~ Franco Scaramuzza
WHO: Franco Scaramuzza
WHAT: Fencing instructor foils robbery
WHERE: Nashville, Tennessee shopping center
WHEN: Sept 24, 2013
A feel-good story about a fencing coach who "foils" a robbery... too bad he used an "epee" and not a foil :-)
Fencing coach uses sword to foil robbery at Bellevue shopping center
Posted: Sep 27, 2013 7:41 PM EDT
Updated: Sep 27, 2013 7:47 PM EDT
Reported by Carley Gordon
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A fencing instructor foiled a robbery this week, and he was even dressed to do battle as he chased down the suspected thieves.
Franco Scaramuzza said he always tries to be aware of his surroundings, so when the crime unfolded right in front of him Tuesday in Bellevue, he knew he had one choice.
Scaramuzza was pulling into the shopping center near the corner of Highway 70 South and Old Hickory Boulevard when he saw two men use pepper spray against a couple, then steal a purse.
"The first thing that went through my head is somebody should do something, and that's when I got really upset and disappointed with myself, because I realized I had the opportunity to do something. And I didn't want to be a hypocrite who just tweeted about it," Scaramuzza said.
Scaramuzza then jumped out of his car, grabbed his fencing sword, called an épée, and started charging toward the suspects.
The good Samaritan said he's been training his whole life for moments just like this. And, as a fencing coach, he knows how to intimidate.
He had just finished practice Tuesday, so he was already on guard with the full outfit and épée in hand.
"I charged towards them, holding my épée up high, and, you know, yelling at them," he said. "I kept yelling throughout the entire thing. They completely panicked and dropped everything they stole and really took off."
Police showed up and caught the suspects within minutes. Michael Butt and Zachary Johnson are charged with robbery.
And Scaramuzza said he won this bout using the same lessons he teaches in fencing class.
"You have to overcome your own fears," he said.
And it only takes a split second to switch from defense to offense.
"You have to make decisions in a very quick amount of time," Scaramuzza said. "Fencing, you can do it without the weapon. It happens in your mind, and that's how you try to make the right choices."
Butt and Johnson remain jailed on $50,000 bond each. Johnson's girlfriend tells Channel 4 News her boyfriend didn't do it and contends police picked up the wrong guy.
My Takeaways:
- "Franco Scaramuzza said he always tries to be aware of his surroundings" - Do not be in "Code White" and oblivious to your surrondings ... Always be aware of your environment ... Environmental Awareness is essential.
- The good Samaritan said he's been training his whole life for moments just like this." & "You have to overcome your own fears," ... Fear Management - one way to deal with one's fears is to prepare/train as best you can and your preparation/training will take over when the time comes. Training "his whole life for moments just like this." helped tremendously. Wonder if he meant he visualized this scenario or if he used scenario training?
- Scaramuzza was lucky the would-be robbers were not armed with firearms.
- Food for thought: There were other options available to Scaramuzza instead of getting himself involved physically in foiling the robbery attempt.
- Calling 911/Police.
- Making noise and honking his car's horn to attract attention.
- Taking a picture of would-be muggers with his phone if he had a phone and/or phone with camera.
NOTES:
- My thanks to my friends Jimmy23 and Dylan T. for giving me the heads-up on this news!
- Copied from WSMV
- Photo credits: WSMV.com
If you liked this feel-good self-defense story, please check out these others:
- Frank Corti's story: 72 yr old former boxing champ vs young burglar with knife
- Former Army boxing champion, 71, floors 6ft 4in thug half his age after being punched in the face in attack
- Tomahawk-throwing champ scares off burglar in her home
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