MMA Gods

Early December 2011.

Yu Jung-ak was sparring with an adult athlete. Freestyle wrestling. Unlike Greco-Roman, this style allows the use of both upper and lower body.

"That kid's only in 7th grade?"

An adult athlete watching Yu Jung-ak's match said. He was a national team reserve player.

"That's right. He'll be going into 8th grade soon. He's Yu Hun-jong's son."

"Wow. What a body. But he's got some extra fat."

"He's only in 7th grade. I hear he's aiming for a heavyweight gold medal, following in his senior's footsteps."

As the athletes said, Yu Jung-ak's body was closer to that of a ssireum wrestler than a wrestling athlete. Height 180cm, weight 127kg.

"You know Senior Yu Hun-jong's nickname when he was active?"

"What was it?"

"The Stag Beetle. His grip strength was no joke. He could easily bend coins."

The athletes continued watching the match. Yu Jung-ak was gritting his teeth, trying to pressure his opponent with various techniques, but the strength difference was too great.

Honestly, Yu Jung-ak's appropriate weight class wasn't heavyweight. If he shed all the extra fat, he could easily compete in the 66kg class or below. However, Yu Jung-ak had bulked up to spar with adult heavyweight wrestlers. Needless to say, Yu Jung-ak couldn't overcome the strength difference.

His technique was excellent. Yu Jung-ak had been defeating middle and high school athletes since elementary school.

Thud!

Yu Jung-ak, who was trying to dig into his opponent's armpit and flip him over, collapsed on the spot. He was gasping for air. This had never happened to Yu Jung-ak even against middle and high school athletes.

It felt like hitting a huge wall. Yu Hun-jong approached Yu Jung-ak, who had fallen.

Yu Hun-jong, limping.

He was once called the hope of Asian heavyweight wrestling. His nickname was Hercules. Like Russia's Karelin, he had a physique beyond Asian standards from birth.

In wrestling, Yu Hun-jong had no equal.

Even Song Gun-ho, an Olympic double gold medalist with a 200-0 undefeated record in international competitions, described him as a mentor-like figure. Yu Hun-jong was a perfect wrestler with monstrous physicality and near-miraculous technique. No one doubted that he would win an Olympic medal in the heavyweight class.

Until that accident.

Yu Hun-jong had an accident in the military. A gun accident. It was truly accidental, and the bullet pierced one of Yu Hun-jong's knees.

Because of that incident, Yu Hun-jong had no choice but to retire. His limp was a medal from that time. Yu Hun-jong laughed that he became a war veteran, but no one around him was happy. Everyone involved in the wrestling world cried.

"How was it?"

Yu Hun-jong asked Yu Jung-ak. Yu Jung-ak answered while breathing heavily.

"What do you mean? It's tough."

The sharpness of Yu Jung-ak, only in 7th grade, was like a razor. Yu Hun-jong chuckled. Who did he take after to have such a personality?

"Think you can do it?"

"If I properly build my body for about two years, I think I can win."

"Really? If you say so, it must be true."

"But I need to do as you said, father."

"You want to do that?"

"Yes. I'll do it. The body remodeling project."

"Didn't you say you could win in two years?"

"You know the level of domestic heavyweights, why ask? Didn't you bring me here to show me the difference between natural and unnatural athletes even in the same weight class? If domestic athletes are like this, foreign athletes must be even more ridiculous. To beat them, I need to do this."

"Jung-ak, I always say I won't force you."

"Stop saying that. I have my own goals. Getting a heavyweight medal is just the first step."

Yu Hun-jong reached out his hand and helped Yu Jung-ak up. Despite his age, Yu Hun-jong's strength was impressive. After wiping off his sweat and changing clothes, Yu Jung-ak got into Yu Hun-jong's car.

"You really want to do this? You love watching movies. Can you give up comic books too?"

"Don't make me say it twice. I can't live with losing."

"Really, who did you take after?" Yu Hun-jong chuckled.

"Who else? I take after you, father."

"Alright. Let's do it. But it's going to be really tough. You'll have to strictly control your diet. You might only be able to go out once a year."

"I'm prepared. I won't come down until the body remodeling is complete."

"What?"

"You should be prepared too, father. Absolutely no contact with the outside world."

"Then how will we live?"

"You'll have to provide for that, father. That's what a trainer does. Or are you going to slack off?"

"You want to train in a place completely cut off from the outside world?"

"I'm going to thoroughly remodel my body. Reduce body fat percentage and build a natural heavyweight body. I probably take after you, so I'll grow taller too. And my bone structure as well. I'll focus on building my body rather than technique."

Yu Hun-jong looked at Yu Jung-ak with a stunned expression even while driving.

"You're not some Choi Bae-dal..."

