OPEN ✤ training sessions

[akito]

Characters: Wanijima Akito & OPEN
Date: October catch-all
Location: All over; mostly Wood Sector
Situation: Multiple... Mostly training.
Warnings/Rating: n/a
Notes: This is a free for all log, so feel free to handwave the training and just interact with the other characters, or Akito, at a particular lesson/training session. Make sure to include which week your tag takes place in! Seriously - go nuts!


Beginner's Self-Defense
- Location: Wood Sector
- Days: Mon/Wed/Fri
- Time: 7:00am - 11:00am

Akito promised he would have training for beginners, and he isn't about to back out of something so important. The first month of training will be spent learning basic punching and kicking techniques, and practicing agility. It's important to know your body and it's limits, so you know when you can push them. He will also be very strict about injury prevention.

(open to Ryou, Enjorlas, and any other characters who want to start learning basic self defense techniques. he will eventually work up to teaching some simple knife skills.)



Advanced Group
- Location: Wood Sector
- Days: Mon/Wed/Fri
- Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

He hasn't organized this in an effort to teach, but merely for the more skilled fighters on Keeliai to meet each other and discuss their techniques, and have the opportunity to spar with each other.



Taint Detecting
- Location: Anton's Hotel
- Days: Tues/Sat (starting 10/03/14)
- Time: 8:00am - 2:00pm

Thanks to Solomon's notes and lesson outlines, Akito does his best to teach the skill he's learned to others. Whether or not he's successful is up for debate, since he can't quite reproduce Karanea's exact lessons.

He'll be very strict about not causing a mess for Anton, since his hotel still hasn't completely recovered from its recent damage.



Hatchling Defense
- Location: Wherever the hatchling in question is located.
- Days: Varies between Tues/Wed/Sat
- Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm Tues/Sat & 8:00am - 11:00am Sat

If any of the turtle hatchlings want to learn some self-defense, Akito will do his best to accommodate them. He doesn't know much about how a turtle would be able to fight, but he'll focus on them using their size to their advantage, and stress that they should never be afraid to bite someone who is trying to harm them.



Bending Training
- Location: Wood Sector
- Days: Sun
- Time: 8:00am - 12:00pm

Akito doesn't expect Zuko or Wan to show up, but he's hoping the other Benders he's contacted will come to train with him, and each other. He knows a good fighting technique that requires both air and fire elements - one that he, Agito, and Kazu had used before to great effect - and hopes he can pass it along successfully.

Since training will end at noon, he'll make sure to take the time to make lunch for everyone who turns up.



Etc.
Feel free to request a specific starter, or start your own thread.

Hopefully this works for everyone! If I need to change anything just let me know.

Comments

[akito]

The beginning of each class starts with some stretching, followed by concise instructions of what not to do with your body if you can help it. Like not making a fist with your thumb inside, or never keeping your legs completely straightened. Akito may not even reach five foot tall, and he may be incredibly slight, but when he teaches he makes sure to command attention. Normally he would teach by helping his students come to the correct answers on their own; prompting with clues and hints until they get it, and boosting their confidence as a bonus. But there's no time for that right now, however much being assertive makes him uncomfortable. Someone poisoned their allies, killed their children, and turned the city against them. He's going to do everything he can to stop anything else from happening and show no mercy to the thing that caused it all.

One thing Akito can notice early on in the training is that Enjorlas has previous experience. He seems more aware of his body than someone who had never fought before in their life, and whether that experience was gained on the turtle or off is irrelevant. It's helpful, and will make things go more quickly.

"Have you trained with weapons before?"

[solo_patria]

The first set of those instructions, after the stretching, which Enjolras will admit he was somewhat lazy about back in the Paris salle he and a number of his friends attended, are familiar enough, really. Thanks to Bahorel, who insisted on doling out advice, in typical big brother style, after the revolution of 1830, when he'd gotten a look at the injuries his friend had gotten then, he at least can avoid breaking his thumb when he punches someone, and the like. It's not a thorough knowledge, but a set of rules IS proving to be rather useful.

There is no question Akito commands attention though. Enjolras has his eye on him the entire time, taking even the things he knows more seriously than before. Malicant wont be stopped, and Taraja, and then Paris, will not be safe from him due to Enjolras failing to listen anyway. As Akito approaches, he's giving him a little nod, slowing to retie the hair that's slipped into his face a little.

"I have a little. Nothing in the way of the broadsword or the like, but I fenced at home. Fleuret, or Foil, to be more precise. Nothing in the way of rapier or epee. And I know what to do with a pistol or rifle. It has been a while, especially on the latter account. It has taken a bit to try and find one. Other than that, well, not so much.

