Chapter Seven
Haruhi looked over at the young women beside her, "I honestly don't know…" Haruhi put her head in her hands and sighed; she then pulled her knees to her chest, crossed her arms then laid her head on her arm looking out to the sea… "Sometimes I just feel so alone, I really don't know what to do about anything anymore. My past was difficult, and I just don't know what path I'm supposed to take." Haruhi stood up suddenly. "I have somewhere I need to be." Haruhi then left Fuyumi on the beach and walked up to the house. Arriving up at the house Haruhi walked up to Mori's room, knocked on the door. Mori walked to his door and opened it. Haruhi stood there with her head bowed "You wanted to see me after breakfast?"
"Ah." Mori opened the door a bit more then stepped aside allowing Haruhi is get into his room.
As Hani came into view and he threw his arms around her waist. "Haru-Chan" He then released her and looked up at Mori, nodded and then looked back at Haruhi. "Since your hurt Haru-Chan today we will just be telling you about it, okay?"
Haruhi nodded her head and sat down in one of the chairs in the room.
"Well… Kickboxing refers to the sport of combining the grace and style of boxing with kicking. Kickboxing is a standing sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once a combatant has reached the ground. Kickboxing is often practiced for self-defense, general fitness, or as a full-contact sport. In the full-contact sport the male boxers are bare-chested wearing shorts and protective gear including: mouth-guard, hand-wraps, 10-oz. boxing gloves, groin-guard, shin-pads, kick-boots, and optional protective helmet; usually for those under 16. The female boxers will wear a tank top and chest protection in addition to the male clothing and protective gear. In European kickboxing, where kicks to the thigh are allowed using special low-kick rules, use of boxing shorts instead of long trousers is possible. In addition, amateur rules often allow less experienced competitors to use light or semi-contact rules, where the intention is to score points by executing successful strikes past the opponent's guard, and use of force is regulated. The equipment for semi-contact is similar to full-contact matches, usually with addition of head gear. Competitors usually dress in a t-shirt for semi-contact matches, to separate them from the bare-chested full-contact participants. There are many arts labeled kickboxing including Japanese kickboxing, American kickboxing, Indian boxing, Burmese boxing, as well as French boxing. The term kickboxing is disputed and has become more associated with the Japanese and American variants. Many of the other styles do not consider themselves to be 'kickboxing', although the public often uses the term generically to refer to all these martial arts. The term kickboxing was created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi for a variant of Muay Thai and Karate that he created in the 1950's. The term was later used by the American variant. When used by the practitioners of those two styles, it usually refers to those styles specifically."
"You will be learning a combination of both American and European kickboxing styles." Mori said quietly
"American kickboxing, the Count Dante, Ray Scarica and Maung Gyi are the real pioneers of American Kickboxing and held tournaments back in 1962.
Between 1970 and 1973 in federation PKA a handful of kickboxing promotions were staged across the USA. In the early days the rules were never clear, one of the first tournaments had no weight divisions and all the competitors fought off until one was left. A very young Benny Urquidez reached the final. Unfortunately at world level there was no infrastructure, no set format of rules, the elements of danger were still included in the combat forms. As the martial arts disciplines grew in popularity man's urge to meet his/her peers on the competition floor demanded conformity, a universal rules system, and a method that would ensure the practitioners safety whilst competing at sporting level. Various groups came forward in an attempt to unite all these Eastern martial disciplines under one set of rules that would cover the many and various forms of combat all less than one umbrella. After many failures, petty squabbles and political infighting an organization was formed and termed the World Kickboxing Association or WKA. The impetus of the WKA on world martial arts as a whole was revolutionary. They were the first organized body of martial arts on a global scale to sanction fights, create ranking systems, and institute a development programmed. Whereby at grass roots level children of all ages under a strict code of ethics and safety could learn via satellite WKA clubs in every City, Town, and village, a martial arts discipline thus ensuring for future years the growth of the sport. Today, the International Kickboxing Federation or IKF is the most active kickboxing sanctioning body in North America and one of the top 3 worldwide organizations. The IKF also hosts the Largest All Amateur - Full Contact & Muay Thai - Kickboxing Tournament in the World, the IKF World Classic. These are the rules used in American and Australian Full Contact Karate.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with fists and feet, striking above the hip. Using elbows or knees is forbidden and the use of the shins is seldom allowed.
Bouts are usually 3 to 12 rounds (lasting 2 – 3 minutes each) for amateur and professional contests with a 1-minute rest in between rounds.
