In the game of life, 41-year-old Richard Nowling has made some poor decisions. And I’m not even referring to armed robbery as his career choice either, although that’s never a sparkling decision as far as means of income go.

No, I’m talking about Nowling’s bright idea to hold up 63-year-old Fred Kemp and his wife, Julie. Oh sure, on the surface it probably looked like a wise decision, what with Kemp looking like a pushover at all of 5-foot-7 and 150-pounds.

The would-be crook quickly found out that in spite of his diminutive size, Fred Kemp can handle himself.

But what else would you expect from a former collegiate wrestler, coach for the New York State Junior Olympic team, and volunteer assistant wrestling coach at American University in Washington, D.C.?

From the Sun-Sentinel…
Seated on the passenger’s side, Kemp was closing the door of his 2011 Volkswagen Jetta when the robber, identified as Richard Nowling, 41, stuck a gun in his face.
Thinking of his wife’s safety, the 5-foot-7 Kemp instinctively pushed the gun away. But the robber started to pistol whip Kemp in the head, police said.
“He started to hit me, so I reacted from there,” a bruised but smiling Kemp said Friday. “I got him out into the street and held his arm. I foot-sweeped him down and I was trying to get a hold of the gun. He banged me up a little bit but my main concern was the gun.”

Pulling out more wrestling moves, Kemp maneuvered the suspect into a rear choke hold, or “sleeper hold,” a popular submission technique in mixed martial arts.
Little known fact—rear choke holds do not involve nudity or anal stuff. Kind of false advertising if you ask me.

With Nowling subdued, Kemp’s wife grabbed the gun, which turned out to be a very realistic looking pellet gun. The disgraced crook begged for Kemp to let him go, but like the soldier that he is, showed him no mercy. NO MERCY!

“He asked me to let him go when I had him down,” Kemp said. “I said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’”

Nowling was arrested and charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery. I’m sure his tale of being disarmed and taken down by a wee 63-year-old man will go over well during his time in the big house.


Read more: Armed Robber Learns Hard Way Not to Mess With 63-Year-Old Former Wrestler