Ro Malabanan encouraged those with martial arts training to intervene in violent incidents but to only subdue offenders
An MMA fighter has told how his “jiu-jitsu instincts just kicked in” after he witnessed a street assault in New York City.
Ro Malabanan – who has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a yellow belt in judo – was walking through the Manhattan shopping district on 27 July, on his way to his job as a boxing instructor, when he saw a man punch a construction worker.
Read more: MMA fighter praised by UFC stars for way he calmly and expertly defends himself in street fight
After checking to see if the victim was injured, the 44-year-old’s fighting instincts kicked in and he chased the suspect down before tackling him from behind.
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Posting about the incident on Instagram, Malabanan explained: “My jiu-jitsu instincts just kicked in. I jumped on his back.
“He tried to swing me off then – but for those of you in the know – a seatbelt position dragged him down to the floor, and I immediately took his back and pinned him to the ground.”
Malabanan continued: “Out of nowhere people were like ‘yeah this guy punched me in the face,’ ‘yeah this guy hit me,’ ‘this guy hit an old guy.'”
Video from the scene shows Malabanan pinning the man to the ground while also using his phone. Two officers then arrive to apprehend the man as a crowd watches on.
Samuel Frazier, 28, of no fixed address, was charged with two counts of assault.
According to the New York Post, Malabanan has lived in the city since immigrating from the Philippines at the age of nine.
The martial artist went on to implore people to stay safe as there are a “lot of crazies out in the street”.
“They will sucker punch you, they will take out their frustration.
“It’s hot in New York right now, so temperatures equals hot heads and some people out there just looking for a reason to just cause trouble.
“For those of you that are in the martial arts – stay frosty, do your part. Make sure that you don’t punch him or kick him or anything to turn it more violent, but if you can subdue him somehow and wait for the cops to get there, that’s probably the best situation.
“Everyone else, just please stay aware. Stay safe everyone.”
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