A Wake-Up Call From the Headlines
With so many heartbreaking stories emerging in recent years, this one struck especially close to home for me. I’m not going to soften the truth—what Ariana Kukors endured wasn’t the result of mental illness or the actions of a misunderstood individual. It was calculated, premeditated evil.
Years of grooming followed by ongoing abuse cannot be explained away. It must be exposed and stopped. As more survivors from the sports and entertainment worlds—like those in the cases of Jerry Sandusky, Larry Nassar, and Harvey Weinstein—step forward, I remain hopeful that justice will prevail and healing can begin.
As a coach entrusted with the safety of young lives, these revelations are the very reason I chose to train with Sensei Peter and Instinct Defense Academy. It’s my duty to be prepared—to prevent abuse, to protect those in my care, and to step forward when needed.
📰 MSN Coverage of the Case
The Everyday Impact: A Fall on Ice
Recently, I came across a Nextdoor post from someone in my neighborhood. Her elderly mother fell on the icy path behind Greenwood. While lying on the ground, clearly injured, a jogger passed by without even slowing down.
“PLEASE STOP AND HELP IF SOMEONE IS INJURED!”
She wrote—rightfully upset.
Thankfully, her mother had a phone and was able to call for help. But what if she hadn’t?
I replied:
“I’m glad to hear your mom is okay. Falls like that can be terrifying. I only hope the jogger didn’t notice, rather than choosing not to help.”
A Cautionary Reply—and a Revelation
One reply to my comment stuck with me:
“If you’re a woman jogging alone, and a man ‘falls,’ it might be safer to run past than to stop. We have to be careful.”
As a professional martial arts instructor who has taught women’s self-defense for years, this comment forced me to rethink my approach.
Yes, personal safety comes first. Yes, we should trust our instincts. But I also teach empowerment—and empowerment means not letting fear control your choices.
If I’ve done my job well, I hope that any woman who has trained with me would feel confident enough to assess the situation, trust her gut, and, if safe, offer help to someone in distress—even a man.
A Childhood Memory and the Power of Instinct
When I was 11 years old in Tahiti, I found myself unable to go home due to an abusive stepfather. I wanted to stay at my friend’s house, but it meant walking down a dark alley past a house with a vicious, unchained dog.
I waited under the streetlights until 1:30 AM, terrified to move—until a stranger pulled up in a car and offered to drive me anywhere I wanted. I almost said yes, but something inside me said run.
That alleyway wasn’t so scary anymore. I flew past the barking dog and made it to safety. My instincts saved me that night.
Good Intentions, Misunderstood Moments
Years later, I saw a car pulled over on Skyline Boulevard with emergency lights flashing, partially blocking traffic. Nobody stopped. I did.
But when I approached, the woman inside panicked, slammed on the gas, and nearly caused an accident. My heart broke. I was only trying to help.
In contrast, when I was 19, I stopped to help an older woman whose car had broken down. She gratefully accepted a ride and thanked me with the best home-cooked meal of my life.
What Are We Teaching?
I now wonder: Are the women who have taken my self-defense classes more or less inclined to help someone in need?
I hope the answer is more. Because true empowerment means not just defending ourselves—it means making the world around us safer.
That brings me back to one of my guiding principles:
“Everywhere I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.
Everywhere I am, anyone in need has a friend.
Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.”
It’s not just a creed. It’s a better way to live.
Final Thoughts
- Empowerment is about strength and compassion.
- Trust your instincts, but don’t lose your humanity.
- The world needs more good Samaritans—and more people trained to be ready when something goes wrong.
If you want to learn to protect yourself and others, I invite you to join us at Instinct Defense Academy.
Be strong. Be kind. Be the difference.
—Peter