9 chapter 6 training and sparring
POV Joseph Elsby Martin Sr.
Joe showed Kai around the gym while evaluating the kid he saw just from the physical aspect the kid is a natural athlete and has been training he then ask "hey kid you have experience in boxing?".
"just from the televisions and by mimicking it sir" lied Kai while smiling.
"alright show me what you know then we can start on your training" grabbing a pair of boxing gloves and a pair of boxing mitts tossing the former at Kai.
as Kai was busy putting the gloves in his hands Joe jabs a right at Kai who deftly leans to left to dodges then continue on wearing the gloves on his hands.
' the kid has good instincts ' thought Joe as he says " your good at dodging kid that's a good trait in any fighting sports " complimenting Kai on his smooth and natural dodge.
As Kai finished putting the boxing gloves Joe says " kid we will start at the basic striking then we will start with the striking with dodging you good with that".
"Yes sir but please go easy on me" replied Kai
"if you could dodge like that you could handle a little bit of difficulty kid" snickered Joe as he prepared for the boxing exercise
Joe guided Kai on which to strike from right right left to right left right right dodge left in which Kai easily remembered and executed they continued until it turns dark and then Joe stop the practice by lowering his hands telling "Kid you're a natural same as with Jr. here with time you'll both be legends in the boxing sports keep it up our schedule will be after school until dark then at the weekends we will do a whole day of stamina training then a little bit of sparing to end the day" informs Joe as he wipe the sweat on his forehead.
"Okay thanks Joe see you tomorrow" Kai replied joining Jr. outside.
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[earlier inside the Gym]
POV Muhammad Ali Jr.
'Kai's a natural I could see by his execution of strikes and dodging it's so smooth just like breathing air I got to improve more or else Kai who's a new guy will leave me in the dust ' thought Jr. as he was warming up and looking at Joe and Kai do a basic striking practice.
Jr. was also astounded when he noticed that Joe even though is counter attacking very fast Kai was still smoothly dodging and was very calm and nonchalantly following Joe's instructions on where to strike as the difficulty rises it's also surprising that Kai hadn't missed a strike at the mitt always dead center the precision was amazing it's as if Kai was shooting bullets for a moment Jr decided to watch the training practice and just took a sit and analyse Kai's movement.
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after 3 hours of watching Kai and Joe go at it Jr. just realized that Kai's movement look like a seasoned veteran at boxing just how his footwork and shifting of body he could see that despite his answer earlier of just mimicking boxers on TV it looks unnatural like Kai's been fighting his whole life.
after thinking it out Jr. admitted that Kai was a prodigy at boxing no wonder he knocked out 6 kids who's a head taller than him Jr. also connected the dots on his first meeting with Kai, with Kai's body being muscled despite his age Kai's been training before going to school. Now Jr. found a rival and a competition he couldn't be more happy and excited at the prospect of a sparing partner who could keep up with him and also someone who could improve his father style making it complete.
now it's dark Jr. waits for Kai to finish so that they could walk out together "Hey Kai would you be my friend" says Jr while immediately grabbing Kai's hands.
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POV Returns back to Kai
As Kai was approaching the exit of the gym in which Jr. is waiting he immediately got surprised by Jr holding his hand and saying "Hey Kai would you be my friend" Kai inwardly cringe at the action while joking "I'm not gay Jr. so I can't be your boyfriend" Jr. stunned then realizing what Kai has said immediately punch Kai in the shoulders which Kai dodges by leaning to the left Jr. reacted immediately saying "I'm not gay you little!!" in which Jr Chases Kai as Kai runs while laughing.
Kai was quickly caught by Jr. due to his long legs being ruffled in the head "seriously aren't we friends by now?" Jr. releases Kai then replied "yeah just wanted a confirmation".
Kai laughs and said "alright let's get going I'm tired and I want to sleep" before approaching the car at the sidewalk Kai quickly shouts "same time same place tomorrow!!" at the departing Jr. who yells back "yes same time same place!!".
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Kai arriving home ate his dinner and quickly finished his homework before showering he thought ' maybe if I wake up earlier tommorow I'll be able to practice the basics of the two styles I acquired earlier ' Kai feeling sleepy laid down and closed his eyes.
