03/06/2026
Punching people is not a thing to do lightly. A few weeks ago, just a few miles from our dojo a Baltimore County police officer threw two punches and killed a suspect. A classic case -- punch knocks the man down, he hits his head and that's what's fatal. (On top of a BAC that was approaching alcohol poisoning.)
This is why: 1. learning to fall safely is a key skill; 2. we wear headgear in sparring, it's more about protecting your head from the floor than from your opponent; 3. de-escalation is better than throwing hands.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released police body-camera footage showing Samuel “Big Sam” Brown Jr. swatting away a Baltimore County Police officer’s arm twice before the officer punches Brown twice in the face.