Fighting Bird

[kiipcha]

Her fist came in contact with the practice dummy, followed by a high kick to the chin. The problem with having hollow bone birds in place of the usual human ones is that her punches and kicks weren't very hard. She actually only weighed about seventy-five pounds, but if she had normal bones than she would have weighed at least a hundred. Anya had the muscle to do basically any advanced ballet move, some gymnastic moves, and of course the strength to get herself up into the air. But now matter how hard she hit the dummy barely moved. "Ah screw it . . ." Her Russian accent showed in her speech again as she gave up in frustration.

She began to feel hot, she wasn't sure if it was from the excercise she was doing or the fact that she was getting frustrated but either way she discarded her t shirt, allowing the black tank top underneath to show. She took a drink from her water bottle before pulling her red hair up into a pony tail.

I can't land in flying and I can't punch . . . great. In order to calm down she sat down next to the dummy and started stretching, allowing both her body and her mind to cool.

[vincent]

"Something seems to be troubling you with your attempted style." Vincent said as he approached the student. He was wearing a deep blue martial arts gi with the top tied closed with a brown rope. He didn't belong to a dojo and had no belt level, so he didn't wear one. He had been watching Anya during the last bit's of her attack sets when he came in.

Sitting down in a cross-legged position a few feet away from her, he gave a smile.
"Care to talk about it, I might be able to give you a hand." He said warmly. As he was going to be the new martial arts teacher and his classes would be starting in a few days, he wanted to get a few warm-ups in himself. And being able to help someone out would serve them both well.

Not that he was a master in any form. He had spent a fair amount of time around other martial artists and picked up what they used, forming his own styling that he preferred. Making him use a free-form style with actual technique, allowing him to work with most types of unarmed styles.

[kiipcha]

Anya looked up to see one of the professors. She recognized him as Professor Monroe, the teacher of the Intro to Control, Martial Arts, and Fencing class. While she hadn't taken any of his classes, she hoped that maybe she would be able to help her with her fighting skill.

The redhead slid down into her middle split, figuring she might as well keep stretching while she talked to the professor. "My bones are hollow, like a bird's. That's how I can fly, however it makes my punches and kicks not as strong because I can't really push with my weight. I only weigh around seventy-five lbs." She reached to her right foot and then to her left, stretching out her back after she finished talking.

She was happy that a professor offered her help and if he could think of anything that would be of assistance she would be truly grateful for it.

[vincent]

Vincent gave a nod of understanding.
"I can see how that would certainly pose limitations as to what you are capable of doing with hand to hand combat." He said as she stretched, fairly used to such things when talking to people in such a situation. She was clearly limber, he would assume she was into some form of dancing.

"It seems it would be best for you to focus more on the weaker points of the body, and to perhaps practice with pressure points. Techniques that require speed, precision and agility. Three things that from what I can tell, you would be able to display very well." He said as he got to his feet and walked over to the dummy, looking it over as he located target points.

"Go ahead and finish your stretches and then come and join me. I think you might find a few of these techniques interesting." He would wait for her to be done and to get to where she could watch him. Once she was ready he would begin.
"The human body has several weak points to exploit. The neck, knees and elbows, along with the eyes and nose are of course very obvious targets." He said as he made quick elbow strikes and finge jabs to each labeled target in turn, aside from the knees which he displayed a downward side kick.

"With your bones, it would be unwise to use the forearm or shin strikes, not to mention you will need to focus on learning to evade and parry attacks instead of actually blocking them." He said before pausing to let everything sink in. He would have a few other things to show her before he would have her try some of them, and then he would run her through a few exercises.

[kiipcha]

She nodded as her explained that she should focus more on the techniques of precision, agility, and speed. All of that made more sense than what she was trying at the moment, which were attacks involving a lot of strength.

