We let each other go.

Neither of us is going to submit at this point.

"How...about..." I pant, "We both let go at the same time, then start again?"

"Okay," she grunts in relief.

We release each other from our holds, and get to our feet. She nods her head from side to side, cracking the joints in her aching neck, while I rest my hands on my knees.

"We're...pretty evenly matched," she says, still catching her breath.

I nod my head in admission. She is the strongest woman I've ever known.

"Ready?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say, and we lock up again.