Blue on green spar (Day 8 EM)

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

Being familiar with such exercises, and being used to following orders, Maiya quickly moved to copy the warm-ups Wasako was demonstrating. Her expression looked quite serious as she did so.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

With the stretching of the knees, she would transition that to bending down while favouring one leg and then the other in an alternating fashion to work the legs as a whole while counting out. They would then move to stretch of the back and sides as she moved her hands back and forward together. Once that was done, she would roll, turn and twist each individual limp as well as the neck. This part perhaps took the longest during their exercises. The worst enemy of training is having something pulled or sprained, which was going to put a dampen on the person for the rest of the day at the very least.

It had been a while since she led a warm-up but it was one of those small things that reminded her of her role back at the dojo.

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Horonigai couldn't be happier. Someone conducting training with the full intensity she was used to. The warmup being thorough and complete. It takes the time it needs.

At each new command, Horonigai shout. "HAI!" Then, immediately starts the new exercise. Oh! She also helps counting. Loudly.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wow, okay... Wasako was a bit surprised by the enthusiasm from Horonigai and did her best to not wince as she continued on with the exercises. The exercises would continue on to stretching the arms and legs then finally slow down to some simple breathing exercises. She closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths.

Finally, after the warm-ups were done, she reached down to pick up her shinai. "We'll move on to some quick drills then," she said waiting for both women to get their own practice weapons and meet her at the dummies.

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Okay, Horonigai didn't shout on the breathing exercises, but she was fast at getting shinai at hand, which comes with another loud confirmation.

She looks to the others, waiting to begin.

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

Meanwhile the Crab had turned into the hushed one who just gave a few nods. She had actually looked out of her element at the breathing exercises, clearly something the Crab didn't practice, but she'd followed along as best she could.

Gingerly picking up her shinai she moved to stand in front of a dummy. She didn't adopt any sort of stance yet. Just stood with the practice weapon held to her side, her eyes on the Dragon. She felt a great deal of relief that the Mirumoto was leading things with the loud Imperial.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako positioned herself in front of the dummy, perhaps taking a moment to admire what they had set up for practice in the facilities. The mountain dojo merely had rough logs set up for that purpose. After the students whacked off all of the bark, they were sometimes given to the local woodworker to re-purpose afterwards.

She lifted her weapon up in front of her and assumed proper posture. There was a pause taken to check that the right stance was assumed by the other woman, although she reminded herself that they were full-grown samurai and not her students.

"Okay! Ready!" she called out at first. She took took in a breath and yelled out a kiai before striking striking the dummy above the head.

"Haaah, KYAAAH!"

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

Ever following the Dragon's instructions, being a good senior student almost, Maiya adopted a standard attack stance. One recognisable across the Empire. She held her shinai out in front of her, slightly diagonally, with the point aiming toward the dummy's throat.

With Wasako's ready order she lifted the blade up above her head.

"HYYYAAAAAA!" Maiya lets our her own roar of a kiai as she strikes the dummy hard.

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Infused with energy, Horonigai assumes the same attack stance, although she maintains the shinai straight. Her left foot slightly behind but way more to the left and heel up, ready to dart forward.

As the kiai boom, she unleashes her own battle shriek with intimidating eyes. "Uraa... YEEEeeeEEEHH!"

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako kept that going routine, calling out her strikes each time as she stepped forward and took one step back before repeating the process once more. This continued for perhaps a good amount of time to allow the exercise to settle into the muscles, perhaps to be taken in as memory.

Eventually, she took a pause only to roll her arms before lifting the weapon back up. "Now, side strikes! Haaah, KYAAAH!" With her weapon lifted above her head, she crossed to the left to land a slash on the dummy's shoulders before bringing it back up to do on the other side. Her footwork was as the same as before as she alternated with each side strike to the dummy.

The homestretch of the exercises consisted of several rapid blows forward while bouncing on her feet to keep fluid while maintaining form. She counted out one hundred strikes for this routine.

She settled down after the 100th and relaxed her stance to catch her breath from the round of drills. "...okay, I think that might be good enough to start..."

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

Being quite used to these routines the Crab would keep going until Wasako instructed otherwise. The morning had become nothing like she expected. Then again, that wasn't entirely new to her.

She shifted to side strikes a moment after Wasako's yelling, her kiai shouts joining in a deafening and ill harmony with the others. Her stance was more rigid, her foot movements minimal, compared to the Dragon. Nonetheless her strikes were true and each sounded with a heavy crack.

The bouncing on her feet while making rapid blows took a little more work and adapting. She wasn't used to this particular exercise and she had to peek at the Dragon a few times to mimic her. However, her natural agility and reflexes allowed her to adapt reasonably well.