I know a bit of making smoke bombs though I do not know the right proportions for them, and they are a work of many years in the past, a product of my time. Still, throwing them at invading soldiers did a bit more damage than it would seem. All the same, I think that I would rather have the bottle to break off and fight with. A little closer than is comfortable, but, in a stretch, badly needed, and the bottle could be broken over someone's head as well.

It is not very much at all, but at least a little?"

If Enjolras looks a little too calm for someone who described breaking bottles over someone's head, well...that's his special sort of charm, which borders on the terrible, but not so bad when it is needed, is it?

[akito]

Akito nods along to what Enjorlas tells him, already thinking of how useful smoke bombs would be. Anything technological that can be used in a pinch will help turn the tides of things, he's sure.

"If you like using bottles, you'll find using small knives preferable to long-range weapons as well. They're more reliable than bottles, too," he comments thoughtfully. "Using projectile weapons would be risky against enemies we don't know the capabilities of, in case some of them can reflect bullets back at us. I'm not familiar with old fashioned smoke bombs, but they could prove very useful here. If you have a chance to make some, try to keep a couple on hand in the event you're overrun."

[solo_patria]

Enjolras probably could remember if pressed, or, perhaps in Combeferre's notes here, there are some ideas. He and Leo worked on a few plans that seemed to involve a lot of explosions, after all. That was certainly possible.

There was something in the idea of fighting with a knife that seemed a bit more reasonable than swinging a bottle around, too. He'd not liked the idea of bottling someone so much as being able to get in close and deal some damage to someone who had earned it. There was something in the personal nature of closer ranged weapons that appealed to his sense of, perhaps honor, in a way. It was something that he could use to make the deaths he doled out a bit more personal.

Enjolras had never been one given to torture's nuances, or hurting someone should there be no other way to go about stopping, or punishing, them, but there was a certain comfort in dealing out injuries at close range, an idea that he could better control the force used, and the blows that he dealt out. Deliberation felt, no, even more so, it was important.

There was something in the method of killing someone up close, of being able to meet their gaze as they lay dying, or at his mercy that ensured, despite the circumstances, that Enjolras remained in control of the moment. There, he could keep himself from doing more than was absolutely quick and necessary, and could spare an enemy the long hours of pain that some bullets or bayonet wounds made for. While Enjolras meant to act as executioner to those who stood with Malicant, enemies perhaps beyond their understanding, who had committed cruelties, there was still, as Dante had pointed out, in their conversation, room to keep things from spilling into out and out brutality. Now healed of his wounds, it was easier to remember, and, while he still felt rising irritation in some moments, while he hated Malicant more than he had before, there was, if nothing else, a brand of civility to be respected, and adhered to.

It was the mark that kept them from becoming the enemy. Combeferre would have pointed out much the same, if he had been there, and had Enjolras spoken to him, instead of Dante, he was fairly sure. A victory could require as many corpses as it needed to become the soil that enriched a land free from oppression, but those who created the corpses must be careful not to succumb to the viewpoints of the enemies before them. For Enjolras, odd as it seemed, this was a way.

"I ought to look into those." He mused, giving Akito a thoughtful nod. "And the bottles...I think I may be able to look into that. Combeferre, my partner was the scientific genius of our society at home. While he's gone from here, his books and notebooks aren't. I can hope he's left some notes on those, if nothing else."

[akito]

That's good to hear. Just because some weapons have become outdated doesn't mean they can't continue to be of use. "That would be great! If you have trouble with any of the science, let me know and I can help. I'm familiar with more advanced kinds of non-lethal grenades, so we might be able to combine knowledge."

[solo_patria]

"That would be a relief. I admit I know more about the application of such things in action, but, with any potential notes, well, I will have a look through everything left behind tonight. I admit I've not done as much with the papers as I ought."

But, then, things had been somewhat difficult for a while, and then there had been the business with calling Evandau out, and well. He did need to look about.

"Is there anything in the way of knives you would suggest I practice with, first?"

[akito]

"You can have Taraja contact me through Quintus if you need anything before our next session,". Akito informs him. "As for practice, if you get a proper dagger to use you can get used to the weight of it. Try throwing it at a target. I'm not going to train you with knives until the basics of using your body as a defensive force are learned though."

[solo_patria]

"Of course." And then, it occurs to Enjolras that there is another question to be asked here, although it is not really one for the exact moment, really, given there are plenty of things going on already. "I...we ought to talk about other things as well, at some point, actually."

Which is all that Enjolras is going to say here, lest it put a damper on the moment, even though it seems as though it would be impossible to manage that in the current mood of things. That said, he's moving on quickly enough, and nodding.

"I'll certainly look into that yes. And I can easily see where that would be something of a problem. Entertainment for our dearest recently departed friend, right there."

