recolle | I will become a lion hearted girl

I will become a lion hearted girl

WHO: Sakura Kinomoto, Open
WHERE: idk, school gym or something? Outside in the park? Undecided but open to wherever.
WHEN: October. Throughout the month among.....all of this with the fog and all. Probably during the weekends? But not too late because girl needs her beauty sleep and has school on Monday and all.
WHAT: Training! Sakura learning to try defend herself, since she's heard about monsters and the like. And just in general thinks it might be a good idea to know just in case, even if she might never necessarily need to use it.
WARNINGS: None off of the top of my head?

[Sakura had been offered by a few people to try teach her. She isn't yet sure which weapon or weapons she might prefer, or perhaps none at all and just using her body. But she won't know which feels best until she tries. So she arranges to meet those who offered, telling her brother she was just curious and some friends offered to help her with some basics. After telling him who she was meeting and where, that seemed to mollify him somewhat at least in allowing it. Not that it stopped him from teasing her about coming back with bruises given her clumsiness at times.

So she gets there, almost tripping in her haste, a little nervous but wanting to channel that to help her learn rather than being scared of the idea of learning any of this. It's important. If she doesn't want to rely on others to help her. When she sees one of them, she waves, pausing in front of them and taking a moment to catch her breath.]

I hope I wasn't keeping you waiting too long.

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[The Recolle High administration had allowed Miles to open his self-defense PE classes to outsiders, and to use the gym for them. So here he is, walking up to her with a calm smile. And this design on a shirt.]

Not at all, Miss Kinomoto. You're just in time.

I am? Oh, good. I was hoping I wasn't keeping everyone waiting.

[She catches her breath for a moment before biting her lower lip at noting his shirt. She does usually skate to school. Though she isn't sure if now might be the best time to bring it up when they were here for a reason. To train. So she straightens with a smile and raises her fists in front of her.]

Right! I'm ready! What are we learning first?

All right.

[Sakura might notice that he has allowed the other students to spar either with punching bags or each other for the time being, in order to concentrate a bit on her; she is, after all, the youngest in the gym. He squats down to her level (he's a solid 5'10") and stretches out his palm toward her.]

First, I want to see what you can do. [Perhaps the girl had some potential.] Punch my palm as hard as you can.

Um, okay....

[It might not quite be her hardest, if only in not wanting to hurt him or something so still holding back initially. Just in case, she doesn't know if she might end up surprising him and possibly herself with her strength, given her athleticism.

Her punch probably needs more work in regards to the technique, but the force behind it isn't bad, when it hits his palm of his hand, even if she might be holding back a little.]

Like this?

[Of course, being older, bigger and stronger than she is, the punch doesn't faze him much and he doesn't move form where he is, although he does feel it make an impact on his palm. But Miles does give her a grin of approval.]

Yes, although you can do better. I notice you're quite strong.

I just didn't want to hurt you. But alright. Let's try again....

[It's more likely that he or any of the others here might accidentally hurt her than the other way around, probably. But still. Sakura tries again, putting a little more force behind it this time. Hitting a little harder with his encouragement.]

Better.

[He nods, lowering his palm.]

You don't have to hold back; if I get hurt, that means you're doing well.

I.....guess that makes sense. But still, that doesn't mean I want you to have to go to the doctor because of me....!

[She. Probably wouldn't be so hesitant or worked up if it really was someone or something actually attacking her and acting on instinct in defending herself, but training, sparring and practicing like this seems like a different sort of situation and setting. To say the least.]

[Miles can't help but laugh softly. The odds of Sakura sending him to the school infirmary are pretty low, but they're there. Her determination and concern are duly noted.]

Always remember to keep your thumb on top of your fingers, not under them. [He balls his hand into a fist to show her, keeping his thumb outside, then tucks his thumb below his curled fingers.] And when you punch, you do it with the knuckles of your middle and index finger.

[He turns so he's not facing her, withdraws his arm and punches the air with his fist quickly, letting his fist cut through the air - and not hit someone. Good thing everyone else is far away.]

Thumb on top and punch with my knuckles.....okay then.

[Sakura gives a determined nod, before imitating him, practicing her punches with the air around her in avoiding hitting anyone, minding her position of her thumb with his advice. Thankfully, they're given space enough, once the others realize Miles is focusing on her and given how young she is, the rest seem to do well enough practicing with each other for now.]

People make the mistake of punching with their fingers. [He points to his finger bones - not the knuckles, after his demonstration as he watches her.] That will hurt, and worse, it may break your fingers.

So, with your knuckles? [She pauses then, glancing at her own fist, her own hand. There's a lot more to punching that she hadn't really considered.]

