WAZIM MOHAMMED has been in martial arts for the past 12 years. Two days ago, he said faced his ultimate test and used his black belt skill to fight off three thieves during a robbery attempt. The men begged for mercy and fled after the beating, he said.

Gasparillo police are investigating the robbery attempt, which occurred shortly after midnight at Mohammed’s home at Hard Bargain, Williamsville.

Mohammed said he was sitting at the back of his home chatting on-line on his laptop around 12.20 a.m. on Thursday, when he saw three men stop at the gate. Mohammed said he approached and asked the men if he could help.

’One of the men pulled out a gun and said ’leh we go and see what you have inside,’’ Mohammed said.

Mohammed, 33, headed toward the front door, pretending to comply. As the bandits neared the door, however, he kicked one of the men, who fell and broke a piece off the concrete handrail on the step.

Mohammed said he then told his family to lock themselves into the house as he took on the three men.

He said the men kept shouting ’shoot him, shoot him’, but he held onto the gunman’s hand and broke his wrist.

’He said ’leggo the hand nah! It break, boy,’’ Mohammed said.

It was over in a minute.

Mohammed said the men picked up their by then semi conscious accomplice and fled in a car parked nearby. He said police officers recovered two live shells at the scene.

Mohammed, who works in the steel industry, said only a week ago, he removed a cast from his right foot and was supposed to begin therapy soon.

He said some of the tactics he used to ward off the men were from his martial arts training with his instructor Archeson Wells. Other skills used are taught in his self defence class at a gym in Marabella.

Mohammed said it was all done to protect his family.

’I was thinking, no matter what, I cannot let them go inside the house,’ he said.