Chapter 7 - 6: Murder Shall Not Pass the Night
"Tiger Form Three Styles: Pounce, Lift, Clip."
Chou Hai continued, "The pounce emphasizes momentum. It must seize the heart, captivate the soul. When a starving tiger pounces on sheep, even before it strikes, the ferocity in its eyes is enough to terrify an entire flock."
"What appears to be a simple pounce actually requires training the gaze, the body’s explosive power, and the strength of the arms and palms."
"Lacking any one of these, it’s not a true pounce."
Chou Hai bellowed, his voice like a tiger’s roar.
He leaped, his muscles and bones crackling, and his fist shot out, the air CRACKING from the force.
"Lift. The tiger lifts its body, not just itself, but also to push the enemy. Lift focuses on bodily coordination. If the pounce is hard, then the lift is soft. Combining hardness and softness, one can fight many!"
As Old Chou shouted, he spun sharply, his probing hand forming a claw and lashing out swiftly at the upper, middle, and lower targets.
"Clip. Strike when least expected. A tiger has its tail; humans have legs. Between kicks and sweeps, every step can be lethal."
The sky was cloudless, with only a sun, red as dripping blood, hanging directly overhead.
After demonstrating several times, Chou Hai saw the apprentices below were all practicing with decent form. He squinted at the sun, waved his hand, and went back to his room for a midday rest.