After almost being mugged, Amy wants to try out self-defense classes, with Sheldon along for the ride.
"Are you really sure you want to do this?", Sheldon asks Amy as they enter the gym.
Amy has a cursory look around before turning back at her husband, "Yes. We were almost robbed, Sheldon. We got by only because you screamed hard enough to scare that person away," she recalls.
She still feels chills down her spine thinking back of what happened two days earlier. Everything has happened so quickly - the mugger approaching, Sheldon's reaction, and the person renouncing to attack them because he had drawn too much attention at this point. They had dodged a bullet this time, but what about the next one? The awareness of this and a convenient ad about self-defense classes in a local gym had led her there.
"See? That worked," Sheldon replies, "There's no need to be here. I'll scream again if we need it."
"What if I am alone? I can't reach such a high-pitch," Amy observes. Sheldon's scream really was acute. It reminded her of a very terrified teen girl.
"I can teach you."
"Okay… What if there is no around? What if…" She pauses briefly, looking for the definitive objection, "What if the attacker is deaf?"
Despite the very unlikely possibility of a deaf mugger, this seems to win Sheldon over. "You are right," he concedes, "I guess we can ask for info since we are already here."
They go to a nearby stand and Amy starts browsing booklets about the various courses the gym offers, "Ju-Jitsu?", she pulls out the first one.
"You know, I tried it once," Sheldon tells her, "I was nine, and our neighbor's daughter bullied me. I thought Ju-Jitsu could help me. The idea is to use your opponent's force against them."
"Did it help you?"
"Oh, no," Sheldon has to admit, "I failed miserably. Apparently, I could use any force against anyone, not even a six-year-old."
Amy raises her eyebrows. Six years old? What kind of neighbors did Sheldon have in Texas? "Let's forget about Ju-Jitsu for now," she says putting back the booklet.
"What about… Krav Maga?"
Sheldon grimaces. This sounds scary and funny at the same time, "Tell me more," he asks her.
"Krav Maga is a military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israeli security forces. It derived from a combination of techniques sourced from boxing, wrestling, Aikido, judo, and karate, along with realistic fight training," Amy reads out loud, "Like most martial arts, Krav Maga encourages students to avoid physical confrontation, and it promotes finishing a fight as quickly and aggressively as possible."
"I certainly agree with the idea to avoid confrontation, and run away as soon as possible," Sheldon comments, "However, I am not sure learning military techniques is a good idea. Isn't it too much?"
"I thought you liked me in camouflage," Amy jokes returning this other leaflet and winking to Sheldon.
He grins, "That's valid only when are you cosplaying River Song," he whispers back before landing a peck on her cheek. Somehow she is now sure what he will be asking to play tonight.
"Um, this seems the best option," Sheldon exclaims. He shows Amy something titled 'Self-defense: basic concepts' and she nods in response. She briefly reads its content, and finally approaches the receptionist to ask her to sign up for the course.
"Wait, I want to do this too," Sheldon tells the young woman at the reception. Amy turns to him, surprised. "It's not right you are the only one doing this," he explains, "I must be able to defend us too."
The gym employee kindly smiles, "I immediately check if I can insert you in the male novice class."
"Oh, no!" Sheldon protests "I don't want to be in another class. I want to sign up with my wife."
"Sir, I am afraid this could not be possible. Classes are for level and gender, you know, men are typically-"
"Stronger than women?" Sheldon completes the sentence for her, "I can assure you I am not stronger than any of the people in the class. Or stronger than any woman in general. Or stronger than anyone."
The receptionist stares at him. He is tall, pale, skinny, and wears a Flash t-shirt and unfashionable shoes. He has introduced himself as a doctor. Is he some sort of nerd? In any case, he honestly doesn't look like someone who would hurt someone, and she also finds kind of sweet he wants to enlist in that experience with his wife. She decides to give him a chance.
"I will need to check with Miss Flammenbaum, your instructor, if she is okay with this. For now, I am enrolling both in her class," the woman concedes.
Three days later, Sheldon and Amy are back in the gym. There are a few suspicious glances of other participants because of the lanky odd man in between them, but Amy feels the stare of a single someone on her.
