I've had this chapter sitting on my hard drive for a while now - figure I may as well post it - it's set up for the next chapter.
Saturday
"Alright," said the Sensei "now Jack is more experienced, so try to make it a bit more difficult. 90% speed, 30% power.
"Hai!" exclaimed the three students
They formed a triangle with me in the center, foam padded katanas pointed inwards towards my chest. I was unarmed.
"Begin!" sensei commanded
They began to circle, attempting to disorient me before the first strike. I had to break the circle, but I couldn't charge with their swords ready to impale me. A student raised his sword to strike and I seized the opportunity. Side-stepping the blow, I lunged inwards before he could reset, one hand controlling his wrist, the other palming his face – to simulate a strike to the eyes. His head snapped back, moving his center of gravity backwards.
Before the second student could strike I put the first into a shoulder lock and shoved him back into the second. Just in time I noticed the third student was now behind me. I turned to face him just as he cut horizontally. I threw myself backwards, but still felt the tip of the sword brush against my chest.
"Flesh wound" called the sensei "continue."
I was now laying on my back, the third student ran towards my and I rolled backwards, coming up into a low crouch. He made the mistake of getting too close and I dove forward, tackling him to the ground. At this point he should have dropped the sword and brought up his hands to defend himself, but he did not. I swiftly punched the air in front of his throat, simulating a killing blow.
I picked up the discarded sword just in time to block a downward cut from student two. Still kneeling I deflected the blow at 45°. I grabbed his wrist, standing as I did so, and used his forward momentum to perform a hip throw. Once he was on the ground I put the blade of the padded sword against his throat. Two down, one to go.
Rather that fight my last opponent in a duel, I employed a somewhat unorthodox tactic. I threw my sword at him, startling him for a second as he tried to block it. Meanwhile I picked up the last sword from student 2 and charged, cutting him down where he stood.
"Very good" praised the sensei "Now strike at me."
"Hai!" I yelled, steeling myself against the pain that was sure to follow. My sensei had a particular fondness for demonstrating nerve strikes.
I struck upwards at 45°, but found only air. Sensei moved cobra quick, grasping my wrist in a technical lock (omote-gyaku), forcing me to drop the sword. Then he twisted further, forcing me to my knees. I attempted the counter-lock, but he was ready, shifting into a strait wristlock (ori-gyaku), then to an arm bar, laying me face down onto the mats. I twisted out of the arm bar, only for him to progress to a shoulder lock, pressing my face into the mats, and forcing me to tap out.
"You have learned every technique in the syllabus, but still you fight with an Earth feeling, you are strong and precise," instructed sensei "but before you can attain your black belt you must learn to be like water, flowing seamlessly from attack to defense, like fire, attack as defense, like wind, forceful yet untouchable, and as the void, using deceit and misdirection."