"You're the one who put this idea in my head. So take responsibility."

Yu Hun-jong felt confused whenever he saw Yu Jung-ak like this. Yu Jung-ak was too mature for his age. To be honest, judging by how he talked, he didn't seem like an athlete at all.

"Alright. Once we go in, you can't come out. Understand?"

"You're the one who shouldn't come out, father."

That's how the isolated life of the father and son began. Yu Jung-ak didn't return to the world until 2016.

Mid-January 2016. Cho Yong-il Gymnasium in Incheon.

"Uncle!"

Yu Jung-ak flung open the doors of Cho Yong-il Boxing Club. He thought his uncle would be eagerly coaching athletes like before.

But reality was different.

Some middle-aged women were dancing to music. No, looking closely, it wasn't dancing, but what was it?

"Who are you?"

A woman who was instructing the middle-aged women approached. Up close, she was actually a young girl. Yu Jung-ak tilted his head. She looked familiar, but he couldn't remember.

"Isn't this Uncle Yong-il's gym?"

"It is. But who are you?"

"I'm Uncle Yong-il's nephew."

"Nephew?"

"Coach Cho had such a handsome nephew?"

The middle-aged women flocked over.

"Oh my, he's really tall and handsome. He even looks a bit like Coach Cho when he was young."

"No way. Coach Cho is quite short. This young man is so tall."

The middle-aged women rushed towards Yu Jung-ak.

"W-wait a moment."

Yu Jung-ak quickly came down. On his way down the stairs, he encountered a familiar face. It was Cho Yong-il.

"Uncle!"

Cho Yong-il tilted his head at Yu Jung-ak's words.

"Who are you?"

Short-cropped hair. He looked slightly older, but still retained the handsome features from his prime years. Athlete Cho Yong-il.

Olympic boxing double gold medalist, a legendary athlete. He was a close friend of Yu Jung-ak's father Yu Hun-jong and Yu Jung-ak's maternal uncle. Since childhood, Cho Yong-il had been very fond of Yu Jung-ak.

"Uncle. Don't you recognize me? I'm Jung-ak. Jung-ak! How could you forget your nephew?"

"Jung-ak? Are you really Jung-ak?"

Cho Yong-il's eyes widened. This wasn't the Yu Jung-ak he remembered. The Yu Jung-ak standing before him now was tall and handsome enough to be a model. Though his hair was disheveled, it couldn't hide his handsome face.

"Haha. I lost some weight. You could say my looks have improved."

"You... you... you little bastard!"

Thwack!

The reunion between Yu Jung-ak and Cho Yong-il began with a punch.

"Come on, is this how you greet your nephew after four years?"

"Four years? It's been five years."

"If you count, it's about four years."

Cho Yong-il and Yu Jung-ak were sitting in the boxing club office. Cho Yong-il was frowning, while Yu Jung-ak was grinning.

"So where's your crazy father? Why did only you come?"

"Father is still there."

"Where's 'there'?"

Cho Yong-il was irritated. He had reason to be. Suddenly, his nephew and friend had disappeared, leaving only a note, with no contact for four years. Naturally, everyone was in an uproar, and his mother's side of the family even performed a shaman ritual.

"In Saluda."

"What's Saluda?"

"It's just a village above Baguio. Perfect for training. Nice weather too."

Baguio referred to a city in the highlands of the Philippines.

"What's Baguio? Were you abroad?"

"Yes. I was in the Philippines."

"Philippines? So, your father is still in the Philippines, is that right?"

"Probably. He says he might be killed if he comes to Korea, so he's staying there."

"So only you came to me?"

"Father said you had some money he left with you, so I came to get it."

"Left money. Your family is rich, why do you need that money?"

"Because father lived in isolation for four years, he said I should become independent early and gain experience."

"Ha. That crazy bastard, at least his words sound plausible."

Cho Yong-il wanted to drink right away, but he couldn't. So he took out a cigarette he rarely smoked and put it in his mouth.

"Ah, Uncle!"

"What!"

"No smoking indoors."

"No smoking my ass. This is my office."

"Anyway, give me the money."

"Alright, kid. I'll give you the money. But, have you talked to your mother?"

At Cho Yong-il's words, Yu Jung-ak's face hardened.

"Ah, right. Mom. I forgot to tell mom."

"You crazy bastard..."

That's right. Yu Jung-ak had left for the Philippines leaving only a note for his mother, Cho Yong-hee, as well. Needless to say, they hadn't contacted Cho Yong-hee at all for four years.

"Kid. For now, use this card for what you need. This bankbook is the money your father left."

Cho Yong-il said, handing over a bankbook and seal. Yu Jung-ak opened the bankbook.

100 million won.

"Huh? Why 100 million? Father said 50 million."

