Kinda bummed today...

[cgallery]

I agree with the other comments.

I think you've got to put the idea that you could have done anything differently out of your mind. You certainly don't want to be questioning yourself if something like this ever happens again!

Any by the way, the fact that you were there, at that time, may have prevented some pretty young thing from getting mugged or worse. If you're religious, the Lord works in mysterious ways. If you aren't, the universe does.

[smorris]

It was a teachable moment, you supplied him with an education. Nothing to feel bad about.

[Raffi]

Sleep easy my friend. You could have just saved someone's life by making this thug think twice...

He got off easy.

[bigstick509]

Loosing control of ones temper is disconcerting, I do not like doing it myself. You might find a small amount of solace in the thought that he might have been even worse off if you had access to the gun.

I always believe people get what they deserve. I'd probably try to think of it something like you just made delivery of some well deserved karma, and that slightly loosing control was the only way to carry it out.

As the years go by the old phrase "what goes around comes around " , becomes more relevant.
I have yet to see anything that has not been taken care of in my personal experience.
Call it he "golden rule" or what have you, living by it has never steered me wrong.

[Knottscott]

I can't help but wonder if what you're really feeling is sadness for what's occurred in this guy's life to lead him to such deplorable actions. We can only pray that this lesson doesn't go to waist...seriously, this could be a turning point for him....something that could change his life for the better. Time to make some lemonade. All we can do is trust....

[Wood_workur]

Anyone who attacks/tries to attack another person, especially with a weapon, is lucky to leave in anything other than the coroner's van.

Adrenaline does crazy stuff. Once you get the rush, you fall back to instincts and any training you may have had. Nothing else you can do except ride it out. What you did worked out well, and you don't know that if you gave him any less if you would have ended up with a knife in your chest. Darn good outcome if you ask me.

[chopnhack]

I'm glad you were uninjured Uncle C....I guess remorse comes naturally if you felt that you were in complete control of the situation, however, just like in combat your never really in complete control.

[Uncle Cracker]

I can't help but wonder if what you're really feeling is sadness for what's occurred in this guy's life to lead him to such deplorable actions.

Not really worried about what's going on in his head or life, although it's a noble sentiment. I'm being introspective. I'm really evaluating what's going on with me.

In some Japanese martial training, there exists the concept of masakatsu agatsu (literally "true victory is self victory"). It's something I've always tried to keep in my mind as I trained, and pass on to those whom I have instructed. I even have those words embroidered on some of my uniforms. The essence of it is that you gain control over others in a confrontation by first controlling yourself. By letting my emotions fly and beating up on a considerably overmatched adversary, I turned my back, if only for a moment or two, on the very principles that I value.

Yes, I'm glad the guy got what was coming to him, and I hope he learned a lesson (Lord knows, he should have), but it seems I'm the one that has some learning left to do.

I thank all you guys for lending your supportive ears. It means a lot.

[jackellis]

I've never had to deal with a situation like the one you describe, but I'll offer a couple of thoughts.

I don't have the skill or quickness to fight someone like this so I probably would have handed over the goods. I also don't carry a pistol because I've never felt it would do any good.

I don't blame you for beating the guy up but it probably would have been sufficient to disable him until the law came along. Anything more than that is taking vengeance.

For some of these guys, taking a beating may be a badge of honor more than a deterrent. Especially in south Florida.

[herb fellows]

While in retrospect you feel you could have done less damage, there is no reason to assume that's right. If you had let up and he came back at you unexpectedly, you might not be the one telling the tale now.
Using too much force is the second worst thing you could do; using too little would have been the first.

[Larryl]

I agree with the other posters, think of yourself (with martial arts training) as a 250# bomb when someone trips your firing pin you can't explode just a little.

[master53yoda]

The only thing that i would have to deal with in the circumstances was how long did you beat on him after he was down, being down isn't not necessarily when he started to whine, to me down is when they aren't going to get back up in the next 5 minutes or get a different weapon that i couldn't deal with.

Don't worry to much, there is such a thing as righteous anger when protecting our families and you are part of your family, and when it is used it cleans house.

[BrazosJake]

Maybe you saved his life. Had you handed over your wallet, his next victim mighta had their glock in reach. A good pounding followed by some jail time may persuade him to reconsider his career choice.

[4estgump]

Uncle Craker,
I was 101st Airborne Ranger, spent 3 tours over there. Your mind should be free of bad thoughts! More people should start doing this, and even more. (Kill Them). If this starts to happen they will have second thoughts about this and home invasions. Good for you.
Keep the faith.
4estgump

[Cubsfan]

I don't blame you for beating the guy up but it probably would have been sufficient to disable him until the law came along. Anything more than that is taking vengeance.

This. It's only self defense until the other guy can't put up any more offense. After that you become the attacker.

I also don't think that the reasoning of "he could have got a bigger weapon" is valid. That thinking can go to very scary places quite quickly.