Musical combat

"oh wow combat training cool," Yonghwa said in surprise

they moved from the obstacle course to a new section of the field where he was seated on the side watching as the recruits were paired with a partner

and getting boxing gloves and pads and big padded mats laid out on the grass they were kept rolled up inside what looked like a big metal cupboard on the side of the field

that held all the equipment they needed along with the boxing gloves some soldiers had wooden sticks they used as long poles

some had shorter wooden sticks they carried in both hands for dual wield training

some had sticks they used to train as if with swords others like jhaesun practiced hand to hand combat martial arts fighting styles

now this class was interesting he thought they were learning how to fight and jhaesun was already very good at it

he was sparring with another older soldier and he knew how to make it look like a real fight which was very cool

Jhaesun had a natural rhythm when he moved and yonghwa while watching him began to count softly following his movements

Jhaesun could hit three times very quickly in succession with a pause in between making his combinations into nine hits total

Yonghwa began to bob his head creating new timings in his head if he changed his timing he could make his combos a full ten hits

"jhaesun!" he called

"yonghwa dont interrupt I need to focus," Jhaesun said patiently

"Jhaesun listen" yonghwa called back "1,2 rest 345 rest 6,7 rest, 8910 rest"

Jhaesun cocked his head hearing the timings Yonghwa was calling out they were musical timings but

he began to follow them with his punches and kicks it worked much more smoothly

"That feels better doesnt it?" Yonghwa called to him

"how did you do that?" Jhaesun asked

"its rhythm Jhaesun and rhythm is music and music is my thing," Yonghwa said with a shrug

"you need to adjust your rhythm you are stuck on the same beat so your movements become too predictable

123 rest 456 rest 789 rest

but if you adjust your rhythm like this

1,2 rest 3,4,5 rest 6,7 rest 8,9,10 that would give you a ten hit combo

or you can even go 1 2, rest 3 rest 456 rest 7 rest 8 9 10 rest

you can get a full ten hit combo or maybe even extend it if you can change up the beat you're moving to and make your combos longer

"you get over here," Jhaesun said "youre my sparring partner from now on"

"me? really?" yonghwa asked surprised getting up from his seat

"come here" Jhaesun called him

yonghwa grinned and joined him on the mats he took the hand pads from his partner and gave them to yonghwa

"ok, I have these on what do I do now? Yonghwa asked

"Just hold these up for me ok," jhaesun said "plant your feet stand strong I won't hit hard but you won't be useful if you fall over every time call the timings for me "

"ok got it " yonghwa agreed following his instructions

jhaesun began punching pads in Yonghwa's hand while he called the timings

"like this" jhaesun asked following Yonghwas timing

"yes like that," he said with an excited grin

jhaesun chuckled "let's go"

the two began Yonghwa worked on new timings

for jhaesun to follow he was able to add to kicks with his punches working up to a twenty hit combination

with smoothly flowing punch and kick moves

the instructor watching them was impressed this kid had surprising skills

though he had no fighting experience his musical talent and intelligence

complimented jhaesun so well

"wow yonghwa this works thanks to you I have finally improved and are able to come up with new longer combos now and it such a simple answer all along of finding a new beat to follow youre a genius!" Jhaesun said

"duh!" yonghwa replied with a laugh "156 IQ remember?"

Jhaesun laughed "I won't forget again, do you want to try?" he asked offering his gloves

"really youll teach me how to fight?" Yonghwa asked excitedly

"ill teach you so can at least defend yourself if anyone tries to mess with you but dont go around trying to beat people up," Jhaesun said

"I won't who am I even going to beat up?" Yonghwa replied

"ok then let's switch," Jhaesun said trading his gloves with yonghwa for his hand pads

he showed yonghwa how to fold a fist properly and he got him started on a basic stance and basic punches

but before long yonghwa was tired jhaesun let him take a break

sitting on the grass he fetched his back pack from his bike and inside was two bottles water

"here good job today," Jhaesun said passing him a bottle "you did a lot of work on your first day I really was not expecting that"

"It was fun doing it with you" Yonghwa replied taking a drink, "I think I needed something like this I had such a stuffed up

feeling before but here i could let it out it feels so good right now even though im tired its like a good tired you know"

"sounds like that doctors orders of no strenous activity was all wrong for you," the instructor said walking over

"I've been watching you kid, youre small but youre strong in other ways, what you dont have in physical strength you have in spades mentally,

as long as you have that strong will then physical strength can be built

your stubbroness is a virtue if you know how to apply it in the right way Jhaesun you

should let him continue to come to training with you it will be good for him"

"can i really come to training?" Yonghwa asked

"yes ill bring you with me every morning," Jhaesun said

"yes!" yonghwa cried with a grin

"but make sure you get enough rest and that youre eating and sleeping properly," the instructor said

"yes sir i will make sure he does, " Jhaesun said

"very well see you both tommorow morning then he walked away to attend to other recruits