So... can you kick my butt?

[Alan Armstrong]

Before marrying my wife, when dating, she told me that a guy at work kept touching her butt.

I told her to tell this butt head, and she did

"If you touch my butt, my boyfriend is going to touch your's"

He stopped and that was that.

[sensei8]

"Can you kick my butt?"

It is the question that inevitably follows "Oh, you do maritial arts?" when someone (especially a non-MAist) finds out I train before they know me well.

To me, this seems like a dead end question, because any answer I give is socially unacceptable (yes, no, maybe, don't care, why would I kick your butt?), yet the question itself has become a socially acceptable knee-jerk response.

I have two questions for you all today:

1. Is this something I get because I'm female, or does everyone get it fairly regularly?

 

2. What is your favorite response to this?

That question isn't owned by any particular gender; I get it all of the time!!

For the most, I just walk away!! Let them wonder, for all I give a darn!!

For the most, I believe that they're just kidding or uncomfortable, whenever they do ask. But, for me, the question doesn't even deserve an answer because my MA is very personal to me, and whenever they do ask that insulting question, I can choose two things...answer them or not to answer them!! I choose to ignore them as if they're invisible!

The unmitigated gall of them to ask!!

[Spartacus Maximus]

One thing that these types of annoying comments and questions have taught me is to become expert at changing the subject or stirring the conversation in a different direction. Luckily this is only necessary for the few times when avoiding the subject is not possible.

[Alan Armstrong]

Maybe this looks familiar to you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-MZ01Rba7HQ

[Spartacus Maximus]

Seen it. That's one of the best parts of that movie.

[MatsuShinshii]

Ok I have to interject a little common sense humor... sure I can if you turn around for me.

Sorry I couldn't help myself.

[Shizentai]

Before marrying my wife, when dating, she told me that a guy at work kept touching her butt.

I told her to tell this butt head, and she did

"If you touch my butt, my boyfriend is going to touch your's"

He stopped and that was that.

Jokes aside, that must have been so awful for her to have gone though. I'm so sorry to hear that.

[bushido_man96]

"Can you kick my butt?"

It is the question that inevitably follows "Oh, you do maritial arts?" when someone (especially a non-MAist) finds out I train before they know me well.

To me, this seems like a dead end question, because any answer I give is socially unacceptable (yes, no, maybe, don't care, why would I kick your butt?), yet the question itself has become a socially acceptable knee-jerk response.

I used to get this often, but it was during my middle and high school days, although I did get it once when I was at junior college. I don't hear it anymore. I think as we get older, more mature individuals don't ask that question as much.

1. Is this something I get because I'm female, or does everyone get it fairly regularly?

Nope, not gender specific. Both genders get it. Although I imagine in mostly comes from males asking, not females. I could be wrong, but I've only ever heard it from males.

2. What is your favorite response to this?

My favorite response is, "Probably, its not that high off the ground."

[Shizentai]

Both genders get it. Although I imagine in mostly comes from males asking, not females. I could be wrong, but I've only ever heard it from males.

Hmm, good point. I'm trying to think of a time when a woman has asked me if I could kick her butt. I don't think any ever have. Although once a woman (who didn't train) asked me if I could kick the butt of the guy standing next to me, who happened to be my sensei. I was like "no"

[mushybees]

I work with a bunch of tradesmen who are a mixed bag intellectually. I try to keep it to myself but some ask what my interests are and it can become unavoidable. When someone asks if I can beat them up I remark that they seem like a decent enough person so we'll probably never know. If they press I invite them to come train which normally illicits a scoff. Fine by me.

People are generally really ignorant about martial arts. At worst they know only what they've seen on TV and those who have trained a little don't realise that they never really got to see their art properly.