I recently saw the below video (see link) on Ring Neighbors. This incident happened in nearby Westport, CT this past weekend. And this video is a good example of what NOT to do if you are ever carjacked (or confronted) by multiple attackers in your own garage:
A few of my students have already asked me what I would have done had I been the owner of the car. The assumption, of course, is that given my level of experience in the martial arts and self-defense, I would have used various maneuvers to neutralize the threat. Let me be clear.
There is never a reason to engage in violence during what I refer to as a transactional event. The bad guys want the car. If you give over the car, you spare yourself a violent encounter which can quickly escalate into lethal force. Never mind the fact that the man’s wife was just behind a door to the house. If nothing else, by engaging them and informing them that his wife had called the police, the wife is now in jeopardy. A car, even a highly expensive vehicle like the one seen in the video, is only a material item that can easily be replaced–unlike your life.
Self-defense training must include the understanding that not all events require hands-on tactics. Realizing what the stakes are and choosing a lesser or non-violent solution is always the prudent answer.
Feel free to contact me directly if you have interest in scheduling your next Krav Maga session or if you have any other area of self-defense concern.
