03 June, 2011
31 May, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 18
Karate student floors attackers
Karate woman floors thugs
Karate student floors attackers
STACEY WOOD
05:00 30/05/2011
A young waitress used her karate skills to fight off two attackers as she walked home from a night shift in central Wellington, earning praise from police.
The woman, 18, has studied martial arts for seven years. She elbowed one man in the chest, then punched his accomplice in the stomach.
"We are well and truly impressed. Often we don't encourage people to fight back, because it can make things worse, but she acted with a great degree of bravery and she's done a great job," Detective Sergeant Shane Dye said.
"And she's not a big girl, either."
The woman was walking home past the old Amalgamated Video store in Taranaki St about 6.15 on Saturday morning, when she noticed a man leaning against a car, smoking a cigarette and watching her. Mr Dye said the woman told police the man grabbed her from behind as she passed.
"She's been doing karate for about seven years, so she elbowed him in the chest and stomped on his foot.
"She was then attacked by a second male who she hadn't seen, and he began to pull at her handbag – then she punched him in the stomach."
The woman fell to the ground as she fought off her assailants, and the first man came at her again while she was down.
"She kicked out at him and then managed to get to her feet and run away."
The first attacker was about 1.7 to 1.75 metres tall, about 30 years old, with light skin and "on the tubby side rather than muscular". He was wearing a smoky-green hoodie with a cream-coloured logo, baggy dark-blue jeans, and had close-cropped, slightly balding black hair, with stubble on his face.
The car he was leaning on was an older-style maroon four-door sedan.
The second man was tall and skinny with olive skin, about 35 years old, with long, dark, oily hair down to his shoulders, and a moustache and beard.
He was wearing a black zip-up jacket and jeans, and woollen gloves.
Senior karate instructor Sensei Rajesh Ravji was pleased to hear that the woman had used her skills to escape the attackers.
"When someone is bigger than you, it is always a difficult thing to combat, but that's the beauty of martial arts, you learn how. Those attackers would have been surprised to have someone come back at them like that."
- The Dominion Post
Karate woman floors thugs
7:23 AM Monday May 30, 2011
Two thugs got more than they bargained for when they attacked a young Wellington woman as she walked home from a nightshift at the weekend.
The 18-year-old was walking along Taranaki St, near the Salvation Army store and the old Amalgamated Video building, about 6.15am on Saturday when she noticed a man watching her. When she passed him, he attempted to grab her and pull her towards his vehicle, a maroon four-door car.
They found they were no match for the waitress who floored the pair by using her martial arts skills.
Police said they were impressed with the young woman's bravery.
"Luckily the victim has several years of karate experience and was able to fight the offender off, however, a second man attempted to grab her handbag over her shoulder. She managed to punch him before she fell to the ground," Detective Sergeant Shane Dye said.
Detective Sergeant Dye said the victim luckily managed to fend off her attackers and make her escape.
"This was a very scary attack and has left the victim extremely shaken, leaving her with a knee injury."
Police want to speak to a witness who walked past the victim as she was approaching the Taranaki Street/Vivian Street intersection.
"We believe this man may have walked towards the offenders and may hold helpful information. The victim would have been visibly upset at this time and was running south on Taranaki Street. I appeal to that person to come forward and contact police," Mr Dye said.
The first offender is described as fair-skinned of solid build, around 173cm, and about 30 years old. He was wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and dark blue baggy jeans.
The second offender was very tall and thinner than the first offender with darker coloured skin, aged around 35 years with a thick black moustache and beard, with shoulder-length straight black hair. He was wearing dark-coloured woollen gloves.
Anyone with any information should phone Wellington CIB on 04 381 2000 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Herald Online, NZPA
27 May, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 17
Hero schoolkids thwart girl's abduction
Hero schoolkids thwart girl's abduction
BERNARD CARPINTER
27/05/2011
EVA BRADLEY/ The Dominion Post
Three Hastings schoolboys rescued a 12-year-old girl by threatening to attack two men who were trying to drag her away.
"The other boys told them that if they didn't go away right now they would get a hiding," Hastings Boys' High School pupil Liam Mataira, 15, said yesterday, describing the rescue he had made with friends Ben Hayllar and Tama McKenzie.
"We just jumped in front and pulled her away. The men were over six feet tall. I was taller than them, but they were quite stocky.
"They just started swearing. They looked like they had been taking drugs – they were all twitchy and stuff.
