chapter 5

David walked with steady steps, but at the same time, a sense of uncertainty settled in his chest. After leaving Miyagi-Do, he headed straight to Cobra Kai. Although his goal was to find Robby, he knew that joining this dojo wasn't exactly the best idea. He still remembered what Mr. Lawrence had said about Cobra Kai's approach, about how the training was based on aggression, war, and fighting without mercy. However, David couldn't afford to turn down an opportunity, especially when Robby was no longer there.

Arriving in front of the dojo, an uncomfortable feeling took hold of him. The walls of the building, a stark gray, gave it the appearance of a fortress. Not knowing exactly what to expect, he pushed open the door and entered.

The air inside was thick with a tense atmosphere. The sounds of gloves hitting punching bags and the commands from trainers to the kids training filled the space. It was an environment heavy with aggression, the kind of aggression David had seen in other places, and didn't like one bit.

David observed closely. Here, it wasn't just about technique, but about domination, about defeating, about destruction. There was something disturbing in the way the kids threw punches with a fervor that seemed to come more from a desire to crush their opponent than from simple practice. There was something excessive in their violence, something he didn't like.

"This isn't how it should be…" he muttered to himself, frowning. He knew that martial arts could have that nature, that aggression which, if well-directed, could be useful in a fight, but here, it seemed that the goal wasn't to learn, but to impose control. The war wasn't just in the techniques, but in the attitudes of those who trained here. It bothered him.

Just as David was about to turn and leave, a female voice stopped him.

"If you want to come in, the door's open," said a girl who appeared behind him. She had an athletic build, a defiant look, and an air of confidence that surprised him. "By the way, I'm Tory," she added, as if the introduction were part of a routine.

David looked at her carefully before answering. His tone was serious, almost muted, but charged with an unasked question. "Ah, so you're that girl, huh? Robby told me about you."

Tory raised an eyebrow, surprised by the comment. There was something in the way David looked at her that seemed different from most people. Maybe it was the calm he radiated, a calm that contrasted with the overflowing energy of Cobra Kai. "Robby? I guess you have some interesting stories to tell. What brings you here?"

David couldn't help but notice how Tory's presence wasn't that of a mere student. There was something in her posture, in the way she moved, that indicated she wasn't just a trainee at Cobra Kai. She was someone who had been shaped in this place, someone who, like everyone else here, seemed to have absorbed the culture of aggression without questioning it.

"This place isn't for me…" David began, looking around disdainfully. "But I need to find Robby. I saw him a few months ago in the juvenile detention center, and he told me he was training here."

Tory observed him for a moment, as if evaluating the situation. "Robby… Sure. The kid everyone feels sorry for, but who has some strength. I think he's inside. You can go look for him if you want," she said, pointing toward the back of the dojo. "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if you prefer to stay. Cobra Kai might be a good place for someone like you."

David frowned. The invitation was clear, but the way Tory said it didn't convince him. As if, deep down, everything that happened in this place had to do with strength and supremacy. That wasn't what he was looking for. However, he couldn't deny that something about it attracted him, something pushed him to move forward.

"I'm not looking to belong to a place where the only thing that matters is winning at all costs," David responded firmly, but without hostility. "I just came to find Robby."

Tory seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if David's words had struck a chord. But before she could say anything more, a figure appeared behind them. It was a tall man with silver hair and a commanding gaze. John Kreese. The owner of Cobra Kai. The same man David had heard talking about Robby at Miyagi-Do.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Kreese asked, his gaze fixed on David. His presence was imposing, and the way he approached made David feel uncomfortable, as if he were being evaluated by something beyond just his physique.

"I was just talking with her," David replied, keeping his composure. "I'm just looking for Robby. Is he here?"

Mr. Kreese looked David up and down, as if measuring how dangerous this guy might be. Then, without changing his expression, he nodded. "Yes, Robby's here. If you're looking for something else, you know where to find us. But Cobra Kai's not a place for soft kids. You ready for that?"

