History Main / BallsOfSteel

Not to be confused with BrassBalls, nor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pétanque boules of steel.]] Not really related to NervesOfSteel, which is less literal than this trope. Subtrope of SuperSexOrgans and NoSell. Overlaps with KungFuProofMook if the target of the GroinAttack attempt is, well, a {{Mook|s}}. Funnily enough is TruthInTelevision with Shaolin Monks claiming that there is a practice for this, complete with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VP9M4iR8TQ video]].

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* During the ''[[ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy Season 8]]'' comics, Faith goes for the groin attack against the {{Nigh Invulnerab|ility}}le Twilight. His response? "What makes you think "invulnerable" isn't all over?" Subverted when he sees Buffy going for them with the scythe like she did with Caleb. Thinking better than to risk, it, he avoids the blow. [[spoiler: Makes sense, since he's Angel and actually saw what that move did.]]

* ''Literature/TheInvisibleMan'': When attacked by Griffin, Colonel Adye is simultaneously choked, kneed in the crotch ''and'' flung down the stairs. Considering how quickly he recovers from this, it seems this trope is in play.

* When attacked by Griffin, Colonel Adye is simultaneously choked, kneed in the crotch ''and'' flung down the stairs. Considering how quickly he recovers from this, it seems this trope is in play.

takes a shot to the groin while getting choked and flung down the stairs at the same time. He immediately gets back up,

''For the [[DigitalPinballTables video pinball game]]'' Balls of Steel, ''[[VideoGame/BallsOfSteel click here.]]''

** ''Discworld/MonstrousRegiment''--our heroine [[SweetPollyOliver Polly "Oliver" Perks]] is bitten in the crotch by a horse when disguised as a man, and only the horrified reaction of a male onlooker makes her realise she should be bent double in agony. [[note]]The trick is that the horse was actually just biting the fake bulge made of rolled-up socks.[[/note]] Also, Sergeant Jackrum once shrugged off getting kicked in the groin during a bar brawl, according to a story recounted by a soldier's son. [[spoiler: Like Polly, there's a good reason for that...]]
** In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', Carrot was given a codpiece as a parting gift from the friend who suggested he join the Watch. It proved to be useful throughout the book, as roughly half his enemies attempted {{Groin Attack}}s against him. In one of Carrot's letters home, he describes how a mugger kicked him in the Vitals, but he was wearing his Protective.

** Detritus, being a troll, literally has balls not of steel but of stone. In ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'':

** In ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals,'' Pepe gives Trev a pair of micromail underpants. They cause Andy Shank to hurt himself when he tries to kick Trev in the fork.

Typical justifications of this trope include the target wearing a codpiece, [[NoBiologicalSex lacking]] [[HumanOutsideAlienInside genitalia]] where he is being hit (especially common in SpeculativeFiction, but [[DisabilityImmunity can also happen with eunuchs]]), or [[SweetPollyOliver being]] [[SamusIsAGirl female]] (incidentally, a GroinAttack on a female [[RealityIsUnrealistic in real life is nearly as effective and dangerous as it is when used against a man]], though it ''is'' considered [[DoubleStandard less]] [[DudeNotFunny funny]]).

->''"I've got balls of steel!"''
-->-- '''''VideoGame/DukeNukem'''''

* Used somewhat [[{{Pun}} literally]] in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': [[TheFool Michelangelo]] attempts to take down Metalhead ([[CaptainObvious who of course is a robot]]) with a GroinAttack and predictably hurts himself.

** Detritus, being a troll, literally has balls not of steel but of stone. In ''The Fifth Elephant'',
-->'But if you can find der man dat kicked me inna rocks, I should be happy to give him a flick around der earhole. I know which one it was. He's der one walkin' wid der limp.'

* In the ''Literature/ProvostsDog'' series, a criminal tries for the standard subversion, and has some confidence due to it. Sadly, his armor, rather than protecting him, ''crumples''. Goodwin chides him for cheaping out on his armor as she makes the arrest.

* ''Literature/DocSidhe'': Knowing of PsychoForHire Angus Prowie's fondness for the GroinAttack, Harris foils him by wearing a cup with ColdIron spikes welded to it. When Powrie attempts to knee Harris in the groin, he ends up in a world of pain.

* Used in the ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' episode "Hot to Katratzi", where Chiana confronts a Scarran who had captured and threatened to torture her in a previous episode. After verifying his identity, she asks him if Scarrans have [[PardonMyKlingon mivonks]], and abruptly knees him in the groin before he has a chance to respond. As she lies on the floor clutching ''her knee'' in pain, the Scarran informs her that they do have them, but they're not external.
* One clip shown on ''Series/WorldsDumbest'' has a woman kicking a cop in the groin repeatedly (his "offense" was trying to arrest her for assaulting him to begin with). He didn't seem to even notice, although commentators did.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Series/{{Titus}} was smart enough in one episode to wear a cup when he went to go get his girlfriend's niece, so when she kicked him there all she did was [[AgonyOfDeFeet hurt her foot]].

