This is based (sort of) on one of my favourite films and sports. I apologise it if is quite short, I haven't got the hang of long chapters/stories yet.
Daniel's fight for survival
I can't stop. I just can't. I'm fascinated. Don't know what it is about it but I just can't help it.
It's been a week. Every night at about 7pm I go and watch. They don't know I am there. I stand in the background just watching them. I recognise some of them, they go to my school. They are part of the "cool gang". The gang that kids like me envy. I'm just the shy kid with a few friends, nice friends though but there is something about these guys. I'm not sure what it is. Is it confidence I don't know?
Every evening I tell my mum that I am going for a walk but I head down here every day. It is the Cobra Kai Dojo. I first saw them when I walked past and was mesmerised. So now I stand at the back and watch, they don't know I am there, well they didn't until tonight.
"Well well well, look who it is, it's Daniel". Everyone stops and turns, I feel myself going red, I'm not sure what to do or say. I stay silent for what seems like ages but is probably only a few seconds and I mumble "sorry, sorry" then run out.
Well done Daniel, they went down well.
I arrive at school in the morning, I knew I would walk into one of them. "So Danny did you like what you saw last night" then he walks past and knocks straight in to me. I lose my balance but don't say anything ,I just get up.
I arrive home greeted by my mum. I don't go out tonight and my mum notices why I haven't.
"You ok Daniel, you not going out tonight". I pretend I don't hear her so I carry on turning the TV over with the remote putting the volume up as I do.
"Daniel, Daniel, you ok". I look at my mum, I feel bad now as she looks concerned. I really want to do karate I've been doing some research in the library at school. I know that each move represents a self defence move. I tell my mum where I have been going. She looks shocked. "Daniel, if I could afford it I would send you there you know that" she says with sadness in her voice.
I nod then head off to bed.
Each evening I practice some moves that I saw in the book, there is a lot to take in and I soon realise it takes a lot of concentration to master each move but if I am to do this then I need further help.
Little did I realise that further help would come sooner than I thought by one of the oldest and wisest men in the village named Mr Miyagi.
I met Mr Miyagi whilst going to do an errand on behalf of my mum. My mum normally would do an errand but on this occasion she was unwell so asked me to do it.
I arrived at his house. He was unaware I was there but I watched him. I watched him performing the same karate moves I had seen at the Cobra Kai Dojo but done more slowly, more elegantly. I watched in awe. I attempted to mimic his movements but however I was not quite as graceful and fell, twisting my ankle as I did so.
Mr Miyagi turned to look at me, amused at the sight of me on the floor. He came over and greeted me with a bow, obviously aware of who I was.
He invited me in and explained the techniques of the different katas of karate. At this point I knew I had to try it. I mentioned my dilemma of joining the Cobra Kai Dojo. At this point I became aware that there was some ill feeling between them and Mr Miyagi.
"Can you show me how to do it please" I asked. Mr Miyagi hesitated before replying "I will Daniel but you must watch and learn and concentrate as it is not an easy skill to learn. To become a black belt in karate requires dedication, integrity, honesty, motivation and other skills not everyone has. It takes time, it is not something that can be learnt overnight and it requires willpower when you think you can no longer do it".
I thanked Mr Miyagi and left to go home.
I spoke to my mum and explained what I had agreed to do. My first karate lesson was planned for sunrise the following morning.
I didn't sleep, I was excited but nervous. I met with Mr Miyagi and he showed me the basics. We continued to meet in the mornings and evenings, I didn't realise how hard it could be but knew what was meant by dedication.
It was a couple of weeks later whilst walking to school that I became aware that I was being followed. I glanced round and spotted some of the lads from the karate class. They walked faster until they were right behind me. I felt my heart beating faster the nearer they became. I paused, I didn't want to walk faster and appear that I was scared of them so I waited for the inevitable to happen.
"New boy, saw you on the beach with the old man, think you know karate do you", then he punched me hard on the arm. I didn't retaliate, there were more of them than me. "Show us what you are made of, we want to see".
I had no intention of using karate for fighting but by now was aware of the self defences moves I had been taught.
For months and months they continually harassed me, wanting to fight me. By now my confidence had improved, but I didn't want to fight them.
It was on a night out with my girlfriend that I became aware I was being followed yet again. This time they weren't going to take no for an answer, they hit my girlfriend, they hit me and said they would continue until I agreed to enter the tournament. I agreed, didn't have a choice.
I spent the next few months training harder than I ever could. I knew I would never win such a tournament but knew that I could try. My girlfriend Ali, supported me, helped me train but tried and tried to get me to drop out.
The day of the match arrives. My first opponent is Tommy. This was an easy match which I won.
My second opponent was Bobby. Bobby was much better than Tommy, more experienced, more aggressive. I knew I would have to work really hard to beat him. The match took forever to complete, I was becoming tired. The crowd were cheering for Bobby but in the distance I could hear Ali cheering for me. Spurned on by her voice I concentrated, really concentrated on what his flaws were. I knew I could beat him and I did.
My next opponent was Dutch. Dutch is the mouthy one of the group. By this time I had no energy, knew I could never win. I attempted a back kick, he grabbed my leg and put me to the floor then it all went black …..
