my security experience
i have been training in my uncles martial art using katanas... i know some offensive and defensive moves. since i am a novice. he only gave me a red wooden sword katana as my practice sword. my uncle gave me a few lessons (3 weeks span) everyday after morning shift in Richmond.
i named my wooden oak sword called the guardian. and i put my guardian next to the passenger side of the seat.
it was my 5th week shift as security guard
it was day shift at a construction site as a security guard at the most dangerous part of california called Richmond...the assignment is unarmed
the mission here is to protect the property of the construction site. do not let any one tresspass. and most of all protect yourself and call the police if the life is in jeopardy.
at the strike of 13th hour (1:00 pm) a man that is hispanic decent approached the open gates or my post. as he approached my post. i told him with a soft meekly voice, I'm sorry sir, but we dont let anyone pass through here. the only way to get to the other side of the road is to go around the construction site."
he didnt agree so he pushed me back and said something in spanish...
he grabs one of the stick at the rubble near the gates and takes a vertical swing aiming at my head..
i ducked/sidestep and ran back to my car which is parked near at the gates... and take a hold of my guardian.
the mad man slashes with another vertical hit and parried his attack with my guardian and i slashed him with a quick horizontal swings hitting his arm and shoulders which made him drop the stick..
as he drops the stick he screamed in spanish and runs back to the adjacent street next to the construction site.
i hid behind the gates and peered at the adjacent street and saw that there were 3 other men walking towards my post and i heard a fire cracker like sound (pak pak pak) followed by rickoche sounds of bullets.
i had a choice either to be foolish and make a stand and fight,
call the police and get caught that i used a contraband weapon( guardian katana sword) as security (security guards cannot use weapons other than batons or issued guns) or flee from death and quit the job...
determined to save my life. i ran to the car and started the ignition and drove off towards the back of the construction site.
the next day...
the security manager called me why i wasnt on duty...i didnt reply. i hang up the phone. a few minutes later, he said to come to the office. we will discuss why is there a vandalism at the construction site.
i replied saying "ill be there in the office 15 minutes."
as i arrived at the security office, the manager told me... jason... we are gonna have to let you go... due to abandonment of duties...
i didnt reply... i accepted my fate. i realize that i got no courage underfire.
when a person is scared or have high emotions during an event, the event seemed slow. the brain will pickup every details of the event and the memory of the event will be stored in the long term memory bank part of the brain.
as i recall this experience... i tremble in fear with sweaty palms as i hold my guardian next to the passenger side whenever i drive my car.