“A lot of people hypothesize what they would have done, or whether they would have been able to take on the attacker. But it's if you are brave enough in that moment and it's much easier said than done. The fact that Stephen had that courage when he only had a split-second decision to make is so admirable.”

These are the words of Astrid, a young woman who was on board the train in which a man armed with a knife ran amok. She witnessed passenger Stephen Crean face up to the attacker in an attempt to protect her and other passengers. What he and crew member Samir Zitouni did was selfless and undoubtedly prevented others being harmed.

Two men who made the decision to fight and protect others

Stephen Crean suffered serious injuries to his head and hands. He was simply trying to get home after watching a football match. Samir Sitouni was also very seriously injured was in a coma for more than a week. He was on the train as part of the catering crew, there to do his job. Both men acted instinctively and without thought for their own safety. They were incredibly brave and heroic without a doubt.

What happened on that train showed the difference two ‘normal’ people can make. Many more passengers might have been hurt or killed if it wasn’t for the actions of these individuals (not to mention the train driver whose quick thinking meant the train could be diverted and stopped at a platform, where emergency services could then take control).

Fight or flight – is it cowardly to run?

Where one person will turn and face an attacker, others will run – fight or flight is an instinct, it’s about survival and running away shouldn’t be considered a weakness. Look at the teacher who was caught up in the Southport dance class attack. Despite being stabbed, her instinct was to shield the children and get them away from the attacker. Another teacher kept a child safe in a bathroom. Nobody could ever accuse them of being cowards.

Knife crime is impacting on everyday life

A few days before the train incident, a man was stabbed to death on a street in Uxbridge. He just happened to be walking his dog past an altercation between several people. And then, just days later, a woman died after being stabbed in an unprovoked attack – she was simply waiting at a bus stop.

Without wishing to sensationalise such incidents, violent and senseless knife attacks are, sadly, becoming more commonplace. And we are seeing a rise in members joining Krav Generation classes because they do not want to live their lives in fear.

Krav Generation gives you confidence

Confidence is what we’re all about. Confidence to travel on public transport, confidence to walk along a street, confidence to know what to do if you’re unfortunate to be faced with danger. And that confidence can look different every time – it could be knowing effective self-defence techniques to avoid injury or it might be situational awareness, knowing which way to run or where to hide.

Most of our students will go through life without ever needing to use their skills in a real situation. But just the fact that they are armed with good knowledge of self-defence is empowering.

Why not join us for a free trial session soon? Everyone is welcome and you’ll find us a friendly and supportive group!