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Some bullshit in the article. Kicking the groins is not only encouraged but effective on self-defense. All traditional martial arts have groin attacks. The art

Some bullshit in the article. Kicking the groins is not only encouraged but effective on self-defense. All traditional martial arts have groin attacks. The article is only talking about "dominance" fights, and in this case not hitting low is about not fighting dirt, and it exists so people don't keep going back for revenge in an endless retaliation cycle. If two men square off and one wins clean, the conflict is settled.

s_kilk 12y ago
Yup. Any decent self-defence training will include attacks to the groin. The advice is usually to swing hard and, in the words of my old ju-jitsu instructor, "obliterate their junk". If you can land that kind of a hit, you'll have a great opportinity to run from the assailant.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  Another issue is that while you swing a leg to kick someone in the nuts, you are far more open to being kicked in the nuts.
krapp 12y ago
Interestingly, I was taught the opposite - that because men are hard wired to protect that area (and it's easy to protect) the groin is a good target of opportunity, but other targets like the head (eyes, nose, throat) or solar plexus are likely to be more effective.
- EdwardDiego 12y ago
  > that because men are hard wired to protect that area It amazes me how fast my body can respond to a nut shot whereas I can't even catch half the time. Anytime someone's gone for my groin, (and it's only ever been women) my thigh has moved to deflect the foot/knee without my even noticing.
- hcarvalhoalves 12y ago
  Strange logic. It's much easier to take someone out with a groin kick than any kind of head hit, specially if you're not a boxer. Kicking the groin requires almost no technique. If you just aim at the inner thigh and kick upward as hard as you can, inevitably you hit the groin. If you're close, you can knee. Hitting someone's eyes or throat enough to incapacitate, on the other hand, isn't nearly as easy. Groin attack is a recurring theme on Karate, which emphasizes bare hand fighting, and in Muay thai it's almost a primary target. That's how effective it is.
EliRivers 12y ago
As you suggest, there is a big difference between self-defence and two manly (but somewhat inebriated) men going out to the carpark to prove to each other and everyone watching that they are manly men who do manly men things.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  Fight cultures are about establishing pecking orders, not about finishing someone off. The easiest way to find out if you are in a fight culture is to try fronting. If this gets you out of a fight, you are somewhere fairly normal, however if you are in a fight culture, you will be immediately jumped on by people who are overjoyed at finding somebody else who is up for a proper barney.

s_kilk 12y ago

Yup. Any decent self-defence training will include attacks to the groin. The advice is usually to swing hard and, in the words of my old ju-jitsu instructor, "obliterate their junk". If you can land that kind of a hit, you'll have a great opportinity to run from the assailant.

lotsofmangos 12y ago
Another issue is that while you swing a leg to kick someone in the nuts, you are far more open to being kicked in the nuts.

krapp 12y ago

Interestingly, I was taught the opposite - that because men are hard wired to protect that area (and it's easy to protect) the groin is a good target of opportunity, but other targets like the head (eyes, nose, throat) or solar plexus are likely to be more effective.

EdwardDiego 12y ago
> that because men are hard wired to protect that area It amazes me how fast my body can respond to a nut shot whereas I can't even catch half the time. Anytime someone's gone for my groin, (and it's only ever been women) my thigh has moved to deflect the foot/knee without my even noticing.
hcarvalhoalves 12y ago
Strange logic. It's much easier to take someone out with a groin kick than any kind of head hit, specially if you're not a boxer. Kicking the groin requires almost no technique. If you just aim at the inner thigh and kick upward as hard as you can, inevitably you hit the groin. If you're close, you can knee. Hitting someone's eyes or throat enough to incapacitate, on the other hand, isn't nearly as easy. Groin attack is a recurring theme on Karate, which emphasizes bare hand fighting, and in Muay thai it's almost a primary target. That's how effective it is.

EliRivers 12y ago

As you suggest, there is a big difference between self-defence and two manly (but somewhat inebriated) men going out to the carpark to prove to each other and everyone watching that they are manly men who do manly men things.

lotsofmangos 12y ago
Fight cultures are about establishing pecking orders, not about finishing someone off. The easiest way to find out if you are in a fight culture is to try fronting. If this gets you out of a fight, you are somewhere fairly normal, however if you are in a fight culture, you will be immediately jumped on by people who are overjoyed at finding somebody else who is up for a proper barney.