Nearly 15 million people have viewed subway self-defense advice from Brooklyn instructor Crystal Cox, known online as Ninja Crystal. Cox, 34, teaches in Bushwick and was photographed demonstrating her approach in Brooklyn this week. Her central point is that getting away safely matters more than winning a fight.
The New York Post reports that Cox teaches self-defense to women and her online audience. She has trained in muay thai, jeet kune do, kali weapons, self-defense, and boxing. In the Post’s account, she emphasizes awareness and preparation before a confrontation, rather than treating self-defense as a competitive martial-arts match.
Reading the Platform Before Trouble Starts
Cox advises riders to stay aware of people and movement around them, notice possible exits, and avoid becoming absorbed in a phone, music, or podcasts while commuting. She suggests leaving one ear free so riders can hear what is happening nearby, according to the Post.
If someone approaches, Cox recommends creating distance, making noise, and looking for a chance to leave rather than staying to fight. The Post reports that she advises shouting, “Stop! Stay back! Do not come close to me!” and says a rider might swing a purse, tote, or laptop bag to create an opening to escape.
When Fighting Becomes the Last Resort
Cox frames physical resistance as a last resort when a rider cannot get away. Her advice, as reported by the Post, includes using belongings or physical strikes to create an opportunity to flee; the priority is to leave as soon as there is an opening.
Pepper spray, a common go-to for commuters, comes with its own restrictions. SABRE describes civilian canisters as capped at 0.75 ounces with a 0.7% capsaicinoid concentration, with in-person purchases required from licensed firearms dealers or pharmacists and direct shipping to New York addresses barred, as detailed by SABRE. Separately, under New York Penal Law § 195.08, an offense requires an intentional discharge of defensive spray with intent to prevent a police or peace officer from performing a lawful duty, and the discharge must cause temporary physical impairment, per the Criminal Lawyer analysis.
A Personal Journey Into Self-Defense
Cox says she began practicing martial arts during the pandemic and found that training helped with anxiety and childhood trauma. She has also spoken about experiencing body dysmorphia and disordered eating as a teenager, and says self-defense and martial arts improved her physical, mental, and emotional health. She now hopes to be an example for other women.
Why the Advice Resonates Right Now
Cox's tips land at a moment of mixed signals on subway safety. Data released by the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul shows subway crime in 2025 hit its lowest level in 16 years, with major transit crime down 5.2% from 2024 and 1.65 major crimes recorded per million riders, according to the Governor's office, which also noted state officials have committed an additional $77 million for enhanced NYPD subway patrols into 2026. Yet reporting by Vital City indicates the rate of major subway crime relative to 2019 levels remained 13.4% higher as of 2026 — a gap that helps explain why riders still feel on edge even as overall numbers fall.
Enforcement has stayed active alongside those trends: NYPD transit enforcement reports for January 2026 recorded 2,785 total transit arrests and 18,018 summonses issued across the subway and bus network, per data published by the MTA. Harassment, separate from violent crime, remains a persistent concern too — a survey from the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation found 75 percent of female respondents reported experiencing harassment such as groping, unwanted exposure, or verbal threats while riding public transit in New York City, as reported by City & State New York.
Getting help and checking transit records
At subway stations, the MTA says Help Points connect riders to live agents: the green button is for general information, and the red button connects directly to emergency personnel. Some subway cars also have emergency intercoms near each end; riders can press the red button to contact MTA staff. The NYPD publishes monthly and annual transit and bus reports with complaints and arrests broken down by transit district and precinct. Those records provide geographic breakdowns, but the information cited here does not establish a station-level comparison for Bushwick and the borough as a whole.
Following viral social media reports of random physical attacks on women in New York City, local self-defense schools reported a 400% surge in enrollment for women’s self-defense classes, according to The Independent. Cox’s advice has reached a large audience, but the city’s wider safety picture remains mixed: reported major subway crime has fallen from 2024 levels, while harassment and riders’ concerns continue to shape the conversation.