Anya quickly finished up her stretches as she wasn't intent on going over the more complex stretches that she normally did. The only reason she was stretching in the first place was so that she may cool down. She walked over to a spot where she could clearly see what the professor was doing. The Russian girl watched as he performed small jabs and strikes against the weaker points of the body. She took mental notes as he went over it. Neck, knees, elbows, eyes, and nose. Got it. She smiled a little to herself. He forgot to mention kicks to the groin.

Her attention was brought back when he mentioned that she would also need to learn some defense moves which she had almost completely forgotten. But now he had her full attention and she waited for him to continue.

[vincent]

Vincent was quite glad to see that everything he said was taking with her. She was clearly as attentive as he figured she would be.
"Almost done with the lecture part of this." He comment.
"You may well wonder why I didn't cover much of the torso and just the head and limbs. That is because many of the techniques you would be best suited for wouldn't focus on the main body. Chest, gut, groin, the weak spots on the shoulders, these are the most easily defended spots on the body against a fresh opponent. You're main targets on the torso would be counter attacks to the ribs." He said.

"Now several of the defensive evasion moves and parries don't require your strength, go ahead and throw any upper body strike you care to use. Pay attention to what parts of the attacking limb I make contact with. That can help you determine what you need to hit for your parries." He said as he let his right foot slide back and he let his arms hang at his sides, though they were slightly tensed, ready to move however he needed them to.
"Whenever you're ready." He said.

[kiipcha]

He was right about her wondering why he didn't mention some of the other body parts so she made sure to pay attention to what he said next. "That is because many of the techniques you would be best suited for wouldn't focus on the main body. Chest, gut, groin, the weak spots on the shoulders, these are the most easily defended spots on the body against a fresh opponent. You're main targets on the torso would be counter attacks to the ribs." She was a little intrigued as to how she would perform a counter attack on the ribs but figured that she would learn that all in good time.

Anya listened once more as he explained a little more about counter strikes and parries. The sixteen year old girl was a little thrown off when he told her to throw a strike at him. Professor Monroe was obviously stronger than her a plenty bigger which added a little to her nervousness.

When Anya was a young girl and had first started ballet, her mother had explained to her that being a ballerina was like being perfect. So as she advanced through her dancing craft she would practice every move until her feet would start bleeding as she wanted to impress her mother by becoming a ballerina and thus becoming perfect. She was terrified of messing up in front of her family as she wanted to prove that she could be this so called perfect ballerina. Now much older, Anya knew there was no such thing as being perfect but her fear of messing up in front of others had carried on with her.

She let out a breath, hoping to relieve some of her stress but it only helped a little. Despite her fear Anya tried to focus on one of the places the professor had told her about. The Russian girl formed her hands into fists and with one more breath she threw a fist towards his neck.

[vincent]

Vincent saw a flash of nervousness in Anya's eyes, not a surprise. Thre was a noticeable difference in their sizes, and he certainly was the larger one. But he gave a reassuring grin while Anya resolved to do as he asked. She threw and attack to his neck. He smiled as his own hand came up and swung out in a signle motion, the outside of his wrist meeting the outside of her while his other hand came up, the palm meeting her arm right above the elbow and pushing it off to the side.

It took no effort, even considering their physical differences. If she had done the same to him, his arm would have been thrown off course with not effort from her. While effective, it also wouldn't harm her in the slightest. At the same time, his knee flew up and gently made contact with the now exposed ribs. When the knee touched, he pulled it back, not putting enough for anything but the sensation of touch. It was all a fluid motion and he then puled his arms back, leaping away and smiling kindly.

"That was perhaps the most effective form of counter that you can use against such an attack without having to overpower your opponent. It is all in the timing and technique." He said.
"It keeps you from exerting yourself and you can deal a critical blow to your opponent. The knee strike should also serve well in the moves you can use without harming your bones. Odd thing about the knees and elbows. When strait they are very vulnerable, though when bent, they are some of the hardest parts of the body and can be used to a terribly devastating effect." He walked over back into striking distance as he spoke.

