Chapter 3

Taro Suzuki's name was widely known in world environments related to adventure and expeditions, although the general public was not exactly aware of his profile and knowledge, so that his reputation was shrouded in a bright but hazy, not translucent mist. Suzuki himself preferred it this way because deep down his personality was austere and reserved so that his fame would have been an annoying burden.

When the students in the classroom stood at the entrance of him, the teacher blushed slightly, not used to such receptions. He immediately said.

"No, please have a seat."

Jack Berglund approached the old teacher, and to the amazement of the four students, both hardened adventurers joined in an embrace.

"How have you been since our return from Siberia?" Asked the American.

(See "The Romanov Diadem" in this collection)

"Good, although very busy in resuming classes at my Academy."

At that point, addressing those present, Jack expressed to them.

"You should know that Professor Suzuki has an internationally reputable Martial Arts Academy in Japan, to which even the Japanese Secret Service sends its recruits, albeit, of course, in a reserved manner."

A murmur ran through the room. Immediately Berglund asked the students.

"Please introduce each of you to our Sensei, expressing the same thing that you have said before to the group."

Each of the four stood up and shook Suzuki's hand, briefly summarizing his short experiences. At the end the teacher said.

“As he is used to, Jack Berglund has made a selection of brilliant candidates to join the Bluthund Community. I know we will get from you brilliant professionals that we so badly need. Now I know that you have been in class with Professor Berglund since this morning and knowing him as I know, I guess he has been squeezing you with his classes, so you must be mentally fatigued. I am going to let you go home now and we will meet tomorrow morning on the Community campus, but this time for intense physical activity. Does everyone know where the place is?”

Jack Berglund took over the answer.

“For the first time I have rented an SUV and we will all go together from here. Later each one will look for a way to get there. "

Then addressing his disciples he added.

“During the next four weeks you will have a total immersion course. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday the classes will be practical and will take place on campus, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings the theoretical classes will take place in these classrooms.”

The next day, Jack and the apprentices arrived in the wide field near the bank of the Hudson River, outside of New York City. Between open spaces destined for different purposes, the American led them to a closed shed with corrugated sheet metal walls and roof. When they opened the door they saw that at the back of the wide space was already Taro Suzuki in front of a small altar on which from afar they could see a painting with the photo obviously of an important sensei or teacher, two vases with their respective flowers, some paintings with white strips written in Japanese with black ink or paint and a shield of the Karate school practiced in the place. Suzuki was lighting a thick white candle that he then placed on the altar. The sensei was already dressed in the characteristic attire for practicing martial arts, consisting of two pieces of thick white cotton cloth with a simple white belt. Upon entering, Jack bowed as a greeting not only to the site but also to the sensei; he immediately took off his shoes and left them on the outside of the shed; the four students imitated all his actions, intuiting their meanings.

Suzuki came up to Jack Berglund and said.

“Welcome to this sacred site. The word dojo in Japanese means place of the way and in the first place it is not a space to practice martial arts but a place to seek physical, moral, mental and spiritual perfection. We not only come to exercise but also come here to meditate. You should know that each site in the dojo has its own name, including each wall. The one located to the south, called Kamiza, is the main wall and that is why we place the altar there. Little by little we will teach the names and meanings of each wall and other places in the dojo, but now we will start with a little activity. The martial arts that we will learn here come from two sources: Judo and Karate. Other schools such as Aikido and Taekwondo are equally valuable but we will stick to the two mentioned. As a first measure, tou will change your street clothes for other garments designed for the practice of our martial arts. I trust that in the changing rooms, both women and men will find suits that adapt to your sizes. “

The disciples entered the two rooms on one of the walls, and after a while they appeared dressed appropriately for the practice. First, Suzuki stood in front of them and began to guide them with stretching exercises first and warming up and strength later. The plasticity of the old teacher surprised his students, who had to use all their resources to be able to follow his movements. When Suzuki judged that the exercise was enough to warm up and loosen the muscles, he stood in the center of the dojo and asked the others to surround him.Thus the four apprentices and Jack Berglund positioned themselves around the sensei.

“Now we are going to start with a light Judo practice. I am going to ask my friend Jack Berglund, who already has some practice of this art, to attack me using the forms that he wishes. I ask the others to observe carefully "

Jack began to turn around the sensei without showing his emotions on his face or anticipating his attack intentions; imperturbable Suzuki followed his movements. At one point the American lunged forward onto his opponent's flank with lightning speed, covering the distance between him in one leap. The action was a flash and immediately both bodies were together. Suddenly the sensei crouched down and in some way that those present could not determine took his friend and his rival, made Jack's bulky physique circulate over his back and then placed him gently on the ground near his feet. The whole action lasted for fractions of a second, after which Berglund found himself sitting on top of the dojo and bursting into uproarious laughter.

"Every time it happens to me I wonder how you got me to the ground."

"Are you okay?" The Japanese asked concerned.

“Perfectly. You didn't actually throw me to the ground but you placed me like a feather. "

"This is a first lesson that we must draw." Taro replied.

“How to neutralize an opponent without damaging him… of course as long as you don't want to. The general rule is to inflict as little damage as possible. "