"It happened fast. They could have retaliated and attacked us, but we had to do something to get that girl away before something happened."
The rescue took place in busy Karamu Rd on Wednesday morning, as the boys were on their way to school.
The girl was going to Hastings Intermediate and the boys escorted her there afterward, before continuing on to their own school.
"She was pretty shaken up; she was crying," Liam said.
Ben, also 15, said the men had used language indicating that they were affiliated to the Mongrel Mob, but he had not felt scared.
"They towered over me but I just felt an adrenaline thing. It all happened at once. I told them to go away and leave her alone."
It was strange that the incident had happened in such a public place, on the footpath of Karamu Rd, Ben said.
Yesterday, Hastings Intermediate put on a morning tea with pizza for the heroes, attended by the girl they had saved.
"She was all smiley and jumping up and down," Liam said.
Boys' High principal Robert Sturch said he would make a fuss of the boys at morning assembly today.
Sergeant Eden Sewell, of Hastings, said the boys had done the right thing.
"They did real well," he said. "It took a bit of courage on their part and prevented something a lot more serious from happening."
The police would make sure the boys received recognition for their bravery.
Two men were arrested after a similar incident in central Hastings yesterday involving a 17-year-old female.
A Hastings man, 28, appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday afternoon charged with indecent assault and another local man, 54, was being interviewed, Mr Sewell said.
- The Dominion Post
Hero schoolkids thwart girl's abduction
BERNARD CARPINTER
27/05/2011
EVA BRADLEY/ The Dominion Post
YOUNG HEROES: Liam Mataira, left, and Ben Hayllar were on their way, with friend Tama McKenzie, to Hastings Boys' High School on Wednesday when the three stepped in to prevent the attempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl. "They did real well,'' said Sergeant Eden Sewell. "It took a bit of courage.''
Three Hastings schoolboys rescued a 12-year-old girl by threatening to attack two men who were trying to drag her away.
"The other boys told them that if they didn't go away right now they would get a hiding," Hastings Boys' High School pupil Liam Mataira, 15, said yesterday, describing the rescue he had made with friends Ben Hayllar and Tama McKenzie.
"We just jumped in front and pulled her away. The men were over six feet tall. I was taller than them, but they were quite stocky.
"They just started swearing. They looked like they had been taking drugs – they were all twitchy and stuff.
"It happened fast. They could have retaliated and attacked us, but we had to do something to get that girl away before something happened."
The rescue took place in busy Karamu Rd on Wednesday morning, as the boys were on their way to school.
The girl was going to Hastings Intermediate and the boys escorted her there afterward, before continuing on to their own school.
"She was pretty shaken up; she was crying," Liam said.
Ben, also 15, said the men had used language indicating that they were affiliated to the Mongrel Mob, but he had not felt scared.
"They towered over me but I just felt an adrenaline thing. It all happened at once. I told them to go away and leave her alone."
It was strange that the incident had happened in such a public place, on the footpath of Karamu Rd, Ben said.
Yesterday, Hastings Intermediate put on a morning tea with pizza for the heroes, attended by the girl they had saved.
"She was all smiley and jumping up and down," Liam said.
Boys' High principal Robert Sturch said he would make a fuss of the boys at morning assembly today.
Sergeant Eden Sewell, of Hastings, said the boys had done the right thing.
"They did real well," he said. "It took a bit of courage on their part and prevented something a lot more serious from happening."
The police would make sure the boys received recognition for their bravery.
Two men were arrested after a similar incident in central Hastings yesterday involving a 17-year-old female.
A Hastings man, 28, appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday afternoon charged with indecent assault and another local man, 54, was being interviewed, Mr Sewell said.
- The Dominion Post
25 May, 2011
15 May, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 16
Fears for girls' safety as course cut
Fears for girls' safety as course cut
JESSICA SUTTON
14/05/2011
Fears for girls' safety as course cut
JESSICA SUTTON
14/05/2011
ROBERT KITCHIN/The Manawatu Standard
TAKING BACK POWER: This could be the last time these Feilding Intermediate School students practise their self-defence moves, after the Government cut funding to the national self-defence programme.
Self-defence teacher Julie Goldingham fears young girls' safety is being undermined after the Government announced it would cut funding next month to the self-defence programme she teaches.
For the past 16 years, the Girls' Self Defence project has taught more than 77,000 young women in schools throughout New Zealand, but from June 30 it will no longer be on offer.
