Chapter Three: Combat Training

[backinthsaddle]

Cole's managed to get signed up, last minute, for one of the self-defense courses at his college to use as a refresher, and to learn some new techniques. But for now, he plans to start passing along what he already knows, so long as he can figure out the best way to be a teacher.

He has the workout room outfitted with floor mats and cleared of machines so there's enough room to spar without tripping over or falling into things, and he has handwraps in case things stray into boxing type territory. But he's going to see what she seems more comfortable with first, then go from there.

Comments

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

This time, because she knows what he's going to do, she blocks with her forearm for the first one (a little clumsily), and brings her left foot back at the same time, letting the next one miss her.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Good! Side-stepping is pretty useful, and if you get your opponent mad, they might use more force than they need to and fall or stumble if their target isn't there anymore."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I've seen that happen in films," she says, wisely, smiling the shiest, proudest smile over at him.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Don't believe everything you see in movies, but a lot of fight scenes are... relatively realistic. Though not necessarily ones involving dropping toilets on people from the roof," he adds with a sort of wink-wink-nudge-nudge tone.

((finally got to see the movie, lol))

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

She tee-hees a little, wiggly-squirmy, a light flush settling over her face. "That could happen! It could totally happen."

((OMG WHAT DID YOU THINK?????))

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"It could, but it's really unlikely. Not everyone gets as much luck as the MacManus brothers."

((it was made of wow, with a dash of wtf.))

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, they're special. They could do it, but no one else. Like with the rope."

((I rewatched it yesterday, heee. Still my favorite movie of all time.))

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. That was pure dumb luck, so don't ever try to do anything like that." Not that he thinks that she would, at least not with a gun.

((is the sequel any good?))

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I'll never ever try anything like that, I promise," she says, with the most serious look on her face, wide-eyed and solemn.

((I haven't seen it yet. It's no way going to be as good as the first one, so I'm kinda scared to watch it.))

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Good." He makes a gesture like he's going to very lightly punch her shoulder. More like tapping it with his knuckles.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

This time, a step back with her other foot, she pivots and leans the shoulder out of his reach.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Good reflexes." He'd been rather hoping that she would do that. A bit of a test, sort of. "How're you feeling?"

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I feel great," she says, with a wink, a tip of an invisible hat. "You?"

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Well I think I'm confident that I'm not going to teach you any really bad habits now."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"You're a real good teacher. I'm usually a clumsy spazmatic, so."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Well, the goal's to make you less clumsy, so I think we've got a good start on that."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Cool. Cool. Where to now?"

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you're confident enough about what we've gone over so far, we could practice that some more. Or was there something specific you're thinking about?"

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I'm really, really nervous about what I'm gonna do if someone doesn't give me the room to move back. Like... I don't know what to call it. Like, really close fighting."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Grappling?"

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that! I've had to deal with a lot of that in my time, and I never know what to do."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Grappling is tricky, especially when you can't use your smaller size to your advantage." He eyes her arms, knowing she likely doesn't have an excess of strength in them just by the looks of them. "You'll need to build up a bit of strength, probably. Not a ridiculous amount or anything, but enough to be able to pin someone else in a hold, or at least get the upper hand long enough to get away."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I always get tossed around like a ragdoll," she says, scratching at her elbow through her sleeve, chewing down on her lip. "So... could we practice holds and stuff?"

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Sure. I can show you how to do the holds first, and then get you building up the strength to use them." He waves towards the machines a little, though they've been moved out of the way. "You're welcome to use anything we have, even if neither Liam or I am at home."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Cool," she says, nodding her head, and stepping just a little closer to him, bracing herself for contact, but she feels oddly reassured. She's going to learn how to take care of herself.