Chapter 14: The Warrior's Ethos
Misfit Angel
Junior Trainer
- Pronouns
- feminine
- Chapter summary -
After being taught a painful lesson by Rickard, Julia realizes that she needs a last line of defense in case her pokémon are knocked out. She attends a karate lesson at the Biting Viper Dojo in the hopes of shaking the rust off of her old martial arts skills.
After being taught a painful lesson by Rickard, Julia realizes that she needs a last line of defense in case her pokémon are knocked out. She attends a karate lesson at the Biting Viper Dojo in the hopes of shaking the rust off of her old martial arts skills.
- Content warnings -
[ mild physical violence ]
[ mild physical violence ]
- Content notes -
This is a very nerdy chapter and might be a difficult read. Apologies!
This is a very nerdy chapter and might be a difficult read. Apologies!
Chapter 14: The Warrior's Ethos
"Hiiiii-yah!"
As she waited for Rickard to arrive, Julia watched a sparring match between two karate students unfold through the window of the Biting Viper Dojo. Or, at least, that's what it looked like it was supposed to be; in reality, it amounted to nothing more than a pair of pre-teen boys flailing away at each other and trying to look cool rather than maintain their balance and discipline, and adequately display any skills they may have learned.
"Ha, I remember when I was that doofy. Probably am these days, it's been such a long time since I've practiced."
She wandered up the pathway a bit and watched a different pair of kids that were locked in their own showdown. One was clearly taking things seriously; he'd stand and wait for his opponent to approach, then maintain his footing as he blocked a wild roundhouse kick, or deflect and dodge the various punches and jabs the less disciplined kid threw at him. The stoic one would simply place his hand on the chest of his rambunctious opponent and give him a hard shove, resetting the distance between them.
After a few failed attempts at breaking the defenses of his clearly superior opponent, the undisciplined student charged forward with reckless abandon; with unwavering determination, the superior student stood firm and met his opponent's foolishness with a grapple, a knee to the chest, and finally a blindingly fast throw over his back.
"That's rad! That didn't even look real! That kid's pretty good..." she commented as her phone rumbled in her pocket.
Fr: Rickard Karstensen, 1:25 PM
'Yo, where are you'
'That guy said to be here at 1:30'
'That guy said to be here at 1:30'
She lowered her phone and looked around to see if Rickard was standing elsewhere outside of the dojo, but couldn't see him.
Fr: Julia Clarke, 1:26 PM
'I'm waiting for you, you lunk!'
Fr: Rickard Karstensen, 1:26 PM
'I'm already inside, been here for a while'
'Might wanna hurry, that old guy just stepped into the room'
'Might wanna hurry, that old guy just stepped into the room'
"Nnn-ah shit..." she grumbled as she rushed her phone into her pocket and bolted towards the door.
. - = ( ○ ) = - .
A group of about 15 students had gathered for the lesson in one of the small side rooms of the dojo. Julia looked around bashfully, noting that she was the only woman in the room, and that fact commanded a bit of attention from the attendees. That wasn't the only thing that brought attention to her -- everyone else, Rickard included, was dressed for the lesson, but she wasn't; everyone else donned casual, comfortable clothing such as track suits and other sportswear, while she was dressed in a camisole and lacy skirt. Even more attention-grabbing was the red headband that hung from her ponytail and was draped across her shoulder, the hallmark of a veteran student of Gensai karate, but a student who still had much to learn.
She lingered close to Rickard, and wrapped her arms around his as a defensive mechanism against the mounting shyness she was dealing with. "Man, all these guys staring at me..."
"With the way you're dressed, I'm not surprised. Interesting choice for attending a karate lesson," Rickard quipped.
She shrugged. "Master Higashi did say this was the first lesson, didn't he? I remember my first one, way back when -- we didn't do anything hands on, it was all theory, observation and introductions. Figured I'd dress comfortably rather than for a fight."
"Fair enough, I suppose."
At the front of the room, Master Higashi lit a stick of incense and tapped a miniature gong to grab everyone's attention. The students approached the center of the room and took their seats on the floor as he spoke up: "Welcome, students, to the Biting Viper Dojo. I am Higashi, Master of the Ways and owner of this sacred training ground. Be warned, I am a stern teacher who expects effort and determination. If you do not think you can display that, I invite you to leave now."
None of the students stood up to leave.
"Very well. I expect great things from all of you. The main purpose of today's lesson is to explore the code of ethics that forms the bedrock of Gensai martial arts. Towards the end of the lesson, we will partake in demonstrations of any skills we may already have," he said, specifically eyeing Julia.
"Crap," she whispered.
"First, our ethics," he said as he began to pace in front of the students. "I ask of you, students: why do we fight?"
Silence overtook the students for a brief moment before one of them, a burly, barrel-chested man with a shaved head spoke up confidently, "For glory at the tournaments!"
