Dealing with a predator with a teen girl

Here is real life story of a father, who is also an instructor of Instinctive Krav Maga in the Lyon area. His daughter is one of his students.

Children Instinctive Krav Maga class

My 14-year-old daughter L. returned from school as usual. Upon arriving at the bus stop, she noticed an individual she had seen several times on the bus getting off at the same stop. This caught her attention because, unlike other days, this man had never gotten off at this stop before. After leaving the stop, L. still had to walk alone for about five to ten minutes to reach our home.

She quickly realized that the man was starting to follow her from behind. At first, she was puzzled, but the unease grew, and she began to walk faster, keeping an eye on him to monitor his actions. As the situation felt more uncomfortable, L. decided not to take any chances and immediately called my wife to explain what was happening. Understanding the potential danger, my wife quickly left the house to meet her and check on the situation.

As she approached L., my wife confronted the man in a firm tone, asking him why he was following our daughter. Upon hearing my wife’s voice approaching, the man seemed to panic. He didn’t respond and, rather than explaining himself, he abruptly turned around and walked away without saying a word. He appeared to want to avoid any confrontation.

On her part, my daughter had taken precautions. She knew that if she felt in danger, she might need to run to safety. She was also ready to defend herself, having considered the possibility of striking the man between the legs if necessary to protect herself. While the situation was terrifying, my wife’s quick intervention helped diffuse the threat without it escalating further.

This experience was a real shock for my daughter, who, although prepared to react, understood how important it is to stay vigilant in situations where one might feel threatened. Thankfully, my wife’s prompt action helped to alleviate the danger, but it serves as a reminder to all of us about the importance of safety and awareness, even in everyday situations like the walk home.

What to take away from this experience?

Educating to anticipate danger as parents

As parents, we want the best for our children. Sometimes, we lack the knowledge and experience on certain topics. Yet, the news reminds us daily of the dangers we might face. Discussing these issues with our children will help them anticipate potential risks.

Educating to anticipate danger as instructors

For parents who may not have the skills to teach their children how to protect themselves, the logical next step is to enroll them in our classes. This is what motivated me to share this knowledge through a book titled "Krav Maga for children: How to educate children to protect themselves ?" Children face different challenges than adults, and it is IMPERATIVE to train them properly, as children are not miniature adults. Unfortunately, many self-defense instructors or Krav Maga teachers do not take these fundamental differences into account.

Securing YOURSELF

The key phrase is to SECURE YOURSELF! This situation was quickly identified as abnormal. In such circumstances, stress can wipe out any analytical abilities, and thus, decision-making. Only proper training can prepare someone to face this risk.

More information on these subjects:

"Krav Maga for children: How to educate children to protect themselves ?"

"Krav Maga for children: How to educate children to protect themselves ?"