Second Stage

-Tokita Manor

Ohma lay on his bed, his body asleep but his mind was back in the Kengan Stadium using the Image technique. He stood in his sports shorts and a figure towered over him. A man bit more than middle-aged with a build of a powerlifter. He had a bald head, with many scars littering his dome, prominent cheekbones and a thick white moustache which somewhat merged into his thick white beard. He wore a fisherman's dungarees over a white short-sleeved t-shirt and a role hachimaki on his head. Karo Yoshinari, The Giant of the Sea of Japan.

"How do you do it?" Ohma asked looking up at the man's face which only had a blank expression, granted he was only imagination, not the real Kengan fighter. "How do you achieve balance rivalling a ballet fighter like Sawada Keizaburo and trunk strength matching Adam Dudley?"

"Show me!" Ohma said taking a fighting stance and at that moment Karo lunged and swung his fist from high.

[ Whale Burial ]

Ohma reacted and placed both his forearm forward like a shield while waiting for the moment of the impact to contract all his muscles.

[ Adamantine Kata: Indestructible ]

The large fist hit hard on Ohma's forearms, sending him flying back. Ohma landed on his feet, never breaking his stance as he grinned. "That's what I like."

Then he lunged forward, first raised, looking for a gap in Karo's defence on his face. Then he jumped at punched him in the face with a Seiken, tightening his muscles at the moment of impact.

[ Adamantine Kata: Ironbreaker ]

Karo's upper body dropped to the side like he was knocked by the punch, and then out of nowhere a gnarled fist hit Ohma in his midsection, it sent Ohma flying back, it shook his organs, when Ohma landed on his feet he immediately fell to his knees. His innards shaking, bile rising to his throat, his head dizzy. He took a deep breath and gulped the bile back before looking over to Karo. The man was just standing there on one toe while doing a full split, his upper body leaning down with one hand extended to a punch. The fit that struck Ohma.

"How the hell do you even do that?" Ohma groaned as he got up.

Karo moved again at that moment, for the same position he jumped, spun in mid-air, landed on one toe and kept moving towards Ohma. He leap again when near Ohma and appeared above him. Ohma moved inside in time before Karo came stomping down.

"Now I get the theory of it," Ohma said. "You constantly shift your centre of gravity by throwing your weight and neutralizing extra energy. But how the fuck do you execute it while standing on your toes."

Karo turned towards him and took his stance.

"Let's just fight for now."

************************

-7 am

The next morning, Ryozanpaku, while Kenichi and Miu were out for school and Ohma was back into his daily routine of learning inner energy circulation. He sat shirtless in the training room, the Elder sitting opposite him just finishing up practising the first step of the Ancient Breath.

"I see you have been practising the First stage: Life-Giving Breath diligently." The Elder said. "Your body is getting used to the Flow of the energy?"

Ohma looked at him. "It's finally time to learn the second stage."

The Elder nodded and said, "Yes, the second stage, Life Channels. But before that, I am going to continue where I left off about the explain the functions of Ki. Mind, Breath, Body and Soul, these four areas are tied together to form a person and they usually strengthen and weaken together. Mind The ability to think generally in the mental process of the person. Breath: It is mainly known as Inner Energy and it is the life force in you. Body: The materials that make up the body including bones and muscle. In other words the physical structure of the body. Soul or otherwise the spirit. It represents the will and determination to achieve something."

He continued, "The balance between the four components is what ties the person and a possible unbalanced component could result in the downfall of the person as a whole. This although mainly refers to the inferiority of one component over the rest. The exception to this is the Breath which, until now, is equally dangerous whether it is superior or inferior to the rest of the components. If the mind is inferior to the other three opponents then the individual is unable to achieve the potential level of the body. This is due to the inability of the individual to absorb and examine information crucial for the individual's development. A superior mind would simply result in the inability of the individual to reach the level that the mind can understand. Unbalanced Breath about the other three components is witnessed in the case of the somebody types cases. The natural flow of the Ki is affected resulting in the disruption of the balance between the Ki and the other three components. Inferior Ki results in the instability of the body and causes health problems. The result is the affected growth of the body and its weakened state due to a lack of sufficient Ki circulating in the body. Superior Ki can cause the body's breakdown or even destruction of it resulting in death. The body is the vessel holding the person's Ki. Hence, it is of utmost importance for the breath and body to be balanced. If the body is inferior to the other three components and, mainly, inferior to the Ki amounts that are produced in it then the body is rendered unable to hold. The body, in its effort to match the level of Ki in it, exceeds its limits resulting in it bursting whenever the person puts pressure on it. If the components are significantly unbalanced then the body can potentially break down completely resulting even in death. A superior body would simply render insufficient energy to fuel the body's functions leading to various health problems. Spirit is what determines whether the person has the courage and will to put effort into archiving the set goals. If the spirit is weak then the rest of the composition falls behind due to the person's lack of determination to put effort. For example, no matter how intelligent an individual is, if he is not determined to put effort he will not achieve his goals. Superior Spirit would only result in an individual's constant effort to develop further without satisfying outcomes. The lack of equal Body could lead someone to put the body in constant danger by overexerting it. So everything needs to be in balance for optimal progress."