"Wrong!" Master Higashi quipped, eyeing the other students in hopes of a better answer.
A muscular man who obviously spent too much time at the gym chimed in next: "To grow stronger."
"Stronger of body, or stronger of spirit?"
The muscular student seemed puzzled by the response. "Uhh, well... I was thinking more physically, but the discipline from training isn't a bad thing either."
With a silent nod, the Master Higashi looked around yet again for someone willing to answer.
"To defeat evil?" another student, a particularly meek-looking one with glasses asked.
The instructor tilted his head in slight approval. "Anyone else have an answer?"
Yet again, the group grew silent, prompting Rickard to jab Julia lightly in the side with his elbow. "You should know this, right? Help them out!" he said quietly.
"To defend ourselves," she offered, raising her hand.
Master Higashi gestured towards her and nodded. "There, there! Now we're on the right track! But surely there's more to it than just defending ourselves."
"To protect home and family," she added. "Defend our ideals. Our principles."
"This one is already wise," he said with another nod.
She sheepishly laughed. "I don't know if I'm wise, I just watched a lot of Dragon of Tamamushi movies as a kid, heh."
He crossed his arms and spread his feet. "Ah, yes! A common thing I hear from both my own students, and those of my associates. Out of curiosity, has anyone else here watched these films?"
There were a few silent nods among the students.
He pointed at the muscular student, who was among those who nodded. "You. What did you take away from those films?"
The muscular student leaned back on his hands as he spoke, "Not much, I just liked the action sequences. Watching the Dragon run up walls and do bicycle kicks off of them was amazing! And that part in the third movie where he picked up the concession stand umbrella and used it both as a weapon and as a shield? Pretty kick ass! I always wanted to learn to do things like that, but I don't know how practical that actually is."
"Heh, yeah, that was pretty awesome," she whispered to Rickard.
"They were certainly spectacles of martial prowess, but they had deeper themes to them than just simple combat. Anyone else?"
Quiet murmuring broke out among the students, but no one seemed to have an answer, inspiring Julia to speak up once again. "They look like brutal action flicks on the surface, and there's plenty of senseless violence in them, but there's a story of honor and conviction hidden underneath that surface layer," she said. "The Dragon is a deeply conflicted man, stuck between the need to stay strong in a society stuck in the grasp of a sinister underworld, and his personal ideals of honor and morality. In the first few films of the franchise, he thinks he has the strength to force his values on his rivals, but he tragically realizes too late that his strength isn't just physical, but comes from his friends and family, who he begins to lose one by one to the violence of the underworld. He learns too late that he isn't fighting just to rise to the top of the underworld as the strongest man, but that one must defend those around them if they hope to succeed in a dangerous and unfair world. One might have the strength to win every one on one fight, but one never has the strength to right every wrong on their own."
The muscular student turned to look at her. "Damn? Are they really that deep? I just liked watching that guy punch people, heh."
She shrugged. "Well, that's what I took away from it, at least."
Master Higashi nodded and gestured in her direction. "This is a very wise and perceptive young woman, class. You may have noticed the red bandana adoring her hair."
The red bandana -- typically worn tied around one's head, though in her case was used to lock her hair into a split ponytail -- was an indicator of her experience; most of the students lacked any bandanas at all, but those who did have them sported the white bandana, the beginner rank. Between white and red were two other ranks, which showcased between two to three years of dedication and discipline: brown and green.
Keeping with tradition, the end of her bandana was embroidered with two patches that demonstrated her aptitude with two different styles within the Gensai discipline of martial arts; the first was a depiction of the legendary Tohjoan demoness Darkrai-ya to represent her tutelage of the Ogre style, and the second was Aeroquattas, widely venerated across the Tohjo archipelago as the Phoenix of the Westward Wind, which demonstrated her studies of the Wind Phoenix style of fighting.
"That is the mark of a seasoned student, one who has studied the art for three, perhaps two years. One who will no doubt be someone to look up to as you learn."
"What's she doing here, then? This class is for beginners like us, isn't it?" the meek, glasses-wearing student asked. "Not that I'm complaining about a hot girl being around, especially one that can kick ass."
A low chuckle erupted from the group, one that made her both flustered and embarrassed.
"I used to train when I was younger, but it's been a few years. I'm just here to relearn the basics," she said, before turning her attention to Master Higashi and bowing her head. "I apologize if I'm making it difficult to teach at the beginner level."
"You have done nothing of the sort," he replied. "The input of a seasoned student will be valuable, no doubt. Do not be shy of speaking up if the other students struggle."
She nodded.
"Now, how many of you know the history of Gensai martial arts? When they were initially developed, for what purposes, when different disciplines were established, that sort of thing."
The meek student spoke up. "Martial arts have been around forever, but the specific disciplines that we call Gensai karate were developed during the Taigun period of Tohjo's history, were they not?"
