Connor gave a soft laugh, and seemed to twist in the air, landing, he propelled himself into the air once more, and having heard the series of faint thumps, having anticipated Michaels reaction, he hit Michael at the same time his shield, after hitting the walls in a way that enabled it to return to him, returned from being thrown seconds before Michael had grabbed him.

Figjting, Connor thought, was like a game of chess. You had to constantly be two moves ahead. 

He wasn't aiming to hurt Michael, and had shifted his blow accordingly, so he would merely knock the air out of him.