"Any questions before you attempt the defense. That is of course if you feel ready to try it. I assure you that even if you miss I will not harm you. Sparring is all about control and taking care of your partner. Another lesson one should keep in mind." He added.

[kiipcha]

Anya could feel her attack blocked by the professor's wrist and then her arm pushed away with his other hand. She could then feel the tap of his knee against her rip cage and was relieved that he didn't do it hard. When told that it didn't take much effort to do said move she was rather surprised, as most moves she knew took a lot of effort from her and she normally had to try twice as hard.

"The knee strike should also serve well in the moves you can use without harming your bones. Odd thing about the knees and elbows. When strait they are very vulnerable, though when bent, they are some of the hardest parts of the body and can be used to a terribly devastating effect." Anya nodded at the mention of the knee strike and she figured that she could do considering that it was much like a high kick except she wouldn't unfold her leg. She watched him step back into the ready position and she did the same.

"Any questions before you attempt the defense. That is of course if you feel ready to try it. I assure you that even if you miss I will not harm you. Sparring is all about control and taking care of your partner. Another lesson one should keep in mind." Anya knew that much already as it was pretty much a given to not severly hurt someone that was trying to help you. "Okay, I'm ready."

[vincent]

Vincent grinned at hearing that she was ready.
"That's what I like to hear." He said as his left arm darted in, mimicking Anya's attack so as to giver her the same situation to work with, the only difference being that he held his hand flat like a knife, it was a much more effective way to aim for the neck as it was lower profile and less likely to hit the jaw.

He made sure the move didn't go too fast, wanting Anya to work more on her technique than having to worry about moving fast enough. That could come later. It was much more important for her to know how to do the move rather than trying to go at top speed.

He was certainly going to make sure to extend and invitation to have her join his martial arts class. She was attentive, and had a good balance and clearly had an interest in it as she had been practicing when he walked in. He would always be glad to have plenty of students.

[kiipcha]

Anya let out a breath, allowing herself to calm before his attack. She could see his hand going to the same place she had aimed for previously so as to allow her to repeat what he had taught her. Instead of his hand being a fist it was more of a flat shape similar to that of a knife. Anya noted this so she could use it later on.

As his hand moved forward she remembered what he had done to block her attack and held up her wrist to block the move. The Russian girl then pushed his arm away with her other hand just as he had done. Her knee went up to perform the knee strike and she almost forgot that she needed to be gently but luckily she slowed her knee from striking him too hard just in time.

The sixteen year old grinned, happy to have blocked the attack even if it was done slower than normal. "Hmm, your right. It doesn't require much effort to do those moves. Thanks." She then stepped back from the professor so as to be ready for the next step. "So what's next Professor Monroe?" She shook out her hands, having been clenching them so tight she thought they might pop off.

[vincent]

Vincent's smile remained in place as Anya performed the counter-move. It would need work, but it was well done. In fact very well done for the first attempt. He shifted his body to move with the impact of the knee, but Anya had been able to slow down and soften the hit in time as it was. Also commendable.
"Excellent Anya, very well done." He said as he motioned for her to relax for a moment.

He gave a nod at her comment about the motions.
"It is excellent for exploiting weaknesses and wearing down your opponent. Also helpful if against more than one foe as it expends far less energy while being extremely effective." He did give a chuckle at the 'Professor Monroe' bit.
"While I do appreciate the respect, please just call me Vincent." He said.
"As for what's next. I'm going to demonstrate a few attacks on the dummy that I want you to practice. After that we are going to work on that counter a few times. The attacks I will show you are different types of counters you can use from that parry. That is going to be the majority of the lesson for today as these attacks can also be used without the parry to precede them." He replied as he faced the dummy.