On the end of that aside, though, he's glancing at his feet, frowning a little and moving to adjust those a little, at that, adjusting for his balance just a little, there, and, thankfully at least, not tripping all over himself. For now, anyway.

[akito]

Akito nods, wondering what he wants to talk about, but putting that aside for the time being. Instead he focuses on Enjorlas' stance, offering input and - when necessary - physically adjusting it himself until satisfied.

The first kick he teaches once Enjorlas seems to have his balance is the round-house kick: simple and effective.

[solo_patria]

Mostly an idea he'd like to run past a few of the turtle parents he has a bit more of an acquaintance with. And, of course, the parents of the hatchlings who've been lost, as well. He would as soon do nothing if they do not approve of it, obviously. But, that is for another time just now, as his mind snaps back into the training mode.

Being touched so casually by someone who is not one of his friends from Paris is a little, a great deal odd to him, still, but this is Akito, who has already seen him at his worst, which makes things a bit different.

The kick is a little odd to start with, and he's stumbling at first, rather a lot. Taraja, when she finds out, and he knows that she will find out, will probably shake her head at him and laugh. That IS a thought that does make him a little more secure, in all of this, that she will be able to do that, after all, and it sustains him even as he's falling on his ass at his second attempt, vaguely wishing he'd listened when Bahorel had tried to convince him that this sort of skill was needed.

Still, at least he's getting up again, his eyes narrowing and lips thinning as he frowns in concentration, or at least attempts therein. If there is nothing else, at least he is quite Stubborn determined, anyway.

[akito]

Akito watches, keeping his distance except in any instance where Enjorlas is at risk of injuring himself worse than a few cuts or bruises. For now, all that he can do is guide and try to teach by example. And, of course, heal any of the more severe injuries they may get if something goes horribly wrong - but it won't because if there is one thing Akito demands to be learned is how to do everything safely.

[solo_patria]

Enjolras is rather hoping not to injure himself in any actually significant ways. He can certainly handle falling on his arse a bit. Or even a lot, although he does hope to avoid dumping himself face first into any dirt, if that's at all possible. Thankfully, he does know better than to break his falls with his face, or any delicate limbs for that matter, so that is a very remote possibility. So far, though, he's frowning a little as he notices things feeling off balance, then pausing, and trying to work out why.

A few shifts of his body along the way, and he IS feeling a little steadier, and more aware of exactly where his limbs are going, and when. It doesn't mean he's completely avoiding hitting the ground, but there are reasons he's worn clothing that should stand up to it, trousers he's picked up here, and the turtle shirt he'd worn to the end of summer celebration with Taraja, instead of anything easily damaged, or not easily re-obtainable, for a reason after all.

[akito]

Akito continues to keep an eye on Enjorlas, making sure he isn't going to injure himself, and alternates between helping him and Ryou. There isn't anything more he wants to teach for the day - now is just time dedicated to practice.

[solo_patria]

After a few more attempts, Enjolras does start to feel a little steadier. He's not out to push himself to the limits of his body right away, but he does find himself testing them, little by little, and, for the most part, now that he's paying attention, it's easier to tell when he's doing something off, and to try correcting it.

He ends up falling on his ass again, and once on his knees, but he's also taking a moment after each of those falls, clearly trying to evaluate what caused him to get so out of step. It's one of the few times, in his life, that Enjolras has tried a style of fighting, or defense, like this one is, and he's surprised to find that he likes it, and the idea of being armed without ever having to draw a weapon.

At one point, he is pausing though, as Akito wanders by.

"I have a question, actually. I cannot seem to land back in my exact center of balance, even if I am still standing, after. Is there a technique I am missing, somewhere?"

[akito]

"..Ah? Um..." Akito thinks over the question thoroughly, while remembering each of Enjorlas' movements. "Well, it takes some practice to get used to hitting your center of balance properly, but there are some tricks to help with it."

He takes the time to explain in simple, yet not condescending, terms the physics behind a person's center of balance, and how best to utilize it. Shifting your weight, movement of the legs, and the angle of the knees all relate to it, and he tries to offer a clear explanation that should help Enjorlas improve.

[solo_patria]

"Oh good."

Enjolras had been hoping there were ways to make it easier, so he's listening intently to Akito's explanation, making the small adjustments and frowning thoughtfully as he settles in to attempt the adjustments, and, to see just where his current approach is going wrong. After a few attempts, he's smiling, and feeling a bit better about his abilities. It will take a lot of practice, but it's practice he's quite confident that he can handle working on, and, perhaps, that will make the difference.

Either way, he's adjusting carefully, and then carrying on, feeling a bit better about his chances already.