Woman Uses Medieval Combat Skills, Sword to Subdue Home Intruder

Karen Dolley, known as Foul Morguean in the Naptown Roller Girls team, was asleep in her home in Indianapolis, Indiana, when she woken by the sound of a male voice.

An Indianapolis woman is being hailed for her quick presence of mind and bravery after she single-handedly managed to fight an intruder and kept him subdued till help arrived.

After dealing the blows, Dolley, who is 5-feet-6, attempted to reach for her gun but opened the wrong drawer, so instead she held the intruder, who is 5-feet-10, at bay with her ninjato – a Japanese, single-edged ninja sword – and dialed 911.

Dolley, who learned medieval combat fighting in global organisation The Society for Creative Anachronism, attacked the intruder, punching him about 10 times and pinning him in her bedroom.

As a member of the group, Dolley, wearing armor, would fight men far taller and more experienced than her, with weapons such as swords.

“It is 440C stainless steel, it has an edge and it will cut”, she said.

Police responding to Dolley’s 911 call arrested 30-year-old Jacob Wessel of Greenwood, charging him with residential entry.

“I definitely don’t need to work on my aggression, I guess”, said Dolley. Otherwise, using common objects around the house, like a lamp, is a last resort, Michael Valenti, who teaches self defense, told the Star.

When Dolley called police, she said she was in control of the situation, but there was a brief scare when the intruder reached his hand into a pocket. According to The IndyStar, Dolley even tried to look for her gun – however, in the heat of the moment, she ended up opening the wrong drawer and got hold of her backup weapon – a sword.

“I’m really, really glad I didn’t have to do anything more”, Dolley told the paper.

Officials said Wessel was high on an unknown substance when he broke in, and he apologized after giving himself up without a fight.

“He was trying to deflect my punches with his hands”, says Dolley. “I know I could do it, but I don’t want to do that”.