Find Your Center [Afternoon - Ree/Lupin]

Clack. Clack. Clack.

The sounds of wood being struck by open flesh filled the empty dojo. It was in between classes, and Ree was taking some time to herself for some basic training. Nothing too strenuous, but at the moment she was practicing basic drills on one of the Wing Chung dummies (Click) that stood near the far side of the dojo's main floor.

Her breathing was even and her strikes would become quicker and quicker as she moved to the rhythm of the routine drills. She could lose herself in the fluidity of motion of these kinds of drills, as her muscles took over and her mind cleared. It was a peaceful feeling, really. The Dojo was empty right now, and she had all the time in the world to lose herself in the subtlety of practiced precision.

Lupin heard about Ori-Shiki dojo from some whispering students at school. Why were the whispering about Lupin wasn't sure. He just wanted to do some exercise, after all, what's the point in having a great mind when you have a shit body. As Lupin entered the dojo he noticed a girl training with a wooden dummy. To Lupin the dummy design was a bit strange but maybe he could learn about it.

Triboulet made a quick remark. "Wow look at her go, just slapping at that dummy." Lupin was sure there was more to it than that, then he had the bright idea to speak up to the girl. "Excuse Hi I heard I can learn fighting techniques here and I was wondering if you're the teacher here?" Lupin stunned by how focused the girl is. Lupin is now very curious about the fighting techniques he can learn here. Hopefully learning something from here might help him be a better terrorist.

The woman with short brown hair turned at the sound. She honestly hadn't noticed anyone come in. "Oh, hello, sorry I didn't hear you come in. Yes, I'm a teacher here. My name is Ree Claire. And you are?" She asked with a friendly smile, walking towards him. She extended a hand for him to shake gingerly, waiting for his name. After receiving it, she would nod, regarding him with a quizzical eye. "As for whether or not you can learn fighting techniques here, well, that should be obvious. We teach many different martial forms here."

Lupin gave his name while showing a brimming smile. 'My name is Lupin Topplson, nice to meet you, Ms. Claire.

"Sure that sounds great." Lupin said with enthusiasm. He seemed really excited to learn. After all, he will be doing a lot of fighting in the near future. Lupin can't get those epic movie star muscles if he didn't work out and martial arts seemed to be the best way to do achieve it.

Lupin then proceeded to do a quick arm stretch just to make sure everything was working, while he did his quick stretches Triboulet started to laugh a little. "Ha her name is Ree, get out of my dojo you normie, reeeeeeeeeeee." Lupin said to Triboulet. "Ok not in my head!" Lupin finished stretching and got ready. he has got a spring in his step.

"Alright Ms. Claire I am ready for the first bit of training." Lupin was ready to roll.

An eager student, an eager learner. It was always nice to have someone like that. It took good motivation for anyone to get anywhere and martial arts was notorious for being a heavy chunk of being dedication and not just talent. The martial artist nodded and took up what appeared to be a fighting stance. She was relaxed, but not so much that there wouldn't be enough taut tension to lose concentration. "Try to take up this stance, we'll start with this. Relax your shoulders. Most of your weight should be evenly distributed, but don't overly focus on your lead leg."

Lupin tried to simulate the stance that Ree was making, Hopefully, this would play out well for him. "So like this?" Lupin was unsure if he was doing the stance correctly. Lupin was here for self-improvement he relaxed a little when he reminded himself about that. Triboulet then told Lupin something that might help. "Its okay to make mistakes its not a life or death situation here." Lupin after getting used to the stance said to Ree with a determined tone. "Alright I am ready to go." Lupin wanted to learn how to fight and this was one of the best ways to do it.

The martial artist nodded with approval as he followed what she ordered. He still had the uncertainty of a beginner and not the poise and complete relaxation of a more seasoned fighter. But, that was point of why he was here, to improve. Ree continued to be silent as she walked around him as her eyes were glued on his person to eke out any oddities that needed to be corrected. There were some tweaks here and there. She gently pushed his hind leg a minuscule inch back with her foot. While framing his wrists near eye level, but keeping them close enough to his face to ensure he held a tight enough guard. When it was over, she listed out another set of instructions. "I want you to walk forward by pushing off of your hind leg. I don't want the soles of your feet to show up, keep them facing the floor as much as possible... Like you're trying to to glide on it with paper under your feet. I want you to keep doing that until I say stop."

Footwork was the most essential aspect of any combat art. Mostly lumped together with evasion, what people didn't acknowledge as much was how it was just as important to reach your enemy. After all, you can't reach out at someone from a longer range so easily. And not only that, it served as the backbone of all the techniques a martial artist had.

Lupin let Ree guide his body to right positions. Lupin was in a guarding stance. It's important to block as well as deal damage, Lupin was also trying to process how he would apply this in his terrorist life trying to figure out how well it would translate. Lupin then heard the next set of instructions. Glide like your on paper? Lupin wasn't entirely sure what that means. But Lupin was willing to give it a go. Triboulet then told Lupin what Ree possibly meant by gliding. "It's like the Micheal Jackson dance, where he moved without lifting his feet, Just make sure the bottom of your feet keep facing the ground." Lupin then gave Triboulet the usual mental retort. "Yeah I got that part already."

