Page 53 of The Cheapside Runners
“Nevergive up an advantage voluntarily. Never-never-ever. If you have the man on the ground, you need to ensure—”
Like lightning again, she lifted her boot and stomped down on a stick the size of a man’s leg laying unnoticed on the floor,producing a terrifying sounding crunch.
“If you are desperate enough to fight back,finish what you started, whatever it takes. Unless he is unconscious or dead, you have lost the advantage of surprise. You have to end the fight using any means necessary. Anyone who attacks you forfeits the right to a so-called fair fight or mercy. Depending on whether that was the man’s leg or chest, and how hard I stomped, I just disabled or killed him. I am now safe—at least from him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Women are allowed to defend themselves, but we are not guaranteed to win in a court of law. If you kill him, you may face justice from the magistrate or the courts. You might even be hanged if you are caught. If it is you or him, then you must survive, and run if you must—but whatever you plan to do, make it fast and definitive.”
They all looked horrified, but Mrs Black was having none of it.
The two rough-looking men Mary had seen the first day entered through a large door they had not noticed, dragging two handcarts with a few dozen new targets.
“Allow yourselves the supreme pleasure of smashing all of these targets to pieces. You know you want to!” Mrs Black said with an uncharacteristic laugh.
She then had the men start setting up the targets, and she started giving them instructions on how, when, and where to strike, and with what parts of their bodies. They all got a lesson in how strong the elbow and heel were, though both were still somewhat vulnerable. They all got a lesson in putting their whole body into the punch if required.
They worked up to luncheon smashing the targets with both palms and both elbows until the ladies felt quite mannish.
~~~~~
Luncheon was cold meat, cheese, bread, a bit of fruit, andwater. They ate standing up with the two men like field hands. Nobody tried to pry into Mrs Black’s motivations for having the men present. They were both big, hulking, threatening-looking ogres, and most of the ladies eventually assumed that was their purpose—she wanted them to learn not to be intimidated.
After luncheon, things got distinctly uncomfortable.
They first discussed the parts oftheirbodies that made the best weapons, the parts of their attacker’s bodies that were the most vulnerable, and a dozen ways to connect the former with the latter.
Nearly any man could be entirely disabled with a palm to the solar plexus if you were facing them, or an elbow if you were facing away. A heel stomp on the top of the foot would practically cripple any man for life if you were wearing boots but would still hurt like the devil even in dancing slippers.
A palm to the nose or chin might be effective, but only if you could not get at the solar plexus.
Their mortification was complete when they learnt about knee kicks to the groin (never foot), especially when one of the men described in some detail how much it hurt in language that put even Mrs Black to the blush.
Of course, there were other obvious tactics that were seldom used but quite effective.
Anyone who had ever had their hair yanked out could attest to the unpleasantness, and though it took more skill than any of them were likely to have, gouging out the eyes with your fingers had much to recommend it if you were serious about permanently disabling him.
An open-fingered jab at the windpipe could be disabling or fatal, and even a closed fist would do the job in a pinch. Anyone striking the heavily boned chin when the weak and vulnerable neck was available was a fool.
Of course, one needed room to fight or run, so they went intohow to break out of grips when a man grabbed their wrist, their arms, their waist, their leg, or the other ways to break a grip if they grappled you from front or back.
Mrs Black even showed them the thumb lock she used on the miscreant the first day. She told them any finger was vulnerable to being bent over backward, but if they did it, not to mess about. Just break it—no showing off as she had done. And, of course, if you were going to do that, it was essential to follow it up with a crippling blow.
Even biting was acceptable if it came right down to it, but she said if they were that desperate, to emulate a bear more than a lady. Bite hard and try to tear a chunk off.
As if things were not already uncomfortable beyond belief, they got even worse.
Mrs Black put on a padded chest plate, a stiff collar, and padded greaves on her wrists—then spent quite some time grabbing, tossing, and throwing the ladies around until they learnt to fight back. There were going to be some sprains, sores, cuts, and bruises the next day, but they were learning.
Once they had that part down, they were distressed even more to see the men wearing the same gear, and much to their consternation, they found themselves repeating the exercise with a man who looked more like an ogre than anything else.
They continued long into the evening until everyone was drooping and dragging, though curiously enervated to learn that theycoulddefend themselves if they really had to. They all still believed that they never would have to do anything so disagreeable, and for the vast majority of them, that would be true.
Just before she sent them to bed, she said, “I think you see why I recommended against telling your guardians about that part.”
“I will never tell another soul as long as I live,” MissBurgundy said emphatically, and all readily agreed.
“Good night, ladies. You have done well today,” Mrs Black said kindly, and they all fell into their beds in exhaustion.