The self-defence classes teach 12-year-old girls how to keep themselves safe from violence and sexual abuse.
It costs the Ministry of Social Development just under $400,000 to fund the programme each year, but this funding is being cut as the ministry reprioritises its spending.
Mrs Goldingham has been teaching self-defence at Feilding, Monrad, and Ross intermediate schools for 15 years and will be out of a job next month.
"We are deeply concerned that the loss of this project will undermine the safety and wellbeing of girls throughout New Zealand," she said.
"It's not just all about kicks and punches either.
"It's an intensive programme that is designed to make girls more confident in fighting back, should they find themselves in a situation."
She teaches about 1000 girls from around the central North Island every year, and is worried those she has not been able to teach will be without the skills they need.
"So many of the girls I've taught have said they have not known what to do in an abuse or violent situation before the course.
"It's scary to think the kids won't have the training to look after themselves."
Several girls have come to her and confessed they had been abused.
"About 25 per cent of girls are likely to be sexually abused before they reach the age of 16 and if they are from a small, Maori community, 30 per cent of girls have been," Mrs Goldingham said.
"It's shocking really, and those girls need to know how to fend for themselves."
Mrs Goldingham and the project's other teachers are calling for parents and the community to get onboard and fight to get the funding reinstated.
"We will be lobbying. We want everyone to write letters to the Government, to the ministry and to anyone who will listen. The more the politicians can hear our concerns, the more we have a chance of getting it back."
For more information go to wsdn.org.nz.
- Manawatu Standard
01 May, 2011
A visiting gentleman
It was great to catch up with Beau Bouzaid, with many of those attending his workshop meeting him for the first time.
During the three hour hands-on workshop he took the class through the Sil Lum Tao form, and demonstrated how we might develop and refine the true essence of wing chun.
The time seemed to pass quickly, and by the end of the night most of us had spent about five hours in the training hall with Beau.
Beau’s skill has left an impression, but something else that strikes you about Beau is how approachable and gracious he is. After the workshop he got right in amongst everyone, training and chatting.
There were 14 attendees:
Ben (Invercargill), Kezz (Dunedin), Mike (Dunedin), Warren (Wanaka), Ange (Dunedin), Simon (Dunedin), Daniel (Dunedin), Daryl (Dunedin), Chris (Dunedin), Adrian (Invercargill), Steve (Dunedin), Manami (Wanaka), Jes (Wanaka), and Anthony (Dunedin).
A couple of pictures...
Standing, from left to right: Ben, Kezz, Mike, Warren, Ange, Beau, Simon, Daniel, Daryl, Chris, Adrian, and Steve. Front: Manami (left) and Jes.
Click here for full-size version.
Click here for full-size version.
Anthony (left) and Beau.
09 April, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 15
Teen throws pot plant saves parents from knifeman
Teen throws pot plant saves parents from knifeman
07/04/2011
A frenzied knife attack on a Christchurch couple was only stopped by their teenage son hurling a pot plant at the offender, a court was told today.
Christopher Barrie Story, 20, pleaded guilty at a Christchurch District Court sitting inside Christchurch Men's Prison to two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge Gary MacAskill gave him a first strike warning before remanding him in custody for a pre-sentence report and sentence on June 30.
Police prosecutor Anselm Williams said the husband and wife, and their 19-year-old son, were asleep at their Hornby home when they were woken at 2.40am on February 12 by the sound of people outside the property.
They saw a man take a pot plant from outside their house and when they went out to the shared driveway they saw him back at a neighbouring property where a group were drinking. They heard the man laughing about how he had taken the plant.
The husband yelled at the group to ask why they were taking his plants, and the wife phoned the police.
Story walked towards the family and pulled out an army-style knife with a 10cm blade, which had been out of sight beneath his baggy T-shirt.
He tried to slash the husband but there was a paling fence between them and the husband dodged the blow.
The family retreated inside their property and the husband tried to shut the gate.
Story barged the gate open and began a frenzied knife attack on the wife, who was trapped behind the gate. He stabbed her six times on the upper body, while she screamed. Story said nothing during the attack.
The husband stopped that attack by grabbing Story in a headlock and they struggled and fell. The husband was stabbed through the shoulder in the fight.
When Story got up and renewed the attack, the husband kicked him in the stomach and when he fell the son threw a pot plant which hit him in the head.