Ohma took a moment to take it all in and then simply asked, "You mentioned different types of physique. What do you mean by that?"

"In the World of martial arts, different types of physiques are classified and named according to their natural abilities and amplitude for Martial Arts. Like Kenichi has a neutral physique, it doesn't have the inherent quality of a natural fighter but could develop through rigorous training and will. Then Apachai, who has the Herculean physique, which means he has natural muscle density, multiple times that of a normal human."

Ohma spat. "Apachai has Superman Syndrome?"

"That's what they call natural Herculean physique now?" The Elder said. "But yes, he was born with greater strength, even a child his shin kicks could break a banana tree in two. You too have a natural fighting physique."

"What's mine?" Ohma asked.

The Elder paused for a moment then answered, "You have the natural combatant physique. It is the physique of those who are naturally born to fight, those who learn fighting-related material faster than others. You are born like a fighting animal with superior kinetic vision and bone structure. Developing a skill to notice each breath of an opponent during fighting takes years, but you manage to accomplish it in days. Not only that, you challenge internationally just to pick up fights by creating understanding, you train hard every day, then you also have Dou Ki. But the problem with this is that in the desire for strength, you will lose the balance between your components and never reach your full potential. You are lucky in that regard."

Ohma snapped. "You just ended with drawbacks. How am I lucky?"

The Elder smiled. "You are lucky because you also have Sei Ki which requires Serenity as a base for development. So training with your Sei Ki will keep you away from losing yourself to the power."

"Is that so?" Ohma said and went back into his thought.

The Elder then said, "Now that it's finished. Let me explain how this stage my technique will affect your body. You may have noticed by now that using Ki affects the development of your body. Your senses are getting sharper without using Sei Ki and your striking power has increased even when you don't use Dou Ki."

"Just a bit," Ohma said. "Barely noticeable difference."

"That's how things are, the progress is slow, but not with this stage." The Elder said. "In this stage of my technique, the majority of energy circulated is going be in the meridians of your back, making the back muscles stronger, specifically the Erector spinae muscles as they call it, which is going drastically increase your striking power when used. So are you ready?"

"I am." Ohma nodded.

"Very well, close your eyes and relax in your position, take in the breath of life, then close your left nostril by pressing with your right thumb and keeping holding your breath. Then visualise the power of your tanden as an orb of light and then push the light along with all your inner energy on your right side from your median line as you exhale, then do it again, do it ten times then removed the thumb and suck the light and energy back into the tanden. Next, take another breath of life, then close your right nostril with the left thumb. Then visualise the power of your tanden as an orb of light and then push the light along with all your inner energy on your left side from your median line, do it ten times then removed the thumb and suck the light and energy back into the tanden. Repeat the process as much as you like, just remember to keep the breaths between each side equal."

*******************************

-10 am

"Carrying an unreasonable load is training that only causes harm and offers no advantage for amateurs, it will not result in building refined muscles. However, in your case: It should increase your strength and build in a short amount of time."

Ohma in the mostly empty road by the river, the same place where Kenichi performed his daily training, spans fo about 10 kilometres until it reached the crossing. Ohma ran already crossing 9 kilometres as he began to feel the 110 kg, Sakaki's weight, which was slumped on his shoulders, pressing down on him. Ohma slowed down.

"What's wrong?" Sakaki smugly said. "Tired already."

"No way," Ohma gasped and took another step, "It's just another kilometre, I can do it."

"Then why don't you make it easier on yourself," Sakaki said. "Use Dou Ki."

"Really?" Ohma asked.

Sakaki replied, "Just show me how dense your Ki is."

Ohma nodded and took a squatting position and then sprang forward as heat flowed from his tanden throughout his body. In one lunge he crossed near six meters in a burst of energy. The heavy 110 kg started to feel like a light cotton-filled bag more than anything. He kept running forward, there was something addictive about using Dou Ki, the energy and pleasure running through his body, it was like drugs.

In moments he had crossed 300 m of the asphalt road and before Ohma knew it he was running just on his toes. He ran and ran, feeling the wind on his face as he tore through the air. Then he caught sight of a large signboard by the road which had the name of the town on it. Ohma dug his feet on the ground as he inclined back. His shoes dragged on the ground like a speeding car's tyres after a sudden break, he felt the bottom of his shoes being torn as his drag slowed and he just stopped near the sign board.

