You're The Best Around : Karate War Training Montage Log

[strikefirster]

The All-Trench Karate War | Training Log!

Who: Combat instructors, students, and anyone caught in the crossfire.
What: Training for the Karate War!
Where: Throughout Trench
When: Throughout April

[ Welcome to the catch-all log for the Karate War player plot! Please find your instructor's header below and feel free to start your own toplevels under that header. You can specify "OTA," "OTA to teammates," or "For [Character]" etc in the subject line.

Or jump down to the miscellaneous mingle and start your own toplevels there! Enjoy! ]

Comments

introductions | OTA or mingle

[clocktowers]

[ Welcome, student. The property you've been invited to train on is a strange, sprawling manor at the edge of Gaze, bordering the gloomy Trenchwood. Today you're out on the scrubby lawn under the eerie green light of the moon, and your teacher stands before you: 6'6" and skinny, his silver hair in a little braid, wearing an excessively detailed green tailcoat and little tinted glasses.

He does not look much like a self-defense instructor. But he smiles gently at you all the same. ]

Now, I believe it's time to discuss your weapon of choice. Unarmed combat is a significant skill, and one we shall need to emphasize before the upcoming tournament, but in a world such as this... it is most important to trust your weapon as you would an extension of your own body.

[ For a moment he seems to look at you more thoughtfully, assessing. ]

Or do you find that there are other abilities you reach for, when pressed?

Kokichi Oma | OTA/Mingle

[violetlies]

[First day of training. This was the first attempt that Kokichi would make at defying his natural instincts as a pacifist. So, there he stood, 5'1 and slim, messy purple hair covered by a black cap, white suit that looked more like an unbound straitjacket than anything, a checkered bandanna around his neck, and arms folded behind his head.]

Wee~eeelll...this is probably not the answer anyone hoped for, but my weapon of choice is my words. [He admits, gently shrugging.] I never really needed to solve any problems that couldn't be solved with a silver tongue at home, so I can easily take someone down in a debate, I'm a pretty strong opponent in strategy games like chess, and I'm pretty fast when I've gotta run away...in actual combat, though? I'm kinda starting from behind here, like I said. [He tugs his arms to his chest, seemingly determined.] But I'm gonna dedicate myself.

[After all, Trench wasn't a normal human world where violence was highly unnecessary. It was a world of untamed monsters and untold disaster. Being a pacifist here meant a heavy disadvantage, and it meant you ended up as somewhat of a burden - or at least that was how Kokichi felt.]

...So I guess the starting block would be getting a weapon. If it's an extension of myself, I'd assume it might be pretty important to get the right one and it's not just 'this because you're late', 'this because it looks cool', or 'just this on a whim'.

Maybe I should just start on unarmed and think on it, or...? How does one decide these things?

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby absolutely zones in on Kokichi. Look she understands what it's like to be a little behind the curve when it comes to learning a weapon. She wasn't so great until her uncle started teaching her some of the skills he had picked up.

She takes a moment to listen to him and size him up.]

Learning unarmed is a good idea, but it doesn't have to be your starting point. It definitely wasn't mine.

...Fast and a strategic thinker huh? But not used to outright combat. I think we can figure something out about that.

Any other skills? How's your aim?

[violetlies]

[Ah, an expert. Kokichi lets her size him up, and listens to what she says. Right. Honestly, unarmed is probably going to be a weak point for his little noodle arms. He nods.]

I was hoping at least one person would say something like that. [It would've been pretty embarrassing if the general response was pained grimaces, but not so.]

Hmmm. I mean, I've got a wealth of expertise in technology, but that doesn't do me much good in a world where magic is a big thing. [That next question, however, absolutely piques his intereszt.] Aim is mostly about quick calculations. I'm not some kind of masterful quick draw, but I'm pretty good if I buckle down on it.

What're you thinking? Something long-range, I'm guessing?

[Being a pain from long range is something that appeals to him greatly. Besides, if this played into the tournament stuff...you can't punch what you can't reach.]

[clocktowers]

A keen mind for tactics is a powerful asset, even here.

[ To Ozpin, this has the feeling of training apprentices in his days before Beacon: watching children take up swords because they had to, not because they'd ever dreamed of glory. There's a bittersweet simplicity to that.

He looks openly thoughtful at the question. ]

At this stage, the best course would be to see what you most enjoy... what comes most easily to you, and what you would willingly dedicate a great deal of time to practicing. Speed and strategy are useful in any number of arenas. You may come to prefer the distance of a firearm, or the fast-paced puzzle of swordplay.

[violetlies]

Considering it's my natural habit to strategize, I'd hope so.

[Some people were more inclined to punch, punch, punch, then think. Kokichi knew a fair few. (un)Luckily, he wasn't Tenko. He wasn't some kind of glory-seeker, either - that was Kaito's department, not his. To Kokichi, the thought that he's partaking in some kind of class intended for heroes seems like downright whiplash. He was so used to acting in the role of a villain...

