13-Year-Old With Three Years of Jiu-Jitsu Training Fought Off a Man

On May 6, 2025, a 13-year-old girl was walking home from school in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, when a man stepped out from between two parked cars and attempted to punch her in the face. The girl, who had three years of jiu-jitsu training at the Carmel Youth Center, fought back: she punched him, locked his head, kneed him multiple times, spun him around, and threw him to the ground. During the takedown, she stepped on his foot - an action that reportedly caused him to break his ankle as he hit the pavement. She then ran home and contacted police. She was unharmed.

Her Instructor’s Response

Her instructor, Sensei Michael Blackburn, said the girl responded exactly as she had been trained. “We’re proud of her and she did exactly what she was supposed to do,” he told KSBW. “You have to fight in class like you’re going to protect yourself on the street.” Keith Padgett, CEO of the Carmel Youth Center, called her actions “a great story of survival.”

The Suspect Remains at Large

The Carmel Police Department issued a public sketch of the suspect: approximately 6 feet tall, muscular, and likely walking with an injury to his left foot. Authorities believed he may have been under the influence of an intoxicant at the time, though no firm conclusions were reached. No arrest had been made as of early June 2025. “We’re doing everything we can to figure out who this person is that’s responsible for what happened,” said Commander Todd Trayer of the Carmel Police Department.

The girl’s identity was not released, and her family requested privacy. The Carmel Police Department continued to seek tips from the public.

References: Girl, 13 Fends Off Attacker on Walk Home from School Using Jiu-Jitsu: ‘Broke His Ankle’ | California Teenage Girl Fends Off Attacker by Using Jiu-Jitsu | 13-Year-Old California Girl Fights Off Attacker Using Jiu-Jitsu | Carmel-by-the-Sea teen uses jiu-jitsu to escape attacker, suspect still at large | Teen girl uses jiu-jitsu to stop attacker; Carmel police seek suspect