At ringside is the head of the Academy, Red Dragon and the newest addition to the coaching team, Hans "The Baron" von Richtoven. Both men are also decked out in simple training gear of shorts and t-shirts, training boots, elbow and knee pads. Their t-shirts have the official HWA insignia printed on them and the word "coach" printed in white in the top right corner. Both men watch on, arms folded across their chests and their faces deep in concentration as they watch Sean standing poised on the top rope, his lean, muscular frame taut with anticipation. Hans leans his head in towards Red Dragon, his gaze still fixated on Sean.
(Hans): So, we just watch him make us feel inadequate about our own physical limitations and critique him?
(Red Dragon): Speak for yourself, watashi no yujin who do you think taught him all this?
(Hans): Very funny, schweinhund
(Sean): I can hear you guys, you know that, right? Trying to concentrate here!
(Red Dragon): You're not going to tell 20,000 people you're trying to concentrate, are you? Distractions are part-and-parcel of what we do. Crowd noise, interference. Focus your mind, Sean-Kun.
(Sean): Yes, Sensei.
Red Dragon and Hans exchange glances. Red Dragon raises his eyebrows a couple of times smiling at Sean's compliance to his instruction.
(Red Dragon): It's all about respect and perspective, my friend. There's no script here, no direction - unless you're running a specific class that the newer inductees are taking part in. You see something could be done better, tell them. See something you like? Let them know. Don't be afraid to show as well as tell. I could go on for hours about mat psychology, ring awareness, positioning, techniques but nine times out of ten, they're going to learn better when you show them it in action.
(Hans): Jah, I get it.
Hans gestures up to Sean on the top turnbuckle.
(Hans): So, what's he going to do exactly?
(Red Dragon): God knows. He's always trying to come up with innovative ways to give us all a heart attack.
Hans let's out an involuntary chuckle.
(Red Dragon): Seriously, he's like that child that always wants to backflip off the railings in a shopping mall because...
Red Dragon makes air quotes with his fingers.
(Red Dragon): …it'd be cool!
(Sean): Look Sensei, I know you said to block everything out before but I've never tried a rotation like this before and I could really do with concentrating.
(Red Dragon): No, you're right, Sean-Kun. In your own time.
The two coaches watch on in silence as Sean takes a deep breath on the top turnbuckle. Sweat is pouring down his face and determination etched onto every line. He takes another deep breath before bending his knees and springing off, executing a near-perfect 1080 Corkscrew Senton and lands with a thud onto the plush safety pads below. Hans compulsorily flinches, his face screwing up for a split second. He leans over to Red Dragon.
(Hans): Scheiße! I see what you mean!
Red Dragon smirks as he sees Sean roll to his feet unharmed, looking pumped. Red Dragon climbs to the ring apron, glancing back at Hans.
(Red Dragon): I'd say you get you used to it but I'd be lying.
(Sean): How was that, Sensei?
Red Dragon has his left arm up, running his fingers up and down along the contours of his jawline with his thumb and index finger, his right arm is extended across his body, his left elbow sitting atop in a contemplative posture.
(Red Dragon): Good rotation and control, especially when you executed your initial jump. My only feedback would be to practice extending the legs straight outward just before impact. Aim directly towards the target. You'll achieve a cleaner entry without awkward angles and it'll decrease your chance of serious injury. Look...
Red Dragon climbs into the ring, motioning for Sean to get up to the opposite turnbuckle. Hans eyes widen as he too climbs up to the ring apron, leaning his body weight on the top rope on the other side.
(Hans): Are you seriously going to do that?
(Red Dragon): Like I said, sometimes you have to show as well as tell.
Red Dragon then takes off from the top rope, spinning through the air and he lands the 1080 Corkscrew Senton flawlessly. He gets up, unscathed, brushing down his t-shirt.
(Red Dragon): See what I mean, Sean-Kun? My legs were 180 degrees, yours were slightly tucked.
(Sean): Yes, Sensei. You mean like this?
Sean springboards up again, moving gracefully through the air and this time he sticks the landing perfectly, his legs outstretched just as Red Dragon instructed and demonstrated. Red Dragon makes one big clap sounds with his hands, emphasising his appreciation of Sean's technique.
(Red Dragon): Boom, that's what I'm talking about!
Sean grins as he gets up to his feet, nodding his head. Red Dragon holds his fist out and Sean bumps it with his own.
(Sean): That felt awesome! I'm definitely using that again. The 540 and 720 are good but I feel I generate more power with the 1080.
(Red Dragon): You will, that extra rotation will give you added momentum and it's quicker, velocity-wise too. The 540 you'll almost hang in the air but the 1080, because of the force and momentum you have to generate in such a short window, you'll move a lot faster.
Sean nods in acknowledgement, wiping the beads of sweat pouring down his face with his elbow pad.
Do you think I should try a 1260 next?
Red Dragon smiles, holding his hands out in a calming fashion.
(Red Dragon): Let's take it easy for now, work on perfecting this first. We'll try at various stages of energy levels too, see if there's a difference. We'll try it at the start of a session, halfway through and the end. Replicate what you'll be feeling during a match. Will you have the same energy and technique to execute the move to the same level when you've been going at in a match for fifteen minutes or you've just been on the receiving end of a submission on your legs or knees.
(Sean): Sounds good, Sensei!
(Red Dragon): But for now, Hans is going to show you a few things.
Hans’ head perks.
(Hans): I am?
(Red Dragon): You are.
Red Dragon turns to address Sean.
(Red Dragon): Hans-San is very well-travelled and has done a lot over the years to refine and expand his in-ring style. You’ll learn a lot from him.
He turns to address Hans on the ring apron and motions him into the ring with an incline of his head.
(Red Dragon): You’re up, Coach.
Hans climbs through the ropes and into the ring, loosening up his ankles and wrists by rotating them in circular motions.
(Hans): How’s your submission game?
Sean bobs his head from side-to-side, his face scrunched up in an unconvincing manner and mimics his head movement with his hand, tilting it from side-to-side as well.
(Sean): Eh, so-so.
Hans looks over at Red Dragon with a wry smile.
(Hans): I thought you had a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
(Red Dragon): I taught him everything he knows, not everything I know.
(Hans): Smooth.
Hans turns to Sean.
(Hans): Right, Sean, the first thing I’m going to demonstrate is several submissions from the Scarf Hold position or Kes Gatame….
Hans begins to demonstrate to Sean the principles behind the hold, the camera panning out as his voice trails off and the scene fades to black.
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