3rd of Winter 513
Millicent nodded to the theory of speed and power. How is speed different from power? She wondered thinking about how she thought muscles worked. It seemed to her that they where the same thing. Wouldn't speed be stronger muscles and power be stronger muscles?” She left the question unasked as Altaira moved on.
Millicent frowned as words where being thrown around that she did not know. Shrugging, she just watched what Altaira was going. Round Kick, or Straight Kick? She visualized someone spinning in a circle versus charging forward. In both, the kick was little high than the shin. Millicent's mouth moved in a silent “O” as Altaira mentioned the height. Her mental image was shattered.
Nodding, Millicent followed the theory, but had issued visualizing the actual results. The first kick looked awkward to her. It seemed to slow then to fast. Her untrained eyes had trouble following the movement. At the mentioned of being kicked, Millicent bit her lips and gave a short nod. She shifted her body in a fighting stance and weighted.
After being told about the power of this move, Millicent was reluctant to be hit by it, even lightly. Nervously, she looked at Altaira, but then grinned.”No worries, I am as tough as stone.” Millicent flexed her bicep and clenched eyes closed while slowing all of her teeth. She wanted her friend to relax and have fun.
Millicent eyes focused on Altaira's foot, but not the rest of the leg. When it hits look like everything is normal She told herself following the movement with her eyes. Millicent sifted in her stance as the blow hit her leg. It did not really hurt, but she still winced slightly. “See, tough as stone” She said triumphantly grinning at her friend.
“I would like to practice on my own first.” Millicent offered moving away from Altaira. Shifting into her fighting position, Millicent get a few punches. The dirt seemed stable enough to her. Millicent Held her arms out parallel to the ground and spun in a circle. Hitting nothing, she figured that it was fine to try a kick here.
Turning sideways, Millicent's weight shifted to the toward her front foot. Her back foot lifted off the ground and she twisted her hips. Then she was falling forward, and hit the ground head first. Some of her weight had shifted backwards as she picked up her knee causing her to fall off balance. A grimace spread across her face as she pushed herself off the ground. Her eyes narrowed, and shifted back into a fighting position.
Pulling her left knee up, she focused her weight on her right foot. Twisting her body forward at the hips, she brought her leg forward but forgot to stretch our her leg. She continued to pivot forward, in a 180 degree circle. Her right ankle twisted slightly, causing her to swift her balance. Before she knew it, Millicent was on the ground again. An almost feral growl escaped her lips as she stood back up. The punches had come easily, this was not work.
Getting back to her feet, she tried again she end with her on the ground. Talking to her was pointless. All her attention was focused on trying to copy the motion Altaira had so easily done. Her countless falls would not doubt leave some scraps and bruises, but she did not seem to care. After a chime worth of tries, she started to pick herself up off the ground as soon as she hit. It was like she was expecting to fail now. Still she continued for another 4 chimes.
Panting, she took a deep breath and shift so that her left foot was in front. “Rahhh!' Her voiced echoed in the greenhouse as she tried on last kick. It got to her side as she twisted before her left foot slipped in the dirt and she fell off balance . Without thinking, she brought her right leg down, though it to slide on the dirt. Her legs split apart. The muscles in her legs stretched beyond what they were use to and pain to stab through her body.
Tears where starting to form in Millicent's eyes as she looked up Altaira. Then she looked away in shame. “I can't do it” She muttered bitterly, as hot streams rolled down her face. Her hands found her way to her right upper thigh and began to rub it. Her body tensed and relaxed at every stab of pain.
Maybe don't be so smooth with your instruction so you can show your growth as a teacher, just as Millicent grew in reaction to your teaching. Nice back and forth in the thread. Keep up the good work. PM me with questions and please edit your grade request to reflect this thread is graded. 