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

[Sensei Johnny Lawrence's training methods ranged varied from day to day. Whether it's practicing forward strikes and actual techniques in the abandoned warehouse turned Dojo that he called home, ...to rather bizarre field trips.

Today was certainly the second option. He had gathered up all of students who had come for training and brought them into the woods near gaze. With the help of some animated skeletons he had borrowed from Jod he covered each of his students in honey.

Then he stepped back.]

Alright nerds,
I bet you think you're hot shit, right?
Well you're wrong!
The path to becoming a badass is long and hard-
Your enemies aren't going to go easy on you in the battles to come.
You have to be ready for that.
So to get you to your best, I'm going to show you my worst.
And to do that- We're going to fight at the level our enemies are-
I got some intel that one of the other sensei's is strong enough to take on a bear.
So you're going to learn to do the same thing and for that reason.

...Well bring 'em Skelebros!

[And Johnny raises a fist into the air. And in the distance there's a sound of rattling bones as a handful of skeletons covered in honey lead a sleuth of bears toward the students.]

Alright Cobra's! Show me what you got!

[And as if to make it worse. There is another handful of skeletons that pop out from the trees. Each with a bees nest in it's hand. They all throw them up into the air and kick them toward his students to get them "motivated to move."]

[Whether this is means fight the bears or run is completely open up to interpretation.]

Edited 2022-04-24 03:37 (UTC)

[There are two to three days that Johnny will not be at the Dojo. Because he is getting murdered by two people in event. He'll back after that like nothing happened at all.]

[On days when Johnny isn't trying to get his students murdered. They'll be at the dojo. He is once again flanked by terrifying skeletons that are practicing forward strikes the entire time. It's odd but their form is actually on point and that's saying something.

For a demonstration he'll approach a skeleton standing perfectly still.]

The cobra strike is composed of two parts. The lunge-

[He presses forward to the skeleton to demonstrate.]

Which requires the whole body. And the bite-

[He drives his fist into the skeleton. Slowly for demonstration purposes not to cause damage.]

Which is everything after you make contact.

You don't stop here where knuckle meets the bone. You strike through it like the guy you really want to hit is behind this asshole.

[He then steps back and repeats the process with another strength to actually break skeleton bone this time.]

Any questions?

[Keeping an open mind is an important part of studying under Sensei Lawrence, whose training methodology often challenges his student's preconceptions about the predictability of potential threats.

Coated in honey and staring down an ursine delegation and swarms of stinging insects, Paul contemplates the lesson being offered.]

Any ideas?

[He asks whoever is standing closest, casually, pulling his shoulders back and shifting his weight into his toes, a creature on the verge of flight.]

[surely this must be the strangest thing she's experienced here, even stranger than beasthood, which was something unwanted, but not uncommon.

sShe can feel the honey dripping down from the tight bun she'd piled her red curls into, slowly slipping down her neck, honey on just about every visible surface and it was terribly uncomfortable. but, she told herself that if it made her stronger, then it could only be a good thing. she trusted sensei Lawrence and she supposed that she ought to trust her fellow students]

Perhaps try to find a stream to wash ourselves off? But it can't be that easy.

[and the insects were getting closer]

There was no denying the fact that Terry's style suited her very well indeed. She was naturally graceful and years as a super-hero and a ballerina had honed her muscles so that she looked fragile and delicate but in truth was far from it.

She started her warm-up exercises, focusing on smooth, swift moves, keeping a smile on her face because she'd found in the past that doing so unnerved opponents. Anger they were used to. Determination, too.

But a sweet, pleasant smile that didn't meet her eyes? That they didn't seem to know what to do with, especially since her eyes promised pain to anyone who took her on.

Lexi was nervous as hell, though she was trying to hide that as best as she could. Maybe tension in the shoulders could read as being ready? There was no doubt that sensei Sasuke was a good teacher and she wasn't as nervous as she had been when the competiton had been announced.

But she'd be fooling herself if she called herself anything but a beginner.

So maybe a little nerves would be understandable for now in the company of her sensei and her fellow students? She muttered to herself, "Okay, Lexi. You can do this. Really, you can."

Luz knew she was coming in pretty blind, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying. She was going to join Ozpin's academy because she knew Ozpin more than the others, and it at least seemed to be a school that had more of the kind of training she was earnestly looking for.

Still, she hadn't been there as long as some of the others and wanted to get in as much training as she could. She needed to catch up for several reasons, but top of the list was making sure she had a way of defending herself if she was without magic.

