Would you think am a coward for not fighting two robbers if I know how to fight?

[Anonymous]

I actually had the bad luck of running into this mess last year. One of them had a knife. Luckily it seemed all they wanted was money so I gave them my wallet.

Here is the irony:

I know how to disarm someone with a knife and more moves (not all but great enough to disable two at once) but I didn't use my skills. The issue is my then girlfriend (now fiancee) and her little nephew (then 9 years old) were with me. What if I had made defensive moves and it made things worse? What if I ended getting the move wrong in a moment of panic? Even if I ended up successfully beating them, what if they still hurt/kill her or the kid. I felt as if my hands were tied.

Part of me could've fought them but I chose not to. Would you think of me as a coward for not fighting them and handing them my wallet?

Updates

8 mo

I do believe if it were just me and the two robbers it would've been a different story.

[richardcory]

Well, consider the options.
You don't resist: They get your wallet and you spend several hours to a day getting new credit card and a drivers license and lose the little bit of money in your wallet

You fight back: Best case you beat the crap out of them. One left injured / disabled. Call the cops and they are arrested. You spend hours in police interviews, and then more hours testifying against them in court. The child sees ugly violence.

You fight back: Bad case. They are more skilled than you think and you get cut - maybe you don't bleed out but it may take months to heal, longer if the cut is deep. Maybe one grabs your girlfriend or the kid and threaten to cut her. Maybe they get angry and beat rape your girlfriend for good measure

You fight back: Worse case: Turns out one of them has a gun. People get shot, maybe the kid.

IMHO, its not worth risking violence over small amounts of money. I wouldn't fault you for fighting back, but I don't think its the best response

[Asker]

yeah I've analyzed all the other options and none of them were good. Like mentioned even in the case I were to beat them up and let's say I succeeded, there is a chance one of them could've pulled out his knife or shoot (who knows if they both had a gun too) my now fiance and the kid and killed them in the process. Then I would've been blaming myself for the rest of my life.

[Asker]

yeah I'd rather prefer losing objects of values (after all money comes and goes) than my loved ones.

[exitseven]

I really think you did the right thing. Street fights are not like you see in the movies. People fight dirty and one of those guys could have had a gun. If uour girlfriend or nephew got hurt you would feel bad. Even the cops would say to give up your money.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[Alli39]

Nope, totally fine. It's not your job to get involved with emergency situations. Besides, lives are always more important than stuff, so if the robbers were leaving without starting anything, literally the recommended practice is to do nothing (I mean, watch for identifying features, etc, but make no outward moves,) and call the cops afterwards.

[Asker]

Definitely. I'd rather lose some money and other valuables than loved ones.

[JackCarter]

Absolutely No
Doesn't matter even if you are Mike Tyson... you stay away from street fight cause they maybe armed like in this case
A guy beating up multiple armed robbers and stuff without being seriously injured works only in movies

[Asker]

yes movies gives some people false hopes
In reality no one can say what they would do or how they would beat up the bad guys until placed in the situation. I was actually more worried about their safety than mine. If I would've beaten them up, there is a chance they would've hurt or even killed her and the kid in the process.