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[Time skip 3 days ]
During this 3 days Kai's routine was waking up 2 hours earlier before school time and after classes end he would go with Jr. to the Gym to train with old man Joe, Jr also trained alongside him soon they sort of become rivals at the fastest to finish the reps gave by Joe to how long they can last today is weekend and Kai was heading to the Gym after practicing the [King of Stranglers Style] and the [Hawk of Ordos Style] in which he trained by using the ethereal training partners {AN: yes he named his imagination training as the ethereal training partners folks} he succeeded in mastering the basics of two styles now as he arrived at the meeting place he saw a lot of gym goers and the training staffs as well as Jr. and coach Joe approaching the two "I ain't late am i?" asks Kai in which Joe replied "No were just starting our warmup then we will go on a run around the lake start your warmup so you don't get winded kid" to which Kai complied starting his very own version of warming up.
' running around the lake really eats at your stamina if you don't manage it properly ' Kai thought as he jogs side by side with Old man Joe and Jr.
after taking 3 laps around the lake they took a rest they then pulled a jumping ropes Jr. and Kai as well the other people borrowed the ropes then proceeded to exercise with it then weights and a lot of training apparatuses designed to enhance a person's strength, agility and stamina Kai,Jr, Joe and the group keep doing that until noon in which they go to the Gym to spar.
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Kai was watching the sparring bout of two guys when Joe approach him and says " you up to fight Jr. kid?"
"hmm what?" replied the surprised Kai
"I said are you up to spar with Jr. " says Joe with a louder voice.
"yeah yeah I'm up for that" Kai replied to Joe while internally being excited at the prospect of testing out Jr.
"you'll be the last of the guys sparing today give your best alright want to show these guys the upcoming boxing prodigies that'll dominate in the future" Joe says as he was walking away.
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[few moments later]
Kai was donning his protective head gear as Jr. passes by when he got slapped in the back by Jr. saying "I won't hold back so give your best".
"Hey man give me a break your 5 years older than me at least ease up" Kai jokingly replied.
"You the youngest prodigy needed a break that's almost saying the sun is rising from the West" retorted Jr.
Both of them laugh they then wished each other good luck as they both go at their respective ringside.
As they both enter the ring Joe acting as a referee announced the sparring of two of his newest boxing prodigies and soon to be boxing legends they both neared giving their respects to each other then back at their side of the ring they both waited for the bell while Kai was having his hands up in guard Junior was bouncing up and down with his hands down then for the split second when they heard the ring of the bell they charge at each other with Jr. first firing his left using his superior reach to hit Kai when Kai lowered his body dodging the punch by a hair Jr. next drop a right uppercut intending to clock Kai's jaw when he's that low when Kai sidestep to the right before releasing a right hook,Jr surprised at the sudden dodge he thought he caught Kai with the uppercut is now seeing an approaching right hook at his face proceeded to quickly lean his head to the left to avoid Kai's right hook still took a glancing hit on the right side of his face now entangled Joe separated them and now Jr. was now cautious of Kai since after that glancing hit he now realizes that while Kai was young and shorter than him he shouldn't underestimate him after taking a distance both of them eyes each other Kai was internally cursing at Jr. the punch earlier could have ended the spar but of course he can dodge it he wouldn't be Jr. if he couldn't dodge it Kai initiated by doing a Dempsey roll {AN:those who watched hajime no ippo or read it will be familiar at the move anyway it's created by Jack Dempsey to combat bigger opponents in the ring}using a drop step by leaning at his front leg then quickly lifting it up triggering his back legs to move forward punching his right Jr. seeing this quickly uses the sway back technique of his father then quickly answering with jabs and hooks in which Kai proceeded to dodge by bobbing and weaving through the punches Jr. is dishing out.
this continued for the rest of the fight in which both are back and forth going from attacking to defensive with Kai more on the offensive with Jr. more on defensive utilizing the move his father was famous for to escape when he's being cornered in the end both are equally matched since they both have the same score such as hits and misses but ultimately the audience favor is with Kai since he's the most aggressive during the spar.
sweaty and tired Kai and Jr. complements each other on their moves each discussing how did they do that or how to execute certain moves but ultimately both are satisfied while internally saying next time I'll win.
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Arriving home Kai quickly showers then eating a quick dinner before heading to bed Kai thought that ' maybe Jr. will be willing to help me polish my new two styles if I helped him perfect his father's boxing style or is it martial arts well let's just think about it tomorrow at school ' as Kai laid down he formulates plans on how to defeat Jr. in his playing field of boxing.