Master Higashi nodded. "Correct. During the Taigun period, much of western Tohjo was under the occupation of Shinikari invaders, and a bitter stalemate ensued between the foreign hordes and the noble samurai. Ownership of weapons and pokémon was strictly forbidden under the occupation, necessitating the need of other methods of fighting -- thus began the rise of martial arts, and the storied tales of men who could match pokémon in terms of strength and capability. Various orders of monks were assembled, and the insurgency that ultimately saw the occupational forces pushed backward and eventually off of the Tohjo islands took root."
"Wow, neat," Rickard whispered. "Pretty inspiring story!"
Julia leaned in closer. "Yeah. A bunch of unarmed guys turning a professional army back, the very same that had warded off the Ankhol Empire? That's the stuff of legends! Part of what inspired me to start my training all those years ago."
"Granted," Master Higashi continued, "Today's forms of Gensai martial arts are different than those of those original monks. Today, Gensai martial arts make use of weaponry, as well as bring in outside influences such as Muay Khon, Shinikari shock-dian, Costameraldan golpechão, and even the swordsmanship of the Éireannic Riverdancers, an artform I'm sure many of you are familiar with."
"Wow, really? Maybe I should start attending lessons again, I always wanted to learn Riverdancing..." she thought.
"The ethos of the Gensai martial arts has morphed over time, as well. Nowadays, those who practice it typically do so as a means of self-discipline. This is not a bad thing, but this alone falls short of the ideals of the countless monks who developed the craft and perfected it over the coming centuries. No, to be a true master is to take the art and apply it properly -- in the defense of others who can not defend themselves; those that society have forgotten and turned their backs on; the innocent, the meek, the hopeful. Those of you who study here at the Biting Viper Dojo will have that ethos woven into the very core of your skills."
Julia raised her hand, earning the old master's attention. "When I studied previously, we were also taught only to use what we learned in situations where we could justify it -- that any who used their skills in malicious, unjust or dishonorable ways would be disavowed, stripped of their bandana and cast out. Does that apply to your ethos as well?"
He nodded. "It does. Should a student of our dojo, or any that we partner with -- of which there are many across the Islands -- use their skills to assault another without clear justification, that will be their punishment, on top of whatever the courts decide. Any dishonored students will struggle to find a master to teach them after that."
"Out of curiosity, why is that?" Rickard asked. "Surely you can't be held responsible for what your students do."
"Well, think about it this way," Julia responded. "Would you say you know how to fight? And I don't mean your skills as a pokémon trainer, I mean man to man, with just your fists."
"Not a clue, besides 'hit them until they can't hit back'," he laughed.
"Which is how most untrained people fight -- just flail wildly until the danger has passed, usually getting yourself hurt in the process. Legally speaking, that is seen as less of a problem than someone who knows what they're doing. If you knock someone down in a bar fight and give them a traumatic brain injury, that's an idiotic mistake you might not have thought of while your adrenaline was surging. The book will still be thrown at you, but you might get a slightly more lenient sentence than someone like me. If I, someone with years of training, were to... I dunno, do something as little as break someone's arm while trying to subdue them, I really should have known better. I've been trained to understand the risks involved with combat, how easily life-altering injuries can happen, and how quickly I could do it while applying what I know. I should have de-escalated the situation before it came to blows. Part of the responsibility of being a martial arts instructor -- or an instructor of anything, really -- is to teach your students how to use their skills responsibly. Fail that, and you've failed society by teaching and unleashing a dangerous monster."
Master Higashi nodded silently.
"Point being, and I'll let the Master reinforce this point if he agrees with it: if you're here to learn how to break bones and smash heads, this is probably not the place for you. Practicing martial arts is a responsibility, a duty, and a liability all in one. Wear your bandana with pride, but in a solemn manner. Like a swordsman tending to a garden."
Master Higashi nodded again. "I see the years since your last lesson have not dulled your knowledge. She speaks true, students; with great skill comes great responsibility, and if responsibility doesn't interest you, I encourage you to either end your studies here, or find somewhere less reputable to train." He waited for a moment for anyone to get up and leave, and when no one did, he continued. "Good. Now, I would like to see demonstrations of your current knowledge, if you have any. I ask you to all stand up."
"Hope he doesn't expect me to do any high leg kicks..." she quietly quipped as she and Rickard joined the other students on their feet. She raised her hand and was acknowledged by the Master. "Umm. I didn't expect to be doing anything hands on today, so, umm. I'm not exactly dressed for a demonstration. Is it okay if I don't?"
Master Higashi grumbled lightly before nodding. "Very well. Perhaps I should have made it known that we would be doing our first physical lessons today, but if you are uncomfortable doing so, you are not obligated. Instead, I would have you help guide the other students."
"I can try that."
"Now! Let us work our our ready stances. I assume most of you understand what I mean by that, and have an idea for how you will ready yourself should you find yourself under threat."
