Physical Training

The leader of our clan extended his right hand towards the stick and took it in his hand. Slowly turning towards me, he handed me the stick. I wanted to take the stick more than anything else, but when I took this stick, I would be under great responsibility. Seeing the cautious look in my eyes, the leader spoke to me,

"If you fight with this stick, we can show people that our lineage is still fearless and strong. Carry our name and show people what we can do."

With these words, I had no choice but to take the stick. I slowly brought my hands to the stick and examined it a little. I had never seen such a stick before in my life. The stick was quite thick and the wood was perfectly elegant. I couldn't wait to take it in my hand. I grasped the stick with both hands and pulled it towards myself.

I twirled the stick once or twice, trying to get a feel for its control. It was quite light yet powerful. I was honored to carry it even though it came with a lot of responsibility.

"I don't know what to say," I said softly. "I won't let you down, leader."

"Please," he replied kindly. "Call me Master Asahi."

It would be impolite for me to break my master's request.

When we finished talking, we left the room and retired to our rooms for bed. I was so happy to get the stick that I slept with it that night. In the morning light, I got up again for training and headed for the garden again. When I got to the garden, Master Asahi was waiting for me in different clothes. He had an ordinary stick in his hand.

When I approached him in the garden, he seemed to be preparing for something. When he saw me, he signaled me with his hand to come closer.

"Babu come here," he said.

I went up to him and asked him directly without any rationalization.

"Master Asahi, what's going on here?" I asked.

"You've got less than two weeks to go," he replied. "Now that you've learned a little about sharing your ki, I can prepare you for close combat physical attacks."

I wanted to know if by melee attacks he meant a club, so I asked him one more time.

"So what about the sword?" I asked.

"First you will use Master Babu's club," he replied. "Once I know you have a balanced ki on the club, we will focus on the sword."

"I thought the stick was stronger and more difficult," I said.

"The club is stronger," he replied. "But as I said last night, the more ki you give the club, the more power it exerts. The sword requires more than a certain amount of ki, so once you have control of it, I will let you use the sword. When you use the sword, you will be able to share ki with people in a balanced way so that you can not only heal a wounded person but also lift them directly to their feet."

"If my aim is to control my sword," I asked. "Why do we concentrate on a physical attack?"

"Meditation will help you gain ki," he replied. "But the more you train, the more strength you gain. You will use your ki in battle and if you can adjust where and how much ki you spend, it will be impossible to be defeated. You also need to learn to distribute your ki in battle."

"Can I activate my other powers like this?" I asked.

"Activating your other powers is not something that happens in an instant," he replied. "Like everything else, it takes time but the more you master the control of ki, the more you will master other powers. Now let's work together."

Master Asahi was going to work side by side with me in this training. I was quite nervous and more proud than excited. The master had an ordinary stick in his hand, though not very special. Apparently, it was going to be a long training.

At Master Asahi's signal, I moved to his side. When I got next to him, he grasped his stick well and started to make a few movements on the stick. Although not fast, the movements seemed to require a skill. When he finished the movements, he turned his head to me.

"Now you do it," he said.

Without saying anything, I took my stick in my hand and started to do the movements. It was the first time I felt that I had so much difficulty on the stick but I managed to complete the movements even if it was difficult. The master looked at the grill of the stick I was holding in my hand and said,

"You are holding the stick wrong," he said. "Lift it a little higher and pull it inwards while swinging. Now we will try again."

After the repetition of the movements, my master swung his stick at the same time with me at the same speed at the same time interval for me to understand more easily.

After a while, I started to make movements and I started to get faster and faster. My master was showing me movements on the one hand and swinging the stick with me on the other hand. Sometimes he would stand in front of me and show me the weak points of the body and where to hit. A few days of our days were spent working with the stick in such an intensive way. At night, we were meditating in the remaining time. I learned a lot of things although not much.

When I came here, I didn't even know the k's of ki but now I was able to take control of it even if it wasn't much. Thanks to my master, I had made a lot of progress but I wasn't the only one who realized it. When my master saw my connection with ki and when he saw how I was using it, he looked at me as if he had achieved something good for the first time in a long time. I could see in his eyes that he was proud and that he congratulated me.

Although I felt that way, it was too early to say that because my training was still incomplete.

"You've come a long way in a few days," he said. "Even though you haven't mastered it, you have no difficulty in controlling it anymore so you're ready for the swords but your training will determine whether you can use them or not."

"Then will my training be complete?" I asked. "Will I be ready?"

"After your sword training," he replied. "You will finally meet me again. When I say you are ready, you are ready."

The goals in front of me were clear and I was very close to the end confirming what my master said.

"I will do my best," I said softly. "Master."