Fight Like a Man

Jonathan was a huge boxing fan. He grew up watching MMA fights and dreamed of holding is own in the ring. However, when he started taking self defense classes as a teenager, he received some advice that he absolutely despised. Apparently, the best choice in a potentially violent encounter is to just run away. Fuck that! he thought. Why bother training for a fight just to give up before it starts? If that happens to me, I'm going to fight like a man. He never let go of that sentiment. As an adult, he proposed online that anyone could learn to defend themselves properly, regardless of the size of their opponent. There was obvious pushback from comments, including from experts in the field, but one person caught his attention.

A young woman named Heather wanted to make a bet. She hated feeling so vulnerable walking alone at night, so she was interested in what her body was capable of. They would trade bodies, and Jonathan would fight a large man as her. If he won, then it would prove their point and they would switch back. If he lost, Heather would get to stay in the stronger body.

He began training with his former coach to get ready for the match. Being half his former weight with a lower center of gravity meant it was easier to duck and shift his momentum around. His punches were far less impressive, but he could dodge and weave like never before. Not to mention he was a much smaller target. He just had to be better at taking punches if they landed.

Jonathan trained every day for weeks. It was fun at first, but as time went on it began to get increasingly frustrating. Building strength was much slower than building technique. Why can't women grow muscles any faster? I'm not pregnant; I can afford to use these extra calories. And does having wider hips give me any advantage? What kind of leverage do I have for kicking? His breasts were also becoming a minor source of annoyance. They were sensitive, right at punching height, and bouncing in strange ways every time bounced on his toes. Training topless, while cathartic, did nothing to protect him from incoming blows to the chest.

Every time his morale dropped, he shook off feelings of doubt. Who am I kidding? This match won't be so hard. Women don't know their own strength. Jonathan could not see how monumental the difference in strength was between his new body and his old one. A petite young woman like himself stood little chance in a street fight, let alone against the 6'3" and 250 pound behemoth he was poised to face in the ring. Had it been for real, running away would have been the better option.