David looked him directly in the eye, analyzing his words. There was something in Mr. Kreese that bothered him, something he couldn't quite identify but felt was more of the same. That way of imposing respect through force, that belief that everything could be solved with punches. He didn't like it.

"If that's what you think is necessary, then I'm not the right guy for your dojo," David replied firmly. "I just want to find Robby, and then I'll leave."

Mr. Kreese frowned. "Better be that way. Robby's in the locker room."

David nodded and turned to head toward the back of the dojo, where he hoped to find Robby. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel something was terribly wrong about this place. He didn't like the atmosphere, nor the way the kids trained with such violence.

Suddenly, Robby appeared. His expression was more serious than ever, and when he saw David, he paused for a moment, as if not expecting to see him here. "David?" he asked, surprised and somewhat distrustful. "What are you doing here?"

David walked up to him, maintaining his calm. "Looking for you. I thought you were training here, and I wanted to talk."

Robby stared at him for a long moment before nodding his head. "You didn't have to come looking for me. I don't need your help anymore, and I'm not going to apologize."

David remained silent, realizing there was more to Robby than what he showed. The two moved away from the commotion of the dojo, sitting in a secluded corner.

"What happened at the detention center…" Robby started, but David raised a hand, asking for silence.

"Robby, don't worry about that now," David said. "What concerns me is that this place is changing you. Cobra Kai isn't the way. Don't let yourself get consumed by this war mentality."

Robby looked at him intensely. "This is what I am now, David. I don't know if I can change. But thanks for caring."

David sighed and looked at him with a look full of concern. He knew Robby was trapped in something bigger than him, and he feared he couldn't get out.

"If you ever want to change, you know where to find me," David said before standing up and taking one last look around. "But today's not that day."

But before David could take another step, Robby immediately stood up, blocking his way.

"Do you think you can beat me just because of what happened at the detention center?" Robby said, his voice full of challenge.

David looked at him with a mix of surprise and determination. "Well, since you want to be aggressive and have this war mentality, I guess I'll just have to kick your ass, you know?" His voice was firm, without a doubt in his words. There was no fear in his stance.

Robby frowned, knowing this wasn't going to be easy. "Do what you want. You won't stop me."

David wasted no time. He took off his shoes and socks, then began to remove his jacket and shirt. The dojo went silent, watching as David prepared for the fight. With fluid movements, he adopted a low, stable stance, keeping his hands close to his body, his center of gravity perfectly aligned.

Robby also assumed position, his fists clenched, his gaze fixed on David. The tension in the air was palpable, as if everyone watching knew something important was about to happen.

Suddenly, with a quick movement, Robby attacked, throwing a direct punch toward David's face. However, David reacted with surprising speed. He used his forearm to block the punch, redirecting Robby's hand to the side with the strength of his arm. In one motion, David spun around, using his body's force to deliver a knee strike to Robby's abdomen, pushing him back.

Robby, stunned, stepped back but didn't give up. He threw a low kick toward David's legs, trying to destabilize him. But David, with his Muay Thai experience, blocked the kick with an efficient and precise defense with his leg, causing Robby to lose his balance for a second.

In that moment, David saw his chance. With a quick movement, he swept Robby off his feet, using his hips to bring Robby to the ground in a controlled manner. The instant Robby fell, David moved swiftly to position himself on top of him, applying a chokehold with his arm, known as the mata leones. With precision, he squeezed until Robby, struggling to breathe, began to pass out.

The dojo fell completely silent as Robby lost consciousness, and David slowly stood up, his breathing controlled, looking at the onlookers with a calmness that contrasted with the brutality of the fight.

"This is what happens when you don't control your aggression," David said softly, as Robby lay unconscious on the floor.

"And by the way, Mr. Kreese, your teachings are pretty good," David added sarcastically, as he gathered his shoes and clothes.