Martial arts teacher takes down burglar

Mark-Jason "M-J" White, 26, a University of Florida masters program student, told Gainesville police he heard sounds coming from the downstairs of the house he shares with his two sisters while he was home alone at about 7 a.m. Sunday, the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun reported Tuesday.

White, who teaches a form of martial arts called Cuong Nhu, said he armed himself with a karambit, a curved knife with a brass knuckle handle, and a tambo stick, a basic martial arts weapon, and rushed downstairs to confront a man attempting to climb through a broken window.

The martial artist said the intruder disobeyed his order to get down on the ground.

"I quickly moved behind him and struck (him) once in the middle of the back and he basically flattened out," White said. "At that point, he was more pliable."

Christopher Brunson, 22, was arrested and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling. Police said he admitted to breaking the window with a chair.

"In essence, he gift wrapped this case for us. He did a great job," police Lt. Keith Kameg said of White.

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