Realistic reactions to being struck pt 2
Pt 1 here
Kicked in the ribs (while they're down!)
People depict a rib kick as either something that knocks whumpee flat on their stomach or that throws whumpee across the room. Please keep in mind that:
The reaction to any torso attack is to curl in protectively! The victim would not willingly expose their whole body by laying flat; we know instinctively that a curved structure disperses impact much better and our bodies will do that!
A 2nd kick is going to have to deal with flailing hands, shins, elbows, as victim tries to defend themselves
People (wisely) try to stay on their feet in a fight--unless they were conditioned otherwise.
A kick that throws someone across the room should be a heel kick. EVEN SO! It still takes a tremendous amount of strength to toss like 150 pounds of awkward weight across the room with a kick. Think of how light your foot is compared with a whole body--you'd have to be an expert at employing weight, torque, and momentum to actually send someone flying across the room if they're starting on their hands and knees.
Generally ribcage strikes don't really hurt immediately and may not even be frightening if your character is used to fights/violence.
Except the sensitive ribs at the bottom of the ribcage. Combine aching pain with some hit-in-the-gut panic.
If you want to kick whumpee face-down from hands and knees you will have to either move their arms and kick them down between the shoulder blades, or grapple them from behind with your feet on their thighs.
It's HARD to kick someone flat from their hands and knees. Unless aggressor is much heavier, or has goons to stretch victim out for them.
People will protect their heads more than their torso. If victim is struck in the head or neck they will cover the areas with their forearms, leaving their torso vulnerable. (On their hands and knees, they may cover their head and lean onto their elbows.)
