Bieksa's Perfect Superman Punch

It happens.

High-level competition gets heated, and hockey has always been the most unabashed team sport about dealing with it then and there.

From its very beginnings, well before the appearance of helmets, flying fists were an extremely effective way to ensure that sticks stayed down and strayed nowhere near a face.

Mixing it up can be more of a challenge these days, what with an awareness of concussions and all.

On occasion, though, something happens when players decide it's got to be done.

In this instance, it was Anaheim's Kevin Bieksa, clearly tired of Philadelphia Flyer Radko Gudas' chippiness. What with all the NHL's rules for fighting -- such as ejections for removing your helmet -- Bieksa opted to go where few enforcers have gone before.

The Superman Punch.

Here are the elements of a Superman Punch:

• The fighter is momentarily suspended in mid-air;
• He'll make a quick leap forward with his lead leg in order to get closer;
• He extends and then retracts his lead arm;
• At the same time, he throws a cross with his power hand.

Since his feet aren't connected to the ground when throwing the cross, needs need to extend his back leg to generate torque, which generates the power.

The fact Bieksa and others execute this on skates is damn impressive.

And as far as making a point, it beats the hell outta what other sports might call a Iegitimate fight.

This play-by dude should be ashamed of himself:

The only things missing were the swinging purses.