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Michael Rust
Michael Rust's picture
One Punch Attacks & Awareness

I just read this article over the weekend. It goes to show how deadly one punch can be especially when taken by surprise. It also confirms how important awareness skills and training really are. Most of the vicitims in this article recieved life altering injuries and will never be the same from these random attacks. Apparently there have been close to 10 attacks that have taken place in the downtown Vancouver area in Canada the last couple of months.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/witnesses-sought-in-one-punch-attack-that-left-man-with-brain-injury-1.2675799

Ian H
Ian H's picture

"... men in their 20s who had had too much to drink."

Key phrase from the report.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

This older thread has some related information and videos::

http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/consequences-unprovoked-attack-and-su...

To me, this brings home the importance of having a “hight threshold for violence” i.e. it’s never something we engage in unless we truly have no other option. Violence has very serious physical, legal and emotional consequences and engaging in because of things like a lack of self-control, delicate egos, intoxication, etc is likely to end in disaster for all involved.

We need a wider skill set so we have non-physical options when it comes to avoiding the actions of others (i.e. deescalation, awareness, avoidance, good personal security habits, etc.), and we need to understand the reality of violence such that we would only engage if it is truly the only way to keep ourselves and others safe from the unprovoked violence of others.

Coincidentally, my local news contains a story about a drunken single punch which ended the life of the recipient: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-35009197

One punch, a life ended, and the puncher “shocked by the consequences of his actions” and getting jail time as a result. 

All the best,

Iain

Michael Rust
Michael Rust's picture

It's quite sad. Maybe more education in the school system is required ? Maybe, people don't understand the consequences of violence and the damage strikes to the head and certain vital area's can actually do to someone ? Especially when it's by surprise.  In the case of people randomly attacking people in such a vicious manner to me the that says they have no regard for human life. Obviously, your dealing with a larger issue there. These people are not thinking straight and have other major issues they don't value human health. That's all I can conclude from such senselessness.  But that's just my personal view.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Michael Rust wrote:
It's quite sad. Maybe more education in the school system is required ? Maybe, people don't understand the consequences of violence and the damage strikes to the head and certain vital area's can actually do to someone ? Especially when it's by surprise.  In the case of people randomly attacking people in such a vicious manner to me the that says they have no regard for human life. Obviously, your dealing with a larger issue there. These people are not thinking straight and have other major issues they don't value human health. That's all I can conclude from such senselessness.  But that's just my personal view.

I’d agree with all of that. I’d also suggest that movies and sport probably add to the misconception too. I don’t want always “realism” in my entertainment so I’m OK with the hero taking multiple punches to the head before shaking it off and knocking the bad guy to the floor with the same. I know that’s not reality, but maybe some don’t. The movies also don’t have the good guy hauled off to jail for manslaughter when he gets his vengeance or otherwise acts likes a total “bad ass”. Again, I’m OK with that because it’s entertainment, but maybe it unintentionally misleads the uninitiated and unexperienced?  

Combat sports may also adding to the mix because in them people take multiple blows to the head and are normally totally OK. The fact they are highly trained, have gloves and gum shields, have a soft landing on the mat or canvas (way softer than concrete), and have highly trained medical personal feet away may get overlooked?

People probably don’t realise the seriousness and reality of violence, and hence are too willing to engage in it.

Entertainment and sports are great and I’m not saying they are in any way to “blame”, but it may add to the confusion and that’s why I think the campaigns that educate about the reality are so valuable. One punch can kill. So we need to avoid throwing punches out of ego, drink, bravado, etc.

All the best,

Iain