Kreese had been eager to start training but he wasn't happy about all the traditional nonsense he had to deal with. He had already argued against wearing the stupid looking pyjamas and the white belt. Sure wearing a black belt would be bad ass but wearing a white belt made him look like he was some amateur. But eventually he relented to Lung and changed into it.
He walked out of the changing rooms where the other gang members were warming up. Lung looked at him.
"Get your ass on the mat Kreese right now."
Kreese steps onto the mat and walks ahead which seems to piss off Lung for some reason. He storms over to him.
"What the hell are you doing Kreese?"
Kreese frowns at him not understanding his problem.
"Getting my ass on the mat like you told me."
Lung glares at him.
"Every time you get on or get off the mat you bow are we clear?"
Kreese takes a deep breath to keep calm then nods and gives a low bow looking to the ground. Suddenly Kreese is knocked to the mat, the back of his head burning. Lung had struck him with a downward elbow onto the exposed part of the back of his head.
"We never take our eyes off an enemy as that could happen. Feel lucky I only struck with 50% boy."
"Yeah super lucky." He grumbled rubbing the back of his head.
"Do you understand what I'm saying Mr Kreese?"
Kreese sighs then nods.
"Yeah sure."
Kreese is then slapped hard around the face by Lung, Kreese staggers back glaring.
"What the hells your problem?"
"In this dojo you will address me as Sensei is that understood?"
Kreese gives an annoyed laugh.
"This is bullshit."
"I'm sorry boy what was that."
"I said this is Bullshit." He repeats louder.
Lung steps back and folds his arms.
"Okay if this is to beneath you then you can leave hotshot. Go back to being the Cobras bitch and fighting girl scouts if that's your level in life. Or you can quit your bitching and follow the rules like everyone else. So make up your damm mind are we clear?"
Kreese takes another deep breath then nods.
"Yes Sensei"
"That's better, now everyone fall in."
The class makes a straight line with the higher level students at the right hand side and the lower at the left. Lung started by making a speech.
"One thing we must all remember is. In this life we are never safe, we never have true friends. Everyone wants to get one over you, everyone will stab you in the back if they can. You are all here because you are useful to me. But if any of you cross me or if I decide you are not useful to me I will happily kill every single one of you. Everyone on earth is a potential enemy. Is that understood?
"YES SENSEI" The class roared.
After the speech finished the training began. It started with basic warm up exercises you find in any high school gym class. Running, stretching and push ups and sit ups. After that they began drilling blocks. Something Kreese wasn't used to. He had never used defence he just attacked and never gave his opponents the chance to hit him. He thought these blocking drills were useless and had no problem showing it and was bored after covering the upward inward, outward and downward blocks, while Lung was explaining about an upward block he was making sure to look anywhere but Lung.
"Every block you throw you must imagine someone is trying to take your damm head off. Your blocks will not work if you half ass them. When your blocks across yourself you must sure your centre line is covered. If you do not- What is the problem Mr Kreese?" he stops mid-sentence nose to nose with Kreese.
"Nothing Sensei you carry on but this stuffs no use to me I don't block. I'll join in when we get to busting a log with our hands."
Lung glared more.
"This is a Karate dojo not a knitting class you don't just pick and choose what you learn and if you continue with this attitude the only thing that hands will be busting is your head. Okay you think these blocks are useless and wouldn't hurt someone. Is that the issue"
Kreese nods glad the guys understanding.
"Okay then. Class prepare for combat."
As one the group makes a square and sits down. Lung walks into the centre and stands on a line on the floor and points at another line opposite him indicating Kreese to do the same. Kreese slowly walks onto the line.
"What you want us to fight again Sensei?"
"yes but this time I will not punch or kick you I will simply block lets see how long you last."
Kreese was confused but was happy to take up the challenge especially seeing the other students were smirking. They believed Kreese was about to get his ass kicked.
"Okay you asked for it"
Kreese ran in with his usual style and every shot he took was blocked easily and good to his word he didn't strike back. Kreese continued his attacks until he realised his arm were burning with pain, every strike he threw and was blocked made his arms hurt even worse. Kreese tried to keep the pace and the power going but was scared of throwing to hard in case it hurt even more. Eventually his arms gave in and he tried to throw a kick. Kreese had never been taught to kick so it wasn't a powerful Karate kick It was more of an old school football style kick. Lung smashed his forearm into the leg bringing Kreese to the ground again.
