What could a 6'2" 250 pound MMA fighter from the suburbs of Chicago and a little 13-year old girl from the suburbs of Detroit have in common? They both faced danger and came out of their potentially life threatening situations unscathed, but there is more to it than that.
A few weeks ago the MMA expert was sitting in his car on Chicago's southwest side when a man approached asking for a light only to end up pulling a gun and attempted to rob him, and just a few days ago a 13-year old girl was home alone when two men invaded her home.
What technique did they both use to survive their encounters with their assailants?
1) The MMA fighter did everything he could to avoid being shot.
3) When told to get out of the car he did. Due to his military training, which included hostage rescue, he was able to stay calm and focused on the task at hand.
5) The two men wrestled on the ground and during the fight, Miranda accidentally discharged his gun, shooting himself in the ankle, police said.
Many people make a point of his MMA experience, but is that what really made the difference? They don't usually teach gun disarms during MMA training.
Now lets look at what the 13-year old girl did when two men entered her home through the attached garage and started ransacking her home.
1) She was home alone watching TV in her bedroom when she heard the doorbell ring, but she was taught never to answer the door if alone.
2) The men entered the home through the attached garage. She peeked downstairs and saw a man going through the family belongings. She grabbed her cell phone and called 911.
3) She attempted to hide under the bed, but didn't fit so she stayed low and crouched near her nightstand, keeping still and remaining quiet.
4) One of the men entered the room but failed to see her. She remained quiet and when he left she explained to the 911 operator what was going on, which helped police nab the suspects soon after they left her home.
5) She didn't panic. She listened to her father's advice that he probably gave her on more than one occasion. He told her to “stay calm now, panic later”
She didn't have to physically defend herself as the MMA fighter did, but she did exactly as he did in that she followed her training, "Dad's advice" and stayed calm.
1) What training do you have to help you stay calm in these types of situations? Have you ever taken a Personal Safety/Self-Defense Class?
2) How aware are you of your surroundings?
3) Do you know what to look for in order to avoid dangerous people and places?
We can't all be former military or MMA Fighters, but we don't have to be. Just look at Chloe Symington, the 13-year old girl who stayed calm and stayed safe.
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