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In ''Promised Land'' Literature/{{Spenser}} takes a shot to the groin from a female martial artist, and though, as he points out, ''it still hurts like hell'' he manages to power through it, knock her on her ass and explain to her that it's not the fool proof trick she thinks it is, especially when a guy's been kicked there before and knows how to deal with it.

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

[[folder: Role Playing Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* One of the groups of Shaolin monks in ''Webcomic/ShiLongPang'' is [[http://www.shilongpang.com/?number=192 Team Iron Crotch]]. ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin . Eventually the hero ends up learning their ways. [[http://www.shilongpang.com/?number=160 And it's a good thing too...]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* At the beginning of his ''Film/BridgeToTerabithia'' review, WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic says that when he mentioned he would review the movie in his "Princess Hate" editorial, people responded "If you touch that timeless treasure, I will impale your testicles on a set of toothpicks." He says that he no longer has any feeling down there because of the past abuse of his testicles, which he then shows.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Bobby, after taking a women's self-defense course, starts kicking anyone who upsets him in the testicles. Of course, it doesn't work on Peggy. However, how realistic her reaction is can depend on a number of factors. While a GroinAttack on a woman can be just as painful to a woman, the vulnerable regions of a woman are smaller. Had Bobby listened to Khan's claim about Peggy bluffing, he might have had more success with a repeat attack.

* Painfully subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheOblongs'', where Mayor Bledsoe, whilst doing a number of macho exercises, dares Mr. Klimer to hit him in the testicles with his golf club. Once the blow is made, the mayor stands perfectly still before saying, in an even voice, "That hurts more than I thought it would."
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' episode "Buff 'N Stuff", Coach Buzzcut tells Butt-Head to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p0YEc1VDSY Kick me in the Jimmy]]". The only reaction to Butt-head doing so (twice) is his face turning red while he goes "YYYESSS!"

* Used Somewhat [[{{Pun}} literally]] in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': [[TheFool Michelangelo]] attempts to take down Metalhead ([[CaptainObvious who of course is a robot]]) with a GroinAttack and predictably hurts himself.

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Double subverted in ''Film/MortalKombat'' in one of the funniest scenes. Johnny Cage challenges Goro to Mortal Kombat, and as Goro raises his arms to roar in triumph, Cage instantly drops into his infamous [[GroinAttack Split Punch]] from the games. And it ''works''; Goro clutches himself and moans in pain, giving Cage the chance to flee from the ring, and when he's out of view he shakes out the fist he punched with. Whatever Goro was packing down there hurt ''him''!

** In ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'', Wolverine ends up fighting a mook who grows his arms back when they're cut off. Wolverine kicks him in the balls and quips "Grow those back." [[WebVideo/CinemaSins There's apparently no reason why he can't...]]

Not to be confused with BrassBalls, nor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pétanque boules of steel.]] Not really related to NervesOfSteel, which is less literal than this trope. Subtrope of SuperSexOrgans and NoSell. Overlaps with KungFuProofMook if the target of the GroinAttack attempt is, well, a {{Mook}}. Funnily enough is TruthInTelevision with Shaolin Monks claiming that there is a practice for this, complete with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VP9M4iR8TQ video]].

* In ''Manga/HeavensLostProperty'' the protagonist, Tomoki, seems to be able to take any damage to the groin, from pointy heels to lightning and homing rockets. He might have gained resistance over time, since his ChildhoodFriend has a MegatonPunch. [[spoiler: UpToEleven Once he not only survived taking a Planet destroying laser, but he actually shoots back, managing to combine both funny and heartwarming with just pure screw fest in to one of the most memorable moments of the manga. MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext ]]

* One issue of ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' had the Academy kids facing off against the Young ComicBook/XMen, [[https://shadowandflamewithmagik.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/avengers-academy-38-kitty-hazmat-kick-rockslide-in-the-would-be-nuts.jpg leading Hazmat to try and kick Rockslide in the crotch.]] Rockslide, as the name suggests, is a mutant whose power destroyed his original body but lets him animate stone, so that he's now a walking pile of rocks. Cut to her gripping her foot in pain.
** In the ensuing conversation about girlfriend difficulties with Mettle (another Avengers Academy student whose body responded to trauma by replacing his skin with a red metallic covering with little sense of touch), Rockslide points out that maybe people whose power makes their genitals less sensitive shouldn't expect a great deal of pity from people whose power means they have no genitals at all.

** As of ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'', it's safe to say Bond himself has BallsOfSteel. During the torture scene, not only does he effortlessly take more than a few for the team down there, but he ''actively goads Le Chiffre into hitting him harder''.

