Practice Session Before the Show

[Jason Harris]

“Dylan, how am I able to read your moves that easily?”

Dylan stood there staring at Cliff, if there was one Cliff liked Dylan to do it was to make people think. Not knowing the answer off the top of his head Dylan had to think for a bit. Cliff could always tell what he was doing and Dylan never really cared to think about it, but now he was being forced to.

"You've see it all before."

It was all that Dylan could come up with. It fit what he was trying to figure out, how does he always know what I'm doing, but it was too obvious. Then again maybe Dylan was expecting to much out of the answer.

[fryman]

Hearing Dylan’s unsure answer Cliff only nodded as his frown of disappointment became more apparent. He was absolutely right on Dylan’s fighting style and attitude on life. It is another example of a strong fighter without any experience in any forms of combat.

At times Cliff even refuses that he was ever that green when it came to fighting, but then again he was raised at the start of all of it. So at least he was green with everyone else, but this kid is not given that chance. Instead he has to gain experience by fighting those that have more then enough of it. This is always a bad situation. Well, anything worthwhile is never easy.

“You are correct I have seen this all before. I have seen many people like you, who use their physical ability only in a fight. It may have helped you in the past, but in this new day and age you need to use more then your body in a fight. You need to have a sharp mind if you ever want to be taken seriously in these high caliber fights. Do you understand me?”

After he asked that question Cliff reverted back to his previous position he had at the beginning and motion Dylan to come at his again. In a commanding voice Cliff then shouted at Dylan, “Now come at me again. We will do this until you can launch a proper first attack.”

[Jason Harris]

Not saying a word, just listening to what Cliff said, Dylan took in everything he said and thought about it for a bit. What he said was true and and wrong at the same time.

"You think your so damn tough, how 'bout you come and try to hit me. You know how I think apparently so I can attack you a million times and I won't hit you. Your also waiting for me to attack so your ready to counter whatever I throw."

Dylan would wait a bit to see Cliff's reaction. Dylan's guess was that he'd be mad for questioning him, but what did it matter? If Dylan was right about this then it made what Cliff was telling him to do pointless.

"Common attack me, I don't know how you think but chances are I'll get around it since I know your coming."

Still not taking a stance Dylan just stared at Cliff waiting for him to do something.

[fryman]

With a calm look on his face Cliff just stared at Dylan with a stern serious look, but nothing in it hinted anger. As a matter of fact it hinted a ‘I don’t care what you think’ look because Cliff was more then well aware of what he was doing.

In a calm stern voice Cliff then said out loud for Dylan to hear, “We are not working on your defense today. Today we are going to work on basic offensive stance and tactics. Once you can grasp the basics of offensive fighting then we will go into basic defense.”

Pausing a bit Cliff then walked over to Dylan slowly and calmly with his right hand in a huge fist. Getting up close to Dylan, Cliff stops directly in front of him and said in a low voice, “The point of any opening offensive attack is not in hurting your opponent. Instead it is meant to control your opponents next move so your next strike can hit.”

Now bringing up both hands Cliff then gave off a slow jab so Dylan could see and explain, “Like an opening move would be to send in a basic right jab into your opponents face.”

Cliff then allowed his right hand to move past Dylan’s face before he continue, “This is easy to avoid, and most people would dodge to their right in order to avoid the attack.”

Then as if seeing an invisible figure moving Cliff moved his left hand down under as if to punch someone in the gut to Dylan’s right side, “Then as they are moving to avoid your first move, your left hand comes down and under so they don’t see it, and strike their gut. Do you understand?”

[Jason Harris]

"It's basic stuff why wouldn't I get it? What does he take me for, does he think I got by in my life this long without knowing how to throw a punch?"

Dylan was starting to get annoyed and you could see it in his face. He was just going around in circles trying to talk since into Cliff. But to get things going Dylan sallowed his pride and went along with it.

"Anything else or can I hit you now?"

[fryman]

With a straight face Cliff said to him, “There is a lot you need to learn about basic offense so we have to begin at the beginning. If you don’t want to follow that then we can go to the mental development and come back to offense.”

Now turning his back to Dylan Cliff took five steps away before turning around to face Dylan again. In a calm voice Cliff said, “Now make your choice about the path you want your training to take.”

[Jason Harris]

"Well then, I guess I'll decide this the way I make all my decisions... coin toss."

Dylan then reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. Holding up the quarter while making eye contact Dylan spoke the Cliff. It was decision time.

"Heads we stay with what we started, tails we go to mental."

With a smirk Dylan then tossed the coin into the air. Not taking his eyes off Cliff, Dylan just held his hand out of the quarter to fall into. Once he caught it he flipped it over on top of his other hand to reveal what it landed on.

"Heads, we stay with this."

[fryman]

“Fine whatever you say, but remember everything is tied together.”

Placing his right hand up to his mouth Cliff cough a little before he turn to Dylan. In a calm voice Cliff then said, “This is will be our second fight, and by now you should have a feeling for what my style is when it comes to defense.”

