locomotion in paramoecium

During the year 1930 there was one engine which as on hype named as 'Ricardo' sleeve valve engine. Mirrlees the period introduced two Mirrleesengines represented this patent type of the valve engine. Well the first kind had bore of around 5.5 inches and developed a stroke of just about 6.5 inches and produced 20BHP each cylinder at rate of 900 r.p.m. the other had 17 inches bore and 21.5 inches stroke, giving 50BHP per cylinder on the rate of 200 r.p.m. The story shocked me more than usual because I know my friend is a fairly good martial artist. He is often dubbed as 'talented' by his colleagues and superiors. What's wrong with this story? In theory, he may have wasted the thief quickly while he clearly had no weapon with him. According to him, he didn't know what to do. He knew how he could subdue such assault but he just did not know how to handle it at that time.