* ''Film/BatmanReturns'': Catwoman kicks Batman down there with a heel-heeled boot, but he barely reacts. Considering that the Groin Attack is one of Catwoman's favorite attacks, she may realize that this attack isn't very effective against Batman, as he isn't showing much flinch after received the attack. But, of course, Batman should be wearing a protective cup at the time, not to mention he's also been trained as a ninja and all.

* Some examples from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3i8vyLY-8w this video.]] Not all of them, however, since, some others simply stop or block their opponents' groin attack rather than endure them.

* In TabletopGame/TranshumanSpace, one of possible augmentations is to have your testicles moved inside your body and have metal or silicon replacements to keep appearances. The purpose of this augmentation is exactly this trope.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken''

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Bart Star", Bart joins a pee-wee ([[LampshadedDoubleEntendre heh]]) football team; when Marge buys equipment for him, including a cup, Bart tells Milhouse to test the cup, [[GroinAttack which he does]]. Bart doesn't feel a thing, so he tells Milhouse to try again, [[TemptingFate and then again]], at which point Marge yells at him to stop.

* There's also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a86cQobU-n4 this]] famous clip. He might not literally have these, but that seems to be about as close as you can possibly get without surgical augmentation. Before he was on that show, the man in question and several of his students were also on ''Franchise/RipleysBelieveItOrNot'' when one of his students took a shot in the crotch from an NFL placekicker.
* [[http://www.garagetv.be/video-galerij/ashleyil/Miss_Norway_knees_guy_in_the_balls_mp4.aspx This guy]] doesn't mind letting Miss Norway practice on him.

* The inventor of the Nutty Buddy, which he claims is a vast improvement over the previous design of the athletic cup, frequently demonstrates its effectiveness by taking a hit to the groin from a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV831oPwG8M baseball pitching machine.]]

* In ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Rotton the Wizard survived a crushing blow to his manhood from Roberta by [[CrazyPrepared wearing a steel metal strap]]. He still goes down hard, because this is Roberta we're talking about.

* At the beginning of his ''Film/BridgeToTerabithia'' review, when WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic says that when he mentioned he would review the movie in his "Princess Hate" editorial, people responded "If you touch that timeless treasure, I will impale your testicles on a set of toothpicks." He says that he no longer has any feeling down there because of the past abuse of his testicles that he then shows.

Not to be confused with BrassBalls, nor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pétanque boules of steel.]] Subtrope of SuperSexOrgans and NoSell. Overlaps with KungFuProofMook if the target of the GroinAttack attempt is, well, a {{Mook}}. Funnily enough is TruthInTelevision with Shaolin Monks claiming that there is a practice for this, complete with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VP9M4iR8TQ video]].

Not to be confused with BrassBalls, nor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pétanque boules of steel.]] Subtrope of KungFuProofMook and NoSell. Funnily enough is TruthInTelevision with Shaolin Monks claiming that there is a practice for this, complete with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VP9M4iR8TQ video]].

** In ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'', Colossus is a literal case, as he's a mutant capable of [[ChromeChampion turning his skin into organic steel.]] When Deadpool tries to punch Colossus in the family jewels, he injures his hand plentifully (while making an audible *clang* sound).

Also, despite the name, BoobsOfSteel is ''[[IThoughtItMeant not]]'' the DistaffCounterpart of this for [[BreastAttack breast attacks]].

** In a conversation about girlfriend difficulties with Mettle (another Avengers Academy student whose body responded to trauma by replacing his skin with a red metallic covering with little sense of touch), Rockslide points out that maybe people whose power makes their genitals less sensitive shouldn't expect a great deal of pity from people whose power means they have no genitals at all.

* One issue of ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' had the Academy kids facing off against the Young ComicBook/XMen, [[https://shadowandflamewithmagik.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/avengers-academy-38-kitty-hazmat-kick-rockslide-in-the-would-be-nuts.jpg leading Hazmat to try and kick Rockslide in the crotch.]] Rockslide, as the name suggests, is a walking pile of rocks. Cut to her gripping her foot in pain.

* In ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Rotton the Wizard survived a crushing blow to his manhood from Roberta by [[CrazyPrepared wearing a steel metal strap]].

Not to be confused with BrassBalls, nor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pétanque boules of steel.]] Subtrope of KungFuProofMook and NoSell. Funnily enough is TruthInTelevision with Shaolin Monks claiming that there is a practice for this.

* Variant of the ''literal'' Groin Attack (i.e. [[RussianReversal groin attacks you]]) kind: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMUDVMiITOU "Turn Down For What,"]] by DJ Snake and LilJon.

** In ''Film/XMen1'', during a cage fight, Wolverine's opponent is told, "Anything goes, but you hit him in the balls, he'll take it personal." Sure enough, the poor fool tries it--there's an audible "ping"[[note]]which is a StealthPun since it suggests that Wolvie has literal balls of Adamantium[[/note]], and Wolverine kicks the tar out of him.