Dear Mr. Degerberg,

After 3 ½ years of studying martial arts at the Degerberg Academy, I never thought that I would be writing you this letter or that I would ever have such a story to tell. What occurred on July 28, 2002 to me and my husband not only has changed my life forever, yet made me realize that the martial arts skills that I have learned from you can allow a person to actually take control of a situation.

To briefly recap the story, my husband Paul and I came home from a wonderful weekend visiting family in Michigan. The time was around 7:45pm; still light out and our street was bustling with people. We had a 3rd floor apartment, in Hyde Park near the Museum of Science and Industry, which contained a vestibule that was always open that led to a locked lobby requiring a key to enter. As Paul decided to go to the corner store, I went up to the apartment alone.

On Paul's way back from the store, he entered the vestibule of our apartment building. Two men were hanging out in the vestibule by the phone. Paul thought nothing of this and let himself into the lobby. Before the door could shut all the way, the two men rushed in behind Paul and put a gun to his back. (One man got in front of him while the man with the gun got behind him and pushed the gun into Paul's spine) Paul immediately gave them his wallet hoping that the wallet was all they wanted. Unfortunately, he was hit on the head with the butt of the gun anytime he tried to talk or stop and they forced him up to our apartment as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, I was in the apartment. (Paul figured that he would have a better chance fighting them off with me – 2 against 2 – plus he knew that I knew how to fight – that was his logic under duress)

I happened to be in the kitchen and I heard the door open and Paul call my name. I could tell he had fear in his voice. So I cautiously came around the corner and saw Paul standing there with a man standing behind him holding a gun to his back. I was stunned and immediately terrified. Then the 2nd man stepped into my view, walked right up to me, and looked directly into my eyes. Without thinking, I struck the man in the nose with a palm strike. Amazingly, everything I had learned from you really worked. I saw the man close his eyes, which would have been a perfect opportunity for me to continue a series of strikes. However, I was so shocked that I hit him and he was so shocked that I hit him, that we both sort of froze for a second. My striking also scared the man with the gun and caught him off guard, allowing Paul to turn around and struggle for the gun. Paul actually knocked the gun out of the home invader's hands, but Paul was a little too slow to get it back. They continued to struggle; like in a movie.

In my shock, I ran forward to help Paul, which I realize was a very big mistake, because the man that I hit was then able to get me into a choke hold. He stumbled back a bit, so I just dropped my weight causing us to fall – me falling on top of him. I got out of the choke, and he immediately stood up and ran towards the door. I finally caught my breath at this point and realized that I could start screaming, which is what I did, as loud as I could. I screamed the word HELP repeatedly, another mistake on my part. But that seamed to be the last straw for these two men. Their quiet robbery (or whatever they were planning to do) had gone terribly wrong. So the man with the gun, who was struggling with Paul, got to his feet and ran towards the door as well and both men fled the scene. The whole incident ended within 2 minutes.

We called 911 and that begins another interesting story, to be told at another time.

Paul and I realize that we are both very lucky and that we both made some crucial mistakes. However what amazed me is, just by knowing a few skills and having some instinct (definitely from my training) completely changed the outcome of the story. The two men were definitely scared and shocked and totally not expecting us to fight back. They wanted out of our apartment as much as we wanted them out of our apartment.

Thank you so much for all that you have taught me! One of the comments that I have heard from my Degerberg teachers over the years that really stuck with me during this incident, was: Do whatever you can do to get out of the situation - alive. Not only have you taught me to enjoy this incredible art and sport, but you have taught me knowledge that can be used to keep myself and my loved ones alive!

Thank you Sir.

Sincerely,
Jamie