Taking a slight pause Cliff then said, “Observing and applying an opponent’s strategy to your own attack is key in a fight. So to help you in your training I am not going to change my style. Later we will cover that, but for now I will block and counter. Once the series of attack is over you are to retreat and we will analysis what just happen.”

[ian]

Walking into the warehouse a few days before the official meeting of new gang it is enough to say that curiosity had gotten the better of him once again because after hearing everyone talking about it he just could not help but show up. The sight of an old acquaintance and a face of a new gothic kid greeted him as he enters the old warehouse.

Taking a step back a little startle at the kid, the Goth kid then extended his right hand and said rather cheerfully, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You are aware that the meeting is one Friday.”

Swallowing hard Ian nodded and just said, “Yeah.”

Still smiling the kid then said, “Well in any case go over to the mat and you can observe our leader kicking the snot out of another lowly freshman.”

Slowly walking to the mat Ian cough a little clearing his throat before saying, “Excuse me Cliff, but I am not sure if you remember me, but I was wondering if I can join your gang?”

[fryman]

Hearing the door enter Cliff did not move his eyes, as he knew that Kurt would answer the door for him. Then as he stare down Dylan a familiar voice entered his ear.

“Excuse me Cliff, but I am not sure if you remember me, but I was wondering if I…”

Not allowing the voice to finish his statement Cliff then turn his head as he said, “Sure Ian. You can take my place and train with Dylan. I am sure he will do better against a person more on his level.”

Now standing up straight Cliff walked over to Ian and with a smile said, “Well now it is your turn to fight.”

Looking over to Dylan, Cliff then said, “Dylan it is obvious that I am to much to train you. So now I am giving you a training buddy.”

After a few moments for Ian to walk onto the mat, and for Dylan to register what was going on Cliff said, “Dylan this is Ian, Ian this is Dylan. Dylan is a fit blunt fighter that does not thing, and Ian is a genius with a well-rounded build. Dylan you attack, and then Ian defends however he feels like it.”

Cliff then folded his arms across his chest before he said in a loud voce, “Got it!”

[ian]

A little surprise at the response Ian just gave off a shrug as he slipped off his jacket. Walking on to the mat grin as he started to stretch his arms ready for a fight with another new opponent.

With a nervous smile Ian looked towards Cliff as he said, “Come on now Cliff, I am not that great. You don’t have to brag me, I am not that special.”

Now looking back at Dylan Ian then said, “Sorry about that, we only really met once. In any case I am looking forward to this fight.”

[Jason Harris]

"Well this is a great, we just meat each other and now it seems Cliff wants us to fight."

For absolutely no reason at all Dylan turned his focus over toward Cliff and just flashed him a little smirk before conteuing his conversation with Ian.

"If he thinks highly of you then there's a reason for it, don't sell yourself short. I just want to what the reason is."

Not waiting for a second, as soon as Dylan was done talking he was off rushing toward Ian. Once Dylan was close enough he would send a left jab to Ian's face, he would then follow up by ducking down a bit and sending an up ward punch with his right hand to Ian's stomach, finally he would spin to his right and finish up with a left elbow aimed to Ian's jaw.

As Cliff watched he could probably tell that what Dylan was doing was almost a complete mimic of what he was showing Dylan before Ian came in. Why mimic Cliff you ask? It was a good basic combo to figure out what Ian could do in a fight and aside form that he felt like it.

[ian]

Watching as Dylan came charging at him Ian quickly gasp as he jumped back a little and side step to his left to avoid the jab. Keeping his eyes on the left jab Ian felt a pain in his gut noticing that Dylan had just sent a punch in his gut with his other fist. He should of known better, but that wasn’t all because Ian felt the Dylan move again.

With Dylan starting to move again Ian then leaned his body to his right and sent an uppercut with his right fist straight into Dylan’s jaw just as he was about to move to finish his combination. Hopefully this attack from down under would come as a surprise and send Dylan back a little.

[Jason Harris]

The first two punches were hits, the third how ever wasn't. As Dylan was moving to finish the combo he was nailed by and uppercut to his jaw.

Dylan quickly backed off and moved his jaw around to make sure it was still working right. Everything seemed to be alright, focusing on Ian again he spoke.

"That would be the reason."

Dylan then turned his attention to Cliff, "Well do you want us to keep going?"

[fryman]

Keeping his eyes on the action the whole time cliff was making mental notes on each fighting style and different comments he should make on each. The basic combo that Cliff showed Dylan seemed to prove effective, even though it should not be use often. The purpose of the combo was to teach the basic of offense. Once that was master then a person would be able to improve it.

Ian like before showed a striking resemblances to his own style even though not as refine. He needed to grow a bit more and stay more aware of his surroundings even though the basics are pretty much good with him.

Nodding his head Cliff then spoke to both fighters, “Ok that was good. Ian you need to remain more aware of your surroundings and learn to predict your enemy’s movements a few more steps. Dylan that was good. You are catching on to the basic forms of offense. Remember your moves are supposed to build up on one another and flow.”

Pausing a bit Cliff then said again, “Dylan remember that uppercut you tried to use on me before, well Ian just demonstrated the proper use of it. It is made for close combat and your moves should build up so your opponent cannot counter it easily. Got it?”