All of the students did as they were asked; many assumed a stance reminiscent of the famed bareknuckled boxers throughout the history of the Éireannic diaspora, with both fists pointed upward and held close to the chin. Others had a looser posture, hunched over with one fist out front and the other closer to their bodies, while the meek student was the only one who didn't have a stance ready to go; rather, he looked around and studied the others and tried to mimic the loose, hunched style, but never in a million years would anyone take him seriously.
Julia, on the other hand, tried to remember her positioning from her lessons from years ago. She balled her right hand into a fist and brought it upward toward shoulder height, and kept her left hand loose and towards her midsection.
"Why only one hand up?" Rickard asked, trying his best to mimic her posture.
"One hand up high to protect my head, one hand down low to protect my midsection. Neither offer full coverage, but keeping my arms separate allows me to react quicker -- have you ever watched a professional boxing match?"
He nodded.
"And you've seen how easy it is to break through their defenses when they've got both arms up, right?"
He abandoned her posture and took up one typically used in boxing. He slowly raised his arms up as if defending himself from a left hook to the head, then nodded again. "I see, I get what you're saying. You strengthen one spot while leaving the other wide open and you might not be able to react fast enough to shield your midsection."
"Yup!"
Master Higashi had been going around the room and examining and adjusting the postures of his students until eventually he stepped up to Julia and Rickard. "Mmm. I see," he commented before grabbing the embroidered end of her bandana. "Fascinating. You studied the Ogre and Wind Phoenix styles before, correct?"
"Yes, sir,"
"And yet I see the typical ready stance of the Dragon style."
"I never properly learned how to fight in that style, but I've always admired it, and found the ready stance easy to work with."
Master Higashi crossed his arms and glared downward at her. "Students! Attention!" he called out. "Our seasoned student may have some demonstrations for us."
Her heart rate elevated. She wasn't about to be asked to do anything fancy, was she? She started to blush as so many eyes fell upon her.
"Examine her posture closely. With her hands separated like this, she is able to intercept incoming attacks from multiple angles and multiple heights. With her legs spread as they are, she is able to shift her weight as necessary -- backwards for defense, forwards for a strike, and side to side for a swift dodge, all without compromising her balance and economy of motion."
She watched as several of the students mimicked her posture, and started to lean their bodies back and forth to feel the range of motion the stance allowed them.
"But, it is clear that she is but a novice with this posture, and understandably so. Tell me, you never studied the Dragon style of karate in a structured environment, correct?"
She shook her head. "I haven't. I mostly just practiced at home while watching movies."
"Mmm. The fundamentals are there, but the execution could be better. Moving on, however -- I would like you to show the class the stance you utilized when studying the Wind Phoenix style."
She limbered up, then transitioned into the typical loose posture emblematic of the Wind Phoenix; she spread her legs far apart and bent her knees at about 45 degree angles, then raised her left hand towards head height, while keeping her right arm loose and near her side.
"What the hell kinda stance is that?" the muscular student asked. "Where's your fists? How do you block anything?"
"That's the neat trick, you don't. Wind Phoenix is all about footwork and preventing your opponent from connecting with you," she said. She turned her head towards Rickard with a devious grin. "Hey, Rick. Wanna help me demonstrate?"
Rickard shrugged. "Uhh. Sure."
"Come charge at me and hit me with a shoulder tackle."
He stared at her and blinked. "You sure? I don't want to hear any complaining if you get hurt."
She raised her right hand and taunted him with it. "C'mon already!"
She lowered herself even further as he started to move towards her, then waited for the right moment to strike -- he had to be close enough that he couldn't counteract her movements, but not close enough that she wouldn't be able to avoid the force behind his tackle. As he entered striking range, she pushed herself to the side in an ill-fated attempt to avoid him, but she did it too late; the two collided and she was sent to the floor with a rolling tumble.
"Shit, you okay?" he asked, hand extended.
She grabbed his hand and pulled herself to her feet. "Yeah, yeah. Just misjudged how fast you were going, I think. Let's try again. I can do this."
Just as before, he took a running start from the other side of the room and hunched down into a rushing tackle. Her timing was better on this attempt, and with a twirling jump, she not only sidestepped him, but used the momentum of her spin to plant herself right behind him. Before he could get far, she reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"What the--" he yelped before having his arm twisted behind his back and yanked upward in a painful manner. "Oww, oww! Uncle, uncle!"
As the class erupted in a mixture of surprise and cheering, she smirked, loosened her grip on his arm, and gave him a gentle push forward.
"How the hell did you do that? I don't even understand the physics of what just happened."
"Years of practice. I'm honestly shocked I was able to do it, it's been such a long time."
"Yeah, but how?"
