In the neighborhood where I grew up, there was my brother (2 years older than myself) and about 6 other boys around our age. If I wanted to play, I had to play with the boys, so it was dirt piles, bikes, climbing trees and such.
We were all out in a freshly plowed field, and the neighborhood "meanie" (who was a year older than me) started throwing dirt clods at everyone. He hit me with a couple and it pissed me off. So I went after him, kicking and swinging. I don't remember all the details but I remember he ended up in the dirt, and I went home with a fat lip. I think he was QUITE surprised!
Not very Lady-like, but it solved the problem.