As the Dragon's initial routine came to an end Maiya gave one last hit to the dummy's head before lowering her weapon and nodding. Her breathing was still controlled and quite comfortable.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako would give some time for both women to collect themselves. After a moment, she would stand upright at the ready. "Shall we move on to some sparring?" She looked at Maiya at the question before turning to regard both.

"We could start with Kaiu-san and myself, then perhaps we could determine by the winner of who gets the honour of sparring with Seppun-sama afterwards," she looked to the other two at that idea.

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

The Crab wanted to shrug. It was in her nature to shrug at something she didn't have a firm opinion on. She was not going to shrug in front of some high ranking Imperial princess. Instead, she acquiesces to the suggestion with a slow nod.

"If Seppun-sama finds it agreeable, hai."

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

"HAI!" She nods and sits in seiza, shinai at her left. With curious eyes, she watches how this spar would turn out.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako smiled and nodded at Horonigai, seeing that she was in agreement. She then turned to Maiya and nodded, "Okay, let's begin then!"

She made her way to an area that was more open area and bowed to her opportunity before going into a ready stance. At first, she held her weapon with both hands but then transitioned to a stance where she held shinai with one hand while keeping an open palm forward.

Combats stats
Initiative: Day 8, Early Morning: Initiative: 5d10o10k3 10
Attack Stance
TN: 20
Healthy

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

"Let's!" Maiya responded with growing excitement. This had been what she'd arrived early for and been looking forward to!

Hastening to the centre of the dojo to make use of the space she gave Wasako a quick bow with the shinai at her side. It then sprung forward as she settled into a ready stance of her own, the practice blade held high in an aggressive fashion. She studied Wasako as she inched forward, watching as the Dragon switched to using her weapon one handed. While it wasn't a style she was used to facing, she saw a slight opportunity to gain the initiative.

As Wasako completed her transition the Kaiu bushi darted forward and landed a satisfyingly accurate hit on the Mirumoto with a loud yell. She'd done so in a way that didn't leave her unnecessarily exposed, but no doubt the Dragon would have her own skills to show.

Combat Stats
Initiative: 14
Attack Stance
TN: 20
Healthy

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako perhaps found it a bit surprising that the Crab managed to get the initiative on her. There were stories in the Dragon Clan that the Crab would be heavier and slower. Either she didn't really warm up well or perhaps she was just letting her assumptions getting the better of her. She shook her head and jumped back cautiously regarding the strike, giving a quick roll of her weapon in her hand.

She charged toward the Kaiu after resuming her stance, giving a thrust of her weapon forward before quickly spinning away to end up behind Maiya and jabbing her at the back of her knee to destabilize her.

Combat stats
Attack: Day 8, Early Morning: Attack w/ 1 raise called for knockdown as per school: 8d10ro1o10k4 35
Strength Check: Day 8, Early Morning: Strength check: 2d10o10k2 9
Initiative: 10
Attack Stance
TN:20

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

The Mirumoto's agility was impressive. She could move quickly and dart around. Maiya had seen similar talent among the Hiruma.

Pivoting on the spot to keep her face toward Wasako as best as she was able, the Dragon nonetheless managed to jab her in a precarious place. Somewhere she would usually wouldn't be protected either. Perhaps the Dragon bushi was visualising the armour she'd need to get past?

Regardless, Maiya bends her knee and takes her weight onto her other leg to keep herself stable. However, the attack is enough for her counter strike to only barely clip Wasako's shoulder. The attack had been in too much haste.

Maiya quickly took a few steps back toward the wall to make it harder for the Mirumoto to do her knee jab trick again.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

It seemed the Kaiu proved to be like a mountain after she was unshaken by the attempt. She quickly stepped back to get back into position to only take a hit on the shoulder. It seemed that she suddenly found herself on the back foot in points against Maiya. Wasako debated her tactics to go on the defensive but decided to push forward with the offensive pressure. She skipped forward with a bounce in her step and rapped the shinai against Maiya to get her attention. After deploying a slight feint, she did a wide sweep in attempt to trip her once more.

Combat stats
Attack: Day 8, Early Morning: Attack #2 w/ 1 raise called for knockdown as per school: 8d10ro1o10k4 35
Strength Check: Day 8, Early Morning: Strength check #2: 2d10o10k2 10
Initiative: 10
Attack Stance
TN:20

Kaiu Maiya · **Joined:** Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 am **Posts:** 878

Today at least the Crab was much more steady on her feet than she looked. If anything she had become even more insurmountable after Wasako's first attempt to trip her.

The Kaiu was considering her options too. She could go for a simple strike back, or she could try putting what she had observed into practice. Doing something relatively new to herself she put caution to the wind and tried her best to mimic the Mirumoto's wide sweep.

It nearly worked. Nearly, but not quite.

Stat change:
Full Attack Stance
TN: 10

Blue on green spar (Day 8 EM)

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