"Stop staring at me," Amy scolds her husband.
Sheldon is still gazing at her sweatpants, "Forgive me. I can count on a single hand the times I saw you in a pair of pants in over eight years. You look odd."
"I feel odd," Amy admits, "Maybe it hasn't been a good idea…"
"Do you want to quit because they asked you to wear pants?" Sheldon asks. "I admitted I am not used to seeing you in those, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't wear them. It's certainly more comfortable wearing pants when engaging in physical activity, and honestly? You are lovely."
Amy blushes slightly, "It doesn't count. Your opinion is biased."
"Definitely," he says back with a grin.
"As I said at the beginning, your aim is first and foremost to leave as soon as possible," Miss Flammenbaum continues her lesson, "You won't hurt your assailant for the sake of it but to cover your escape."
A younger woman, previously introduced as her assistant, approaches her and sets in front of her. "Now, let's assume an attacker comes at you in a frontal assault."
As the assistant marches against her, the instructor hits her with a rapid strike of the heel of her hand. "A quick and safe way to hit is this," she explains right after, "You strike with an open hand. Use your heel, and just thrust it upwards. Just avoid punches. There are simply too many ways to create a fist incorrectly."
"This sounds very reasonable," Sheldon comments, "I wish I had known this all the times I hurt myself trying to punch someone."
"In case an attack comes from behind, an option is trying to toss the aggressor down to the ground. We will see that, but not today. What I want now is to teach you how to sing."
Sheldon and Amy (as many of the other participants) exchange puzzled glances. Miss Flammenbaum notices the confused look in her students and smiles, "Tough audience today," she jokes. As no one seems to get the reference, she explains, "S - I - N - G, short for solar plexus, instep, nose, and groin. This acronym you don't remember from the lovely the 2000 Blockbuster hit Miss Congeniality will help you to easily remember four sensitive areas to target."
"Oh, now I get it!" Sheldon exclaims, "That's a lovely movie indeed. Maybe we can see if it's on Netflix."
Amy raises an eyebrow, amused. "Not that I ever watched it before," Sheldon suspiciously adds.
After she has shown how to hit the mentioned areas, Miss Flammenbaum asks everyone to group in couples and to try themselves.
"I can't be the attacker," Sheldon tells Amy, "I can't pretend to want to hurt you."
"Okay. I'll be on offense and you on defense. Ready?"
Sheldon moves to be in front of her, but then he just remains still. "I can't do this either," he declares, "I could hurt you."
"Because of the glasses? Um, maybe it's better if I take them off," Amy answers. She reaches for them, but Sheldon stops her.
"It's not this. I don't want to hurt you," Sheldon insists.
Miss Flammenbaum approaches them, and a quick glance is enough for her to understand what it's happening, "What if I try with one of you first?" She offers. The Coopers nods, and she takes Sheldon's place in front of Amy.
As soon as she reaches Amy, an unexpected force impacts on her. When she realizes what's happening, she's already on the floor, pressing her hands on her bleeding nose. The instructor looks up and honestly is not surprised to see the man of the couple bent over her.
"I am terribly sorry, ma'am," Sheldon apologizes, "I- I don't know what got into me. I saw you were marching against Amy with your fist raised and I reacted."
Despite the pain, Miss Flammenbaum still smiles, "It's okay. You will be surprised to know how often this happens. And by the way, good move! You learned the lesson perfectly," she congratulates. Still holding her nose, she slowly stands up, "You would excuse me if I let you try on your own now," she finally says before leaving.
Amy takes his hitting hand, gently caressing it, "I admit I didn't suspect you had such strength."
Sheldon lowers his stare. Sure, he made quite a move, but he also overreacted in the end. "I shouldn't have. I also hurt my heel. Can we look for a doctor?"
Amy takes a closer look. His palm and heel are perfectly fine, "What if we try with a healing kiss first?"
"Kisses have not thaumaturgical powers, despite what mothers teach their children."
"How can you say it?" Amy asserts. Before he can further protest, she places a soft kiss on the 'hurt' heel.
"Oh, I feel way better now."
Amy smirks and stretches up to kiss him again, this time on the lips. "C'mon, let's try on our own now," she encourages him.