This is in contrast to Muay Thai, where the use of elbows and knees are allowed. In fact, some Muay Thai practitioners consider kickboxing a "watered down" version of Muay Thai. Fighters and promoters can agree to various rules including kicks only above the waist, kicks anywhere, no knee strikes, knees only to the body, and so on. American Kickboxing is essentially much a mixture of Western Boxing and Karate.
The round durations and the number of rounds can vary depending on the stipulations agreed to beforehand by each fighter or manager. A winner is declared during the bout if there is a submission fighter quits or fighter's corner throws in the towel, knockout KO, or referee stoppage, Technical Knock Out, or TKO. If all of the rounds expire with no knockout then the fight is scored by a team of 3 judges. The judges determine a winner based on their scoring of each round. A split decision indicates a disagreement between the judges, while a unanimous decision indicates that all judges saw the fight the same way and all have declared the same winner." Hani continued and then took a big breath and then began again.
"European-style kickboxing was formed with a combination of Muay Thai and Japanese kickboxing rules and it has evolved into three different disciplines.
Semi-contact is a fighting discipline where two fighters fight with the primary goal of scoring greater points using controlled legal techniques with speed and focus. The main characteristics of semi-contact are delivery, technique and speed. The competition in semi-contact should be executed in its true sense with light and well-controlled contact. It is a technical discipline with equal emphasis put on hand and foot techniques from an athletic viewpoint. Techniques, punches and kicks, are strictly controlled. At each valid point, a point that is awarded, with a legal part of hand or foot to legal targets and with legal technique, the central referee halts the fight and at the same time as the two judges, shows with his/her fingers the number of points in the direction of the fighter who is being awarded points. Fighters will enter the Tanami and touch gloves. They will then step back, assume a fighting stance and wait for the command FIGHT from the referee. The time will only be stopped on the command of the referee, by calling TIME toward the area control table. Time is not stopped to award points or penalties unless the referee feels it is necessary. A fighter may have one coach and one second in his corner during the match."
"Competition in Light Contact kickboxing should be executed as its name implies, with well-controlled techniques. In light contact competitors fight continuously until the central referee commands 'stop' or 'break'. They use techniques from full contact, but these techniques must be well controlled when they land on legal targets. Equal emphasis must be placed on both punching and kicking techniques. Light contact has been created as an intermediate stage between semi and full contact kickboxing. It is carried out with running time. The central referee doesn't judge the fighters, but only makes sure they respect the rules. The fight could be held in a Tanami or in a ring.
Full contact is a discipline of kickboxing where the intention of a fighter is to beat his opponent with full power and strength. Punches and kicks must be delivered to legal targets with focus, speed and determination, thus creating solid contact. Punches and kicks are allowed to the front and side of the head, the front and side of the body, above waist, and sweeping is also allowed. The fight is held in a ring. The referee is responsible for fighter safety and keeping to the rules. Judges count legal techniques and note the points on scoring card. Amateur fights hav minute rounds with a minute break between each round in all IKF and WAKO tournaments. Outside a tournament, a single amateur fight can have up t minute rounds with a minute break, between each round. The use of more than 3 rounds must be due to an agreement between the fighters." Hani stopped taking and looked at Haruhi "did you understand what I just said?"
Haruhi just nodded her head, a knock on the door followed.
"Enter." Mori answered with his monotonic voice.
In walked Tamaki. "Lunch is ready." He said quietly.
The trio made their way to the door before Tamaki spoke out again. "Haruhi, can I talk to you?"
Haruhi glanced at Mori to see him watching her for a reaction, she nodded her head to give both men a sign that it was alright. Hani and Mori nodded to Tamaki and left the room while Haruhi's injured arm rested in its slang across her chest, her other arm hung limply at her side.
"What do you want Tamaki- Senpai?"
Tamaki sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry for over reacting earlier, it just that when I said it, I didn't think you would do it. I thought that if you had us around you would be alright. After all Hani-Senpai could easily protect you." Tamaki laughed awkwardly and kept going. "And well, you see, I'm…" He was blushing by this point.
"Save it Tamaki-Senpai, I don't care what you were thinking or how you feel." Haruhi cut him off quickly. "This is my life and my choice; now please move aside so I can go eat."
Tamaki stepped aside so she could get past and watched her as she walked away. "But I love you." He said quietly to himself before heading down to get food himself.