"Ok. I'm ready! And what was that about a tournament?"

[Trusting Sensei Lawrence was probably not always the best move. Some people were under the impression he was insane, but that really depended on who you asked.

He had retreated up onto a little hill to watch his students from a distance but could be there quickly if needed.]

Come on ladies!
Let's get moving!
There's nothing to fear except fear itself.
...That and getting stung or clawed to shit so don't do that!

Edited 2022-04-28 02:39 (UTC)

[ Open mind or not, Akechi is pretty sure this is just about the dumbest thing Johnny's ever asked them to do. He doesn't usually favor one professor over another, but today he really wishes he'd just gone to Ozpin's instead.

But, here he is. Covered in honey and facing down a bunch of bears because Johhny is the way he is. Paul's question has him sliding a foot back, bracing himself for whatever move he's about to make next. ]

I suggest we run, and perhaps find something we can climb that they can't.

[ Which is a tall task when they're dealing with bears, which are skilled climbers, and bees which can fly. It might be there only option. In a light tone, Akechi also adds: ]

It's against the spirit of the thing, but we could also try just killing them.

[honestly, how did she endlessly find herself in odd situations? other than it being Trench and therefore made of odd situations. but she had said that if the bear would help, she'd be open to the idea so this is her own doing.

fine. find a way to confront the bear while avoiding being clawed to bits. the stings she may simply have to live with.

so defying all sense and logic, she goes towards the bear, fully expecting it to try and claw at her or bite her the second it smells her and the honey.

which was exactly what happened. fortunately bears telegraph their moves like crazy, so she's able to duck the swipe, crouching down. and apparently, this is a male bear.

so she tries to bring one bent knee up into the bear's groin]

[The woman's first suggestion had its flaws. Her subsequent reaction to Sensei Lawrence's goading has - several, which are now out of Paul's hands and in the swinging paws of a bear.

He half-expects to watch her opened up like one of the shattered hives, but she surprises him yet again by dodging and striking exactly as mercilessly as they've been trained to do.

Her move connects. Paul isn't sure this is the best thing that could have happened, the hundreds of pounds of already agitated bear now an extremely agitated bear, but that's the situation he finds himself darting towards instead of away from, in defiance of all logic, common sense, and survival instincts he possesses.]

What's the plan?

[He calls out, angling sideways to offer the bear a second target. He truly, deeply hopes there is one.]

Regular Training, no mirror effects

[Keith had stopped by, definitely interested in learning these special ninjutsu arts that he'd briefly heard about from Sasuke. While he definitely didn't expect to learn how to get into people's memories, other stuff had sounded pretty fascinating, and it was a style that he'd never used before. He could be found doing training for things a few days a week, not really anticipating participating in the tournament overall, but he would if asked.

He was willing to train with others, practice sparring, and give/take advice about forms and technique.]

=====

During Mirror Effects

[It was honestly on his way to training that day when he spotted the weird effect in the mirror. Had his own reflection made a weird face at him? He wasn't sure, and had mistakenly looked again.

Now, while he had still shown up for his practice and training, he was working on things with a new level of visible irritation and rage that might be noticeable to some... He certainly has less patience for people making dumb mistakes.]

They haven't done anything to us. I'd prefer not to.

[There's also the small matter of them being bears, and Paul having chosen to come armed with only his pale blade in a hidden sheath under his training gear. Still: the way he says it suggests he's prepared for the possibility.

The bears continue to close on them. Paul decides he also prefers observing them from a height.]

They're faster than we are. But there's a saying where I come from - you don't have to be faster than the cat.

[He grins at Akechi, a playful, reckless challenge.]

You just have to be faster than everyone else. Run and climb it is.

[As is his habit, Paul assessed the area on the way. There's a half-fallen hillside some meters back from their position, surrounded by dense, thorny bushes on all sides but the scree-covered slump. He points in its direction, obscured by the trees between them and it, and takes off without another word. He needs his breath for the sprint.]

[ 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?

[ You've finished with lessons for the day, and now you've been swept into Ozpin's private library. It's an elegant space, if you can forgive a few still-broken windows, a few missing bookshelves, and the riot of flowering vines which have overgrown most of everything.

Heedless of this, he's waved you into an overwrought armchair and brought out a teapot and cookies. They're chocolate chip. ]

I suppose I walk the line between Hunter and Arcane Scholar... though my research isn't truly into the magic of this world, but instead, its stories. Its legends.

