| I have an unexpected relationship problem. | | | | female because a woman knows at any time she |
| It's hard to believe it has become such an | | | | may have to defend herself against a man.The |
| issue but it has. The whole thing started | | | | Chinese sage Lieh Tzu told a story about a |
| very innocently when my boyfriend and I were | | | | man who lost an ax. The man thought his |
| watching some silly action movie. The female | | | | neighbor's son took it, and in every word or |
| heroine was kicking butt, and I mentioned to | | | | deed of the boy, the man saw the actions of a |
| my boyfriend I took a semester's worth of | | | | thief. Then one day the man found his ax, and |
| judo classes in college and could probably | | | | he no longer saw the neighbor's son as a |
| give him a run for his money.I was half | | | | thief.Your boyfriend is stuck thinking you |
| joking. I didn't really think I could beat | | | | have stolen the ax, his manhood. Actually |
| him. He has a pretty significant weight | | | | nothing has changed since the time you first |
| advantage over me and is an athletic guy. I'm | | | | watched the movie together. Personal security |
| not exactly a big amazon type of girl. I'm | | | | expert Gavin de Becker once summed up this |
| tall and slender. I jog regularly and work | | | | whole situation by saying, "At core, men are |
| out a couple of times a week, but that's it | | | | afraid women will laugh at them, while at |
| really.Anyway, we got going, and to my | | | | core, women are afraid men will kill them."It |
| surprise I was able to fend off his initial | | | | is time for you to retire from the mat as an |
| attempts to take me down. Then I caught him | | | | undefeated champion. The purse, his frail |
| off guard with a basic leg sweep and used | | | | ego, isn't worth fighting for. He has a |
| other techniques to keep him on the floor and | | | | problem to deal with, and it is his problem |
| eventually pin him. I thought it was fun and | | | | alone.Wayne & TamaraChild's PlayMy problem is |
| funny, and so did he at first. We've had | | | | a love problem, as most problems are. I've |
| several "bouts" since, and I've beaten him | | | | been in love with this girl for a year now, |
| every time.Yes, I understand male egos are | | | | and I need to know how to make her mine. We |
| fragile when it comes to these things, but | | | | are good friends and she finds me funny, I |
| I'm getting really sick of his petulant | | | | think. So maybe that could help me. I'm not |
| attitude every time he loses. He seems to | | | | much to look at, and she is. I've thought |
| think it's impossible I can beat him, and | | | | many a time to just go for it and kiss |
| he's a real pill to be around when it | | | | her.RoryRory, I tried that with the girl |
| happens. What am I supposed to do--let him | | | | across the street when I was four. It didn't |
| win? I'm proud I've retained judo skills, | | | | work, and I wouldn't recommend it past the |
| rudimentary as they are, and I don't see why | | | | age of four. Since you are good friends, you |
| I should compromise just because I'm a | | | | can tell her how you feel. If she's |
| woman.JodiJodi, your boyfriend is not | | | | interested, she'll let you know.A song by |
| learning the lesson here. He is the athlete, | | | | Bonnie Raitt says, "I can't make you love me |
| but he is untrained. You are trained, and you | | | | if you don't, you can't make your heart feel |
| understand how to turn your opponent's | | | | something it won't." That pretty much sums it |
| strength to your advantage. If anything, the | | | | up. Tell her what you feel, then accept her |
| skill of self-defense is more valuable to a | | | | answer. |