Dojo log

[toobigtohandle]

WHO: Ooshima Kenta, Derek Matthews, and YOU
WHERE: The dojo where Kenta practices kendo and hand-to-hand
WHEN: 12/7 and other days throughout December
WHAT: Someone is getting their first kendo lesson
WARNINGS: Mostly talks of swords and cutting people.



I. General training

[I.a]
[Most of the time, Kenta will be doing some solo bokken training, dressed in a white kimono and black hakama. He’s going at it pretty intensely, but he will actually be more open to conversation than if you were to meet him randomly in the streets, because if you’re here then you’re interested in martial arts and that gives you a common point with him.
If you’re a beginner or even a more advanced user, he’d be happy to give tips, since he was a regional champion himself and is good enough to qualify for the national team (except he’s a foreign national, so he can’t).]

[I.b]
[If you’re lucky enough to be there at the same time as Kenta’s former teammates, you might actually be treated to a real match. You probably won’t be the only one watching either, since things will be… intense.]

[I.c]
[The rest of the time, Kenta will mostly be practicing hand-to-hand with one or two of his bodyguards while wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. And unlike what you may have seen before, this is not martial arts. This is all out street brawling, and they’re only holding back enough to not seriously injure one another. If you approach, the bodyguards might be on alert at first until Kenta tells them to stand down.]


II. Private Lesson [Closed to Derek Matthews]

[As promised, Kenta has reached the dojo and changed into his practice gear, the white kimono and black hakama, by 6pm, and he's started on his own warm-up while waiting for Derek. For now he's only doing practice forward strikes, while thinking about how to get Derek started.

He's thinking of completely skipping shinai practice and going straight to bokken, since Derek wants to learn to do actual damage and he needs to get used to how much that thing weighs. Especially if he's planning on using a real blade down the line.]

Comments

I.c

[sakeplz]

[There is one person easily brave enough (maybe stupid enough) to walk right into the middle of this fight without a care. It probably helps that he's been doing this for years and years now. Just walking into the middle of a brawl without fear and going over to Kenta to give his cheek a kiss before going to the side to watch.]

Don't mind me, boys! I'll just watch over here like a good boy.

[toobigtohandle]

[By now, thankfully, the bodyguards are used to it. Not to mention, now that Jirou understands Japanese, he can get a basic understanding of what's going on.

Kenta only stops for a second before he goes back to it. They're getting pretty intense by now and Kenta takes a few blows, a fist to his jaw and another one to his ribcage. he gives back as well, and his tall stature allows him to get a few good kicks in.

When they finally stop for a break, one of the bodyguards goes and gets an ice pack for Kenta's jaw so it doesn't bruise to badly and Kenta grabs it before going to sit next to Jirou with a water bottle and a towel. He's pretty tired.]

[sakeplz]

I may not be able to taste but at least I get to watch some very hot men brawl.

[He sure is fanning himself slowly with the fan from the outfit given to him by the app.]

Mmm. It's always so sexy when you boys do that.

[He knows Kenta is safe so he never worries about him getting bruises from this.]

[toobigtohandle]

What's so sexy about slugging at each other like that?

[Of course, Kenta doesn't realize that he himself, wearing tight sweat pants and a tank top, slightly sweaty, with his hair tied back, can look sexy to other people.]

I think Fai also enjoyed watching the guys last time. You should bring him next time you come.

[sakeplz]

Sexy buff men in tight clothes that show off their muscles and have those muscles glistening with sweat? Mmmmm. Yummy.

[He laughs and has himself a drink. He might not be able to taste it but no way is he going to stop drinking alcohol.]

Fai and I would just sit here giggling the whooooole time.

[toobigtohandle]

[Kenta smiles and scoots closer so he can lean on Jirou. He started the day with a 5am jaunt int he park to train with the sword, and then he had classes all day and now this to finish the day... he's ready to go home and rest now.]

I'll have a quick shower before I change. Can you wash my hair when we get home?

[sakeplz]

If you're really good I'll massage you after the bath too.

[Which means Kenta is totally getting that massage because Jirou never offers anything like that unless he fully intends to do the thing.]

[toobigtohandle]

What will qualify as 'really good?'

[Kenta knows he'll be getting that massage, obviously, so he's just teasing a little.]

[sakeplz]

[He giggles a little and gives his cheek a kiss.]

Letting me take really good care of you and spoiling you without trying to spoil me back. You can do that other times.

[toobigtohandle]

Okay. I'll go get changed, then.

[He grimaces a little as he gets back up and disappears into the locker room.

It takes him about half an hour to get showered quickly and to have everything packed, but once he is he comes back out carrying his bag and his shoes in one hand so he can put them on away from the tatami mats.]

Let's go.

