Taking the Right Action

Let’s cut to the chase—hand it over. There’s no shame in it. Yes, we’ve all heard the stories: senior citizens grappling with bag snatchers, have-a-go heroes tackling bike thieves. But for every tale of bravery, there are headlines like this: ‘Three hurt in City of London phone-snatch stabbings’ (BBC, 2022). Reality check—resistance often escalates violence. Let hope our PPP strategy (Pride Swallowing, Pre-Planning and Payback) can convince you to prioritise and stay safe.

Pride Swallowing

If it’s your first time being robbed, your body’s natural reaction will likely take over before your mind has a chance to catch up. That sharp, involuntary gasp as the situation sinks in. Some people freeze in disbelief; others overreact, lashing out and risking everything over something replaceable. These responses aren’t failures of character—they’re the result of adrenaline and cortisol hijacking your system, triggering your fight-or-flight instincts.

When Ego Takes the Wheel
The ego loves to meddle, especially with young men. It whispers: Why should they take my stuff? Why should they get away with it? Then it gets louder: What will people think of me? My dad will call me weak. My mates will say I’m a coward. My girlfriend will think I’m a wimp. These thoughts can sting more than the robbery itself.

But here’s the truth—and I speak as someone with 40 years of martial arts experience: getting home safely to my wife and daughter is my top priority. Not my pride. Not proving I’m tough. Safety first, ego later.

Once you’re safe, you can channel your frustration and anger productively. Let those emotions fuel your exercise, sharpen your training, and energise your preparation. Later in this blog, I’ll share a payback strategy that will help you regain control and feel empowered again. But remember this: no possession is worth your life.

Pre-Planning

If someone tried to steal an empty crisp packet from you, would you fight back? Of course not—your mind immediately recognises there’s no value in it. But a mobile phone is no crisp packet, and criminals know it. Phones are goldmines for thieves, not just because of their resale value but because of the personal data and banking apps they contain.

Here’s the reality:

Criminals can make far more money by hacking your identity than by selling your phone.
Razor blades taped to fingertips to slice open bags, electric scooter snatch thefts, and knife-wielding gangs are all tactics on the rise.
The 45–54 age group is the most targeted demographic, with high-value handsets being particularly at risk.

But here’s the good news: you can make your phone as worthless as a crisp packet. Here’s how:

Automate Cloud Backups
Set up automatic syncing to the cloud (Google, iCloud, or similar). This ensures that all your precious photos, videos, and data are stored securely. With instant backups, you’ll never lose a thing—even if your phone is stolen.
Get Mobile Insurance
Take out separate insurance for your phone. The cost varies based on the phone’s value, but even the latest Apple iPhone can be covered for as little as £5.99 a month, or less if you pay annually. Knowing your phone is insured gives you peace of mind and makes it easier to part with in a robbery.
Set Up a ‘Remote Wipe Buddy’
This is essential. Memorise your buddy’s mobile number—whether it’s your partner, parent, or close friend. If your phone is stolen, borrow a ‘sympathetic’ stranger’s phone or race home to call your buddy. They’ll help you log in and wipe your device remotely, making it useless to the thief. The quicker you act, the better. Set this up now by following simple guides online (but don’t hit “wipe” during testing!).
Rethink When to Wear Expensive Items
For high-value belongings or irreplaceable heirlooms, think carefully about when and where you wear them. Reserve them for occasions where you’ll be in crowded, well-lit areas with others.

Pre-planning is all about reducing the value of what thieves can take. The less attached you are to your possessions, the easier it is to prioritise your safety when it matters most. Remember, nothing you own is worth more than your life.

Payback

What are the odds your mugger will be caught? Admittedly, the media doesn’t paint a hopeful picture, and the absence of “Bobbies on the beat” makes it seem like the odds are in the criminals’ favour. But resigning ourselves to this won’t drive change. Technology is rapidly advancing, giving us tools like CCTV, facial recognition software, and AI-driven monitoring to level the playing field. However, these tools are only as good as the information the public provides. That’s where you come in.

The Power of Observation
Pride swallowing isn’t just about giving up your possessions safely—it’s about redirecting your energy towards capturing crucial details that could help catch the criminals. Discreetly focus on observing and remembering as much as you can about your attacker. Here’s a simple exercise: next time you’re on the bus or train, practice noticing details about the people around you. Without making it obvious, dip your head slightly and do a quick recon of their features—hair colour, height, build, distinctive clothing, scars, tattoos, or anything else that stands out. Once they’re out of sight, see how many details you can recall.

London alone has around 1 million CCTV cameras, but only a fraction are connected to the Met Police’s monitoring systems. The faster you can provide an accurate, detailed description to the police, the better their chances of locating the criminal.

What to Report
Even if you didn’t see a weapon, chances are the mugger implied they had one, sometimes referred to as a “blade” or “shank.” Let the police operator know along with your detailed description, the direction they ran off towards, along with any street names, and emphasise how the crime only occured a few minutes ago, might increase the operators efforts to get the information to police in that area.

Team Effort
If the mugger isn’t caught immediately, don’t lose heart. Criminals often repeat their offences, and every detailed report contributes to a bigger picture. Your information, combined with other reports, could eventually lead to their capture. And who knows—you might even get the chance to identify them in a police line-up.

Take the Win
Even if justice takes time, take heart in what you’ve achieved. You gave up your items without risking your life. You called your remote wipe buddy in under five minutes, rendering your phone data inaccessible to the thieves. Your insurance replaced your device, and your cloud backup restored all your data.

You stayed safe, acted smart, and contributed to the fight against violent crime. That’s how you win the long game.

Is there ever a situation where you should fight back?

You’ve handed everything over, including unlocking your phone—a grim but increasingly common demand as criminals seek immediate access to banking apps and personal details. Even in this situation, it’s still not worth risking your life. Remember, banks will refund your losses as long as you file a crime report, and your remote wipe later will mitigate further damage.

However, if the situation begins to escalate—if the robber hesitates despite having everything, appears agitated or unstable, or if an accomplice is pushing them to take things further—it might be time to prepare for a worst-case scenario. This could be the moment when a life-threatening situation arises, and you may have no choice but to fight for your survival.

How to Fight Back in a Last-Resort Scenario
If you sense that things are about to turn truly dangerous, act decisively. Your goal is not to “win” the fight but to create an opportunity to escape. Here’s what to do:

Target the Throat: Use a sharp chop to the front of the throat. A focused strike here can disrupt their breathing and incapacitate them. (Only use if defending your life, NOT for settling a petty grievance)
Strike the Side of the Neck: Using the heel of your palm, deliver two or three strikes to the side of the neck as hard and fast as you can. This area contains sensitive nerves that can stun your attacker.
Run Like Hell: As soon as you’ve created an opening, don’t hesitate—get away as fast as you can. Your priority is to get to safety, not to engage in a prolonged struggle.

Preparing for the Worst with Mu-shin
At Mu-shin, we offer both online and in-person self-defence courses designed to help you maximise your body’s speed and power. We teach you how to focus your strikes on high-probability targets like the throat and neck, ensuring that even under extreme pressure, you can defend yourself effectively.

We also train you to tap into what’s known as hysterical strength—a phenomenon where your body accesses extraordinary power in moments of life-or-death urgency. These techniques, combined with smart decision-making, can give you the tools to save your life when there’s no other option.

The bottom line: being smart, staying calm, and making the right decisions will save your life. But if you’re forced to fight back, don’t hold back—strike with everything you have, focus on escaping, and trust yourself to get home safe.