If you'd care to share any folklore of your home— whether childhood tale or ancient myth— I would be glad to hear it. Perhaps I can trade you one in return.

[ Congratulations, students, you've once again been gathered in twos and threes with little explanation for what to expect. Ozpin points to the eerie, burned-out tower which crowns the manor-- he seems to regard this as normal?-- and says: ]

Today's assignment is simple: together, you must reach the highest point of the building and deliver this gift.

[ Deliver to what? He doesn't say! He simply looks pleased with himself as he offers one of you a little package. Wrapped in wax paper and tied with twine, the whole thing is smaller than your palm. (It definitely contains a chocolate chip cookie.) ]

Some of us may find the climb more challenging than others... and for that reason I invite you to rely upon each other. Know your strengths and seek to complement your weaknesses. We shall need to assess our own strengths and shortcomings when pitted against fellow Sleepers.

Of course, to make things a bit more interesting... you will face challenges along the way.

[ Somewhere nearby, something howls. ]

Good luck.

[ Those who attended Ozpin's training in February will recognize this exercise, though now that he has a much smaller crowd, he hasn't bothered climbing the great clocktower of Gaze. Instead, you've been brought to the top of the burned-out tower, and it's more than a little precarious: there are charred and crumbling holes in the roof.

Ozpin stands lightly upon one creaking beam, cane in hand. ]

Back in my prior world, I was headmaster of a renowned combat academy. We began each year with an initiation of sorts... and the first step consisted of a significant drop. It is not a leap of faith, for there will be no net to catch you. That lesson seems to bear true in Trench, as well.

You, Sleepers, must ensure your own safe descent to the ground. By skill, strength, or even by magic, your safety is in your own hands.

I invite you now to jump.

[ Maybe you leap without hesitation, ready to prove yourself. Maybe you jump to keep your fellow student from breaking their neck. Maybe you even reach the ground and immediately turn around to help your classmates.

Or maybe you hesitate. But not for long, because just behind you, smoke coalesces. An Omen forms.

A stag of smoke and Vileblood yeets the hesitant directly off the roof. ]

[ For a skinny old man in a fancy tailcoat, Ozpin is a startlingly competent fighter. Perhaps most uncanny is his range; he can switch between fighting styles as though echoing the movements of other men entirely. By default, he seems to be a fast and darty swordsman, and he can train students in swordplay with the air of a genuine master.

His lessons consist of theory, sparring— primarily armed, sometimes unarmed— and battles against Beasts and monsters corralled from the forest. Sometimes he sends his students into the depths of the woods in pairs or small groups, which is definitely a good idea in a month where the sun never rises.

At least he always offers tea and cookies for your trouble.

Feel free to respond with your character's general behavior as a student! ]

[On days that Johnny is... otherwise occupied (such as being dead), one of his more experienced students—"team captains," for lack of a better term—takes the lead for the class. A naive few of the students might believe that they'll get a break from Johnny's bonkers training methods. And sure, Sayo led the warmups as normal, went through the routine technique exercises without yelling or calling any of the students names. A perfectly polite, pleasant substitute teacher, a breath of fresh air in the usually beer-and-spit smelling atmosphere of Cobra Kai.

If you know Sayo, you're already aware that this is the first warning sign.

After the first twenty minutes of class proceed in a blessedly normal fashion, Sayo orders everyone into a group at the back of the warehouse, and calls a single student forward. You, perhaps.]

As I'm sure Lawrence-sensei has drilled into your skull by now, in Cobra Kai, the best defense is a good offense. Don't just strike first, strike first-er. Et cetera. [She pronounces it properly like a huge nerd.] However, that doesn't mean you can charge in mindlessly and expect to get anything but your ass chopped, sliced, sautée'd, garnished, and served to you on a silver platter. You need to be aware of your opponent, react to where and how they'll strike and dodge.

Some senseis will tell you this is a matter of concentration, focus, insight. That's, as Lawrence-sensei would put it, bullshit. It's not a matter of perfect clarity. It's a matter of learning how certain muscles move, perceiving every inch of your enemy, seeing where they tense and where they relax before they strike. Of course the specifics vary with style, practitioner, and individual technique, but there are a few general principles you can learn to watch for if you practice enough with this in mind.

The tricky thing is, of course, doing that without relenting for a single second. And teaching how to maintain that b-word, [since Johnny isn't here Sayo is free to make fun of his aversion to the concept of "balance" in martial arts,] is the purpose of today's exercise.

You're going to want to hold still.

