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A groin attack is an attempt to cause injury to the groin area of one's opponent, either through punching, kicking, grappling, squeezing or biting. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the testicles (in male opponents) as well as a large number of nerve endings in the vulva (in female opponents.).
The "low blow"
A groin attack is considered to be a "low blow" not only in the literal sense (indeed, this being the origin of that term), but also metaphorically. In a playful attack, or attack in the framework of a sport, a low blow is seen as unfair or improper. It is considered dishonorable. In a hostile attack a low blow may be considered more inappropriate.
However, an all-out defense including low blows is seen as appropriate against serious attacks. Thus e.g. women are taught that the groin attack is one of the key maneuvers in fending off a would-be rapist, as the technique is often very effective. The groin attack is not always effective on male attackers so females fearing rape must also be prepared with other attack measures if the maneuver fails.
Prohibitions
Certain groin attacks are prohibited in the Bible. Deuteronomy 25:11-12 states:
- ''If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity.
The low blow is prohibited in boxing (as a "hit below the belt") and in Mixed Martial Arts bouts. Some forms of groin attack are illegal in professional wrestling, as well.
An entire episode of the animated series, King of the Hill, is dedicated to exploring the condemnation of groin attacks as an 'unmanly' for of attack to employ. In episode #105, "Bobby Goes Nuts", Bobby Hill takes a womens' self defense class where he learns this technique, and begins using it against school bullies.
Examples
Groin attacks are featured in many Steven Seagal films (e.g. On Deadly Ground).
Former Congressman James Traficant often referred to groin attacks in his colorful congressional speeches. On one occasion, while defending himself in a criminal trial, he declared of the prosecutor, "if they lie again, I'm going to go over there and kick them in the crotch."
In comedy
Injuries to the groin, including attacks, are often plumbed for comedic value.
In South Park, Eric Cartman frequently threatens that he will "kick you in the nuts", but is not seen to actually carry out such threats.
In a memorable scene in the Steve Martin film, The Jerk, Martin uses kung fu to dispatch a series of crooked developers, but injures his foot when kicking the groin of one of them, who turns out to have been "Iron Balls McGinty".
Many clips from the television program America's Funniest Home Videos feature an actual groin attack as the slapstick gag.
In 8-Bit Theater, Created by Brian Clevinger, Black Mage is kicked in the crotch by the Green Monster. Since he had become a blue mage beforehand, he learned this maneuver dubbed "the goblin punch" and used it on the monster, causing an explosion sending the monster hundreds of feet in the air.
See also
"Groin attack"