I'd rather not go breaking my fingers. That'd definitely worry my brother at least. I wouldn't have thought there was this much to learn though.

It's a common mistake, and easy to make when you're in a panic, or desperate.

[He pauses.]

...I think anyone would be worried if you broke your fingers for any reason.

[Well, he certainly would.]

I guess so. It's different to practice, then doing this sort of thing in the moment against someone for real.

[A lot of things are. Different or easier, in theory, in practice. In comparison to the reality of it. This -- self defense, is probably no different. But she is willing to try, to do her best anyway. Even knowing she might mess up or freak out in the moment she needs this, or tries it for real.]

W-well, yes. Probably. But I mean, I'm clumsy sometimes anyway, even if I'm good with gym.

-May offered Sakura a big smile once she caught sight of the pipsqueak (though who was she kidding? she was only 5'2, herself), hopping off of the bench she was on and carrying with her a pair of gloves, which she tossed towards Sakura.-

Ready to work up a sweat?

Y-yes! Or, as much as I can. I'll do my best!

[Sakura catches the gloves, thankfully not being too clumsy in almost tripping to do so as she then pulls them on. They don't seem too big at least, and Sakura flexes her fingers a little in them, seeing how right they were. Unsure if it might be right for her fit or not. It doesn't feel uncomfortable or anything at least.]

I think they fit alright.

They'd better fit, they're the smallest I could get. -May shrugged, picking up two pads for herself, holding them in front of Sakura.-

Before we start, have you ever thrown a punch in your life?

I guess imagining myself punching or stomping on my brother when he teases me doesn't really count.....

[So no. As much as she often flails at her brother for his teasing or stomps at his feet for it, she hasn't actually gotten to the point of going to smack him like this. But she still seems ready enough to try learn, if this might help her with the app and everything going on lately.]

I mean, I guess I get the idea in theory? Swinging a fist at the pad, or....monster or person attacking.

Yeah, but if all you do is swing your fist, you're just as likely to hurt yourself as you are the other person. Those gloves will help teach you where to put your fingers, but the biggest thing is wrist position.

-May motioned to one of the pads.-

Gimme a jab. That's a straight punch, if you don't know the lingo. One arm, moving straight forward.

Fingers and the wrist.....okay. Like this?

[Sakura shifts, her arm moving forward so her fist hits at the pad May holds up. It's probably not the most practiced, the most skilled technique, but the motion is there, even if she might need work on said wrist position.]

Alright, freeze frame.

-May takes her free hand and moves it to Sakura's wrist.-

As your wrist is right now, while it isn't terrible, you still could risk hurting yourself. You need to make your wrist as straight as possible when throwing any kind of punch, and don't give in to the urge to bow it when you feel the impact.

Gimme one more.

Hm? Ah.....straight. Okay.

[So no twisting it. Sakura bites her lip as she tries to concentrate on her movement of her wrist and fist as she pulls it back before trying a second time. Probably still not perfect since she is newer to it, but better than before in keeping her wrist in mind at least.]

There?

That's good, lil homey! -May slipped her hand into the other pad, lifting it up.-

Now, keep that in mind, and gimme twenty left and right jabs. Don't worry about hitting hard, yet, just keep your hand position safe.

Twenty? Okay. So just the position.....

[She can work on hitting harder, she guesses, once she gets the basics down. Or something like that. Sakura frowns in concentration as she counts in her head, not quite slowing but still taking a little time in ensuring her position of her hands and wrists during the movement of the punches.]

Twenty! I think.

Don't worry, I was keeping count. Feeling good about it yet? If you think you've got the jab down, we can move on to the next punch.

I think so. I can try.

[She did now have a little practice with the bare basics at least. So Sakura figures it worth trying in moving to the next step. The next sort of punch? Apparently? She's figuring this as she goes, basically. If this might help her later then it'll be worth it.]

Show me.

Alright, the next punch I'm gonna show you is called a 'hook'.

Unlike a jab, that just goes straight forward, a hook bends the elbow. The power comes from your center, the part that actually pivots.

So lift your arm, and bend the elbow like this. -May set down the pad, demonstrating with her own arm.-

A 'hook'. So bending my elbow. I'll try!

[She shifts, trying to imitate May's movement of bending the elbow during the punch to the air, lifting her arm a little more in trying to compensate for the movement. She's thinking she is sort of getting the hang of it, at least. Mostly. For being so new to it, anyway.]

Don't worry too much about the follow through, just focus on the form, for now.

-May once more picked up both pads.-

Gimme 20, kiddo!

