The Journey of a 13-Year-Old

"Because your physical fitness is commendable, my expectations for you will be high. If you want to succeed in boxing, you must be prepared to endure challenges and persist more than others."

This principle extends beyond boxing to all areas of sports.

People often admire the triumphs of athletes, but they forget the countless hours of sweat and effort behind the scenes.

Stewart clapped Tyson on the shoulder. "Alright, let's take a short break before moving on to our next training session."

With that, he turned his attention to the other kids in the gym.

After about fifteen minutes, Stewart gathered everyone against the wall.

"Our next drill involves resistance training. You'll pair up and engage in full-contact sparring. Understand? Use all your strength and don't hold back. Now, grab your gloves."

The children quickly formed pairs, some rushing to put on their gloves.

Tyson stood resting against the wall, focusing on regulating his breathing.

Opposite him was another teenager, of similar age but slightly smaller in stature.

"Begin!" Stewart barked.

The boy launched a series of quick jabs to Tyson's abdomen.

Tyson braced for impact; his core was solid, muscles taut as he absorbed the blows.

However, the opponent's punches lacked power and posed no real threat.

After a few rapid hits, the boy attempted a sweeping hook.

Tyson instinctively tucked his chin in.

When receiving a blow, it's crucial to keep the neck muscles tense to better withstand the force of heavier punches. Relaxation increases the risk of being stunned.

As the hook grazed Tyson's face, he leaned back slightly but quickly regained his stance.

"Have you not eaten? Is that why your punches feel weak?" Stewart shouted, urging the kids to put in more effort.

Despite Stewart's encouragement, the punches from the boy were still ineffective.

Five minutes later, Stewart called for a switch in roles.

Tyson donned his gloves again.

"Start!"

Tyson unleashed a powerful straight punch into the boy's midsection.

The kid winced, struggling to absorb the impact. When Tyson followed with an uppercut, the boy staggered and almost fell.

"Put some force behind it! Stop hitting like a child!" Stewart's voice boomed.

Tyson adjusted his footing and delivered a swift backhand punch to the boy's abdomen.

Instantly, the kid fell to the ground, clutching his stomach in pain.

Gasps filled the room.

Stewart approached, offering a few words of comfort to the boy, then turned to Tyson. "Now, give me two full punches."

He tapped his own sturdy abdomen.

Tyson nodded and positioned himself, executing a precise backhand strike to Stewart's midsection.

Stewart stepped back slightly, a surprised look on his face. "Not bad."

"Let's keep training," he added, and the children returned to their routines.

Once the training resumed, Stewart turned aside, catching his breath while rubbing his abdomen.

Quietly, he acknowledged, "This kid's power is impressive."

Although the current training session wasn't as intense as a real match, it was still demanding for abdominal exercises.

To think that a 13-year-old kid could pack such a punch—Stewart was genuinely surprised.

...

Later, back in the dormitory, Tyson wasted no time and began another round of training.

With no entertainment available, he figured it was best to continue honing his skills.

His dedication left Bach, his roommate, utterly astonished.

"Hey, want to join me?" Tyson chuckled, taking a breather after some squats.

Bach quickly shook his head. "Nah, I'm not in good shape for that."

"It's precisely because you're not fit that you should train! If you work with me, I promise you can become strong."

Tyson had every intention of coaxing Bach into joining him, as training with a partner would be far more enjoyable.

Eventually, after much persuasion, Bach reluctantly agreed to participate.

...

A month flew by in the blink of an eye.

"Tyson, I believe in you," cheered a boy with freckles.

"Yeah, show him what you've got!" another chimed in.

"I'm tired of his cockiness; you have to take him down."

"Seriously, Tyson can't possibly match up to the coach."

"Our longest-serving student here practiced for three months without besting the coach. Tyson's only trained for one month; how can he compete?"

The boys rallied around Tyson while others laughed at the audacity of the idea.

Tyson smiled, ready for the challenge before him.

Stewart raised his fists. "So, you've finally saved enough points to challenge me. I've been anticipating this day."

The point-challenging rule was set by Stewart himself. As long as students trained hard and behaved well, they earned a point daily. After accumulating 30 points, they could challenge him.

This was why some students ended up with bruises.

Through a month of intense training, Tyson had significantly improved, his muscles now more defined and stronger than before.

"Coach, I'm not the same timid child anymore; you better watch out," Tyson quipped, a playful glint in his eyes.

Before Stewart could respond, Tyson charged forward.

'Clever little rascal.'

Stewart noted Tyson's determination over the past weeks, observing how carefully he executed every technique imparted to him.

Though only a month had passed, Stewart could sense a palpable threat in Tyson's approach.

As the reigning national amateur champion, he was not about to underestimate any trainee.

Tyson threw a solid straight punch. Stewart deftly sidestepped, avoiding the hit.

Their strikes collided almost simultaneously—Stewart's experience clashing with Tyson's youthful energy.

Tyson, although physically impressive for his age, was still at a disadvantage in reach, weight, and explosive power.

After absorbing Stewart's punch to the abdomen, Tyson gasped, his breathing becoming labored as discomfort spread through his core region.

Maintaining composure was essential. He worked to regulate his breathing, mastering his expressions to feign calmness.

Stewart, however, noticed Tyson's struggle.

Though Tyson's power had disrupted his rhythm, Stewart quickly adapted.

With a series of jabs to gauge Tyson's response, he swiftly advanced.

Tyson kept his chin guarded, retreating slightly.

Stewart could tell that something was amiss.

His instincts honed through experience, Stewart launched a rapid-fire combination: left jab, right cross, left hook.

Tyson parried the punches, blocking Stewart's left hook with his glove.

But Stewart wouldn't relent; he intensified his assault.

In close proximity, Stewart opted for an uppercut.

Though Tyson's defense was formidable, it merely redirected the blow, causing no real damage, pushing him backwards nonetheless.

In that moment, Tyson found a brief reprieve.

Stewart nodded approvingly, recognizing the improvements in Tyson's performance.

Yet Tyson was not satisfied with his own efforts. He recalled the perfect opportunity he had to counterattack but hadn't capitalized due to breathlessness.

Determined, he approached Stewart once more.

With a reach advantage on his side, Stewart prepared to unleash another flurry of blows as Tyson stepped into his striking zone.

Navigating closer, Tyson executed a calculated left hook to Stewart's abdomen, followed by a right hook aimed at the jaw.

Stewart was caught off guard, losing his footing briefly and dropping to the ground.

The room erupted into cheers.

"Finally took down the unyielding coach!"

"Haha, Tyson gives us all hope!"

"I can't believe Tyson knocked him out!"

"At 13? This is unreal!"

"Just a month of training and look at him go!"

Only a true prodigy could accomplish this.

After regaining his balance, Stewart showed no irritation; instead, he removed his gloves and extended a hand.

Tyson quickly followed suit and high-fived his mentor, excitement coursing through him.

"You did great, kid."

"Coach, you didn't lose; why didn't we continue?" Tyson asked, puzzled.

Although Stewart had felt the force of Tyson's punch, he hadn't sustained serious damage. The young boxer, while powerful, lacked the experience and explosiveness of a seasoned athlete.

Stewart chuckled, "This isn't just about winning; it's about understanding your limits and potential."