"Kid. Are you going to live in a monthly rental? You said you're going to live alone. You need at least 100 million for a jeonse deposit. Do you know how much jeonse prices have gone up? These days, it's hard to find a place even with 100 million. Kid. Use this to get a half-jeonse place."

"Is it that expensive?"

"Ha. You young punk. You don't know anything about the world. You've heard of 'Hell Joseon', right? But are you really going to live on your own? If your mom finds out..."

"That's why I'm doing this. I think mom might kill me if she finds out. I'm going to contact her first. Test the waters a bit before reuniting."

"Why are you so afraid of Yong-hee?"

"Aren't you scared of her, Uncle? When I was young, she hung me upside down for breaking a flower pot she cherished."

"Where did you learn to talk like this? How can you lie so smoothly? Yong-hee isn't that kind of person."

"Not my ass. Don't be fooled by appearances, I'm telling you."

"Kid. Don't slander my sister. Before she met your father, she was the nation's little sister. She was more popular than that figure skating goddess or whatever these days. Until she met your crazy father and had you."

Cho Yong-hee was a South Korean gold medalist in archery. She was an active athlete until she met Yu Hun-jong, and currently owned a hair product company.

"Please keep those good memories forever in your heart. Anyway, I'm scared."

"Well, even if my sister is kind, she might beat you to death if she meets you now. Your father might really get an arrow through his head."

"That's why father didn't come. Wise choice!"

Yu Jung-ak said with a sly smile.

"Ha. This kid has become so slick. Really."

"Why do you keep cursing? You didn't used to do this, Uncle. Is something wrong these days?"

"Wrong? Kid! How can I not curse in this situation?"

"I came back healthy and in one piece, didn't I?"

"Kid. What exactly did you do there?"

"Didn't you see the letter? Body remodeling. Don't you know?"

"You seem to have lost a lot of weight."

Cho Yong-il said, looking Yu Jung-ak up and down.

"Ha. This isn't just weight loss. It's a body made to control weight at any time."

"When you left, you said you were going to build a body that could win a heavyweight gold medal."

"That's right."

"Then how much do you weigh now?"

"80 kg."

"Is that heavyweight?"

"Hahaha. The goal has been slightly modified. I'm going to sweep everything from the 70s up."

While Yu Jung-ak was talking with a smile, Cho Yong-il was counting something with his fingers.

"But why did you come now? Kid! There's only a few months left until the Olympics!"

"Come on, why are you acting like an amateur? We're skipping the 2016 Olympics. The plan is to prepare from now, gain more experience, and aim for 2020. That's the starting point for now."

"Hahahahaha!"

Suddenly, Cho Yong-il started laughing like a madman.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Crazy bastard. Lunatic. You and your father are completely insane. Insane."

"Huh?"

"You crazy fools. Wrestling is being removed from the Olympics from 2020. Removed!"

"What? What the hell..."

Yu Jung-ak almost cursed at his uncle.

Trembling.

Yu Jung-ak's hand holding the mouse was trembling.

"No way!"

Yu Jung-ak put down the mouse as if throwing it.

"Want me to call the association?"

"It can't be true!"

Yu Jung-ak's eyes were red. Not from sadness. From frustration. Remembering all the hardships he went through in the Philippine mountains. A meat-based diet with minimal salt intake.

He often ate raw meat. Yu Jung-ak had lived like a primitive man in the mountains. And he spent most of his days exercising. His only rest time was reading books before bed. Other than that, he exercised every single day without fail. On days when he didn't do strength training, he did endurance training, and even on days when he was adjusting his condition, he did training so intense that an ordinary person would vomit just watching. In short, it was like hell.

Truly precious days.

He had spent the most brilliant period of his life doing crazy things, and now they say wrestling is being removed. Yu Jung-ak realized why his father had prevented him from touching computers at the airport.

He must have known.

"He knew. He knew!"

The reason Yu Hun-jong didn't come to Korea. The words about possibly being killed. Those words were sincere. Killed by whom?

By his son.

Yu Hun-jong was sightseeing in Cebu. He had lived in the Philippines for over 4 years. Because he had to visit the city once every few months for food supplies, he was familiar with life in the Philippines. Yu Hun-jong found out about wrestling being removed from the Olympics a few months ago. And that too by chance.

If it hadn't been by chance, Yu Hun-jong might still be thinking the same as Yu Jung-ak. Because he really did nothing except going to the city to get food supplies.

"He must know by now? I wonder if he's coming to the Philippines to catch me?"

Yu Hun-jong muttered while enjoying the sunshine. Regardless, the surroundings were peaceful. He thought he could hear Yu Jung-ak's screams from somewhere, but Yu Hun-jong lightly ignored it.