‘Like a Ninja,’ Karate Teacher Swoops Down on Purse Snatcher and Foils Robbery with a Kick

February 26, 2025 journo

Venter (top right) running out of Action Karata in Philadelphia – credit Action Karate released

Martial arts teachers are quick to teach their students that what they learn in class is not to be used on other people except in emergencies.

Recently, a Philadelphia Karate practitioner nicely demonstrated this by swooping in “like a ninja,” thwacking a robber on his leg, and rescuing a woman’s stolen purse.

If you watch black belt instructor Stephen Venter perform a low kick on one of the bags in his dojo of Action Karate in the neighborhood of Northern Liberties, you’d hope to never be on the receiving end.

Venter was getting ready to teach a class when one of his students shouted that someone outside was crying for help.

“I’m just screaming bloody murder like a complete lunatic, like stop him, stop him, stop him, help, help, help to anybody around,” said Jennifer Romanelli, a local who was in the net door drycleaners on 3rd and Poplar getting her suit altered. A man had grabbed her purse and made a run for it.

Venter ascertained the situation and gave chase, Fox 29 News reports. Unfortunately for the thief, the sensei caught up to him, and offered a taste of the antique Japanese art form.

“I shouted at him, ‘Drop the bag!’ He wouldn’t drop it, I caught up with him, I gave him a kick on the leg,” said Venter in a characteristic South African accent. “As I got him a kick on the leg, he dropped the bag, stumbled, and then he kept running away.”

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Romanelli said she was stunned by what had happened.

“Literally out of nowhere, like an angel, this guy appears, like a ninja, and he’s like ‘here you go,’” she said.

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It’s no coincidence she described her savior like a ninja, as Venter was just about to teach his “ninja class.”

Fox reports that the incident inspired Venter to host a self-defense and kickboxing class for women. Romanelli contacted Venter’s boss to tell him what had happened and praise him for his heroism. The South African has only lived in Philadelphia for 6 months.

WATCH the story below from Fox 29…

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