When Ivan Skoko heard a piercing scream echo through Borough Underground station on the evening of October 28, his first thought was that someone had been seriously injured.
Within seconds, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion would find himself restraining an alleged pickpocket on the platform floor—an encounter captured on video that has since captivated viewers worldwide.
The Croatian-born martial artist had just finished training at Fight City Gym in Elephant Park and was traveling on the Northern line when chaos erupted at the south London station around 7:30 p.m.
“I was thinking someone got stabbed or something happened,” Skoko recalled. “I realized in a split-second there was a robbery, as a lady was holding her phone really tightly.”
What happened next showcased years of martial arts training in action. After asking the victim to identify the suspect, Skoko didn’t hesitate.
“I opened the doors, jumped off the train, and in five seconds I took the guy down and said, ‘Do not move,'” he explained.
The gold medalist—who won the men’s ultra-heavy category at the British Open earlier this year—employed a judo foot sweep technique to bring the suspect to the ground after noticing him reaching toward his pocket.
Video footage from the aftermath shows Skoko maintaining control of the situation, with the subdued man heard saying, “I don’t want to stab you, bro” as he lies beneath the athlete’s knee.
“I actually moved towards the wall, so that we could stay safe on the platform and avoid falling into the rails,” Skoko said, demonstrating his awareness of the dangerous environment.
When British Transport Police arrived approximately 25 minutes later, officers discovered two smartphones—one with a distinctive Hello Kitty case—and a rusty claw hammer concealed in the suspect’s clothing. The man, in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of an offensive weapon, and handling stolen goods.
For Skoko, the intervention wasn’t an act of bravado but a “natural reaction” born from his training and principles. “It was a natural reaction to defend women, children, and elderly people as a professional fighter,” he told.
The martial artist’s vigilance stems partly from personal experience. Five years ago, Skoko had his bicycle stolen and was left frustrated by the police response. “I called the police and they said ‘unfortunately you’ll never see your bike again,'” he remembered. “They said: ‘Sir, we don’t have enough resources’. With all the money we pay for tax, they don’t have resources.”
That incident, he said, was “the first and the last time I called the police” and motivated him to intensify his martial arts training.
“I see these robberies every day outside the gym where I work and I know if you don’t react quick, these guys will get away,” Skoko explained. His gym is located in an area where such incidents occur regularly, making him acutely aware of the brief window for intervention.
Skoko estimates this was at least the tenth time he’s confronted suspected criminals, though he emphasizes his approach is calculated rather than reckless. “I was controlling the situation physically and verbally at all time without using any unncessesary use of force,” he said, noting he remained calm throughout the encounter and wasn’t afraid of potential danger.
The undefeated athlete now advocates for widespread martial arts training as a form of community protection. He believes combat sports training should be commonplace, allowing citizens to safely perform arrests when witnessing crimes.
“If I have 10 of my friends around me, the whole neighbourhood is safe wherever we go, we will keep arresting these gentlemen if they keep doing things like this,” he said.
British Transport Police confirmed their response to the incident and stated that inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information about the October 28 attempted theft is asked to contact British Transport Police.
For Skoko, who immigrated from Croatia and now teaches martial arts in London, the incident reinforces his belief in personal responsibility and community safety. His message is clear: proper training can empower ordinary citizens to protect themselves and others when seconds count.
