Sunday, July 14, 2024

I believe in overwhelming force when attacked or credibly threatened.

 I believe in overwhelming force when attacked or credibly threatened.

The ideal is that no fight happens. Twice in the Navy, I punched a locker when someone was verbally bullying me, clearly probing for weakness. I said something dismissive, and punched a locker. I am very fast, I did not get in a stance or wind up. I left dents from my knuckles. It was very loud, and everyone nearby jumped a little.

In both cases, that ended it.

A group of friends started doing the fist bump instead of handshake. I think it became a thing for us, because one of the things we all had in common was the practice of martial arts. One was obviously insecure, judging from his constant bragging and showing off. He decided to start hitting fists hard, then saying “Sorry, I don’t know my own strength.”

So… I “popped” my fist into his. A very short, fast arc. It looks very relaxed, you’d never guess I was hitting hard. It only really works if the other person is trying to punch. And the range of power is maybe an inch deep, if that. But I heard his joints crack.

He hollered and got mad, and I mildly said exactly what he always said: “Sorry, I don’t know my own strength.” It took three times for him to get the message and stop punching my fist. However, he kept doing this to everyone else.

The best part was when I showed everyone else but him how to do this. He stopped fist bumping with the rest of us.

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