Criminal Minds Episode 5: Kim Hyun Joon - The Chase

KIM HYUN JOON

THE CHASE

THE CHASE The suspect had probably sensed that something was up for he wasted no time in leaping forward, with Kim Hyun Joon in hot pursuit. Both were fleet-footed. Seen in an artistic perspective, the chase was an adrenaline pumping scene. Set against a narrow, dark tunnel-like lane, the light and dark shadows highlighted ‘the light in the darkness’ – those upholding the law versus the criminals. The two figures, determinate silhouettes of men against the bright, glaring light, made an interesting composition. They were two awesome figures in motion. That segment also showcased the athletic abilities of the fleeing unsub and the profiler who was hot on his heels. The dogged determination displayed on Kim Hyun Joon’s face was clearly brought into focus as he reached the bright light at the end of the tunnel. When they emerged from the darkness, they were quite a sight. The very athletic profiler was seen to be at his athletic best as he chased the unsub along the side walk of the busy main thoroughfare. One could not help but admire the beautiful camerawork. The parallel lines of the cement wall and the iron barricade made a wonderful picture as the two men ran in line with the lined wall and the barricade. Suddenly, the suspect jumped over the sidewalk barricade and rushed across the road. It was risky and dangerous for the profiler to follow suit but he did just that. Kim Hyun Joon’s leaps across the barricades and cars were exciting. It was startling that his jumps seemed so effortless and graceful in motion. He leapt across the sidewalk barricade and then over a car.   Next, he was seen to have vaulted over the divider in the middle of the road. Within the blink of an eye, he had rushed across the road after the unsub. Soon, they were on the sidewalk which was lined with shophouses. Kim Hyun Joon was apparently not breathless as he pursued the man. It was obvious as he did not pause to catch his breath. The unsub made a sudden turning and rushed across a busy street into an alley. When the profiler caught up with him, he was ready to face his opponent.

THE HUNTER AND THE PREY THE EXCITING ALLEY FIGHT SYSTEMA THE RUSSIAN ART OF SELF DEFENCE The spider had lured the fly into his web - the alleyway. The unsub jumped up the wall, turned swiftly to kick at the profiler. Having learnt Taekwondo and other martial arts in the Special Forces, Kim Hyun Joon was prepared for that trick. He stepped back swiftly. Viewed from above, the two challengers were seen facing each other. The ex-Special Forces operative was in his aggressive stance and was ready to punch the daylights out of the unsub. The unsub swung his hand to attack him but the profiler fluidly blocked and intercepted the move. Kim Hyun Joon’s fighting prowess was devastating. With instantaneous precision, his left hand grabbed the unsub’s left arm and he twisted him around. With his right hand, he unloaded a punch. The unsub raised his arm to block it but to no avail. He was unable to fend off the attack. The profiler proved to be more skilful. With blinding speed, he trapped his opponent’s head in a perfect back choke. The speed of execution was amazing. Kim Hyun Joon’s chokehold was like an iron manacle round the unsub’s neck. Using brute force, Kim Hyun Joon slammed the unsub forcefully forward and pinned him against the wall to incapacitate him. He put his whole-body weight against the unsub.  With his right hand, Kim Hyun Joon desperately tried to wrench the mask off the unsub’s face while his other hand held the man down.  The unsub’s hand reached out to break Hyun Joon’s chokehold. The struggle was so fast and furious that it was difficult to see who had the winning edge. The unsub shifted his body weight, a Russian Systema tactic, to escape from the choke. It was not clear whether he made a mini circle with his pelvis as the moves were too fast for the eye to follow. The pushing and shoving was fierce and furious. The man bent his knees, snatched up his leg, and pushed backwards against Kim Hyun Joon. He seemed to have used stabbing and and twisting Systema techniques to escape from Kim Hyun Joon’s choke. With some nifty footwork, he was able to push Kim Hyun Joon away. The unsub tried punching him. The profiler staggered backwards. Although Kim Hyun Joon was light on his feet, he was surprised by the unsub’s different fighting style of using multiple strikes. Luckily, due to the profiler’s physical flexibility, he was able to neutralise and evade the attacks. There was an exchange of strikes and punches from both sides and the unsub was finally thrown to the ground. But it was Kim Hyun Joon’s lack of caution that did him in when he rushed towards the unsub. If the unsub’s aim was to take Kim Hyun Joon down in a spiralling movement, he did so perefectly with his back spin on the ground. The quick rotational spin broke Kim Hyun Joon’s focus and the criminal quickly grabbed his left ankle. To be precise, he was aiming at his ankle joint – his Achilles Heel. This time Kim Hyun Joon found himself sprawled on the floor. The unsub tried to attack him but the profiler was strong enough to ward off the blow.  Realising that it was futile to continue with the fight, the unsub quickly fled the scene. Kim Hyun Joon leapt to his feet and rushed after him but the unsub was nowhere to be found in the busy traffic. ANALYSIS OF THE UNSUB Kim Hyun Joon phoned Nana Wang to check the security footage within 2 km of the Seoul Forest. Upon arriving at the NCI headquarters, he analysed the footage of the chase. She flushed sheepishly when she revealed that she could not get a clear image of the unsub’s face because of his mask and cap. Kim Hyun Joon analysed the rewound footage and it hit him like a tsunami that the unsub had training in Systema, the Russian Art of Self Defence.  Although many arts of self-defence have similar moves, Systema has some distinctive characteristics. Kim Hyun Joon, like the unsub, had also trained in the Russian Systema psychophysical long-distance running. The chase had taken them through many roads and it proved that both were very athletic and fast runners. They were not even breathless despite the prolonged chase on foot. Although Kim Hyun Joon was also a practitioner of Systema, he had, unfortunately, been caught off guard by his opponent’s attack and defence methods including joint strikes. The profiler had never expected that his South Korean opponent would use a foreign Art of Self-defence in South Korea. He mulled over the matter. He knew exactly what he had to do to defeat his opponent in their next confrontation.