Let me start off my saying a few things: 1) I am OK, 2) I have to be careful in what I saw because this is an active case and I don’t want to mess anything up for the local LEOS, 3) the local LEOS and conference center security officers have been great getting on top of this as it appears I was not the first encounter of the day with this guy.

Situational awareness and a Shivworks Clinch Pick 2.0 and a buddy I was with kept things from getting worse than what they could have been. I bought this knife a few weeks ago aft realizing that if I ever needed to deploy a blade in short order I didn’t want to mess with opening anything. I hate downtown densely populated areas and this just reinforces that attitude towards them. I know I’m rambling, just needs to get some thoughts out or at least the ones I can, but definitely not the ones I want to.

Stay safe fellas and gals! Travel with a buddy if you can.

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UPDATED 7 May 2022
Sigmonkey, thank you! You get it. Unless you have been though something like this, you just don't.

I'm back home now, I was in San Antonio, TX all this past week for work convention. My first time there too so I was really looking forward to it. I have a friend or two who live there and love it. I've traveled all over the USA for work and with my family, trying to stay away from undesirable places whenever possible. I've even been to places like Mozambique and South Africa where I NEVER felt secure.

You all want to know what happened. I can tell you what I saw, but I cannot tell you what all happened, because I did not see it all for what will be obvious reasons.

A buddy and I were leaving the convention center for lunch, our first 24 hours in town so we didn't have a clue where anything was at. We go maybe 1/4 to 1/2 block down the sidewalk and stop to look at the map on his phone. We are staying roughly in the middle of the the sidewalk and I look down the sidewalk and notice a guy coming our way some distance away. He didn't look like a threat to me. Dressed kind of odd, but we noticed quite a few of those in SA to I didn't pay it much mind.

We take a step left to stay out of his way and look back down at the map discuss which place to try for lunch. About this time, the next thing I know, my notebook, conference papers and his cell phone are all ripped out of my hand and something is yelled in Spanish and I begin to turn my head right and smack right in the face. My glasses went skidding across the concrete and I'm dazed for about 2 seconds.

Some yelling and shoving goes on between my friend and Spanish John Doe that I don't see.

My friend asked me if I was OK, I don't remember ever responding. I just remember looking his way and him saying your bleeding. I wiped my left hand across my face and see blood coming out my right nostril, I turn right, see my stuff all over the ground keep turning, see Spanish John Doe yelling crap and I've got tunnel vision like you won't believe. Everything else is tuned out except this guy. I had zero fear and I mean zero. I was 100% calm and focused on the threat and what to do next.

I don't know why, but I bent down to pick up my stuff and he started to come again and that is when I reached for my Clinch Pick. I never even pulled it out, just reached for it. I remember the guys eyes getting really big and I think my buddy saw me go for it too and yelled at the guy and he got me out of there.

Afterwards, my friend kept praising me for being so calm and saying there's no way he could have been and that I handled it right.

The whole encounter probably lasted 5 seconds or so. It is kind of hard for me to tell because when you are put in those stresser situations time seems to stand still.

Please keep in mind that this whole thing could have gone way south very rapidly if my friend had not been there for the assist immediately after I got hit. We have no idea if this guy had any concealed weapons on him or not, but we had to assume he indented us harm since it was an unprovoked attack.

The officers I spoke with were already looking for this guy for some work he had done just minutes before down the street. I can tell you we did notice a notable police presence the rest of the week in this area. However, I feel sorry for the officers too as they must be overwhelmed. I can't see how they wouldn't be.

Lessons Learned:
1) Recon: Know your area and what is around it before going out into it.

2) Plan: Make plans before leaving your venue and don't be a Stupid Tourist! I saw so many people doing this in SA it wasn't funny. The Violent Crime Stats for SA are very high regardless of the lies that are broadcast at the airport. I believe in the buddy system, someone will catch something you don't and vice versa. If nothing else they can call for help.

3) Weapon: Always carry one, two, or three and you better know how to use it. I switched to a fixed blade knife over any type of folder a few weeks ago after watching a John Lovell video on Warrior Poet Society by happenstance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jcsabolt2,

Hope they find the scum. Stay safe and aware.

I carry a pistol, a Karambit (fixed) and a lifelong history of "never again".

Avoiding situations and places likely to go south.

But, I do not live in fear.

If I ever feel the need to be "accompanied", I will have a talk with that person prior to the excursion.


Hope everything falls in your favor.


I am posting because those things fell in mine.

While I think I know what happened, can you actually describe the incident?

Let me guess.

It was the Amish again?

If so, I've mentioned their proclivity towards sucker punches a few times on this board.

I'm glad you're okay.

I don't know what else I can say about the person that sucker punched you except that he gets his just desserts.

Glad you're ok.
The last time someone laid hands on me the aftermath of which I probably wouldn't have come out on top if the law was involved. I prefer to settle my own problems in the natural way.

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
Stay safe fellas and gals! Travel with a buddy if you can.

And, depending upon the environment, not just any buddy.

Several years ago I was in the market for a particular thing. Somebody on FB Marketplace had what I wanted and the price was ok. Problem was: It was not in a particularly good neighborhood.

Luckily, I had a friend and coworker that would go with me, also had his CPL, and had U.S. Army Ranger training.

It was fascinating, sitting the car with him, awaiting the seller to show up. I think my situational awareness tends to be better than that of the average bear, but the details he noted and his situational awareness blew mine straight away.

Were you wearing a political hat or shirt supporting Trump/Republicans? And were attacked by a holier than though leftist who wanted to "punch a Nazi?

More background please.

I am glad you are well, but you didn't say hardly anything.

ditto sigmonkey

What do you need to be careful about OP? You didn't tell us anything.

OP states he encountered a less than stellar member of society.

BUT! As he...

A: Had a wingman he could trust, his head on a swivel, forethought to be prepared, was able to prevail in spite of some miscreant's shenanigans.

And B: carried defensive weapon for protection.

And C: Provides his anecdote, as food for thought, that others may benefit.


Yet, some Nancy's, piss and moan because the salacious diatribe is left out?


Yo, Ladies, TikTok is calling...

^^^ reminds me of "Inquiring minds want to know!"

The people have the right to know all the juicy details, dammit! Lol.

I carry an automatic ice pick wherever I can't bring one of my handguns.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--...Automatic-OTF--33177

Wow, this got weird. A couple nights ago, I was downtown at the conference center. A drunk guy grabbed my ass and I slugged him. He pulled a fixed blade knife on me and his buddy intervened. As I was getting the hell outta there, I saw him whining to security while rubbing his jaw. I'm not one to interact with local law enforcement.

Things that make you go hmmmnnnn.

Orlando?

quote:

Originally posted by L90814:
Wow, this got weird. A couple nights ago, I was downtown at the conference center. A drunk guy grabbed my ass and I slugged him. He pulled a fixed blade knife on me and his buddy intervened. As I was getting the hell outta there, I saw him whining to security while rubbing his jaw. I'm not one to interact with local law enforcement.