Hero or Murderer?

Originally Posted by SemperFidelis

Yes, you'll be charged with murder. It's not self-defense anymore once the assailant is down and no longer able to hurt you. If you go out of your way to beat him senseless and he ends up dying, you'll probably end up serving some prison time even with a sympathetic jury. Still, it is likely the prison term will be reduced due to mitigating circumstances such as your good intent.

This is why many Martial Arts classes teach students how to grapple (sp?). Once you are able to restrain/keep the person from harming you, then anything you do afterwards turns from defense to offense.

Originally Posted by Soluzar

That's a myth perpetuated by the movies. My skull has taken a pounding with a a blunt instrument on several occasions. Most of them were accidental, one was a deliberate act of violence. While I can safely say that I was disoriented in all cases, I was never rendered unconscious. On the occasion that it was an act of violence, I retained sufficient presence of mind to be able to hit my assailant back a few times, and then to walk home afterwards.

It's a total myth.

I agree, unless you hit one of the few regions on the head that could not only knock someone out instantly, but kill them. However, you would have to know the exact spots and blunt objects would have a hard time fitting some of the regions (but there are some that can be reached easily).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

They teach grappling because you're more likely to get caught up in a close-range fight than one where you can do all the fancy punches and kicks.

That's true as well. Either way, as long as the locks and holds are taught and learned correctly, there is a better chance of being able to restrain the criminal without becoming the aggressor.

There's nowhere I can't reach.