The first was a knee strike to the side of the thigh.
"This is a strike that targets the sciatic nerve. I don't want to ever hear about you doing this to someone when sparring with them. It is incredibly painful and damaging." He said as he made the strike. After that he used the knife hand thrust that came up behind the chin.
"When sparring, use a palm strike for practice as the knife hand is rather dangerous as well, along with many of the effective techniques I will teach you." He said before stepping back.
"Those are the two strikes that do not need the parry to go first that I will have you practice today. I also want you to practice the knee to the ribs which also works, though it is best done with the parry." He said before stepping in and shadowing the parry he had shown her, and stepping forward once more before kicking downward where his heel would strike the achilles tendon.

"That is the other parry counter combo I want you to practice." He said as he faced her.
"I'm going to throw upper body attacks at you at varying speeds, you will practice the knee strikes and heel kicks. with me and the two other strikes on the dummy." He said as he resumed his opening stance.
"Whenever you're ready."

[kiipcha]

Anya smiled at the professor's praise and was already eager to learn more. As the professor went over how she could use the counter attacks on more than one opponent Anya could barely hold back a laugh. In real life and not practice, if she found herself up against more than one person she would just fly away but she figured learning how to deal with more than one opponent could be a useful skill.

"Oh okay, Vincent it is then." She hadn't meant many professors that liked being called by her first name but at least it was easier to say than having to say professor in front of his name all the time. "This is a strike that targets the sciatic nerve. I don't want to ever hear about you doing this to someone when sparring with them. It is incredibly painful and damaging." Anya nodded, having no plans of actually hurting anyone in the future. She then proceeded to watch him perform each move; the strike under the chin, to the thigh, a heel kick to the achille's tendon, and the knee to the ribs.

He continued to tell her how he wanted her to practice these moves by performing the strike to the thigh and chin to the dummy and practice the other two on him. He reminded her that the two that she would be practicing on him would work best with a parry before hand so he would be throwing upper body attacks at her, giving her a chance to perform the parry before deliviring the strikes. "Okay, I think I can do that. Which one do you want me to do first? Spar with you or the dummy?"

[vincent]

Vincent was glad to see Anya paying attention, she would certainly make an excelelnt pupil in this field. He smiled at her question.
"Oh you'll be sparring with me first. The other strikes you can do without having to be present while you practice. Naturally this won't be all I teach you, but for today we'll just go over these moves." He said.
"En garde." He said, knowing full well it was often used for fencing, but also knowing that it was applicable in any form of combat techniques.

Moving in, he attacked with another knife hand strike, though this was aimed lower, directly under the solar plexus. He would be varying the height of his attacks as they practiced and though he didn't tell her, he would indeed be shifting how he moved slightly, not enough to really throw her off, but enough to keep the student on her toes.
"If you like. I can secure you a spot in the martial arts class." he said as he attacked, hoping to also get a feel for how Anya could split her attention.

During his training he had often found himself carrying out conversation during sparring or fencing matches, not only to sharpen his own focus, but to keep his opponents off their balance point, something he would teach all of his students to work with.

[kiipcha]

Anya laughed quietly at his "En garde," having never heard it used in martial arts. But he attention was brought back as Vincent moved in with the upper attacks. She noticed that he was varying both the speed of his attacks and where he aimed them. She caught a little off guard at first but brought her focus back fast enough to block his first move with her wrist and quickly pushing it away with her hand before he got in another move and thrust her knee towards his ribs, still remembering to be gentle.

As she prepared for the next move she surprised that he was talking to her at the same time. She fumbled for words as the next strike came towards her, "Oh that'd be ugh," she blocked the strike to the shoulder with a small grunt, "cool. I'll try to find space in my err . . schedule." Yet again she pushed the strike away with her hand but instead of a knee to the ribs she performed the heel strike he had showed her. He was definately going a little harder on her and she knew he was talking to her on purpose. She smiled a little, figuring she could play the same game with him.

"So, how many students does your class have? Must be," She paused blocking another hit to the chest and pushing it away with her hand. "a lot." Anya then performed another knee strike to the ribs but once she placed her foot back down onto the ground she continued with the heel strike just to mess with him.