The family then ran indoors to tend their wounds and call emergency services. Story waited nearby for the police to arrive.
The wife had six wounds including two to her back. One stab wound punctured her liver and she suffered muscle damage to her left shoulder and chest. She had to have surgery and was in hospital for five days. She is recovering slowly and still feels numbness. She was off work for a long time.
The husband also had an operation during two days in hospital. The knife went though his shoulder and out through his armpit, slightly piercing the side of his chest.
Story told police he lost self-control when the family told him he was worthless.
Teen throws pot plant saves parents from knifeman
07/04/2011
A frenzied knife attack on a Christchurch couple was only stopped by their teenage son hurling a pot plant at the offender, a court was told today.
Christopher Barrie Story, 20, pleaded guilty at a Christchurch District Court sitting inside Christchurch Men's Prison to two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge Gary MacAskill gave him a first strike warning before remanding him in custody for a pre-sentence report and sentence on June 30.
Police prosecutor Anselm Williams said the husband and wife, and their 19-year-old son, were asleep at their Hornby home when they were woken at 2.40am on February 12 by the sound of people outside the property.
They saw a man take a pot plant from outside their house and when they went out to the shared driveway they saw him back at a neighbouring property where a group were drinking. They heard the man laughing about how he had taken the plant.
The husband yelled at the group to ask why they were taking his plants, and the wife phoned the police.
Story walked towards the family and pulled out an army-style knife with a 10cm blade, which had been out of sight beneath his baggy T-shirt.
He tried to slash the husband but there was a paling fence between them and the husband dodged the blow.
The family retreated inside their property and the husband tried to shut the gate.
Story barged the gate open and began a frenzied knife attack on the wife, who was trapped behind the gate. He stabbed her six times on the upper body, while she screamed. Story said nothing during the attack.
The husband stopped that attack by grabbing Story in a headlock and they struggled and fell. The husband was stabbed through the shoulder in the fight.
When Story got up and renewed the attack, the husband kicked him in the stomach and when he fell the son threw a pot plant which hit him in the head.
The family then ran indoors to tend their wounds and call emergency services. Story waited nearby for the police to arrive.
The wife had six wounds including two to her back. One stab wound punctured her liver and she suffered muscle damage to her left shoulder and chest. She had to have surgery and was in hospital for five days. She is recovering slowly and still feels numbness. She was off work for a long time.
The husband also had an operation during two days in hospital. The knife went though his shoulder and out through his armpit, slightly piercing the side of his chest.
Story told police he lost self-control when the family told him he was worthless.
05 April, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 14
Girl, 12, fights off attacker by punching him in face
Girl, 12, fights off attacker by punching him in face
Adelaide, Australia
AdelaideNow April 04, 2011 11:04AM
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl has fought off an attacker by punching him in the face after he assaulted her in a Salisbury Park reserve.
The girl was walking alone through Jenkins Reserve at about 4.30pm yesterday when she was grabbed from behind by a man.
She managed to break free after punching the suspect in the face, and received only minor injuries.
The suspect is described by police as being age about 25, Caucasian, with a stocky build, about 175 cm tall with short black hair.
He was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt.
Police ask anyone with information or that may have seen a man acting suspiciously near Jenkins Reserve to call BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au
29 March, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 13
Stabbed cabbie calls for taxi screens
"Stabbed cabbie calls for taxi screens"
TIM DONOGHUE
29/03/2011
A taxi driver stabbed seven times in a frenzied attack has called for all cabs to be fitted with protective screens around the drivers.
Shlemon Yako, 60, was stabbed three times in the stomach, once in his left side and three times in his arms, as he dropped off a front-seat passenger at the bottom of Shropshire Ave in the Wellington suburb of Wilton about 12.15am on Saturday.
The Kiwi Cabs driver picked the man up from the Bay Rd taxi stand in Kilbirnie and drove him across town to Wilton via Aro St.
He said the sustained attack, during which he fought with his assailant, had convinced him protective screens should be compulsory. He remains in a stable condition in Wellington Hospital four days after the attack.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Yako, from Baghdad, said: "I put some boxing to his face. I pushed the knife to the floor. After he came out the other door, I caught him. I put his face to the floor." Mr Yako suffered four stomach and abdomen wounds during the attack inside the cab, and three wounds to his arms as the scuffle continued outside.
Wellington CIB said it was investigating the attack, but no arrest had yet been made.
