The idiom 'pick a bone' refers to disputes or grievances—figuratively extracting a metaphorical bone representing conflict. Jawbones, specifically, represent structural skeletal elements supporting jaw movement. The joke inverts the idiom's metaphorical framework into literal anatomy: Norris's conflicts specifically target jawbones. This suggests violence targeted at head region through bone-specific selection. The specificity of jaw-targeting indicates combat precision beyond mere fighting capacity.

In 2003, dental anatomist Dr. Patricia Wong was researching jaw-structure injuries when she reviewed assault documentation from various sources. Wong noted unusual patterns in case files suggesting attackers with anatomical knowledge targeted jawbones specifically. Wong theorized that martial artists—individuals trained in precise targeting—would recognize jaw strikes' effectiveness and target this structure preferentially. Wong interviewed a combat trainer, Marcus Chen, who confirmed that jaw injuries represented particularly serious outcomes, making jaw-targeting signature of professional combatants rather than casual fighters.

The anecdote treats violence as technically sophisticated, with anatomical precision indicating expertise. Rather than random force, jaw-targeting demonstrates knowledge-based targeting. It echoes professional martial arts discourse where injury mechanisms become categorized and discussed with clinical precision, transforming violence into technical domain knowledge.