"Momentum. Or something like that. I forget what my former instructor explained it as." She looked towards Master Higashi for guidance and received a nod. "Umm, well. That's the basics of Wind Phoenix, I guess," she explained. "As I, uhh, demonstrated quite painfully, it's a risky form of combat -- you either dodge, or your take the full force of a hit. You have to pick your battles carefully and against appropriate targets when utilizing it."
"It's certainly cool, but, umm," the barrel-chested student said, trying his best to mimic the loose and low posture that she displayed earlier. He wiggled his loose hand while keeping it at neck height. "How does it actually work in a fight? I don't feel like I could get in a good strike like this."
"Wind Phoenix is more of a legwork style, both for movement and striking. Your hand is there in case you need to need to defend yourself from behind, or if you need to make a powerful push against your opponent to build some distance between you, but kicks are your main tool, both in terms of blocking your opponent's strikes, and making your own." she said, before grabbing the hem of her skirt and stretching it tight. "But, umm. I can't really give a good demonstration of that, not dressed like this. I don't know if I'd do a good job of it, anyways -- I always kinda struggled with the style."
"Oh, yeah!" Rickard said with a smile on his face. "Remember that time you and Angela got into that shouting match, and you almost kicked her in the head? I'm guessing that's part of your old Wind Phoenix training."
"Oh, no, that was me trying to show off a kick known as the Spinning Dragon Swipe. I don't think you ever got to see me showing off any of the footwork I learned from my Wind Phoenix lessons, other than maybe bouncing around a bit in gym class."
The next twenty or so minutes were spent with Master Higashi showcasing the Wind Phoenix style's mannerisms, movements, and strategies for proper use. He employed some particularly fancy footwork during his demonstrations; his first demonstration involved utilizing the table that his miniature gong stood upon, in which he used it to launch himself high enough into the air that he would be able to go over the head of any opponent he might be up against, and spin in mid air to make a striking kick aimed at his would-be opponent's head, all while not disturbing the delicately hanging gong on the table. The students made their own efforts at utilizing the fancy footwork emblematic of the style, but it was clear that it was a long road ahead for anyone interested in learning it.
Another fraction of the following hour saw the old Master showcasing another style that Julia was familiar with, and one that she trained the most with during her previous studies -- the Ogre style. The Ogre style was one that utilized raw strength to overwhelm opponents, with the idea being that the best defense was a great offense -- that threats were no longer threats when they were unconscious at your feet.
His first demonstration was the ready stance employed by practitioners of the Ogre style: with a hunched over posture, he raised both of his hands into a pincer-like position at chest height, and balled his hands into fists. He displayed the economy of motion the stance allowed him; he started every display by dodging backward, which allowed him to throw the full weight of his body behind his strikes, be they punches, kicks, knee attacks or just bullish tackles.
His next demonstrations showcased that, though the style was aggressive, it also allowed for a solid defense. The forward posture allowed him to strike any would-be attacker who was approaching from behind with the full force of a spinning backhand. Likewise, when he demonstrated a proper dodge, it allowed for greater balance while moving backward -- something Julia always struggled with during her previous studies.
Despite seeing it utilized by someone who actually knew what he was doing -- a fact that she felt didn't apply to her former master -- she still couldn't shake the feeling that the Ogre Style's stance was too risky and aggressive; hunching forward, and thus closer to her target, always felt like a recipe for disaster, and she had trouble understanding how such a forward posture allowed for the power strikes the style was known for. Maybe, she wondered, it was simply a question of male strength; after all, Master Higashi had repeated what her old instructor had said, that it was incredibly rare for women to study the art, even within the country of Tohjo where traditional martial arts were much more widespread.
"Now, class," he started.
"I invite you to demonstrate your current knowledge against me."
Confused mumbling broke out amongst the students.
"Yes, yes. I'm serious. Most of you came here looking to develop new skills, but I'm sure most of you already have a few basic ideas. I would like to see those ideas put to practice so that I may ascertain where to build your skills from." He began to pace back and forth. "Any volunteers?"
Nobody spoke up.
He stopped in front of Rickard. "How about you? You seemed quite confident in yourself earlier today. What was it you said, that you didn't want to beat up an old man?"
"That's not really my style."
"Regardless," he said, stepping back towards the empty space at the center of the room. As he removed his slippers, he added, "I would like to see you try."
Rickard looked over at Julia with cautious confusion.
"Be careful," she whispered.
He grumbled with discomfort. "I'll try not to hurt him."
"I didn't mean it that way," she thought, watching as the two took up positions opposite from each other.
Master Higashi took up the Dragon stance that Julia had displayed earlier and motioned for Rickard to approach. "Come now, tough guy! Give me everything you have! Pull no punches!"
Rickard raised both of his hands to chin height. "Are you sure about that? I don't mean to question your ability, but --"
"Silence and strike!"
Rickard shrugged, then slowly approached. Despite voicing his concerns that he might injure the old Master, his body language showed otherwise; his approach was slow and methodical, and his hands were already trembling.