Legislation was introduced for all taxis in larger cities to be fitted with security cameras from August 1, 2011, after drivers Hiren Mohini and Abdulrahman Ikhtiari were stabbed to death in Auckland in 2010 and Christchurch in 2008. Mr Yako said cameras would not have saved his life if he had suffered a wound to a vital organ.
"We need to keep the passengers away from contact with the driver ... there is no point in having cameras, as cameras will not help the driver survive." He said working in Wellington at night is risky. "There is no way I will go back to driving my cab at night. I will drive during the day." He suspected the man may have been on drugs, as he did not smell of alcohol.
"There was no conversation. He instructed me to go to Shropshire Ave. He did not ask for money. He said nothing. I thought he could be a runner."
Kiwi Cabs general manager Ninos Zaya said he would no longer be sending drivers to the Bay Rd cab rank. The clientele of Bay Rd's bars made it a dangerous area for drivers – though he did not believe the man who stabbed Mr Yako came from a bar.
Mr Zaya said cameras in taxis would not help drivers.
He called for cameras to be installed at taxi stands so that passengers who did not have pickup or drop-off addresses could still be traced.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce decided against introducing compulsory protective screens because of widespread industry objection about the negative impact of screens on normal communication between drivers and passengers.
Mr Joyce said there was nothing to stop individual taxi drivers from introducing protective screens themselves.
Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish said there needed to be whole-hearted buy-in from the industry before compulsory screens could be introduced.
"I don't think it's going to happen ... A lot of drivers believe screens are intrusive and interfere with taxi air conditioning systems. It won't happen unless it becomes so bad out there that there is no option. God help us if we ever get to that stage."
- The Dominion Post
"Stabbed cabbie calls for taxi screens"
TIM DONOGHUE
29/03/2011
A taxi driver stabbed seven times in a frenzied attack has called for all cabs to be fitted with protective screens around the drivers.
Shlemon Yako, 60, was stabbed three times in the stomach, once in his left side and three times in his arms, as he dropped off a front-seat passenger at the bottom of Shropshire Ave in the Wellington suburb of Wilton about 12.15am on Saturday.
The Kiwi Cabs driver picked the man up from the Bay Rd taxi stand in Kilbirnie and drove him across town to Wilton via Aro St.
He said the sustained attack, during which he fought with his assailant, had convinced him protective screens should be compulsory. He remains in a stable condition in Wellington Hospital four days after the attack.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Yako, from Baghdad, said: "I put some boxing to his face. I pushed the knife to the floor. After he came out the other door, I caught him. I put his face to the floor." Mr Yako suffered four stomach and abdomen wounds during the attack inside the cab, and three wounds to his arms as the scuffle continued outside.
Wellington CIB said it was investigating the attack, but no arrest had yet been made.
Legislation was introduced for all taxis in larger cities to be fitted with security cameras from August 1, 2011, after drivers Hiren Mohini and Abdulrahman Ikhtiari were stabbed to death in Auckland in 2010 and Christchurch in 2008. Mr Yako said cameras would not have saved his life if he had suffered a wound to a vital organ.
"We need to keep the passengers away from contact with the driver ... there is no point in having cameras, as cameras will not help the driver survive." He said working in Wellington at night is risky. "There is no way I will go back to driving my cab at night. I will drive during the day." He suspected the man may have been on drugs, as he did not smell of alcohol.
"There was no conversation. He instructed me to go to Shropshire Ave. He did not ask for money. He said nothing. I thought he could be a runner."
Kiwi Cabs general manager Ninos Zaya said he would no longer be sending drivers to the Bay Rd cab rank. The clientele of Bay Rd's bars made it a dangerous area for drivers – though he did not believe the man who stabbed Mr Yako came from a bar.
Mr Zaya said cameras in taxis would not help drivers.
He called for cameras to be installed at taxi stands so that passengers who did not have pickup or drop-off addresses could still be traced.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce decided against introducing compulsory protective screens because of widespread industry objection about the negative impact of screens on normal communication between drivers and passengers.
Mr Joyce said there was nothing to stop individual taxi drivers from introducing protective screens themselves.
Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish said there needed to be whole-hearted buy-in from the industry before compulsory screens could be introduced.
"I don't think it's going to happen ... A lot of drivers believe screens are intrusive and interfere with taxi air conditioning systems. It won't happen unless it becomes so bad out there that there is no option. God help us if we ever get to that stage."
