My Big, Fat, Greek Tragedy: Mom Risks Freedom in Fight for Kids

You never really know when you will be called upon to protect the ones you care about. Usually we picture a deserted parking lot, late at night, but we all know that life is fragile and the world can turn upside down in a moments notice and danger can come from where you least expect it. One second your trying to get your own children who are U.S. citizens out of a foreign country, and the next thing you know you're in a cell with a dirt floor surrounded by criminals. This is exactly what happened to Marla Theocharides a student of Dan Neddo our Instructor In South Bend, Indiana.

Marla married a Greek citizen and moved to Greece. After a long and violent separation she was granted a divorce. However, while she was granted custody in the United States, her ex-husband was granted custody in Cypress, Greece. Her only option to get her children back was to go to Greece and fight for them. Armed with a local attorney and a video camera she began to document her case. There is even footage of her defending herself against her ex-husband (which will be released at a later date) to which she credits her safety to Dan in a later article.

You never know when or why you will be forced to deal with violence. Most people find themselves in situations where they are at risk of losing someone you care about. That overwhelming feeling to protect is incredible. But what's more devastating is the impotence to be powerless while you watch your loved ones get ripped away from you. I know that sounds brutal, but it's the truth. at least Marla has the character and the iron will to stand and fight for what she believes in and while she still has not gained custody and with no end in sight to the ongoing litigation, Marla can still put her head on the pillow knowing that she is doing all she can.

Can you? I'm sure when Marla was wed to her husband, having to physically fight him was the last thing on her mind. Being put in a foreign prison and having to fight to survive was even farther from her thoughts. But it happens and you're only saving grace is that you try everything you can at the time to prevent it. Imagine the worst possible scenario and ask yourself one question, "Am I ready?"

I can't answer that for you, I can only offer you part of the solution. You provide the other part. It's an honor for me to have Instructors like Dan Neddo in South Bend who take treat their calling with the highest level of integrity and I'm glad that the SDC is able to play some small part in helping Marla stand up for her children.

At present, the case drags on and the state depart offers little help even though the children were born in the US and have dual citizenship. (State Department statement here)

Here's the link to Part 1 of the Article >>> CLICK HERE

Train Honestly,

Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.