Hitting someone is not always bad.

If someone threatens you, it's your right to retaliate.
Like how you kill cockroaches and rats that invade your home, because you're afraid of them or the harmful effect they have on the general hygine in your kitchen. Like how we called the National Security Guards to retaliate the terrorists' attack at high profile hotels in Mumbai.

I hit someone to defend myself because I didn't want to be bullied. The man had to be rushed to the hospital, and I heard he got four stitches. I don't feel sorry for him. Or about the whole episode either.
It was a Sunday, and there being very little crowd, I was the only trainer on the floor.
And this guy, (let's call him Moron, for lack of a more descriptive word) in the middle of his workout, went out and came back with his kid.
Firstly, he wore the gym shoes outside and came back on the gym floor with the same pair of shoes. One of the several notices on the walls of the gym states that outside shoes are not allowed on the gym floor.
But this guy flouted this rule. That's One.
Now, he brings the kid, barely three years old, on the floor and takes her to a treadmill especially kept for giving Fitness Assessment Test. And turns it on without anyone's permission and makes the kid walk on it. That's the Offence No 2.

A dirty shoe might not hurt someone but if this kid falls off the treadmill, I'd be in trouble because.
a) The kid is not a gym member. b) People that young are not given admission in the gym. c). It was using a treadmill not meant for anyone to use. That particular treadmill was exclusively for people who pay extra and take a fitness test.
So, it being my duty, I went up to him, and asked him to stop whatever he was doing. But instead of accepting his mistake the guy argued with me..
M (Moron): But she (his kid) is not doing anything.
I: Hello? She's walking on a treadmill.
M: We have a treadmill at home. She knows how to walk on it. Don't worry, she'll be fine.
I: You have a treadmill at home, then take her home. She's not a member here.
M: But I'm a member. Even my wife is a member.
I: But your kid is not. And this treadmill is not for your use. (And after waiting for him to stop the treadmill with no result, I turned it off myself.) Now, please get her off and ask her to wait at the
reception area. She's not allowed inside.
He then got her off and took the kid home and came back. And guess what? He wore the same pair of dirty shoes.
M: You made my daughter cry. Are you an idiot? You don't know how to talk to a kid?
I: Firstly, I didn't talk to her. And secondly, I don't wanna argue on this. You can make a complaint against me to the manager.
But he didn't stop there. He started talking to others using bad words for me. But I was cool because I don't get hurt by words so easily.

I didn't realise it then. But the seeds of hate had be sown… I totally forgot about the incident. But months later, on a Saturday (November 15), just as my shift was about to end, I heard someone talking loudly.

I turned to see the Moron (same as above) talking on his phone. Using mobile phones on the floor is prohibited, but the man was not only speaking, but was doing it loudly, creating a disturbance.
I wondered if he was doing it purposely to start an argument with me and then beat me (I have a small body frame compared to him, so I look weaker than him) to pulp if I did?
Well, it was my duty to stop him as we had been told not to let anyone flout this rule as it leads to accidents.

So, I asked him to stop. He looked at me, ignored me and continued talking loudly on the phone. I attracted his attention again and said the same thing pointing at the sign board on the wall. He still ignored me. So I gave up and turned around to go away. By this time he had finished talking and called me.
I: Yes?
M: What did you say?
I: (smiled) that phones are not allowed on the floor.
M: You have a problem with me? You never stop anyone else from doing it.
I: No. The rule's the same for everyone. I stop everyone when they flout the rule.
M: (pushing me) I'll talk. Do whatever you can.
I: I will have to complain against you. And don't push me, I can get you out of the gym.
M: (Push no. 2) You'll complain to the manager? Or to the owner? Go, let me see what you can do, you ***.
I: (irritated) Of course, I'll complain! And please don't push me or use bad words. I can very well hit you.
M: (push no. 3, I almost fell) Hit me? Just try.
I: (punch no. 1, he fell) There!
M: (getting up) you ***.
I: (punch no. 2, he fell again) {thinking: Why doesn't he back off? Will I have to break his jaw to stop him?}
M: (trying to get up and packing a punch) you ***.
I: (punch no. 3, he fell harder) Back off.
He couldn't get up that quickly, giving me time to move away. Others came running to his rescue. They caught him. And some stood between us. No one touched me. I was in total control, even with all the adrenaline rush. I walked out to the reception area and called my boss.

I know I could've injured my ego and gone home crying or killed the guy and gone to jail crying.
The only mistake I made was that I was not loud enough when I was resisting the fight.
Others noticed the fight only after my first punch. And when they did, they saw me standing and him lying on the floor holding his jaw. Had I been louder, he would've backed off or atleast I'd've had witnesses who knew I didn't intend to fight, he did.

In the next meeting, I was told it was my mistake and referred to as "a criminal."

I don't think it's fair. I'm now having second thoughts about keeping this job. I think a job where a client can abuse you verbally and physically and the management thinks you're a criminal because you defended yourself, is not worth keeping.
Meanwhile, the client has been refunded his gym fees and asked to leave.

I also lost one more thing, my prospect of becoming a Personal Trainer. It's on hold now.
Life's sad sometimes. $hit happens.

But I'm cool. Will go where life takes me. :-)