- The Dominion Post
21 March, 2011
Self-defence in the News - No. 12
Bullying victim: Why I fought back
Bullying victim: Why I fought back
5:30 AM Monday Mar 21, 2011
SYDNEY - An Australian schoolboy who has become an internet sensation after turning on a bully has told how he snapped after years of cruel taunts about his weight.
Casey Heynes, 16, says he has been bullied nearly every day at his school, Chifley College, St Marys, in western Sydney, but could take no more when Year 7 student Ritchard Gale tormented and attacked him last week.
"All I was doing was defending myself. I've never had so much support," he told Australia's A Current Affair TV show last night.
According to Sydney's Sunday Telegraph, Casey revealed he had been targeted by a new group of Year 7 boys, who had started picking on him and teasing him.
The Year 10 student said he found himself surrounded by the students when he went to get a school timetable before class.
As Ritchard backed him against the wall and started throwing punches, Casey said he felt scared and worried that others in the group would also start hitting him.
Eventually, he snapped, picking Ritchard up over his shoulder and throwing him to the ground.
The brawl was recorded on the mobile phone of another student, who later posted the footage online, where Casey has earned "hero" status.
Asked if he was a superhero, he laughed and said: "No, I wish I was."
Casey said his outburst was a "build-up" of more than three years of being attacked verbally and physically by other students.
"They used to slap me on the back of the head and said I was a fatty and to lose some weight.
"I've been duct-taped to a pole before as well. They target me because I don't retaliate.
"I've never reacted that way before but everything built up inside me for three years ... I just had enough. All I wanted is for it to stop."
Casey told A Current Affair he had been bullied almost every day at school and even contemplated suicide a year ago when the taunts became too much.
"I started putting myself down and all the crap just kept piling on," he said. "That's when I contemplated suicide."
The video of his fightback, which the Sunday Telegraph said was taken off YouTube on Tuesday, has gone viral worldwide, spawning dozens of websites and Facebook pages congratulating Casey for fighting back.
Casey said he had been overwhelmed by the number of people who backed him after last week's footage went viral.
"I've never had so much support before," he said. "Nobody touches me and teases me any more."
Both Casey and Ritchard were suspended by the school after the incident, as was the student who filmed it on the cellphone.
Bullying victim: Why I fought back
5:30 AM Monday Mar 21, 2011
SYDNEY - An Australian schoolboy who has become an internet sensation after turning on a bully has told how he snapped after years of cruel taunts about his weight.
Casey Heynes, 16, says he has been bullied nearly every day at his school, Chifley College, St Marys, in western Sydney, but could take no more when Year 7 student Ritchard Gale tormented and attacked him last week.
"All I was doing was defending myself. I've never had so much support," he told Australia's A Current Affair TV show last night.
According to Sydney's Sunday Telegraph, Casey revealed he had been targeted by a new group of Year 7 boys, who had started picking on him and teasing him.
The Year 10 student said he found himself surrounded by the students when he went to get a school timetable before class.
As Ritchard backed him against the wall and started throwing punches, Casey said he felt scared and worried that others in the group would also start hitting him.
Eventually, he snapped, picking Ritchard up over his shoulder and throwing him to the ground.
The brawl was recorded on the mobile phone of another student, who later posted the footage online, where Casey has earned "hero" status.
Asked if he was a superhero, he laughed and said: "No, I wish I was."
Casey said his outburst was a "build-up" of more than three years of being attacked verbally and physically by other students.
"They used to slap me on the back of the head and said I was a fatty and to lose some weight.
"I've been duct-taped to a pole before as well. They target me because I don't retaliate.
"I've never reacted that way before but everything built up inside me for three years ... I just had enough. All I wanted is for it to stop."
Casey told A Current Affair he had been bullied almost every day at school and even contemplated suicide a year ago when the taunts became too much.
"I started putting myself down and all the crap just kept piling on," he said. "That's when I contemplated suicide."
The video of his fightback, which the Sunday Telegraph said was taken off YouTube on Tuesday, has gone viral worldwide, spawning dozens of websites and Facebook pages congratulating Casey for fighting back.
Casey said he had been overwhelmed by the number of people who backed him after last week's footage went viral.
"I've never had so much support before," he said. "Nobody touches me and teases me any more."
Both Casey and Ritchard were suspended by the school after the incident, as was the student who filmed it on the cellphone.
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