InsaneJournal

Who: Jim and John
What: Self Defence training
Where: Dojo address given
When: Early October
Rating: Low?
Status: Complete when posted


John looked down one last time at the paper in his hand where he’d written the address to check he was in the right spot. Deciding that he was, he folded up the paper and tucked it in his pocket before heading up the stairs and into the dojo. Looking around he spotted a guy, “Hey, are you Jim Kirk?”

Jim looked up from his phone, and gave John a big smile. “I’m Jim. You must be John. Find your way here easily enough?” He welcomed the distraction. It was always easier to focus on work than on other problems.

“Hey, nice to meet you Jim,” John smiled and reached out to shake the other man’s hand in greeting. “Yeah, no problems getting here thanks. So uh, this place belongs to you?” he asked, looking around the place.

“I just work here,” Jim replied. “I know the owner and the pay is decent though. I get to make my own hours too. So I like to think it works out.” He wouldn’t mind owning the place though. Maybe someday.

“Cool, how long you been doing this sort of gig?” John asked, hitching his bag on his shoulder as they stood and talked.

“About two years now.” Jim nodded in the direction of the lockers. “If you want to change, you can go in there. I hope you’re ready to be tossed around.” He gave John a wink. “We have to start with the basics.”

“Great, thanks,” John nodded and headed off to get changed. When he returned in a t-shirt and shorts a few minutes later, he came up to Jim. “Ready to be tossed around Cap’n,” he gave a mock salute. “Although, maybe that’s a line I should try with my girlfriend,” he joked.

“I always enjoy being manhandled,” Jim joked. He demonstrated the stance. “Keep your feet like this. It will give you some leverage, make it harder to dislodge you. But what’s also important is knowing how to fall.” Jim took a step back, then dropped, rolling, and springing to his feet. “You’re going to get knocked around sometimes. If you can fall without getting hurt it makes things a lot easier in the long run.”

John huffed a little laugh at Jim’s joke, then mimicked his stance. “Ok, so you uh...want me to do that, yeah?” he indicated the move Jim had just pulled off. For some reason he was suddenly feeling quite self-conscious.

“Yes.” Jim nodded at him, sweeping his arm as if to say ‘after you, sir.’ “Trust me, you can’t look ridiculous at all.”

John gave him a dubious look. “Well then, challenge accepted,” he joked, clearing his throat before trying to mimic the move Jim had done. He didn’t feel like he failed to spectacularly, but he wasn’t as swift regaining his feet as Jim had been. “Well? Not too embarrassing?”

“Not bad! Throw your shoulder forward a little bit more when you go into the roll, but otherwise you’ve got a good start. There’s more to falling though.” Jim gestured for John to come at him, with the intent of flipping him onto his back. “This move is going to be your bread and butter.”

At least he hadn’t gotten into the custom moves. The ones that usually involved bodily throwing himself at people.

John nodded, taking the advice on board. “Ok, so just...rush you?” he double-checked before trying to rush at him.

“Just rush me.” Jim beckoned for John to rush at him. This was a simple move, but one of his favorite. Just grab the hand, and use John’s momentum to send him spinning to the floor. Easy!

John charged at him, ducking down to try and tackle him around the waist. It had worked in his Dreams, but let’s be honest, his opponent had been less trained and less aware of his presence.

It was a good move, but Jim side stepped, trying to grab John’s arms so he could flip him over. If he succeeded, he’d get him into a pin!

Suddenly finding himself winded and on his back was not how he had expected his move to turn out. Catching his breath, he looked up at Jim. “I forgot to tell you that my fighting style is more bar-room brawl than Crouching Tiger,” he joked, still lying on the floor.

Jim planted his hand on his hips, looking down at John. “We can work with bar-room brawl. Most people you’d have to fight only really know that.” He offered a hand to John.

John chuckled and took Jim’s hand to right himself. “Well that’s good news,” he said once he was on his feet again. “Ok, so I kinda failed at that move, what can I do better next time?” he asked, linking his fingers and stretching his arms over his head to stretch his back out.

Jim spent several minutes showing John what he’d done wrong, as well as how to get out of it, or even how to use it to his advantage. “A lot of the time a fight like that turns into a counter war, with the winner the person who doesn’t make the first mistake. Why don’t you try to flip me?”

John took everything in and tried to flip Jim onto his back the way he’d been shown. He didn’t quite manage it right and looked to his mentor for further guidance.

“Not bad. But you tried to use too much force.” Jim showed John the stance, then got behind him to show him how to do it. “Let your opponent come to you, use their inertia against them.” He stepped back, and then darted towards John again.

John did as he was told and was marginally more successful this time. “Hey, I think I’m starting to get it,” he grinned proudly, heading to where he’d left his bottle of water and taking a long drink. “Sorry,” he gasped. “Just needed a drink,” he indicated the bottle in his hand. “I didn’t think this sort of thing would be quite so strenuous,” he joked.

“It’s a lot of work. We can call it a break there if you want.” Jim went for his own water bottle. He wasn’t nearly as winded, but he was also used to this. “You could always sign up for the full tutorial.”

“That’d be great actually,” John said, looking at his watch quickly. “I want to head home and grab a shower before I see if my girlfriend’s free for lunch,” he grinned at Jim. “Thanks for today, it was fun, I’ll definitely book into do it again, although I may have to start jogging again to get fit enough,” he joked, reaching out his hand. “Thanks man.”

“Start easy, work your way up. Give yourself enough time and you’ll be throwing me into the wall in no time.” Jim clapped John on the shoulder. “It was nice meeting you.’