by Bradley J. Steiner, American Combato.com
I always check the NY Daily News online each morning. In my business, it serves as a rich source of current reports on horrific violence and terroristic insanity which, increasingly, is becoming the norm in urban America.
About two years ago, I saw a truly chilling segment of video that was recorded by a surveillance camera in midtown Manhattan in broad daylight. A person who appeared to be a young woman was walking down the sidewalk in direct purview of the camera. Suddenly, a man whom this woman was walking past seized her violently. He secured her in a very powerful, controlling body hold, turned, and with the entire incident not consuming more than three seconds, threw the woman into what appeared to be a large van. The van took off. Comments in the accompanying news story admitted that no one knows what happened to this victim.
Abduction (kidnapping) is a serious threat not only to young children who are not properly monitored and accompanied by at least one responsible adult, but to young adults – mainly females, but males as well. The motive behind the act may vary. Human trafficking, rape, thrill-killing, ransom… you name it. As I see it, the reason why an abductor may be carrying out his despicable act is irrelevant. What matters most is that the monster is carrying out a heinous act of violation, and anything done to stop him must be done immediately.
Few victims of abduction are ever seen or heard of again.
I want to provide some serious guidance about how a citizen can defend against the kind of abduction recorded by that surveillance video in Manhattan.
I shall draw directly now from a training doctrine that is administered in the programs given to military and intelligence personnel; in fact, in programs I myself have taught to individuals who needed to know the material. It isn’t pleasant, but I’m going to give you the real deal.
Begin with this understanding: Deadly force is legally permitted to defend against an attempted violent abduction.
Now add this: In any situation where an attempt is being made to abduct you or someone dependent upon you for protection, your all-around wisest tactical imperative is to get away as soon as humanly possible. This applies even when the abductor is armed or when there is more than one and you may be given the absurd assurance that “If you do what I say you won’t get hurt!”
An abduction will not likely take place with machine-gun-armed guards standing by (although it could). More likely, it will be one or more SOBs armed with a firearm or a knife. And while it may seem tempting and “reasonable” to comply with their demand, or remain non-resisting when they move to take you away, YOU MUST NOT DO THAT!
Two very general types of abduction attempts should be anticipated and prepared for:
- A situation in which you may find yourself suddenly attacked with the determination to forcibly control you and get you into immediate enclosed captivity and away from the initial scene of the attack.
- A situation where you are approached by one or more scumbags and – almost invariably with a gun being pointed at you – ordered to go with them now to where they wish to take you. (The situation I alluded to earlier with that unfortunate woman being snatched off the street in broad daylight in Manhattan, is an example of a category “1” type of abduction).
When a type “1” attempt is made, the only recourse that might save you is immediate violent reaction and lots of loud, piercing noise – a reaction akin to that which might be expected if you attempted to jump, seize, and subdue a Bengal tiger in its prime.
React with killing force! Best is to go for the abductor’s eyes or throat. Growl loudly and yell as you attack. Bite into his face, if possible, and rip a chunk of his flesh off! Move! Resist! Fight hard! Unarmed combat ability of at least a fundamental kind is all but mandatory. Smash into your attacker with open, edge-of-hand blows to his neck, face, temple area. With the bottom edge of your clenched fist, smash the bridge of his nose, jaw, temple. Grab and rip off the abductor’s ears. If you can, stomp hard down his shinbone and crush the arch of his foot while attacking his face. Knee him in the testicles if you are very close and he is facing you.
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack… and deal with the scumbag with a frenzied drive to murder him! If you fail, and if he succeeds, what is left of your life may well be a horrific, torturous nightmare, ended only by your death! Remember: It is so important that an abduction be prevented, it literally does not matter if the kidnapper is killed or maimed in the process of stopping him.
When a type “2” attempt is made, there will be an approach and there will be some moments of interaction. During this interlude (during which you had better think fast and act quickly and convincingly), you want to FEIGN COMPLIANCE. You likely will not have to feign fear, since if you don’t feel afraid you doubtless have some loose screws somewhere!
You must not allow yourself to be handcuffed, tied up, put in the trunk of a vehicle, or taken aboard an aircraft or vessel. Act initially as though you were absolutely compliant and obedient to the abductor’s demand… then:
Shout loudly! And, if he is unarmed, strike immediately for his throat or eyes. Then stomp on his knee and kick him in the head and face when he falls. Then escape!
If a weapon is pointed at you: Act compliant and submissive. Then – as you shout – suddenly knock the weapon aside, attack the scumbag’s throat or eyes, and get the hell out of there – fast!
Yes, I know. But if this bastard has a weapon that, at the moment for whatever reason he hesitates to use, you at least have a good chance of surprising him and getting away. Do you think your chances of survival and escape will improve if he successfully abducts you?
I realize that readers of any article on self-defense prefer to read feelgood bullshit about what magical results they can achieve if only they train in such-and-such a “system” (which the charlatans happen to be peddling).
Folks, I have been in this field – immersed in this field – since the late 1950s. I learned from the best of the best, and I have been privileged, over the decades, to train many who I would say are also “the best of the best.”
Like my friend Gerald Celente (whom I regard as a National Treasure), you will get only the truth from me, and to the very best of my knowledge, training, research, and experience, that which really does work and which makes sense.
Isn’t that what you want?