Groin attack
Encyclopedia
A groin attack is an attempt to cause pain to the groin
area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva
of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may fracture the pubic bone of the victim, resulting in physical disability. They have been popularized as a comedic device on programs such as America's Funniest Home Videos
, professional wrestling
, and YouTube
.
competitions, including boxing
, kickboxing
, and mixed martial arts
competitions where full-contact strikes are normal and permitted. Testicle attacks were, however, allowed until the 1980s in international Thai boxing (Muay Thai
) and are still permitted in Thailand itself (though the boxers wear cups to lessen the impact). Many martial arts organizations require competitors to wear protective cups against accidental blows, as do many other sports. Direct strikes to the groin are generally considered illegal in professional wrestling
as well. However, in certain "hardcore" matches the rules are relaxed and such attacks are allowed by mutual consent. In a hostile attack outside of sports, a low blow may be considered more appropriate as a self defense technique. It is often, though not always, effective.
, the primary nerve of the testicles. A prolonged squeeze to the testicles can cause the victim to black out. A hard strike or squeeze can cause the testicle to rupture, potentially sterilizing the victim. In such cases, hospitalization is necessary and if the testicles cannot be repaired, they must be removed.
or clitoris
quite severely incapacitate females due to an extremely high amount of nerve endings in these structures. The clitoris is so sensitive that many females find that just directly touching it, even lightly, is painful. Potential long term health problems can arise for female victims of groin attacks including nerve damage to the clitoris, fracture of the pubic bone, Hematoma
, and Vulvodynia
.
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva
Vulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may fracture the pubic bone of the victim, resulting in physical disability. They have been popularized as a comedic device on programs such as America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
, professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Low blow
An attack to the groin is considered to be a "low blow" not only in the literal sense, but is the origin of the metaphor. In a playful attack, or attack in the framework of a sport, a low blow is seen as unfair or improper and is often considered dishonourable. Strikes to the groin are almost universally forbidden in martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
competitions, including boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, and mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
competitions where full-contact strikes are normal and permitted. Testicle attacks were, however, allowed until the 1980s in international Thai boxing (Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
) and are still permitted in Thailand itself (though the boxers wear cups to lessen the impact). Many martial arts organizations require competitors to wear protective cups against accidental blows, as do many other sports. Direct strikes to the groin are generally considered illegal in professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
as well. However, in certain "hardcore" matches the rules are relaxed and such attacks are allowed by mutual consent. In a hostile attack outside of sports, a low blow may be considered more appropriate as a self defense technique. It is often, though not always, effective.
Male victims
Groin attacks enacted upon male victims are the most widely known, and women are often taught to use the groin attack to discourage potential rapists and other attackers. Groin strikes are debilitating and pose potential harm to males due to the high sensitivity of the gonads and vulnerability of human external testicles. The pain associated with testicular trauma travels from the testicles into the abdominal cavity through the spermatic plexusSpermatic plexus
The spermatic plexus is derived from the renal plexus, receiving branches from the aortic plexus. It accompanies the internal spermatic artery to the testis....
, the primary nerve of the testicles. A prolonged squeeze to the testicles can cause the victim to black out. A hard strike or squeeze can cause the testicle to rupture, potentially sterilizing the victim. In such cases, hospitalization is necessary and if the testicles cannot be repaired, they must be removed.
Female victims
Unlike the male groin area, the female reproductive organs are contained within the body; because of this, a female's ovaries are protected from certain types of attacks and injuries are much less common. Contrary to depictions in popular culture (in which females are also vulnerable in their groin than anywhere else), strikes or grabbing and squeezing the vulvaVulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
or clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
quite severely incapacitate females due to an extremely high amount of nerve endings in these structures. The clitoris is so sensitive that many females find that just directly touching it, even lightly, is painful. Potential long term health problems can arise for female victims of groin attacks including nerve damage to the clitoris, fracture of the pubic bone, Hematoma
Hematoma
A hematoma, or haematoma, is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This distinguishes it from an ecchymosis, which is the spread of blood under the skin in a thin layer, commonly called a bruise...
, and Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar area and occurs without an identifiable cause or visible pathology categorized in the ICD-9 group 625—specifically ICD-9 625.7, which is for pain and other disorders of the female genital organs...
.
See also
- Cock and ball torture
- Men's healthMen's healthMen's health refers to health issues specific to human male anatomy. These often relate to structures such as male genitalia or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, males....
- TamakeriTamakeriTamakeri is a sexual fetish and sub-genre in which a female kicks, knees, punches, grabs or twists a man's testicles. This act is shown in some Japanese horror films, such as Busted Balls....
- Testicular claw
- Kicked in the NutsKicked in the NutsKicked in the Nuts is a spoof of hidden camera shows, created in August 2003 for the Channel 101 short film festival. It was written, directed, produced, and edited by Mike Henry and Patrick Henry.-Premise:...
- Sack tappingSack tappingSack tapping is a slang term for a form of bullying practiced by some adolescents as a "game" where a male participant attacks, by slapping, tapping, punching, kicking, stomping, elbowing or backhanding, another male victim's testicles. The term derived from 'sack', slang that refers to the...