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Touching an enemy to win prestige among the Plains Indians

Among the Plains Indians of North America, counting coup () (“coup“ is french for “blow” or “shock”) is the warrior tradition of winning prestige against an enemy in battle.

It is one of the traditional ways of showing bravery in the face of an enemy and involves intimidating him, and, it is hoped, persuading him to admit defeat, without having to kill him. These victories may then be remembered, recorded, and recounted as part of the community's oral, written, or pictorial histories.

Historical precedents

Historically, any blow struck against the enemy counted as a coup, but the most prestigious acts included touching an enemy warrior with a hand, bow, or coup stick and escaping unharmed, and without harming the enemy, except for the enemy's wounded pride.^[1][2]

Touching the first enemy to die in battle or touching the enemy's defensive works was also considered counti