The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BLOODY KNUCKLES

THIS IS A GAME OF PAIN TOLERANCE. THE OPPONENTS FACE
EACH OTHER WITH THEIR HANDS, FISTS CURLED, TOUCHING.
THE PERSON WHO WINS A TOSS OF THE COIN HAS HIS HANDS
SLIGHTLY ON TOP. THE OBJECT FOR THE PERSON WITH
HIS HANDS ON TOP IS TO BRING HIS KNUCKLES
DOWN VERY HARD ON THE OTHER PERSON'S HAND.
THE PERSON WHOSE HANDS ARE ON THE BOTTOM HAS TO
TRY TO ANTICIPATE THE MOVEMENT AND MOVE HIS HANDS, CAUSING
THE PERSON TRYING TO HIT TO MISS. THE PERSON ON TOP
CONTINUES TO TRY TO HIT UNTIL HE MISSES, AT THIS TIME THE
TWO HAND POSITIONS ARE CHANGED. THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHO
SAYS HE HAS HAD ENOUGH FIRST.

Submitter comment: ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH OPEN PALMS
AND IS CALLED SLAP.
BLOODY KNUCKLE PUNISHMENT IS OFTEN USED AS PUNISHMENT
FOR LOSING IN GAMES SUCH AS PAPER, SCISSORS, ROCK.

Where learned: MONTANA ; FROMBERG