U.S. National - AP
Ohio Teen Girl Tackles, Hogties Intruder
Sun Dec 15, 1:18 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - A petite 17-year-old girl awakened by intruders sprinted from her house barefoot in pajamas and tackled one trespasser, pinning and hogtying him for police.
Melissa Alexander said her experience training horses and playing soccer and softball helped her as she took down the taller and heavier 18-year-old man. Two others were arrested later, and police were looking for a fourth suspect.
"I still don't know what came over me," Alexander said Thursday. "I wasn't thinking at first, then he started making me mad."
Her mother marveled at the feat.
"She had it all under control," Vickie Stanley said of the 5-foot-3, 110-pound daughter she described as "a little bitty thing."
Police said the man Alexander tackled — Jason Burkett, of Brookville — is 5-foot-10 and 140 pounds.
Alexander told police she was asleep at 3 a.m. Tuesday in her German Township home about 15 miles southwest of Dayton when her cousin woke her, saying there were people in the yard snooping around the family's cars. The two alerted Stanley, who suggested turning the outside lights on and off a few times to scare away the intruders.
"Then I crawled back into bed," Stanley said.
But Alexander and her cousin still heard noises, so Alexander opened the garage door and saw men inside. They ran out, and she began the chase.
"I hit him pretty hard. But I think I also scared him," Alexander said.
She sat on Burkett and the other women brought her a lead line she uses to exercise horses. Alexander wrapped the lead line around Burkett's hand, then looped it around his neck and pinned him to the ground.
As he tried to wiggle free, she told him she acquired wrestling-type skills during her years of training horses.
Police arrived and were surprised at what they found.
"They shined the spotlight on the yard. I think they thought it was my stepdad who had the guy. They realized it was under control and walked up to the house. Then they saw it was me," Alexander said.
Police said that all four cars in the garage had been ransacked.
Burkett was charged with theft and criminal trespassing, police Chief W.L. Wilcox said. A 17-year-old boy and Trestan Stamps, 18, both of Brookville, who were arrested later, were charged with the same offenses, Wilcox said.
Alexander, a junior at Valley View High School, said the police asked her if she is interested in a career in law enforcement, but she said no.
"I just wanted to make sure they didn't get away," she said.
Thanks to Student for the article...Dana
Hog-tie Ryu
Moderator: Available
Re: Hog-tie Ryu
You're entirely welcome. It's always nice to be able to spread good news about good peoples' triumphs.Dana Sheets wrote:U.S. National - AP
Thanks to Student for the article...Dana
However....
Was this really the wisest course of conduct?
Did she even consider whether he was armed? A gun or knife could have changed the ending into a tragedy very easily.
Something to think about.
I still rejoice for her and have spread the story....
Murray/student
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Akil Todd Harvey
- Posts: 790
- Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: Tallahassee, FL
- Contact:
Seasons Greetings,
Talk about the benefits of cross training......
And was there potential danger? Sure was. Always is. Not trying to diminish the danger, but understand how folks act despite the danger (not always a good idea).
React first, rationalize later (think later).....your training will help, not perfect your reactions.
Peace & Blessings, & Be Merry,
ATH
Talk about the benefits of cross training......
And was there potential danger? Sure was. Always is. Not trying to diminish the danger, but understand how folks act despite the danger (not always a good idea).
React first, rationalize later (think later).....your training will help, not perfect your reactions.
Peace & Blessings, & Be Merry,
ATH
-
Akil Todd Harvey
- Posts: 790
- Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: Tallahassee, FL
- Contact:
Many of you may be busier filling stockings than posting here on this forum, and that's ok. Hope you folks are enjoying yourselves.
This particular topic is one that interestes me a lot.
As an American (36 years old), I am just old enough to have missed much of the soccer craze, yet young enough (or something) to be most in terested in the game of soccer.
Recently I moved to a new area of Los angeles. One of the first things I did was find the closest parks to my house where I frequently practice martial arts in the mornings, or go for walks in the afternoons to relax.
It cannot be underestimated how BIG soccer is in my new neighborhood. I live in a section of Koreatown that is heavily El Salvadoran (most hispanics in LA are mexican as you may well imagine). In the height of summer, practically every square inch of the park is being used to play soccer, games in every conceivable areas and some not so readily though of, dribbling, moms & dads showing their youngsters how to play, etc.