[Without any further warning, the unlucky student is lifted by a mysterious force accompanied by an unearthly scream, up to one of the creaking catwalks of the warehouse. A strange creature swoops from behind them to hover at Sayo's shoulder with a cackling screech.]

Speaking of paying attention, you should notice several details about this arrangement that should deeply concern you! [Sayo shouts from below as she... pulls a kiddie pool full of foam blocks out of who knows where she'd been hiding it and slides it under the catwalk?] The first is an abominable lack of workplace safety standards or general architectural sense in the construction of this warehouse. This catwalk is, for some ungodly reason, entirely disconnected from the rest of the network. I think the shoddy craftsmanship is part of the reason why this warehouse was abandoned in the first place.

The second is that directly behind you, there is a hole in the catwalk, going all the way to the back wall. A similar segment is missing from the other end of the catwalk. Don't worry, if you fall through you should land safely. I made an oath to not murder anyone in Trench, and I've managed to keep to my promise so far.

The third is that there is a large goat demon currently lumbering down the catwalk in your direction. [Dressed in an extra-large Cobra Kai gi as it whuffles nervously and looks side to side, no less.] And of course, there's the harness currently attached to your torso.

[Sayo strides over to the wall of the dojo, where a winch wrapped in rope connects upward to the back of the harness, and to a hefty-looking weight on a different catwalk, poised on the edge and only kept from falling off thanks to the taut rope attached.]

This exercise is simple, [she says, having constructed a fucking SAW trap.] When I activate this device, one of the gears inside the trap will begin moving, pulled by the weight on the other catwalk as it descends due to gravity. The gear will release the rope's slack as it turns, so it won't directly pull you off the catwalk... at first.

However, it will eventually run out of extra rope, and will start pulling on you instead. Due to the weight's mass and the way this contraption is balanced, you will very quickly fly backward, fall through that hole, and land in nice, soft foam. Hypothetically. I haven't tested it myself. [That part is a lie, but fear is a good motivator.] If you don't want the honor of being the first test subject of this contraption, there is a way to escape.

Moving forward will pull on a different gear from your side, which, while it motion, will push a ratchet into the first gear, preventing it from turning, thereby preventing the weight from descending. But! [She snaps her fingers.] The moment that you stop or get pushed back, the ratchet will recede, and the weight will begin falling once more.

Of course, there is Goat-kun standing in your way. [The giant goat demon stands tall when he hears his name, taking up a fighting stance. Determination and conviction shine in his eyes!] And he will make every effort to prevent you from moving forward, including attacking you with his incredible strength and equally incredible lack of speed. Fortunately, he is as dumb as a brick and doesn't know any particular style, which means it's easy to read his movements once you observe him for enough time. [Goat-kun deflates slightly.] The narrowness of the catwalk means you will have little time or space to react late, so you will need to learn how to read his tells, which are fairly universal among fighters so knowing them should prove useful for the tournament, and conserve as much movement as possible while evading or blocking so you can focus on driving him back.

[Goat-kun is also narratively inclined to lose fights to opponents that are hypothetically much weaker than him, making this a far less daunting prospect than how it may appear at first. Sayo isn't letting that part slip, though.]

Once Goat-kun falls through the hole on his side of the catwalk, his weight will activate a mechanism that will release you from your harness. That is your goal.

Oh, and also. [She smiles devilishly.] If I judge your performance to be exemplary, you will face a human opponent capable of more than just basic thought and who knows the rules of this little contest inside and out.

Clear? Crystal! [Sayo didn't even pause.] Then five, four, three-

GO!

[And the device activates. The clock is ticking.]

((OOC: You can take part in this ridiculous exercise, take Sayo on after beating poor Goat-kun offscreen if you think your character is skilled enough, or badger Sayo about how insane this is from the sidelines. Your choice!))

Edited 2022-04-29 07:02 (UTC)

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

Johnny Lawrence's Cobra Kai

Terry Silver's Cobra Kai

Ozpin's Clockhouse Academy

Sasuke's Super Awesome Ninja School

General Chaos

Training day Prompt 1

Note

Training Day Prompt 2

Paul Atreides | Open

no subject

Tinya Wazzo | OTA

Lexi Howard | OPEN

Re: Ozpin's Clockhouse Academy

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Keith | Open (Partially During Mirror Shenanigans - CW: for super fighty short mean temper)

no subject

introductions | OTA or mingle

theory and tea | OTA or mingle

training exercises | mingle

landing strategies | mingle

SUMMARIES

Training Day - Sayo's Class