Self-Defense Zone: Crime Prevention & Self-Defense Forums

Snake Plissken · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 3

I recently had the occasion to go to Newark Airport to pick up my daughter and son in law who were returning home on a flight. When I got there I found the terminal in a semi lock down mode due to a security violation and possible terrorist activity. The departing flights had been evacuated and all the passengers were crowded into the terminal. Tempers were stressed and the possiblility of a terrorist on the site weighed heavily on my mind. I contacted my daughter on cell and after learning that the airport management were not allowing them to leave the plane, I sought out the safest location near the exit on the lowest level luggage pick up area, then set up a visual perimeter as a safety zone. Mentally taking note of the surroundings I made three discoveries:

1) I automatically was in a "red alert" level of awareness

2.) Many others in the terminal were in a state of confusion and denial.

3.) Those who were also in "red alert" were not panicking, but sought out safe areas.

The self defense strategy I used employed a multi level approach:

1.) Learn the area for escape routes

2.) Scan the area for potential threats, be it unruly crowds or a terrorist action

3.) Escape the area

4.) Physical resistance only to get to safety and prevent injury ( a right cross preferred)

Luckily after several hours I was reunited with my daughter and her husband and was able to leave the airport without any incident. While all went well, it just drove home the necessity of self defense training.

SafetyDuo · Registered User Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 36

Thanks for sharing the your story. It's great to have self defense training as you never know what situtation you could be in.
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Snake Plissken · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 3

Glad to be of help. The fact is that many people find themselves in danger when a review of the circumstances could have prevented them being vulnerable. It was amazing how many people were sitting on the floor on the most crowded sections of the terminal. Tempers were flaring up and the slightest incident could have triggered a stampede similar to the one in Wal Mart several years ago, which would have, most likely, been fatal to those on the floor. The area was more crowded than any football game or sporting event I have ever attended. The top two floors of the terminal were full of angry passengers who were evacuated from their plane, as well as others who were being prevented from entering a plane. The situation was poorly handled in my opinion, but it drove home the point that personal safety is more than martial arts and weapons training. I have studied martial arts for many years and am a retired Police Officer. But it was my crowd control and crowd movement training and experience that I used effectively that night.