The scene opens up onto one of the small rooms in the HWA Academy set up specifically for reviewing film from previous matches and training sessions. The small room has blinds along one wall, currently now all closed and blocking off sight of the floor beyond, the lights in the place are dimmed, allowing the TV mounted on the far wall to be clear and visible to everyone who might use the room. (Michelle): So, I went away as you said, and I feel that it’d best if I focused on ring psychology. I’ve been a bit more…intimidated with so many more experienced folks now in the mix. I know my way around the ring, but this is a part of wrestling I’m not used to. Before it was me on an even playing field with other recruits and trainees and we were just having fun competing, but since so many of you have come back it’s been different, at least for me. I let so many people down at the Reunion. I was completely caught off guard with Brandi, she was really trying to hurt me. (Hans): Jah, what else? (Michelle): And maybe some defensive techniques against bigger and stronger opponents. Sarah’s tried to show me a few Jui Jitsu things but it’s all so intense. I guess it works though seeing how she handled Maniac at Havoc. Even Alexis and that situation here the other week. I just don’t have that killer instinct that they do. I’ve loved wrestling my whole life, but I don’t like fighting. They’re different to me, you see. Nodding along as she says this, Hans picks up the TV remote. (Hans): Well that’s good that you’re looking to focus there, I had similar thoughts. He thumbs the TV to life. (Hans): What I’ve got here are some clips from the Academy, we’ll spend some time going over them, let’s see what you pick up on, jah? (Michelle): Yes sir…I mean Mr. Hans...I mean…yes, Hans. The scene slowly fades out momentarily, coming back into focus later on in the session. (Hans): Now, why do you think positioning is key? (Michelle): Because it lets us lock in the move easier? (Hans): Jah. He points with his thumb over his shoulder at the TV. (Hans): Someone like Sean or Jeremy can get away with not planting their feet perfectly 9 out of 10 times, their strength can make up for it and force the move if their opponent doesn’t have their wits about them… He thumbs the play button. On the screen, Sean has Jeremy planted on the mat, locked into a scarfhold, both men grimacing as they work against one another’s efforts. Both of them release, sitting up to face Hans, the scene freezes as the pause button is thumbed again. (Hans): But that’s not a given. (Michelle): But I’m nowhere near as strong as either of them. (Hans): You don’t need to be. He sits down on the leather chair, setting the TV remote down on the arm of the chair. (Hans): What you saw there is a good example of the Lever Law in effect, or as Archimedes put it, ‘Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world’. He once more throws his thumb at the TV screen behind him. (Hans): If you had been where Jeremy was, you’d have had the same chance of taking Sean out. Granted, you might not have been able to mirror Jeremy’s resistance, you’d have needed to be quicker on the counter, but… Without warning, he flicks the TV remote at Michelle, flicking it with the back of his hand. She catches it between her hands, preventing it from hitting her face like an arrow. (Hans): … I don’t see you having a problem with that. (Michelle): That could have hit me! Hans holds both his hands up, apologetically. (Hans): I could have, and I’m sorry. I didn’t believe I would though. Michelle slowly lowers her own hands, letting the TV remote fall into her lap, somewhat on edge still in her demeanor. (Michelle): A test? (Hans): Jah, und nein… more… He makes a circling motion with one hand as he searches for the word, hand rotating on the wrist. (Hans): … more that I’m wanting you to see that you have it all there anyway. Sand off some rough edges. (Michelle): Is that this lever thing? (Hans): Jah… to put it another way, it’s like when you watch Star Trek or Star Wars, right? Mr Spock does his nerve pinch, guy goes down, or when the snowspeeder takes out the big walker with its tow cable… it’s the right spot, size difference becomes irrelevant. (Michelle): I… erm… She looks sheepishly at Hans. (Michelle): I’m sorry, I haven’t seen those films. I always wanted to though. Sean’s been going on about them, Aliens, Predator… I mean… they sound really good, all of them… but my parents wouldn’t let us. They talked about Star Trek when we asked to watch, I guess they had seen it before at least an old episode, something about an alien turning people to salt and my papa said…only God could do that like with Lots wife in Genesis. Hans chuckles, waving away her apologies. (Hans): It’s ok, did you at least get what I was meaning? (Michelle): Yes, I think so. (Hans): Gut. He smiles at her. (Hans): That can be your homework then. (Michelle): Really? You don’t want me watching more tape? (Hans): I want you to have time away from here… Gesturing at the room around them, and with it, the wider Academy building proper. (Hans): … and besides, after a certain point, you stop taking it in up here. He taps his head for emphasis. (Hans): You need to be mentally and physically refreshed to learn anything of value and besides, this is not going to be the work of a moment, it will take time. I can’t give you a crash course in this because that simply doesn’t exist. What you’re looking for and wanting to learn, some of it will be learnt here, some of it will be learnt in the ring and some of it’s going to be on your own time and in your own manner. Cracking another reassuring smile at her, he gets to his feet. (Hans): Now with that in mind, enough tape for now. I want to pair you up with Sarah and walk through what you saw Sean and Jeremy doing on the recording, then I’ll test you both against me to give you a practical demonstration of how you can still implement it against a larger opponent. (Michelle): You’ve not told Sarah anything, have you? (Hans): Nein, and I won’t say anything either. He puts one arm on Michelle’s shoulder. (Hans): I still don’t know why you don’t want to tell her or any of the others, but I’ll respect it. (Michelle): I don’t want them to be upset, to feel like they weren’t good enough. They’ve all tried to show me things but its their way…Matt’s intensity, Sean’s determination, Jeremy’s finesse, Sarah’s grit…I need to find my way. Nodding his head at this, Hans accepts her choice. He gestures with his head towards the door. (Hans): Right, get in your practice gear, I’ll see you out there shortly. (Michelle): Yes sir…I mean, Hans. The scene slowly fades out as Hans grabs the remote from the floor, turning the TV off and then heading for the exit once he’s gently thrown the remote onto one of the chairs, following Michelle.
Sat in one of the leather chairs, back somewhat to the TV is Hans von Richtoven. Facing him and TV is Michelle Learner.
Both are dressed casually, not having as yet changed into their training attire.
On Michelle’s lap are a few pads of paper on which she’s wrote down various things, which she’s currently going through with Hans listening along intently.
On screen, we see Sean Parker and Jeremy Branson, albeit in a paused state.
Hans strides over towards the ring, coming to rest at its edges, both hands braced against the lower rope.
(Hans): Sean, you’re in a squat, your knee is too high. Jeremy, grasp his trunk, bridge your body.
With a grunt of effort, Jeremy grabs at Sean’s torso, gaining a hold of the t-shirt Sean’s wearing and using it for purchase, follows Hans’ instructions.
Trying to compensate for this, Sean’s efforts are for naught as he loses balance, being swung by Jeremy into a side mount hold.
Somewhat muffled by Jeremy, all that can be heard from Sean is ‘f*ck’ while Jeremy throws a smile at Hans.
(Jeremy): Cheers for that Hans.
You put yourself into that spot, you can take anyone on this roster down Michelle.
Message Thread
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