[sakeplz]

[Up he goes and he waves for one of the bodyguards to take Kenta's bag from him then takes that arm so that way Kenta can't grab it back.]

I'm spoiling you now, remember? No carrying things! So did you drive here or did someone else drive you?

[toobigtohandle]

Someone else drove because I knew I might not be able to drive back by myself if I took too many hits.

[That's usually what he does ont he days where they do hand-to-hand.]

... I don't see why i can't be allowed to carry my bag, though. It's not even heavy.

[sakeplz]

Because you don't let me do anything when I'm spoiling you. Now it's my turn to do the spoiling.

[He pokes his nose playfully.]

To my driver then!

[And he tugs Kenta with him to the car so they can get in together.]

II

[blondferret]

[Derek walks into the dojo and looks around. He has never been in a kendo dojo before, so he wasn't sure what to expect. Not sure what would be the most appropriate to wear, so he came in dark sweat pants and a dark green t-shirt, which was currently covered up by his coat. Seeing Kenta, he removes his coat and calls out to him.]

Oi, Kenta, I'm here. So, how do we do this?

[toobigtohandle]

Hi.

[Sweat pants and T-shirt is just fine until he decides whether he actually wants to keep practicing for good.]

I think the first step is to get you used to swinging this around.

[He goes to one of the weapons rack and selects an uchigatana-size bokken - his is longer - and holds it out to Derek. It weighs about half a pound and it can be surprising at first.]

We'll start with the basics today. Stance, grip, and ma'ai. Maybe a bit of swinging.

[blondferret]

[Derek reaches out to grab the two foot sword, it was definitely heavier than he anticipated.]

Woah, that has some weight to it.

[Derek's hand lowers an inch or so from the weight.]

Also, what's a... what did you say? A muh eye?

The things you research for RP...

[toobigtohandle]

Ma'ai. To simplify things, it's the distance between two combattants. However, it also involves how much time your opponent has to react to an attack and how fast they can do it.

[Kenta takes a few steps back and extends his arm holding the bokken.]

If you imagine this to be the radius of a circle and me as the center, then if you step into that circle, I can touch you and potentially block you. I can extend that surface with stances and moving. When fighting with blades, your goal is to make your opponent drop their guard so you can get within striking distance. And you have to do it by swinging that rather heavy thing.

Re: The things you research for RP...

[blondferret]

So in kendo every person has their own sort of personal bubble. Enter the bubble, risk loosing a limb. Ok, that makes sense. Well, then, how do I start swinging this thing?

[Derek narrows his eyes at Kenta.]

You aren't going to pull a Mr. Miagi on me and make me wax your car are you?

[toobigtohandle]

That's one way of putting it in simpler terms, yes.

[The next sentence only draws a puzzled expression out of Kenta.]

... Who is Mr Miyagi, and why would I make you wax my car?

[blondferret]

[Derek give Kenta a incredulous look.]

You know, Mr. Miagi, from The Karate Kid.

[Derek uses his fee hand to do the motion of waxing a car.]

Wax on, wax off. Have you not seen this movie? There is even a sequel that takes place in Okinawa, Japan. It's a classic!

[toobigtohandle]

[Nope, sorry. not ringing a bell.]

I don't think I have. And the only practice you need for swinging that thing is just that. Swinging it. Though I did mention you might want to do some extra work to improve your upper-body strength.

I'll show you the grip, first.

[And he'll demonstrate.]

Are you right-handed or left-handed?

[blondferret]

[Derek sighs. How could he have not see KARATE KID! It's a CLASSIC!]

You really should see that movie mate. But, anyway, I'm right-handed.

[Derek looks at Kenta's grip and copies it with his own sword.]

Like this?

[toobigtohandle]

[Kenta hasn't done many things most people his age should have done normally, Derek.

For now, he comes closer and corrects the grip a little, moving Derek's fingers until they are where they should be.]

Alright. because the bokken is heavy and it's held out away from your body, it will change your center of gravity a little. So the first step is to find your balance. The position from were you can step forward or back or to the side and then come back and be stable. Try to do it with your eyes closed. Bend your knees a little.

[It may not be feeling like they're doing anything very intense right now, but with the weight of the bokken and the concentration required, there will be some tiredness to contend with soon. Kenta is trying to stretch it a bit longer before they take a break, though.]

[blondferret]

[Derek bends his knees a little and then closes his eyes.]

Wait, so... how exactly am I suppose to find my balance?

[Derek tries swaying a bit, but he feels a bit ridiculous.]

[toobigtohandle]

You need your weight centered, equal weight on your two feet when your feet firmly on the ground.

When it you have it you shouldn't stumble back when I do this.

[And he's going to poke you hard in the middle of the chest. Not at full force because without difference in statutes he'd make you fly whether or not you've found your balance. But definitely a good shove.]