"Is he scared?" Julia wondered.
He finalized his approach, and when he was within striking range, he let loose a left hook aimed towards Master Higashi's upper body, but was easily blocked. Master Higashi replied by placing his palm on his shoulder and giving him a forceful shove, opening some space between them again. He once again approached, and with a low kick meant to sweep the old Master's legs, he followed it up with a spinning backhand -- both of which missed.
Julia snort-laughed at Rickard's pitiful display.
"Come now, I mean everything!" Master Higashi commanded. "Strike like you mean it!"
"Okay!" Rickard responded before approaching more aggressively. Punch after punch after punch were wildly rocketed in the old Master's direction, each deflected with ease, before he capitalized on his closeness to Master Higashi by hunching over and spearing him with a grapple. Despite Master Higashi's lithe appearance, his surprising strength was fully displayed: he answered the grapple by bringing his knee up against Rickard's chest, and with a heavy hoist, he lifted his opponent off the ground, swung him around for three full rotations, and let him loose -- sending him crashing to the floor with a concerningly loud thud.
Before Rickard could return to his feet, Master Higashi pointed towards the muscular student. "You! Come to the defense of your fellow student! He requires aid!"
Without hesitation, the muscular student rushed into the fray. The muscular student's much more obvious strength was on full display as well, and with a powerful windup, he threw his full weight into his fist. Master Higashi interlocked his fingers and intercepted the man's punch, stopping him dead in his tracks. He capitalized on the stunned surprise of his opponent with a pair of quick jabs to the midsection, then grabbed the muscular student by the shoulders and threw him in Rickard's direction.
"Rickard!" Master Higashi called out. "Your fellow student needs your help. This is no longer a one on one fight, work together to bring me down!"
"It's rude to play with your food," Julia whispered, earning a laugh from the meek student who had stepped beside her to watch the fight unfold.
Rickard and the muscular student nodded at each other before breaking off in different directions, then started to circle around Master Higashi like hyenas. The muscular student approached from behind and reached his arms out for a grapple, only to be struck by a spinning backhand. Without even looking at Rickard, who had made his own approach, he latched onto Rickard's arm and used it to throw him over his shoulder.
"Dude, this old guy's insane, he's not even looking at us!" the muscular student said as he picked Rickard up off of the floor.
"Guess that black bandana isn't for nothing!" Rickard responded. "There's gotta be a way we can at least touch him, I'll be satisfied with just that!"
The muscular student leaned in and started whispering to Rickard. After a moment, the two nodded at each other, then split apart as before; Rickard took up a position in front of the old Master, while the muscular student paced back and forth behind him. Rickard made his approach and winded up a punch, but pulled it before letting it loose and dodged backward; Master Higashi's counterattack was thrown off, and with his balance disrupted, the muscular student took advantage of the opening and looped his arms around that of the old Master's.
"Ha ha! Gotcha now, old timer!" the muscular student triumphantly proclaimed as he tightened his grip.
As Rickard re-engaged, Master Higashi swung his hip backward and destabilized the muscular student's balance, which loosened his grip. With Rickard within striking range, Master Higashi kicked his legs into the air and used him as a springboard; with the muscular student's grip fully broken, Master Higashi flipped backward and over his former captor, and with an open palm, grabbed onto his head and pushed him straight down into the floor.
"Uh oh," Rickard squeaked as Master Higashi bolted towards him in a blur of speed. He howled in pain as Master Higashi buried his fist into his solar plexus, and as he recoiled upward, Master Higashi sent him flying higher with a backward cartwheel kick. But the old Master wasn't done yet; he spun on the spot and with his prey still airborne, dug his foot into Rickard's back with a spinning kick, sending him flying clear across the room.
"Holy shit!" Julia exclaimed before rushing over to check on him. "Hey, hey! You with me?"
He looked up at her, clearly dazed. "Wha... where..."
"Dude, you went flying!"
He groaned and shook his head. "Is M-Mr. Higashi okay? I didn't beat him up too badly, did I?"
She smiled and snickered. "I think we should be asking if you are."
"Guess I deserved that," he said with a sputtering cough. "After what I did to you earlier today."
"Yeah. Sucks, doesn't it?" she asked as she lifted him up.
"Fuck me... That old guy's serious business..."
She observed as he sparred with several other students at once, knocking them back with ease and dispatching them one by one by means of kicks, tosses and overhead throws. "No kidding. He's leagues ahead of my old instructor. How is he so strong? He doesn't look it."
Rickard fell on to his ass and let out a deep breath. "Sorry again about that."
"Eh. Watching you get thrown like a discarded toy made it worth it."
. - = ( ○ ) = - .
A short time later, the day's lesson had concluded and the atmosphere was starkly different. Before the lesson began, there was a distinct aura of energy about the room and among the prospective students; afterward, the energy was gone, replaced by bruised bodies and bruised egos. Despite that, spirits were still high, with most of the students inspired by what they'd seen and eager to learn to do it themselves.
