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

[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.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"I think this would be better if I had someone else here to show you... is it okay if I do the holds on you first, so you can tell what I'm doing?" He feels that would be more successful than just trying to coach her by talking, since she doesn't know how yet.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," she says. "It'll show me what to do when I'm in a situation, and this is a controlled environment."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Okay. Let me know if you want me to stop, and I will." That being said, he approaches her and touches her shoulder to steer her into turning a little. "What I'm going to show you first is a great defensive move if you can get behind your attacker." He carefully puts his arm across her collarbone, and reaches his other arm around to grab his own elbow, so that her neck is almost being 'held' in the crook of his elbow. "You use your hand to help pull back on your other arm, and the bones in your arm should press against the arteries in the neck. Hold it long enough and they'll pass out from lack of oxygen." He doesn't press more than a tiny bit though, since knocking her out would defeat the purpose. "It's really hard to get out of this hold if you do it right."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Okay," she says, softly, hand curling around his forearm, then slipping to his elbow proper, to understand the placement of his arm a little better. "That sounds like something I'd have to be really careful about."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He holds the position while she studies the placement of his arms, then lets go when he feels she's had a good look. "You're short enough that you might need to get your opponent on his knees first, or jump on his back. That actually might be better because you can use your whole body weight to pull back."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to end up hurtin' anyone, even if it's on accident. I'd have to work it into a science, because cutting blood off from the brain is risky business." She turns toward him when he lets go.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"It can be," he agrees. "But it's one of the safer ways to take someone down, and if you know what you're doing, it's one of the most harmless ways to disable somebody."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Okay, that sounds like a very good plan," she says, looking up at him, eyes searching his face.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"We'll practice it a lot before you'll ever have to use it on anybody, if ever," he says, trying to sound reassuring.