Sakaki jumped off from his shoulders and Ohma fell to his knees, taking heavy breaths as the tiredness rose in his body with the fading of Dou Ki.

"You are making the same mistake most Dou Ki users make at least once," Sakaki commented.

"What's that?" Ohma asked as he stood and looked over at him.

"You have a more natural capacity to contain inner energy." He said. "So is your output capacity, that's why you are more susceptible to losing control over your Ki. You thought balance is the issue, but it's not the full thing, you just aren't aware of the power you are exerting hence you can't control it."

Ohma thought about this for a moment, "Then do you have a solution for this."

Sakaki nodded and said, "Stand next to me. Just a few meters away."

Ohma nodded and did just that.

"Sanchin Kata, practising it stimulates the secretions of hormones in the parasympathetic nervous system and also has a positive effect on the autonomic nerves. Mastering allows the master of the flow of Dou Ki and the first stage of Ki control, Invocation of Ki." Sakaki explained. "That's how my master thought me."

Ohma sighed, "Just tell me what do?"

Sakaki smiled and said, "Follow me." Then he shouted. "Sanshin!"

"Take Musubi-dachi. Form an outward V shape with your feet and keep your fist near your thighs. Swallow breath ten times, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out. Take a deep breath, half your lung capacity and breath out, follow the earlier pattern just with half your capacity. Breathe out, now breathe in your maximum capacity and breath in, then out. Same pattern. Inhale."

Then he changed his movement. " Move from Musbui Dachi to Sanchin stance and exhale from your mouth. Use your inner thighs, placing both feet in a v-shaped form and exhale. Yes, that's good Ibuki. Inhale."

Then the movement changed again.

"Now firmly straighten your hips and exhale. The way hip flexor, gluteal muscles and psoas muscles will stabilise the pelvis. Hold your arms close to your body and perform a trusting technique with each breath. There are many hidden techniques in this Kata, daily training with this will toughen your body and athletic abilities."

*********************

-12 pm

"Hit me with all your strength," said Akisame standing straight, opposite Ohma on a small boat on stable waters near the port. The boat shook even when you make a slight movement. After a change of shoes, it was time for his training.

"Yes..." Ohma mumbled as struggled to stand on the shaky boat.

"Don't just stand there," Akisame said. "I told you to throw a punch at me."

Ohma stepped forward to strike just then Akisame stomped on the side, tilting the boat, making Ohma fall into the cold waters and sending splashes on the boat.

"Not being steadfast means being unable to draw out strength. People can use their full power when they are in a stable position in full control of their power." Akisame said. "And, on this unstable boat does this fact becomes obvious indeed."

Ohma's hand reached out from the water and grabbed hold of the boat's edge as he pulled out of his body covered in wet clothes onto the boat.

"Spare me the long explanation." Ohma coughed out some water and got back up on his feet. "How the hell am I supposed to stand straight on this shaky boat?"

"And spare me your excuses," Akisame said. "The only thing I want to hear is yes, sensei."

Ohma sighed, "Yes, sensei." He again struggled to be in a stable position.

"It won't help you if you pretend the boat doesn't sway. The key is to grasp the movements of the boat." Akisame said. "And then brace your legs according to the boat's movements."

Ohma listened, trying to find stable sports in the sway of the boat and planted his feet down into a somewhat stable position. Then he punched forward.

"Alright, I am getting the knack of it."

Then a kick slammed on his chest and pushed him back into the water.

"Without a good foothold, your punches pack no power," Akisame said. "To learn to stabilise your flow of power is not a skippable part of the path of being Sei Master. In future, you will find many situations, where you are pushed down and couldn't find proper footing to fight back. You must learn how to adapt to these situations."

Ohma claimed back into the boat, his curly wet hair covering half his face. He stood up and looked. "You still haven't answered. How do I find a stable position?"

Akisame raised both his open hands like they were punching pads. "Fine, then place your weight on your back foot and attack me. Don't move against swaying, hold your balance and become one with the boat and the motion."

Ohma did as advised, shifting his weight to his back foot, not moving against the sway but with the sway while keeping balance. Then struck forward, hitting Akisame's palm with a punch.

"Weak!" Akisame said. "Add more power."

"Yes, sensei."

He struck again.

"More power, I said."

"Yes, sensei."

Ohma started getting used to it and in moments his punching power was back to being equal to his stable self. But just then a high kick out of nowhere hit him in the side and threw him again off the boat.

"You completely neglected, your defence," Akisame said. "Do better."

Ohma claimed back on the boat. "Yes, sensei."

Ohma took the position again and started striking again. This time aiming for Akisame's body, but each strike that came was immediately intercepted by the jujutsu master's hands.

"Faster! Strike faster."

"Yes, sensei."

"No need to add excessive power, just add enough to topple your opponent."

"Yes, sensei."