diff --git a/scenes/player/states/hitting.gd b/scenes/player/states/hitting.gd
index eaf7763..71c1436 100644
--- a/scenes/player/states/hitting.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/states/hitting.gd
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ func _on_hit_end() -> void:
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_left'):
 		print("transitioning to hitting left")
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "left"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "left"})
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_right'):
 		print("transitioning to hitting right")
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "right"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "right"})
 		return
 	printerr("hit cooldown did not return")
diff --git a/scenes/player/states/idle.gd b/scenes/player/states/idle.gd
index 229a9c9..58d59bf 100644
--- a/scenes/player/states/idle.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/states/idle.gd
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ func _state_physics_update(_delta: float) -> void:
 		finished.emit(RUNNING)
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_left'):
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "left"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "left"})
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_right'):
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "right"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "right"})
 		return
diff --git a/scenes/player/states/running.gd b/scenes/player/states/running.gd
index 7fb17cb..279da48 100644
--- a/scenes/player/states/running.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/states/running.gd
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ func _state_physics_update(_delta: float) -> void:
 		finished.emit(IDLE)
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_just_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_left'):
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "left"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "left"})
 		return
 	elif Input.is_action_just_pressed('p'+str(player.id)+'_hit_right'):
-		finished.emit(HITTING, {hit_dir = "right"})
+		finished.emit(HITTING, {"hit_dir": "right"})
 		return
 	
 	if abs(player.velocity.x) > abs(player.velocity.y):