The piercing scream, like a sound from a horror film, triggered taekwondo instructor Simon An to draw on his years of martial arts training.

Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, shortly after the doors of his family-owned and -operated studio in Texas opened for evening classes, An and his father, his mother, his older sister and his younger brother heard shrieks coming from a neighboring business.

The family of five, each with a fourth-degree black belt, run the Yong-in Taekwondo studio in Katy, outside Houston. They initially ignored the sounds, assuming they came from employees playing around in their break room. But then a piercing “final scream” prompted the family into action, A said.

His family ran to the store and opened a door. There they found a man on top of a young woman with his hands “in [in]appropriate places” as she attempted to fend him off, A said.

An’s father, Hong, yanked the attacker away by his shirt and pinned him to the ground. An’s sister, Hannah, grabbed the girl and rushed her out of the room while An and his brother helped subdue the attacker.

  • exanime@lemmy.today
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    5 months ago

    People, this is what bravery looks like… Not walking around Walmart with an AK 15 and a Sons of Anarchy shirt

  • Lettuce eat lettuce@lemmy.ml
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    5 months ago

    The guy assaulting the women was lucky he wasn’t turned into ground beef by that family, Taekwondo is no joke.

    Great to hear they were able to help!

    • Deconceptualist@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      I’m sure that would have happened if it was necessary. But what’s amazing about highly skilled martial arts practitioners is that they have incredible self control and extensive training on how to de-escalate a situation with the minimal force. They understand anatomy and reaction speed and pain and even the legal consequences of using their abilities for harm.

      It still boggles my mind that it’s not a requisite for western police.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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        5 months ago

        It’s not required for US police because in the US the police are essentially militarized and have an accompanying attitude. They are not interested in de-escalating the situation they’re only interested in seeing if they can hurt someone. That’s what happens when they draw their guns in every single interaction including traffic stops.

      • Wogi@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Fucking hell.

        No they don’t.

        These are things they try to sell you when you walk in the door. I’ve been a martial arts instructor. It was my first job. The only qualifications for martial arts instructor are a: kinda knows the dance moves good. End of list.

        Some of these guys may embody what you’re talking about.

        The vast majority are dude bros who think punching is fun, and their particular variety of punching is the best. They’re not mystic monks, gracefully handing down wisdom of the ancients. They’re wannabe tough guys who either bought the lie, or know full well and are willing to sell it to you. It’s no different than any sport, and they won’t actually teach you how to defend yourself. They’ll teach you dance moves and maybe a few of the people that learn them will be good at self defense too.

        It’s a joke. It’s all a joke.

        • OceanSoap@lemmy.ml
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          5 months ago

          So, you were a shit instructor who had barely started teaching at a shit school so that must be how they all are?

          Just like everything, you’re going to have a range from great to awful. You sound like you were on the awful side of things. Must suck.

          Sincerely, a martial arts instructor.

          • Wogi@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            I’d been at it for about 10 years when they hired me, try again.

              • Wogi@lemmy.world
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                4 months ago

                You know, I almost forgot about the shitty attitudes and tribalism incumbent in the idiots that make dance fighting a big part of their personality. These guys, you included probably, love to preach about their enlightened state because they are just so devoted to dance fighting, and then do shit like you’re doing here. Do you really think trying to insult some random guy online because he dared to criticize the industry you’re a part of is really becoming of the type of person you advertise yourself to be?

                Also. Just so you know, the scenario you fantasize about where you get to save the day with your dance fighting isn’t going to happen. At least not organically.

      • Amanduh@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        No you’re reading it wrong. Op wasn’t saying imagine like you are imagining yourself sexually assaulting someone and getting your ass beat. They’re just saying it like to imagine the comical situation where some idiot is sexually assaulting someone and then a whole ass family shows up and kicks their ass.

        Here’s a better more generic example.

        Imagine talking shit in a video game and then losing.

        Hope this clears it up