During a midday dog walk at Crissy Field on Sept. 8, James Hidalgo — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and martial arts instructor — was confronted by a shirtless man who attempted to punch him. Hidalgo subdued the attacker with a takedown and held him in a neck control until United States Park Police arrived. The suspect was arrested, Hidalgo was checked by paramedics and released, and he intends to press charges.
Shirtless Attacker Tries to Punch Dog Walker — Marine Veteran and Martial Arts Instructor Subdues Him at Crissy Field
[Image Credit: KRON4]
A routine dog walk at San Francisco's Crissy Field turned violent on September 8 around 12:30 p.m. when a shirtless stranger began shouting at James Hidalgo and then attempted to strike him. The confrontation, captured on video by a nearby KRON4 reporter, escalated quickly despite Hidalgo’s attempts to calm the man.
Hidalgo, who was walking his dog Argis, said he initially ignored the loud beachgoer. "I saw this guy being loud; I didn't pay no mind. I thought he was trying to get someone's attention," he recalled. According to Hidalgo, the stranger then approached and allegedly asked, "Are you calling me a dog?" — apparently reacting to the presence of Hidalgo's pet.
Hidalgo says he raised his hands and tried to defuse the situation, but the man came at him and attempted to punch him. Video of the altercation begins with both men grappling; Hidalgo controls the stranger's left arm while blocking several swings and knocks the man's cap off.
As Argis barks nearby, Hidalgo drops his level and executes a single-leg takedown, using the assailant's momentum to lift and drive him backward onto the sand. A cloud of sand rises as Hidalgo works to control the attacker, ultimately securing a side necklock that pins the man for several minutes while bystanders call 911.
[Image Credit: KRON4]
Officers from the United States Park Police (USPP) arrived and handcuffed both men. Hidalgo said he was not alarmed by being restrained because his military background taught him to follow law-enforcement protocols. "I was in the United States Marine Corps," he explained. "So I understand that there's protocol for all this, and you have to let the professionals deal with what they do."
Background and Aftermath
Witnesses told USPP officers that the unidentified suspect physically assaulted Hidalgo. The suspect was taken into custody; Hidalgo was checked by paramedics at the scene and released. Hidalgo plans to press charges.
Hidalgo is the founder of Infinite Martial Arts, a studio in San Francisco's Marina District established in 2011. His online biography lists experience as a professional athlete and service in the U.S. Marine Corps as a noncommissioned officer. He holds a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has taught boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.
"Imagine a nanny with her kid here. What is she going to do? The guy was a built guy, and he knew that he could intimidate 90 percent of the people today. He just ran into the wrong person." — James Hidalgo
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect. Video footage of the incident was first reported by KRON4.
Image Credit: KRON4
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