in the alley/ the van, away from other people or possible help, do your best not to.

The berimbolo was an example to people who believe sport oriented art can actually prevent this kind of dangers.

I am thinking it is still lost in translation.

Legally and pschologically there is a big difference between a
*thief aka burglar
*robber aka hold up man

One steals from people while being armed, the other steals and avoids people.

There are far more thieves than robbers. It takes a certain personality and hardening to be a robber. As you eluded to he might panic and the victim might get hurt.

My point of contention with your written view is the robber will flee asap (if you give him what he wants.^)
What happens if the wallet isn't what or all he wanted?

A robber is a predator. My point being a robber is willing to hurt you and knows he can be hurt or killed in the process.
While a burglar and thief steals while avoiding human contact.

You have a diverse first hand knowledge, thus I think it is lost in translation via the net.

If not, then nothing. I do not need to post my credentials to qualify myself. I used sound logic and reasoning.

 

[Ivaylo Ivanov]

My point of contention with your written view is the robber will flee asap (if you give him what he wants.^)
What happens if the wallet isn't what or all he wanted?

Then he is not a robber...

 

[wstewart]

I am thinking it is still lost in translation.

Legally and pschologically there is a big difference between a
*thief aka burglar
*robber aka hold up man

One steals from people while being armed, the other steals and avoids people.

There are far more thieves than robbers. It takes a certain personality and hardening to be a robber. As you eluded to he might panic and the victim might get hurt.

My point of contention with your written view is the robber will flee asap (if you give him what he wants.^)
What happens if the wallet isn't what or all he wanted?

A robber is a predator. My point being a robber is willing to hurt you and knows he can be hurt or killed in the process.
While a burglar and thief steals while avoiding human contact.

You have a diverse first hand knowledge, thus I think it is lost in translation via the net.

If not, then nothing. I do not need to post my credentials to qualify myself. I used sound logic and reasoning.

If some guy decides to rob you and then kills you afterwards for the hell of it then you're pretty much screwed either way. Common sense and any reasonable self defense instructor will tell you that your first line of defense is to give up your wallet/watch or whatever, rather than risking getting shot to save your belongings. How exactly do you find out that he wants more than just the wallet? If he doesn't just shoot you on the spot then he'd have to tell you in which case you'd have no choice but to defend yourself, but if some guy comes up to you with a gun and asks for your wallet, then it'd be pretty foolish not to give it to him in almost any circumstance.

 

[Shemhazai]

I think there can definitely be a grey area with robbers. Some of them are also killers, who have no qualms taking a life for financial enrichment, and will do it to eliminate witnesses. I'd think that this type of robber would be most common in areas where special conditions make the risk of a murder charge acceptable to the robber. Such conditions might be extreme lawlessness with many murders and a low clearance rate, or very severe penalties for armed robbery (or reoffenders) that leave the robber with little to lose by adding murder to the charge, but a lot to gain by not being identified in the first place. It would probably also be more common in places where you'd find a lot of socioeconomically disadvantaged, desperate and/or traumatized individuals who are irrationally aggressive. (I'd prefer to avoid getting robbed in countries that have a big problem with child soldiers, for instance.)

In the 'rational' cases, though, you could expect a robber determined to kill his victim to do as Onq said earlier

 

[peregrine]

Let's add Awareness to this discussion.
Using Col Coopers color codes is a good start.
Add common sense like avoiding
3S
Stupid places
Stupid people
Stupid things

You will greatly reduce your odds of being a victim.

Onq post reminds us there is the likelihood you do not know till it's too late if robbery is the only goal. Having a throw away valuable like a wallet or purse, then tossing it one way while you escape the other is a good generic response. Ymmv.

I also think it is prudent to be armed, trained and practiced when ever possible. Especially in higher risk situations.

 

[Tayski]

the laws in the US are messed up. if you hurt or kill someone who was attacking you or robbing your house you're in real trouble, however it's perfectly legal to own and carry guns. lol

 

[RJ Green]

the laws in the US are messed up.

correct.

if you hurt or kill someone who was attacking you or robbing your house you're in real trouble.

wholly dependent on latitude and the racial makeup of parties involved.

 

[Ivaylo Ivanov]

the laws in the US are messed up. if you hurt or kill someone who was attacking you or robbing your house you're in real trouble, however it's perfectly legal to own and carry guns. lol