Well. Still. He'd absolutely be smug about it to Kaito if he were to show up. Step aside, hero boy.

He nodded.]

The biggest thing I've heard about combat is that it pays to be adaptable. So. Find something long-range first, then short-range, maybe. I know in the end one probably is gonna end up more honed than the other, but I 'spose I can't tell for sure until I try some stuff out.

[Which he's perfectly fine with doing. Experimentation was vital at this stage. And then once he had an idea of how he'd take to actually holding and using something, he could buckle down.]

[clocktowers]

[ He breaks into a smile, here: that particularly fond one he gives when something reminds him of a story. ]

To that end, we've developed something of a tradition, on Remnant... the place which was my home before Trench. Many of our weapons are designed for both long-range and and close combat.

[ He lifts his cane as though in demonstration, twirls it. ]

I'm afraid I cannot give a suitable demonstration with this old thing... it is only a bladed cane. [ This is a blatant lie. ] But any of the others from my homeland... Ruby, Oscar, Qrow, to name a few... could show you the strategy. You're right that a person is often more skilled in one arena than the other, but it is vital to have that flexibility.

We could begin with something as simple as an unadorned blade. I seem to be lacking in ranged weapons, I'm afraid, so for today we may be constrained in our options.

[violetlies]

Hm. That's a tradition I can appreciate. [It's smart, in a place that is likely more combat-focused than normal Japan. Hearing of other worlds was always fascinating, really, though usually harrowing. It made his own experiences seem like nothing.

He watches as Ozpin lifts his cane--and being one to detect liars, the only thing that tips him off to the fact that they might mutually be aware that's a lie is a small, amused smile on Kokichi's part. It's better for other people to think that, huh?

He nods.]

Well! I can't object to that. Unadorned blade it is! I'm ready!

Re: introductions | OTA or mingle

[imaglyphwitch]

[It was good to see Ozpin again, and in his own domain, no less! It looked very pretty, and she was sure that Ruby and Oscar must live somewhere around here too. Luz, for her part, is wearing casual clothes: a tunic with her signature shorts and capris, but with fingerless gloves and her bookbag in case it was needed].

Oh, right, my weapon! Is it ok if that's also my friend too?

[Here Luz brandished Eda's staff: Owlbert was motionless right now, so it just looked imposing and mysterious].

[clocktowers]

[ He looks a little perplexed at the question, then fond at what he can only assume is her usual enthusiasm. ]

A very charming staff, indeed. It looks as though it will serve well for our purposes. Would you care to show me how it's generally used?

[imaglyphwitch]

[She DID have enthusiasm, but that was not why she said that. She gave the seemingly totem animal atop the staff a light nuzzle and it came to life, returning the gesture and then proceeding to fly around in a circle. Owlbert gave a nose dive toward Luz, then turned immobile a few feet short and turned into the staff again, Luz catching it in her arms].

Palisman. [Honestly, Eda would have been a little proud. Luz had Owlbert helping her for a LONG time, and he had been Luz's companion for so much that it felt seamless. She would never have dropped Owlbert at this point, and this was mutual when he was her staff.

And here is how we work.

[She could have said "how I use him" but obviously that wasn't the case. In any rate, Luz hopped atop the staff and flew high, higher, then took a swirl in the air before falling again and pulling up at the last moment. Luz hopped off, and three papers started to float down from when she'd fallen. Before they could fall to the ground, Luz swirled staff in the air in a sharp circle. The falling papers were, in fact, glyphs: one that gave a pleasant flash of light, followed by an explosion of falling sakura petals and finishing with a simple three foot ice statue that resembled her new teacher].

Those are glyphs that can be activated at their basic level. Through more advanced combinations, you can do more with proper application!

[clocktowers]

[ The staff comes to life in what he can only describe as magic, of the fairytale sort he is always so touched to see. Luz is all but beaming with pride, and it's well-deserved: her routine is confident, flowing, openly powerful. It is an impossibly cry from the wounded little girl he once met in a darkened cave.

It shows in his bright smile as she touches down. Ozpin raises his hands, cane and all, to clap gently. ]

Impressive. Then do consider me glad to meet him... and to witness your work together. Perhaps this will be an opportunity to expand your repertoire into new skills... new combinations, of a sort. The interplay between fighting ability and a talent for magic.

[ There's a beat. He nods to the statue. ]

It's a beautiful likeness.

[ Mark down that flattery as successful. ]

[imaglyphwitch]

[There was definitely going to be a difference between the Luz from the cave and now. Luz had all of her strength, for one thing, and she had learned enough from that situation to have a way to defend herself even if she had no magic. It was what brought her here eventually: the fencing lessons with Vira and sword practice with Fern had been good, but she knew she needed more.

That being the case, Luz had also gone through great strides in her magic abilities too]!

I hope so! Definitely hoping to strengthen my body and mind in a school like this!

[Yes, she'd heard of Johnny and Terry, but she knew Ozpin a bit better, and Cobra Kai felt too different from what she thought should be in a martial arts school].

Thank you, um. Sensei?