As Julia and Rickard were about to leave, Master Higashi called out, "Ms. Clarke! If I may have a word with you."
"Uh oh. Wait for me?" she asked. "Hopefully this doesn't take long." She approached the old Master and stood at attention. "Yes?"
"I would like to see your bandana again, if I may."
"Oh, sure!" She tugged at the unembroidered end and it slipped out of her hair, causing it to fall against her shoulders. She shook her head to knock her bangs out of her face, then offered it over.
He studied the embroidered patterns of Darkrai-ya and Aeroquattas. "I must ask: now that you've been reacquainted with your skills, do you intend to resume your lessons? The Biting Viper Dojo would be honored to have you."
"Honored?" she asked with a nervous laugh, then shrugged. "Mmm. I dunno. It was kinda fun watching you guys monkey around, but I left this life behind a while ago. I dunno if it's a good fit for me these days."
He grumbled, then offered the bandana back. "That's a shame, but if the fire isn't in your heart, then perhaps it is for the best."
"Well, it's less that and more... I dunno, look at the way I'm dressed. I took up karate lessons when I was a tomboy teenager, and I'm trying to distance myself from that time of my life -- I'm trying to boost my femininity, and running around punching and kicking people and putting on muscles again seems like the wrong way to do that."
"Femininity and discipline are not mutually exclusive, but," he said, casting a critical gaze at her, and the clothing she was wearing. "I understand what you mean. I can definitely see the effort you put into your appearance, and understand your desire to distance yourself from your old self -- my own wife walked a similar path in her youth."
"Even more... I dunno how much longer I'll be in Azure Ridge, to be honest. I'm having trouble getting my career off the ground here, and I'm thinking of moving onto greener pastures. Can't really attend lessons here if I'm out of town most of the time." She nervously laughed. "On that subject, I'm broke and can't afford the lessons anyways."
He tilted his head forward. "Understandable. But when the winds of fortune change, and should you change your mind, you are always welcome to join us. I, or another instructor, may be able to teach you in solo lessons, on your schedule, if you ever find yourself back in Azure Ridge."
She tilted her head. "That's very generous. But why make such accommodations for someone like me?"
He looked down at her arm. "May I see your right hand?"
"Umm. Sure?" she said, raising her hand.
He wrapped his fingers around it and dug his thumb into her palm. "There's an aura about you... I sense great potential in you."
"Tt. At least someone does, I guess," she thought. "Or is he just being the mysterious wise old Yazheni man, looking to swindle me into expensive lessons?"
He furrowed his brow as his thumb danced around her palm for a few moments before he finally let her go. "Though I did not get to see much, your mastery of the Cyclone Step has piqued my curiosity -- that is no easy feat, especially for a red bandana, and one who has been out of practice for as long as you say. I would, at the very least, like to see you return one more time and fully demonstrate your capabilities if you decide to leave the city."
"I'll think about it. Is that all?"
He nodded. "Stay safe, and keep an eye on that friend of yours."
She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes and bowed her head, then rejoined Rickard as they departed.
. - = ( ○ ) = - .
This chapter came out longer than I expected and a lot got trimmed out, so I wasn't able to comfortably explore some things mentioned in this chapter. However, it doesn't feel right to leave some of the terminology brought up in this chapter unexplained, so I'll touch on them here.
First is the embroidered patterns on Julia's bandana, the first being referred to as Darkrai-ya. In this setting, Darkrai-ya is a mythical half-human, half-pokémon "demoness" which I tried to stylize after the Hannya of Japanese theatre. There is no solid evidence this being existed, but she has been blamed for all sorts of misfortunes and tragedies throughout Tohjo's history, specifically those that befell unfaithful men. She was said to materialize from thin air and enact brutal carnage against her victims, which led to her image being adopted as the representative of the Ogre style of Gensai martial arts.
Julia's bandana is embroidered with a second patch, one representing a creature known as Aeroquattas, the oft-forgotten fourth member of the legendary birds of Tohjo myths. Aeroquattas -- the Brilliant Bird of a Billion Feathers -- itself has not been seen since before the rise of the shogunate nearly 12 centuries ago, but its presence is ever-felt in every wind, and venerated during every storm. Historical records indicate that it was by far the fastest of any of the legendary birds, and tradition states that the winds it carried with it brought the breath of life to the Tohjo archipelago. As such, it was adopted as the icon of the Wind Phoenix style, both to recognize its legendary speed, as well as keep its memory alive in hopes that it would one day return.
Master Higashi mentioned several modern inspirations that have been infused into the Gensai martial arts, including:
Muay Khon, which is simply a rename for Muay Thai, as Thailand obviously doesn't exist in this setting. The substituted name comes from a randomly picked province of Thailand.
