One-punch Death

You probably heard about the soccer referee Portillo who just died last night after being punched ONCE in the face by a 17 year-old soccer player.  Portillo had issued a yellow card warning during a soccer game in Taylorsville, UT held at Eisenhower Jr. High.

Portillo

 

You can't hardly be a fan of the martial arts without having seen more than one Bruce Lee movie where each lightening-fast punch or kick is accompanied by a loud wooden slap from sound-effects. 

The enemy or hero gets hit over and over before they finally are knocked out or give up.  That's the movies, not real life.

In real life, you have just a moment to react and yes...one punch can kill you.  It's much more common than you think.  In just one county:  King county, Washington (includes Seattle) has 4-6 one-punch deaths per year.  In Aikido the technique is always important, but getting OFF-LINE has got to be one of the most important things you will ever learn.  Getting off-line has a new significance to me after reading about this poor man.  You never know how things might escalate in a moment.  You never know if someone thinks they're in an old Western movie and will try to punch you through the saloon doors into the street. 

Preventing a Tragedy

I'm not sure whether I will ever use an Aikido technique to defend myself.  Personally, I believe that a big part of Aikido is learning the many ways to respond to conflict.  See Aikido In Everyday Life by Terry Dobson.

Yesterday, CNN had a short viewing of the courtroom where George Zimmerman chose not request a hearing to determine whether he would be immune from prosecution per the Florida Stand Your Ground law allowing a person to defend themselves where their life is threatened.

Young, 15 year-old Trayvon Martin was taking a short-cut home through a private community on the way home from a 7-11.  George Zimmerman reported Martin to the police, but before police arrived, there was a confrontation and scuffle.  Trayvon Martin was accidentally shot and killed.  Now two lives are ruined.

I can't help to wonder what would have been the outcome if Aikido were involved instead of a gun?  I'm not against guns, but somebody grabbed somebody first before the gun appeared.  What if an Aikido technique were used in response to the first grab?  Would there be a trial today?  Would two lives be ruined?  I have colleagues who conceal carry in the classroom.  That's their choice and OK for them.  I prefer Aikido.  Too many times in the past, for me...having a gun would have ended up badly.  I'm going to stick with Aikido.