Day 240 - [Boxing Intensifies]

[windgod]

Who: Ippo and you!
Open: Open
When: Day 240
Where: The Bastion - The New Kamogawa Boxing Gym!
What: [Muffled Boxing in the background]
Format: Will match
Warnings: None that I can think of

[It was finally done. Ippo couldn't help but let a small tear slide down his left cheek as he stared up at the spitting image of the Kamogawa Gym; for all the shards he'd spent, every last one had felt completely worth it. The feel of the wall as he placed his hand against it, the smell that washed over him as he opened that familiar door, the sound of his feet squeaking against the floor as he entered...it was all exactly the same as he remembered it and in that moment, he couldn't have felt any more at home. Sure he was still on a tentatively floating rock in the sky, and sure nothing was ever going to bring back his world or all his friends from the calamity, but this was definitely as close to all that as he could get, and in that he was content.

He smiled with a sense of nostalgia as he climbed up into the sparring ring with a pair of gloves and closed his eyes; if he focused hard enough, he could almost hear the sounds of the gym come to life. The laughter, often muffled by the sound of leather meeting leather and jumping ropes slapping the floor in synced rhythm; the sound of constant movement and the coach's barking orders that somehow cut through the din like a sharpened knife. As he slipped the gloves on and strapped them up with his teeth, one might notice the most peaceful expression crossing his face in the 5 months he'd been here.]

"I'm home...!"

[Welcome, one and all to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym version 2.0! Not that it's really any different than the 1.0, but that's neither here nor there. Where is here are a multitude of things you can work out with! Heavy bags, speed bags, double-end bags, clothing bags! More bags than you can shake a boxing glove at! We've got lifting weights and jumping ropes! Or jumping weights and lifting ropes if you're into that sort of thing, no judgements! There's even a regulation sized sparring ring for all your training and dispute settling needs, complete with gloves and headgear for those tough to settle arguments like putting the seat down! So, to everyone who has any desire to get stronger, or is even just curious about the new building that's suddenly popped up, feel free to come on by!]

Comments

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko comes by to investigate the new building. They don't get them that often, and it's the first since the scare with the Bastion sinking.

Most of the equipment is unfamiliar to her, but she can at least recognize the ring as something meant for fighting.]

A new training building?

[windgod]

[The sound of something heavy swinging by a chain filled the air as Zuko stepped in, though it came to a stop by the time she'd spoken. Ippo put a hand on the heavy bag he'd been hitting to bring it to a full stop and gave her a wave.]

Exactly! I was able to make an exact copy of my old gym, so if anyone wants to use what's here, they're more than welcome to.

[daughterofursa]

Is all this likely to be familiar to anyone besides you?

[She walks farther in, coming up to one of the bags and giving it a light shove to see how it moves.]

[windgod]

Well...not everything, but a few things I'm sure!

[He pointed towards some of the other equipment, the weights and jump ropes might be a little more familiar.]

Heck, it would probably be ask around and see if anyone has ideas on other things we can put in here!

[daughterofursa]

[She can figure out what the weights are for, but there's no strong sense of recognition. She's never used weights before. Not that she doesn't have muscle, but it's a firebender's build, much leaner than a boxer.

She gives a nod at his suggestion though.]

It's a good space, and there are plenty of styles of unarmed combat. [The other training building is definitely geared towards weapons practice.]

[windgod]

[That was definitely true...but it begged the question.]

What kinds of unarmed combat do you know of Miss Zuko?

[daughterofursa]

[She makes a face.] It's just Zuko.

I'm not sure what you'd call it. I'm a firebender first, so most of what I know stems from that.

[windgod]

Sorry, old habit.

[You'll be lucky if he doesn't slip that one up again, he always was one for the formalities.]

Really though? I've been thinking about learning some more things to add to what I know, honestly. Boxing is good but...it doesn't cover all my bases here.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko's been addressed with formality for most of her life, it's only at the Bastion where she has no rank that she's made a conscious decision to drop it.]

Your style does seem to focus pretty heavily on punches.

[windgod]

Well, that's all boxing really is. It's done for sport, so there's no kicking involved; it's all about dodging and punching.

[There was kickboxing and mixed martial arts, but he'd never been as interested and focused in those as he was with just regular boxing. It required a certain level of finesse the other two just didn't have if you asked him.]

Still...this isn't about sport anymore and if I can learn how to better defend myself, it'll be all the better.

[daughterofursa]

Well, the best defense in firebending is your agility, being able to avoid or deflect an attack. It's not really about strength.

[windgod]

That sounds really useful!

[Can you see that glint in his eye Zuko? Can you feel the question coming?]

Would you mind giving me a few lessons? I'd really like to learn!

[daughterofursa]

[She should have seen this coming but she's still a little surprised. Is she collecting students now?]

It's not something I've really taught before, but I could give it a try.

[windgod]

Great! Do you have time now?

[Look at how excited he is Zuko, he's like a little puppy. At the very least he's eager to learn and he does have a ton of dedication, so it shouldn't be too hard to teach him a thing or two.]

[daughterofursa]

[Dedication is good, but the prospect of training with her should not be this exciting.]

Uh, sure.

[windgod]

[When it comes to training, everything is exciting for this guy. He practically vaulted up into the ring and waved for Zuko to join him; where better to learn than in an actual ring?]

I'm ready when you are! And thank you!

[There's that full on bowing again, some habits it seemed would never die.]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko follows him with a shake of her head.]

There's no need to be so formal. I'm not your master.

Now, why don't you try attacking me? I'll try to demonstrate.

[windgod]

Sorry...sorry...

[Sheepish as ever, but the request to get thing started snapped him out of it fast enough. He quickly snapped into his fighting stance, compacting his body and putting his fists up in front of his face; Zuko was a capable warrior, so he figured there wasn't any reason for him to hold back here if he wanted to learn.

Once he'd built up a good rhythm, he snap dashed at her, lashing out his left arm with a sword like jab aimed directly for her head. A basic move in boxing, so despite the speed behind it, she shouldn't have any problem working with it.]

[daughterofursa]

[There's no obvious preparation on Zuko's part. She's practically motionless until he strikes, whereupon she easily sidesteps the blow and moves in closer along the outside of his body to try hooking her foot behind his ankle.]

[windgod]

[There wasn't much that he could do in reaction, seeing how seamless Zuko's movements were; it was as if she had simply vanished and before Ippo knew it, he was lying on his back staring at the ceiling.]

...what?

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko offers him a hand up.]

Just dodging an attack lets your opponent keep attacking. If you take advantage of any openings they give you, you can put yourself on the offensive instead.

[windgod]

I see...or at least I wish I saw...

[He took the hand and got back to his feet, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head where it had struck the mat on his way down. Now he just needed a few minutes to think on things the way only he could.

The ring seemed to fade away along with Zuko, everything replaced by a dim shadow as he replayed the moment in his head step by step. He'd gone in for a punch, Zuko had dropped down and hooked his ankle, dropping him to the mat like a sack of potatoes. From this angle looking it, Zuko's movements seemed as natural as breathing...a natural reactions to an action.

In an instant, everything snapped back and Ippo gave a nod, beaming as bright as ever.]

Alright, I think I get it! Can we try that one again?

[daughterofursa]

You want me to walk through that any slower?

["I wish I saw" doesn't give her the greatest confidence that he does understand what she did.]

[windgod]

Let's try it regular speed one more time.

[He sounded confident in himself as he took his pose once again, and once Zuko was ready...he did the same exact thing, rushing towards her with a snapping jab. Second times the charm, right?]

[daughterofursa]

All right.

[And Zuko repeats the move, wondering if this time he'll be able to keep his feet.]