# Guys: how many women do you know who could kick your ass in hand-to-hand combat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934 "2011-03-16T16:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/41 "2011-03-16T21:00:12Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > In the martial art I practiced (Tracy’s Kenpo) we emphasized nut kicking, nut grabbing and nut twisting a lot. Can most guys - or most of you guys - stand tough against a solid fist or a foot to the nuts? Or are you just assuming a woman wouldn’t be able to get to your nuts before you subdued her? > > I am honestly curious. I think I may have asked a while back about whether or not a guy would kick another guy in the nuts during a fight. To me, a woman, going straight for the nuts is a no-brainer. The problem is that, while our nuts are lamentably vulnerable, most guys mitigate this somewhat by keeping legs conveniently attached nearby. It doesn’t take a lot more than an instinctive flinch to turn enough that the family jewels aren’t a clear target. Further - this may work well against a fellow trying to wrestle/grapple his opponent. But if you’re fighting me, I promise I’m doing everything I can to break contact and run away. This probably reduces the vulnerability of the jewels as well. As mentioned upthread, I suspect I’d lose a fight against you - but probably not this way. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/42 "2011-03-16T21:08:06Z")
I can’t think of any I know personally at present, but I can think of at least one who’d fare pretty well against a man - Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, shown in white trunks in [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=juImpD0GLng) beating another fighter down pretty well before knocking her out around the 5 minute mark. At 145 lbs, Santos is the best pound for pound female MMA fighter in the world. Santos couldn’t beat a ranked male pro fighter of her own weight class, and probably not one below either, but I don’t doubt that she could kick the crap out of a few random untrained shmoes off of the street. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/43 "2011-03-16T21:13:40Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > In the martial art I practiced (Tracy’s Kenpo) we emphasized nut kicking, nut grabbing and nut twisting a lot. Can most guys - or most of you guys - stand tough against a solid fist or a foot to the nuts? Or are you just assuming a woman wouldn’t be able to get to your nuts before you subdued her? You’re assuming you’d be able to land the strike. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/44 "2011-03-16T21:15:32Z")
I’m 6’ tall, 210 pounds, and work out regularly … but I’ve never fought anyone as an adult and have no martial arts training whatsoever. I imagine I could kick the asses all of the women I know personally, who are all much smaller than me - but obviously not if one of 'em had training. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/45 "2011-03-16T21:21:15Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You seem to have not noticed that I said I would not debate the point with you. I especially decline to do so now that it is clear you have already made up your mind on this and if I disagree with you I am wrong. I am not trying to debate. I observed that what you wrote could be taken in a given way, but since I am not certain that was what you meant, I asked for clarification. I thought about probing your thoughts with my mutant telepathic powers but was prevented by lacking same. (Stupid non-comic-book universe.) I can’t imagine what point you think I am trying to _debate_ anyway. And, if I may say so, it seems disingenous to act as if I have made up my mind about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/46 "2011-03-16T21:36:32Z")
I don’t really know. I’ve never been in a fight so I have no clue how I would fare against anyone. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/47 "2011-03-16T21:47:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You’re assuming you’d be able to land the strike. Read what you quoted. I am asking that. Do you think you’d fare ok against a blow to the nuts, or do you just assume no one is going to be able to hit you in the nuts? How do you think you’d do if a woman DID hit you in the nuts? What about a grab and twist? Some dudes I think could handle it. I think some dudes who didn’t think they could handle it _could_ handle it if enraged enough. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/48 "2011-03-16T21:50:14Z")
If enough adrenaline is pumping you won’t feel getting cracked in the balls. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/49 "2011-03-16T21:53:36Z")
If you did do the 1000 random men fight 1000 random women thing, what do you think the record would be? 990-10? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/50 "2011-03-16T22:00:48Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > If you did do the 1000 random men fight 1000 random women thing, what do you think the record would be? 990-10? More like 900-100 in favor of the men, and maybe as much as 800-200. The women would lose badly but inflict not-insignificant damanges on the men. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/51 "2011-03-16T22:59:17Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Read what you quoted. I am asking that. I’m saying the question is moot since the strike wouild never land, and I doubt it would do much damage even if it did. It’s hard to land square. Grabbing and twisting is easier said than done through pants, and nut shots, in general aren’t really as disabling they’re often made out to be. They’re not fun, but they can be borne in the heat of an adrenaline filled, fight or flight type moment. It’s not a stopper for a guy who’s really pissed off or determined. The eyes or the trachea are better bets. Can you handle somebody grabbing a hold of your trachea? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/52 "2011-03-16T23:03:44Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Read what you quoted. I am asking that. > > Do you think you’d fare ok against a blow to the nuts, or do you just assume no one is going to be able to hit you in the nuts? Do you think any woman would fare ok against my patented Pimp Slap[sup]TM[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/53 "2011-03-17T00:31:27Z")
