Is this even karate?

He kicked me in the stomach without warning, wasn't there supposed to be a quick bow before a spar?

"S-sorry, I got used to sparring with a friend and we usually do it without bowing" Ojiro bowed profusely seeming embarrassed.

"D-damn it, warn me next time!" I screamed out in anger. I felt like my stomach was twisting and turning after the kick, I can barely keep my breathing under control. it took a few moments before I could stand up and fight again, but there's still a light pain in my stomach.

"O-okay let's start over, Ready?" he asked to which I nod "Start!" He shouted before slowly walking towards me in a fighting stance. He lunged right in front of me and threw a couple of blows in an instant.

I could only dodge or block. Damn it!

I see him go to the ground to sweep my leg, I jumped to dodge his sweep before attacking him on the ground. I kept punching him as he tried to block my blows.

"One two three four five si-" I wasn't able to continue as he punched me in the gut which made me jump back. I've used that same strategy in every fight I got in and it worked for me, this is the first time I was countered while throwing punches on the ground.

"Wshhhhhhh" I hear a strange breath coming from Ojiro who just finished standing up.

"Round two, start!" he shouted as he lunged at me throwing multiple kicks, it was even faster than before. He landed a kick on my knee which made me lose my guard, giving him enough time to almost hit me in the face. Had he not stopped.

"OSU! one more?" he asked in a relaxed manner as if we weren't fighting earlier.

"Sure!" I was starting to get pumped, I haven't even learned the basics of karate and it's new to me, I've always used brute force to win my fights. But this is the first time I've lost in a straight-on fight with a kid the same age as me.

A small smirk appeared on my face, maybe this is a new beginning for me.

"Come at me, you bastard!" I can't help but have a huge grin on my face.

'I can't let this guy take the lead, I'd need to be on the offensive so I can win' I assumed his karate stance.

"Three, Two, One, Start!"

Before Ojiro can get close to me, I ran to him while throwing a kick aiming for his stomach, I expected him to dodge my kick but he deflected it instead, making me lose my balance.

"HAI" Ojiro had kicked me in my sides.

"KWAH" I was caught off guard and fell to the ground, I started uncontrollable coughing air.

"Oh, sorry, are you okay?" he asks worriedly.

I kept coughing on the floor, trying to catch my breath.

"I'm *Cough* fine!" I tried to stand up, but my legs were wobbly so I needed a few seconds to adjust.

"I'm really sorry, I can't seem to focus today" Ojiro kept apologizing while bowing profusely.

"Damn it, Why do you keep apologizing like I'm some weak child?" I lashed out.

I assumed a karate stance again.

"We won't stop until I see some improvements for myself" Another grin appeared on my face.

**30 minutes later**

I was completely exhausted. I feel like even moving my muscles an inch will tear them off, I went too far today.

"Gotta say, there were some improvements throughout our spar" I hear Ojiro say while wiping his sweat off with a towel.

But I'm still not satisfied with his. I want to master karate as fast as possible, even if it means going beyond my limits. I try to sit up to drink some water, then I hear a cry from a distance, it was Masaki, he sparred with the sensei all this time and I barely noticed.

"Remember, 'Every body-part is a weakness and must be defended with vigilance!" Gojo-sensei said out loud. Wanting everyone to hear his famous quote.

"These two new students show promise, I'm pleased!" Gojo sensei eagerly said. He then saw me looking at him.

"Hm? Katashi boy, I haven't sparred with you yet, so why don't you show me what you've learned from Ojiro?" Gojo-Sensei said before assuming a unique karate stance, He put his left foot and left hand forward while holding a fist on his right hand.

He exuded a fearsome aura. Similar to my father's.