Kreese was in to much pain to get up. Lung stood above him smirking smugly.
"Not bad for a bunch of useless strikes which couldn't cause any damage right Mr Kreese?"
Lung offered his hand to help him up but Kreese ignored it and stood up slowly.
"As you said Sensei everyone is a potential enemy so why would I take your hand.?"
Lung nods and genuinely smiles.
"Good you're learning. But one last point to make here. Kreese get in a combat position."
Kreese nods and separates his feet and holds his hands up.
"I will now use 4 strikes on you. Lets see if you recognise them."
With that Lug exploded forwards shooting his arm upwards smashing his forearm into Kreeses chin using the upward block motion, then with the same hand smashed his fist and forearm into the side of Kreeses head using the inward block motion, he then bought his arm outwards into the other side of his head using the outward block motion. Then finally he dropped his arm low and struck Kreese in the groin using the downward block motion. He drops to the floor like a bag of dirt. His head ringing like he'd been hit by a bus.
"Are those moment looking familiar to you Mr Kreese?"
Kreese groans and sits up rubbing his head.
"Yes Sensei."
"Good then what are they?"
"It's the same moves as the blocks Sensei."
"Good now fall in Mr Kreese."
Kreese got to his feet and returned to his place while Lung continued to talk.
"Blocking is the fundamental part of Karate. It may not be as important in boxing or Kickboxing or wrestling but that's all crap those things are sports and have rules and are wearing gloves. We are not wearing gloves, we do not play by the rules, we play for keeps. Blocks can stop an opponents attack and as Mr Kreese just found out can destroy your weapons. Also change the range and they are brutal strikes remember this class. Every block is a strike, every strike is a block. Mr Kreese is an advocate of the best defence is a good offence. That's a valid strategy but not an all-time one. There is a time for offence and for defence. You will learn how to pick between each one and will flow into it like water. Now enough talk everyone give me 50 push ups on your knuckles."
After this Kreese never again questioned his Senseis methods and threw himself full on into training. Eventually his style changed. He didn't rush as much he took his time and picked his shots. His punches became cleaner and tighter and used more straight strikes. His weapons also increased, he now used a wide variety of kicks which he had become very good at. He also used knees and elbows and other dirty attacks. The training was just as brutal as his with the cobras if not more so. They would all fight each other and at first Kreese got battered but eventually started holding his own and beating the other chosen gang members.
He quickly rose up the belt ranks and gained a brown belt. After this promotion he trained even harder knowing he would soon be ready to take the Cobras down and call it his own. The best thing of all the boss approved of his training. Kreese had told him Lung was teaching him Karate but obviously not the reasons why and the boss had no complaints about his guy becoming a better fighter.
One day Kreese walked into the dojo and only Lung was there.
"ah Kreese there you are I wanted to speak with you. There's a tournament coming up against some of the best of the best dojos on earth I want you to compete in it."
Kreese tilts his head looking confused.
"You mean of those tag karate things? Where you have to follow rules and listen to the ref. You've always said this is not a sport and we don't follow the rules."
Lung nods and casually drops into the splits.
"Correct but this is the ultimate test. Fighting is not all about aggression sometimes you need to play with your opponent. Pull your strikes so they don't damage them, just humiliate them make them feel like they can do nothing to you and make them give up on themselves. That's what these tournaments are. Yes they're total bullshit in terms of realism but you can use it to humiliate them by not giving up a single point. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sensei."
A few days later Kreese and Lung were at the tournament. It was a large arena filled with a numbers mats filled with competitors. Kreese was wearing a black gi as opposed to the usual white training uniform. Kreeses gi also had no sleeves. A style choice him and Lung decided would intimidate the opposition by seeing how strong Kreese was.
"Remember Kreese you have to listen to the referee to succeed here but doesn't mean you cant bend the rules. Giving a few low blows will intimidate the others. Everyone is more scared of a dirty fighter than a clean one."