Shinikari shock-dian is a mysterious martial art practiced in Shinikara, characterized by extremely swift movements. Its main feature is the use of electrical energy in its strikes; legends say that the ancient practitioners of shock-dian were able to summon lightning with their own willpower, though in modern times the use of modern technology has broadly expanded that capability to just about every contemporary practitioner. The term shock-dian is a corruption of shǎndiàn, a word used to describe lightning speed.
Costameraldan golpechão is the in-setting name for Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Golpe no chão is a PT-BR translation of "ground pound" which accurately sums up this slightly altered form of fighting: while BJJ focuses primarily on forcing the target to submit through holds and locks, golpechão favors a good ol' fashioned beatdown as the means of achieving a submission. Costameralda (Emerald Coast) is the name I've chosen to represent Brazil in this setting.
The last thing that Master Higashi mentions is the swordsmanship of the Éireannic Riverdancers. The swordsmanship, commonly known as the damhsa lann (blade dance), is a mixed martial art that utilizes a long and slender blade to incorporate strikes from fencing, while using the free hand to deflect and block attacks from unarmed opponents, as well as control their movements and constrain them in lethal positions for the blade to do its final task. It is often referred to as Riverdancing as the movements are highly stylized -- so much so that they impact combat effectiveness. While a Riverdancer is easily capable of defeating a traditional two-handed swordsman in a duel, their effectiveness in large scale warfare is limited, and the stubborn adherence to the dance eventually led to the downfall of the Éireannic clans and their subsequent exile from their ancestral homelands in what is now modern Lanark's riverlands. The actual influences and uses of the Éireannic Riverdance in modern Gensai martial arts is more a show of agility and balance, as well as intimidating targets rather than incorporation into the actual fighting methods.
First is the embroidered patterns on Julia's bandana, the first being referred to as Darkrai-ya. In this setting, Darkrai-ya is a mythical half-human, half-pokémon "demoness" which I tried to stylize after the Hannya of Japanese theatre. There is no solid evidence this being existed, but she has been blamed for all sorts of misfortunes and tragedies throughout Tohjo's history, specifically those that befell unfaithful men. She was said to materialize from thin air and enact brutal carnage against her victims, which led to her image being adopted as the representative of the Ogre style of Gensai martial arts.
Julia's bandana is embroidered with a second patch, one representing a creature known as Aeroquattas, the oft-forgotten fourth member of the legendary birds of Tohjo myths. Aeroquattas -- the Brilliant Bird of a Billion Feathers -- itself has not been seen since before the rise of the shogunate nearly 12 centuries ago, but its presence is ever-felt in every wind, and venerated during every storm. Historical records indicate that it was by far the fastest of any of the legendary birds, and tradition states that the winds it carried with it brought the breath of life to the Tohjo archipelago. As such, it was adopted as the icon of the Wind Phoenix style, both to recognize its legendary speed, as well as keep its memory alive in hopes that it would one day return.
Master Higashi mentioned several modern inspirations that have been infused into the Gensai martial arts, including:
Muay Khon, which is simply a rename for Muay Thai, as Thailand obviously doesn't exist in this setting. The substituted name comes from a randomly picked province of Thailand.
Shinikari shock-dian is a mysterious martial art practiced in Shinikara, characterized by extremely swift movements. Its main feature is the use of electrical energy in its strikes; legends say that the ancient practitioners of shock-dian were able to summon lightning with their own willpower, though in modern times the use of modern technology has broadly expanded that capability to just about every contemporary practitioner. The term shock-dian is a corruption of shǎndiàn, a word used to describe lightning speed.
Costameraldan golpechão is the in-setting name for Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Golpe no chão is a PT-BR translation of "ground pound" which accurately sums up this slightly altered form of fighting: while BJJ focuses primarily on forcing the target to submit through holds and locks, golpechão favors a good ol' fashioned beatdown as the means of achieving a submission. Costameralda (Emerald Coast) is the name I've chosen to represent Brazil in this setting.
The last thing that Master Higashi mentions is the swordsmanship of the Éireannic Riverdancers. The swordsmanship, commonly known as the damhsa lann (blade dance), is a mixed martial art that utilizes a long and slender blade to incorporate strikes from fencing, while using the free hand to deflect and block attacks from unarmed opponents, as well as control their movements and constrain them in lethal positions for the blade to do its final task. It is often referred to as Riverdancing as the movements are highly stylized -- so much so that they impact combat effectiveness. While a Riverdancer is easily capable of defeating a traditional two-handed swordsman in a duel, their effectiveness in large scale warfare is limited, and the stubborn adherence to the dance eventually led to the downfall of the Éireannic clans and their subsequent exile from their ancestral homelands in what is now modern Lanark's riverlands. The actual influences and uses of the Éireannic Riverdance in modern Gensai martial arts is more a show of agility and balance, as well as intimidating targets rather than incorporation into the actual fighting methods.