Lupin then proceeded or at least attempted to glide across the floor as per instructed. "Is the sole facing the floor thing a defense method?" If Lupin is going to learn how to fight he might as well figure out why they work? Lupin continues to glide across the floor looking dedicated to mastering whatever Ree had instore for him.

Of course, the questions would come. But like any good teacher, Ree handily supplied the answer to the student. Many martial arts teacher may demand full compliance with no questions asked, but that was a counterproductive method. If you have no idea how it's used and why it's done, students were more than likely to feel less motivated and will have no idea how to make full use of what they're taught. She allowed him to keep at it, correcting him along the way. It would be for a good half hour until she bid him to do it faster and at longer distances to ante up the difficulty a bit. That went on for quite a while, enough to work up a sweat for any normal person until she called in for a break. ""Take five, but listen closely. This is what you're going to learn how to jab. Take up your stance... and relax. To jab, you only need to extend your arm. Nothing moves. You only want it to snap... like this."

It happened fast at first as the fist lashed out in the air and back to the stance. Then she started to doing it slowly while continuing. ""You need to be relaxed and it has to be fast. Tighten your fist exactly on impact and then draw it back so you don't leave an opening in your guard. Needs to move like a whip, with knuckles leading it... Try it when you're ready."

Lupin did just that and took five. listening to what Ree had to say. The next set of instructions seemed pretty straight forward. "Ok seems simple enough." Lupin got up after his short break ready to continue. He was getting into this.

Lupin tried his best to emulate the stance Ree was doing and did the punching action several times trying to get into the groove of it. He started slowly with each punch slowing increasing speed. Lupin wanted to make sure he was getting it right."I need to stay relaxed when I do this?" Lupin kept at it with those punches until further instructions. Lupin was thinking about how he could translate it into his soulbound. Speed seems to be the key here.

Ree nodded at his question and then later again in approval as he was getting into it. He was getting it. Still a little bit unpracticed, but that didn't matter with enough time and dedication. She waited for him to get a little bit acclimated to the action, which shouldn't be difficult as a basic punch. But all techniques stem from the basics and require refining over time. Learning is easy, but mastering is challenging. As he was busy jabbing, Ree stepped away for a moment and came back with what appeared to be punching mitts before holding them up. "Try jabbing around. Combine it with your footwork. If you want to move around, remember to push off with your hind leg at the direction you want to move. When you jab, try to time it when your lead leg step forward. Here, try it."

She allowed him to start punching at the mitts and would begin to circle around while bidding him to follow along.

Well, that's what Lupin did he tried his best to follow along punching the mitts. So far this is feeling pretty good for Lupin. He will definitely want to come here more often. There isn't a lot more to say about his motivation, he is keen. He tried mixing his punching with kicking. Doing the hind leg thing aswell.

Lupin started to focus on his targets, yadda yadda motivated yadda yadda ready to do more yadda yadda. I don't think I need to explain this part.

Triboulet made another inner monologue to Lupin. "Deal as much damage as you want it won't help if you can't hit your enemy." Lupin thought this was sound advice and kept at it. Trying to increase his speed with his punches. Trying to relax.

He was doing well following whatever she had to say. It made her begin to wonder a little of why he wanted to practice and learn martial arts. Though she doubted it would be a different reason from many others who come to the dojo. After the last jab, it was only then Ree called out to Lupin with a smile, "Not too shabby, you're getting there. Take a break. Water's near the entrance."

She gestured the direction towards the water fountain where he could drink so he could rejuvenate after such a strenuous action. Ree waited patiently so he could gain his bearings again, until she finally said. "You're getting there. With enough grit and diligence you'll get far. Say... You want to try sparring a little against me? Nothing's better than trying the real thing at first."

Lupin went to the fountain to hopefully get some water, exercise can someone thirsty after all. While Lupin was drinking, Triboulet was giving Lupin a metaphorical pat on the back. "Ree seems happy with your work, I don't know about you but I would keep it up if I were you."
Lupin them responded to Triboulet thoughts. "You are me Triboulet."

Lupin would stop drinking the water and turn to Ree trying to get ready for what's next, Apparently she wanted a sparring match, Lupin just simply thought why not, he was for the exercise anyway he has no reason not to. It might be dumb to try and spar with a teacher of martial arts but hell it's not like Lupin has anything else to do for the time being. Lupin then responded to Ree with a smile and a tone suggesting he was ready to go. "Alright lets have a sparring match, it can only help me improve."

Lupin got into the stance that he was taught. He was going to get destroyed that's for sure, but at least he might learn something about fighting. Time to put what he has learned to the test.

Action:

Ree didn't seem to take a stance herself, but her knees seemed to bend a little. She seemed calm and composed, just a few steps away from Lupin. It was a range either of them could take in one step to reach to other. But, the martial artist made no move. Rather, she beckoned him to be first as she gestured him with a hand motion. Like student and teacher, it was up for the teacher to evaluate and instruct...