Chapter 47: Training Session (2)
Before Adrian could dwell further, Karl bounded over, his spear now resting against the wall.
"Let’s do this, roomie!" he said with his usual grin.
Adrian ignored him and was about to refute, but he truly had no reason not to agree. So he just placed aside his mana gun and stood beside Karl.
The other knights paired up quickly, most gravitating toward those they knew.
After the pairing was done, Master Von stepped to the center, his presence silencing the room.
"I’m teaching you basic fist-fighting techniques today. There’ll be no fancy martial arts as those require Qi, and you won’t touch that until you Ascend. For now, you learn the basics of hand-to-hand combat. It’s raw, it’s brutal, and it’ll keep you alive when your weapons fail."
"Hand-to-hand combat is all about discipline. It’s about control over your body, your mind, your fear. Without discipline, you’re just flailing. The fundamentals come down to four aspects: stance, movement, striking, and defense. Master these, and you’ll stand a chance."
Von stopped, planting his feet firmly on the ground. "First, stance. Everything starts here. A good stance grounds you, keeps you balanced, lets you react. Without it, you’re a target."
He demonstrated, bending his knees slightly, feet shoulder-width apart, one foot forward. His weight shifted forward, his hands raised loosely near his chest.
"This is the foundation. Your legs are your roots, your core is your strength. Keep your chin tucked, eyes up and ever lock your knees."
He gestured for them to copy. "Do it. Now."