It's all fun and games until... you go before the 7th Circuit

Researching a completely unrelated issue and I came across Bevolo v. Carter, 447 F.3d 979 (7th Cir. 2006).  The following passage made me laugh.

One of the “very special guests” from Missouri (and featured speaker) that evening was Professor Carter, a Kajukenbo expert and an 8th degree black belt. Evidently, Carter has the rare ability to “move people with his mind.” After dinner, Bevolo was introduced to Carter and asked Carter to demonstrate this uncanny skill. With a group of onlookers (including Bevolo's own family) present and with cameras in hand, Carter began his demonstration. The demonstration, however, included the use of Carter's well-trained hands as well as his well-trained mind. The mood in the air was light, and Carter demonstrated various pressure points on Bevolo, including pulling his hair and touching his arms. During the demonstration, Carter was talking with the crowd while Bevolo's family took pictures. After performing several maneuvers, including two that put Bevolo on the ground, Carter hit him in the neck. Carter did not intend to injure him, but serious damage was done with that one blow. None of the previous blows or maneuvers had caused any injury.

One of the stated goals of Kajukenbo is that, “[w]hen attacked, a student's instincts will take over and the body will react to the situation, diffusing it without hesitation.” Unfortunately for Bevolo, his body did not react to Carter's demonstration, nor did it make any attempt to diffuse the situation. As the old saying goes, “[i]t's all fun and games until someone loses an eye,” or in this case, until someone injures his neck and has to have a cadaver bone and a titanium plate surgically inserted.