Hmmm, I am a 27 year old male of average strength and build, so I don’t know any women where the fight would be lopsided in their favor, but I can think of two goyls who would definitely leave me worse for wear. One is a 6 foot 3, heavyset, Australian woman. The other is a small but stocky karate practicioner who was best-in-state when she was in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/54 "2011-03-17T00:44:58Z")
Not in my circle, no. I’m not a badass by any means, and I’m sure there are plenty of female marines, kickboxers, etc who could take me, but I think I could outfight any of the women I know, if I really really had to. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/55 "2011-03-17T01:01:33Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > re: Women with advanced martial arts belts/degrees. Has anybody ever actually seen one defeat a man who was the same size or larger and not drunk/high/elderly/holding back? I’ve seen women win on points in free sparring where any kind of contact would score. I never saw one compete against a man in full contact, much less win. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Martial arts training is kind of overrated. It doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone is going to be able to overcome a significant advantage in strength and mass. Karate isn’t magic. If someone can pick you up and throw you, your tae kwon do classes from the strip mall aren’t going to help you that much (I say this as a shrimp who took tae kwon do lessons as a kid). It’s more useful in just helping you get away, not necessarily in going toe to toe with someone who’s bigger and stronger than you. Karate and taekwondo are striking styles, which are largely ineffective against a bigger, stronger opponent. That said they’re still effective if the opponent has deficient training-- on the Jackass video (yeah, my friend showed me part of it), one of the dudes fights the Japan lightweight kickboxing champ. She was big, but he was a lot bigger, and she beat the crap out of him. I’ve seen videos of women trained in BJJ or other grappling arts take down bigger guys. One of the best woman jujitsu fighters in Japan (wish I could remember her name) I’ve seen clips of decimating guys because she can hit an arm bar from anywhere. One dude she jumped and inverted herself, pulled an arm bar and the guy tapped out before he could even be taken down. You have the training to hit the right points, your opponent can be substantially larger than you. A big guy’s arm strength isn’t going to compete against the strength of a trained woman’s entire body. Someone better trained might have been able to keep her at bay, but if were a real fight, even if she took a couple shots, she only needs to land that once to shatter an elbow, which pretty much ends fights in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/56 "2011-03-17T01:17:14Z")
Hey \*\*BellRung[/b, you know the Australian sheela I’m talking about. How do you think you’d fare in a tussle? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/57 "2011-03-17T01:21:26Z")
Actually I’m not as familiar with the crowd up where you are, so I don’t know her. But unless she’s had training, I’d still have to say I could take her. Wrestling’s a pretty solid base, and I’ve learned various smatterings of striking and other grappling styles. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/58 "2011-03-17T01:59:31Z")
I didn’t read the post before voting, but I wouldn’t fight fair against anybody, male or female. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/59 "2011-03-17T02:08:29Z")
The poll didn’t have an option for “most of them”, so I chose “six or more”. Though it’s not really all that embarrassing, since I’m not particularly violent anyway. Physically, I’m an absolute weakling. I do have some martial arts training that mitigates that somewhat, but realistically, that doesn’t make all _that_ much difference, and besides, I’m way out of practice (though I’m still quite good at taking falls). If I were an RPG character, I’d be balanced on the assumption that I could cast spells. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934/60 "2011-03-17T02:20:17Z")
Oh, and as to the question of strikes to the gonads: Most men have very good instincts for protecting their family jewels, which makes them a relatively poor choice of target. However, those same instincts also make them a very good choice for a feint. Feint for the balls, then when the dude focuses all his attention on protecting them, then go for a different soft target like the throat or the eyes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-many-women-do-you-know-who-could-kick-your-ass-in-hand-to-hand-combat/574934.md?page=4)