Rise and Walk Read Free

shared half-Latin, half-Caucasian lineage. Growing up together, the two often trained in many forms of martial arts as teens. Jack took to the sword at an early age. His studies of combat were buttressed by a simple natural talent. He took sword fighting seriously and wanted his street brother to do the same.
    Facing Tony about ten paces apart, Jack held firm onto the handle of his bamboo practice sword with his right hand. He raised the rounded, somewhat harmless looking weapon towards Tony and spoke,
    “Okay, this time I’m gonna leave myself open. See if you can capitalize on the mistake.”
     
    Tony sighed and held his Kendo Sword with both hands in a defensive position; straight in front of his body. He wanted a smoke. He wanted a coffee. Hell, he wanted to be back in his tent sleeping but Kendo, the ancient Japanese art of sword fighting, was a reminder of a simpler time. He could wake up early for this once in a while. Tony took a deep cleansing breath, just as he was taught to do so many years ago and exhaled slowly, allowing his thoughts to wash away into a quiet calm.
    Jack advanced with amazing speed. His left hand joining his right beneath the bamboo hilt bringing an increased force as it struck Tony’s upraised sword. Jack pivoted on his left foot and spun, bringing his blade close to his body on the turn and extending it as he once again faced Tony. With instinct that he hoped looked like anticipation, Tony back peddled a step and caught Jack’s blade mid-air. Jack feinted to the right, leaving his left leg overextended and exposed to attack. Tony missed what should have been an obvious and exploitable opening. Tony backed off and resumed his defensive, sword first stance.
    “Missed it,” Jack chided.
    “Huh?” Tony said while noticing he had stepped on a sharp rock. He shifted his weight to absorb the pain without conscious thought and compensated for the change in stance. Then, in a heartbeat, Jack Mason advanced with incredible speed. He blocked Jack’s strike from the right at a low angle, left from on high and again from the right. Pain rang out from behind his left hamstring as Jack’s blade struck. Tony fell to one knee and put his sword up in instinctive defense. He looked to see Jack demonstrate his control of his weapon as he stopped his sword just inches from Tony’s neck.
    “Punk,” Tony exhaled.
    Walking away with an air of satisfaction, Jack asked,
    “Were you even paying attention?”
    Taking a seat on the picnic bench anchored to their campground, Jack watched Tony struggle to his feet.
    “Man, it’s too early to pay attention,” answered a defeated Tony.
    He took a seat at the bench opposite Jack and drank the last of his tepid coffee from a stainless steel mug. Tony knew that a critique was on its way when Jack began to speak.
    “You gotta be more aggressive; learn to think about offense and defense at the same time; and pinpoint possible targets.”
    “It’s kind of hard to find targets when you’re swinging at me so fast,” Tony complained.
    “That’s why we train, so you can speed up your reactions, to see weakness and openings,” Jack continued, “Dueling takes practice against real people to learn from the unpredictable.
    Tired of Mason’s criticism, Tony just raised his eyebrows and tried to dismiss the conversation. Sword fighting didn’t seem to matter as much in his adult life. Sure, he would always bring his gear and practice when camping like in his youth but even camping was beginning to lose its appeal.
    “You could be better, you just have to practice,” Jack offered.
    “I am better, better than ninety eight percent of the general public,” Tony answered as he put down his coffee. “How many people practice Kendo anymore?”
    “Not enough,” Jack lamented. “You should take it more seriously though.” Jack stood and started towards his tent.
    “Yeah, when it’s for real I will,” Tony mumbled. He finished his coffee and looked around for his