Focus on the form. I'll try!

[She does seem to improve, at least, over the twenty punches she does against May's hands with the pads. Not with enough force to really rock May or hurt her or her hands, but trying to concentrate on the movement of her arms rather than the force behind the punches. She could do this. She had to. She couldn't just keep relying on others to get her out of these situations with the app. The monsters, the fog.]

-After the kind of things May had seen herself, she wasn't certain punches alone were going to be able to protect someone, anyone, from the horrors that may possibly await them. But more important than that, and she could tell in the way Sakura moved, was building the confidence that if confronted with something towering and choking in its presence, she'd know she could still fight.

A lesson May learned a long time ago... the person who keeps getting up will always still have a chance to win, in the end.-

Good, awesome! You're a natural, kid! Now gimme 40 punches, alternating between jabs and hooks. Think you can manage that? Don't be afraid to sweat, that's why we're here~

I'll try!

[Sakura gives a nod, starting on the punches, one jab and then a hook. It's getting easier. Her form. But after so many, after about halfway through, she does slow down a little more, even if she pushes through it. This was just the start. There was a lot more to learn. Though she gets the feeling her arms might rebel in the morning from this. She'd get used to that. Probably.]

38, 39.....forty! I made it!

Well done, well done! -May set down one of the pads to give Sakura a congratulatory pat on the back, smiling brightly.-

Water break. Let's head for the bench.

A water break would be great, yes!

[Sakura gives a relieved nod, wiping at her brow even as she manages a smile at the encouragement. Eagerly following to the bench to her water bottle to take a sip. A few sips at least. This was thirsty work!]

So... How are ya feelin' about this, so far? Be honest. I haven't been on the teaching end of this, like... ever. So gimme a fair critique, ya feel me?

Critique? Um. I don't think I have any so far. I mean, you've been showing me what you want me to do, giving me advice, like with my wrists. So I think you're doing alright? I mean, not that I really have anything to compare this to with a professional teaching me, but.

[Sakura gives a shrug. This has been going fine, as far as she figures. Some water might drip as she drinks, downing a third of the water in her drink bottle. She wipes at her chin afterwards, giving a grin.]

Well I figured, you'd have some teachers in school to compare me to, but I'll take it. -May chuckled, sipping from her own water, though all she really had done was just that, teach.-

Well, sure. But they don't teach this sort of thing. Is more what I meant. So I'm not really sure what advice I could give for this. For teaching this. I like that you show me though? So I can try copy your punches, I mean.

[That helps. Learning from imitating, from seeing the action being done by someone else. Even if punching and landing the hit in real life might hurt, might be a lot more rushed and frantic in the moment she actually needs to defend herself.]

Eh, fair enough. You read to get back out there? -May pat the girl's shoulder.-

Ready! Or.....as ready as I can be. I can do this!

[She gives a determined look, in any case, taking a last sip from her drink bottle before putting it back in her bag and letting May lead her back in. Sakura wouldn't learn more by sitting and drinking, or talking. But by doing, by watching May and the rest.]

[ Sakura shakes her head, already dressed in her traditional keikogi and hakama for sword fighting. ]

Not at all.

[ The park is normally clear at this time in the afternoon, so it's a good place to get some sword training in a wide open space without bothering anyone. Plus, with all the weird things happening - self defense classes have become a lot more common. ]

I don't think the sword is for everyone, but you gotta know it isn't for you - you know?

Ah, good. But right! I won't know unless I try. If I don't like this then I can try something else to learn to defend myself, so. It's alright. I'll just do my best!

[She figures this way they have enough room while being hopefully less likely to have anyone come by to watch and potentially disrupt or get hurt. They're not doing this right next to the playground or anything, after all. More wanting the open space and softer ground of the grass, if anything. Still, Sakura seems determined enough to give this a try, with the way she raises her fists in front of her.]

Oh right, I didn't introduce myself properly.

[ Sakura bows her head to the younger girl. ]

My name's Sakura Fujiwara. Normally I'm a pro at cosplaying but somehow I've become a pro at sword fighting as well.

[ She straightens up, but not before she fishes out a wooden training bokken from the bag with her and holding it out to the younger girl. ]

Take this, tell me how you feel.

Ah! So we have the same name then! I mean 'Sakura', at least. I'm Sakura Kinomoto.

[She seems amused by this. Almost amused and relieved in some sort of familiarity at least, as she smiles, taking the offered bokken from the other. Sakura bites her lip, giving it a light swing, though mindful of their positions in not hitting anyone.]

It's lighter than I thought it might be?

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I will become a lion hearted girl

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