Kreese was called to a mat where he faced off against another brown belt. The referee instructed them to bow to him which both did. He then told them to bow to each other but Kreese just gave a small jerk of his head. They were then instructed to fight.
Kreese jumped into his fighting stance and glared at his opponent and for the first time in a competitive fight did nothing. He just stood in his stance and waited for his opponent to attack. The other guy moved in with a front punch followed by a reverse punch. Kreese deflected both moves then immediately fired off a side kick into his opponents knee which landed hard causing him to drop to the floor yelling in pain holding his knee. Kreese smirked as the crowd booed the exchange. The ref raises his arm in Kreeses direction.
"Warning for illegal contact do that again and it'll cost you a point clear?"
Kreese smirks and nods.
"Makes no difference give him 2 points I'll still beat him."
The ref chose to ignore the comment and when his opponent was ready he called to fight. This time Kreese attacked but not with the same fire as he used he was aggrieve yet kept his composure. He fired off a 3 punch combo which was blocked but then Kreee raised his leg for a side kick again. His opponent flinched low anticipating it attacking his knee again but this time Kreese drove the kick into his stomach winding him. As the ref yells break Kreese smirks and calls out.
"Whats up sweetheart having trouble breathing?"
He then strolls back to his line and the ref again raises his hand towards Kreese.
"1 Point side kick 1-0 Kreese. Ready and fight."
Kreese this time danced around the ring not staying still for a second. His opponent was confused by the constant change of styles by Kreese. He flicked a roundhouse kick at Kreeses head which Kreese dodged then fired a reverse punch into his stomach.
The ref called break.
"1 point reverse punch 2-0 Kreese. Ready, fight."
Kreese was ready to end this now and threw a roundhouse kick which missed then used the momentum of the first kick to transition into a spinning heel kick which crashed into his head knocking him to the ground.
"1 point spin kick 3-0 Kreese. Winner John Kreese."
The ref raised Kreeses hand and blew a sarcastic kiss to his opponent then walked off the mat flipping off the booing crowd.
The rest of the tournament passed the same. No one can stand up to Kreeses attacks he knocked everyone into the mat and insulted and humiliated them. The crowd hated but he didn't give a shit he wasn't there to make friends.
He easily makes his way to the finals against the last years champion who also hadn't conceded a point the whole tournament. As they prepared Kreese bounced around yelling out to cause more intimidation. As they stepped on the mat Kreese saw it had worked this guy was terrified he was whiter than his gi and couldn't even look at him. The referee was about to start the match when the other finalist shook his head after being asked if he was ready.
"Nah man I'm done" he motions to the referee. The ref looks at him confused and he shakes his head.
"I'm out it's not worth it. A trophy isn't worth this Kreese guy crippling me."
With that he ran off the mat. Kreese was furious and yelled after him.
"Get back here coward, call yourself a champion you jumped up little prima donna"
The ref walks over and raises Kreeses hand.
"Winner by forfeit John Kreese"
Kreese yanks his hand away and storms off the mat furious he didn't get the chance to beat the champion, he storms back to the locker room and punches the lcokers denting them. He was looking for his opponent and was ready to fight him right there. But lung came after him and stopped him.
"Oi Kreese calm your ass down."
Kreese glared.
"I'm gonna kill that little wimp for running away."
"Leave the boy be he's not what its important. You were here to learn how to humiliate your opponents and you did. No one got anywhere near you, you pulverised them all and then you made the 3 time champion run off the mat to scared to fight you. If that's not humiliation then I don't know what is."
Kreese nods and relaxes.
"Whatever so whats next?"
"Well firstly here's your trophy. But second heres what you've been waiting for John."
Kreese looks up as Lung reaches into his jacket and pulls out a black belt and hands it to him.
"Congratulations John you are by far my most talented student and the most deadly and vicious. The Cobras is the perfect gang for you it sums you up. The coiled Cobra is ready to unravel and sink its fangs into anything in its way. It's time to strike back and take whats yours. Are you ready for the Cobras to be yours."
Kreese removes his brown belt and throws it to the side and places the black belt around his waist. He then nods.
"Yes Sensei."
A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this. It's my longest chapter by far. I was considering more tournament fights but I think making the guy so terrified he quit was more fitting but hey let me know what you think.