I have been attending games since the summer as a spectator, only occasionally participating; I am not only trying to imporve my soccer game, but also my spanish. As a beginner to the game, I am most interested in learning, but the crowd of regular participants are very highly skilled and the game they play is oh so very rough. A high percentage of the players are construction workers (day laborers), far from home, some live on the streets, in alleys, or in their bosses car park (not a garage, but a mere overhang, not much to block the wind).
Part of my interest in the game has been particularly the martial aspects of the game. Although strictly speaking, it is not a martial art, but then again, a rough game of soccer, I am finding is really good practice in things martial.
Let me tell you what happened when I went yesterday. I had no intention of playing, but wanted to go watch. Its getting pretty cold (compared to here, not where you folks are), so only the die hard players are out. The games that are played are main the really rough ones. Until my skill level picks up, I have been avoiding the more advanced games-my ball handling skills are pretty lame, although I can throw a pretty good block and defend a little. The place of the game is a small, fenced in pitch, with a few mud patches, a puddle or two, and not a hint of grass (other than the marijuana a few may be smoking).
The game is pick up soccer, with six people to a team. Once a goal is scored, the team that scored stays on the field and the a new challenger team, who has called, "Next" or "Nueva" will take the field against the presiding champs. The longer you stay on the filed, the more winded you get, so one way or another, as new legs are introduced into the game, it is more likely that the defending team will be ousted.
I saw four asian men, one of them was playing, and after talking to them, found that they were waiting in the wings for their chance to play and were looking for a fifth or sixth player; I did not want to play, but I was willing to help them get their chance. When the "next" opportunity came up, about 30 people took the field. I and a few others immediately came to the defense of the asians by stating that they had been waiting (esta esperando) and had called "next". I even was kind of saying, these guys wont last long, so give em a chance....also throwing in that they needed an extra player or two to fill out their roster.
It took at least five minutes of arguing between 10 to 20 of the people to to get the guys a chance to play. I was not the only one arguing on their behalf, and I pretty quickly got dragged into playing as well. I decided to take the goal, because despite all the balls that come flying at you at high speed, it is still the place I feel I can be most effective.
Like most of the others, I thought we would be out of there in less than five minutes. I surpised myself when I successfully blocked some serious shots on goal, stinging first my right wrist, then the left, taking some shin conditioning while taking the ball away from an opposing player, etc. My teammates' skill level also surprised both me and the everyone else there (they were good). They kept us in the game by keeping the ball downcourt much of the time and putting pressure on their goal. there were plenty of hard shots on goal from close and far away that really put me to the test.
I was starting to wonder if it was better to lose that match or to have to face a new team with fresh legs, and insght into our relative strengths. Fortunately, or unfortunately, our team scored a goal and after a few minutes of arguing (to a lesser extent and less furious), we were against a new team, younger and with much fresher legs. the shots on goal came quicker and faster, although not very many of them as our team soon landed an unexpected early shot on goal.
It happened so quickly that there was not yet a team ready for "Next" game. But before long, a team to face us was fielded, with some guys who were really awesome as well (I have been watching many of these guys since summer). One of my teammates, who was playing really good, but who was very winded, wanted to trade spots with me, him taking goal. I was reluctant, but said we could switch for long enough for him to catch his breathe. They scored on him before he could catch his breath and now I started to breathe a sigh of relief.
I often dont like to play because I dont like to lose, or I dont want to look foolish or be ridiculed. This is what keeps me from participating in a great number of situations. But, my lack of participation is, at this point, the one thing that prevents me from improving my skill level.
I did get laughed at yesterday, a few times, when I made some blunders that could have cost us the match a few times. I also got some praise (I deflected this by focusing on those who played with me and scored the goals and helped keep the ball away from the goal). Individual effort, but a team sport......
Soccer as martail art? What say you?
Dana, if I have gone too far on a tangent, or maybe I need to start a new thread, please let me know, I will gladly comply.
Best wishes for a happy holiday
ATH
This particular topic is one that interestes me a lot.
As an American (36 years old), I am just old enough to have missed much of the soccer craze, yet young enough (or something) to be most in terested in the game of soccer.
Recently I moved to a new area of Los angeles. One of the first things I did was find the closest parks to my house where I frequently practice martial arts in the mornings, or go for walks in the afternoons to relax.
