A Chinese MMA athlete is experiencing online backlash for opting to report a groping incident to the police rather than retaliating. - Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
SHANGHAI (SCMP): A female MMA athlete contacted the Shanghai police after a man attempted to sexually assault her while she was walking home. However, many mainland netizens criticised her for not physically confronting the assailant.
On the morning of September 3, Xu, the woman, was walking in the Jing’an district when a 23-year-old man, surnamed Zhou, began to follow her, as reported by Dute News.
When he asked her for her contact information, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her neck and tried to kiss her. Xu successfully broke free but fell to the ground in the process, only to notice that Zhou was holding a knife. Xu promptly called the police.
The Shanghai police later confirmed on Weibo that Zhou had been detained on charges of “forcibly molesting” a woman. Under Chinese law, such an offence can result in imprisonment for up to five years.
Xu said she was worried about seriously injuring Zhou if she fought back.
Xu, 25, has been practising MMA for four years and was previously a member of the China national judo team before her retirement. - Photo: Douyin
“Because I am a professional MMA athlete, my punches are much stronger than the average person, and I was afraid there would be serious consequences if I did not pull my punches,” Xu was quoted as saying. “Plus, if the man was not detained, he would hurt more women, and I want him to receive judicial punishment.”
But Xu said she received a myriad of online abuse in the aftermath of the attack, with people online criticising her unwillingness to fight violence with violence.
“You have received MMA training! Why did you not use your skills to severely punish this evil?” wrote one person on Douyin.
Another person stated: “You would have been justified in attacking him, yet you chose not to. I can’t help but wonder if that implies you were unable to defeat him in the fight.”
Xu, 25, has been practising MMA for four years and was previously a member of the China national judo team before her retirement. - Photo: Douyin
Xu, 25, has been practising MMA for four years and had previously been part of the China national judo team before she retired.
“I practise MMA every day to pursue my dream rather than using those skills to resort to violence,” she said.
A core tenet of martial arts is that a person should refrain from using violence unless it is deemed necessary.
Xu suggested other women should pick up some basic fighting training so that “they will feel confident in their personal safety when being assaulted”.
Despite online criticism, Xu also earned a flood of praise from mainland Chinese internet users.
“I support you. You handled this situation well,” said one person online.
Another person echoed the sentiment: “Sister, don’t worry about other people’s thoughts. They don’t understand how powerful an MMA athlete is.” - South China Morning Post