It cannot be underestimated how BIG soccer is in my new neighborhood. I live in a section of Koreatown that is heavily El Salvadoran (most hispanics in LA are mexican as you may well imagine). In the height of summer, practically every square inch of the park is being used to play soccer, games in every conceivable areas and some not so readily though of, dribbling, moms & dads showing their youngsters how to play, etc.
I have been attending games since the summer as a spectator, only occasionally participating; I am not only trying to imporve my soccer game, but also my spanish. As a beginner to the game, I am most interested in learning, but the crowd of regular participants are very highly skilled and the game they play is oh so very rough. A high percentage of the players are construction workers (day laborers), far from home, some live on the streets, in alleys, or in their bosses car park (not a garage, but a mere overhang, not much to block the wind).
Part of my interest in the game has been particularly the martial aspects of the game. Although strictly speaking, it is not a martial art, but then again, a rough game of soccer, I am finding is really good practice in things martial.
Let me tell you what happened when I went yesterday. I had no intention of playing, but wanted to go watch. Its getting pretty cold (compared to here, not where you folks are), so only the die hard players are out. The games that are played are main the really rough ones. Until my skill level picks up, I have been avoiding the more advanced games-my ball handling skills are pretty lame, although I can throw a pretty good block and defend a little. The place of the game is a small, fenced in pitch, with a few mud patches, a puddle or two, and not a hint of grass (other than the marijuana a few may be smoking).
The game is pick up soccer, with six people to a team. Once a goal is scored, the team that scored stays on the field and the a new challenger team, who has called, "Next" or "Nueva" will take the field against the presiding champs. The longer you stay on the filed, the more winded you get, so one way or another, as new legs are introduced into the game, it is more likely that the defending team will be ousted.
I saw four asian men, one of them was playing, and after talking to them, found that they were waiting in the wings for their chance to play and were looking for a fifth or sixth player; I did not want to play, but I was willing to help them get their chance. When the "next" opportunity came up, about 30 people took the field. I and a few others immediately came to the defense of the asians by stating that they had been waiting (esta esperando) and had called "next". I even was kind of saying, these guys wont last long, so give em a chance....also throwing in that they needed an extra player or two to fill out their roster.
It took at least five minutes of arguing between 10 to 20 of the people to to get the guys a chance to play. I was not the only one arguing on their behalf, and I pretty quickly got dragged into playing as well. I decided to take the goal, because despite all the balls that come flying at you at high speed, it is still the place I feel I can be most effective.
Like most of the others, I thought we would be out of there in less than five minutes. I surpised myself when I successfully blocked some serious shots on goal, stinging first my right wrist, then the left, taking some shin conditioning while taking the ball away from an opposing player, etc. My teammates' skill level also surprised both me and the everyone else there (they were good). They kept us in the game by keeping the ball downcourt much of the time and putting pressure on their goal. there were plenty of hard shots on goal from close and far away that really put me to the test.
I was starting to wonder if it was better to lose that match or to have to face a new team with fresh legs, and insght into our relative strengths. Fortunately, or unfortunately, our team scored a goal and after a few minutes of arguing (to a lesser extent and less furious), we were against a new team, younger and with much fresher legs. the shots on goal came quicker and faster, although not very many of them as our team soon landed an unexpected early shot on goal.
It happened so quickly that there was not yet a team ready for "Next" game. But before long, a team to face us was fielded, with some guys who were really awesome as well (I have been watching many of these guys since summer). One of my teammates, who was playing really good, but who was very winded, wanted to trade spots with me, him taking goal. I was reluctant, but said we could switch for long enough for him to catch his breathe. They scored on him before he could catch his breath and now I started to breathe a sigh of relief.
I often dont like to play because I dont like to lose, or I dont want to look foolish or be ridiculed. This is what keeps me from participating in a great number of situations. But, my lack of participation is, at this point, the one thing that prevents me from improving my skill level.
I did get laughed at yesterday, a few times, when I made some blunders that could have cost us the match a few times. I also got some praise (I deflected this by focusing on those who played with me and scored the goals and helped keep the ball away from the goal). Individual effort, but a team sport......
Soccer as martail art? What say you?
Dana, if I have gone too far on a tangent, or maybe I need to start a new thread, please let me know, I will gladly comply.
Best wishes for a happy holiday
ATH
