All-Asian Association (AAA)

As I get in my head on reflecting upon these last months, opening a martial arts studio in Kunming in the Yunnan province of China, starting my own martial arts classes back in June, a steady stream of visitors file into my studio. I have been hosting open seminars every Friday these past months, opening one day up to the public to receive martial arts instructions should they want it. As they slowly file in, I see, my ten regular students, who have decided to be humorously refer to themselves as my disciples, and me their 师父 (Shifu), always greeting me so enthusiastically in an over-composed manner that always makes me chuckle and shake my head. And, as I always do, I wave them in from where I'm standing in the studio.

As more of the public begins to file in, I notice one of the last to breeze in, a pretty tall and well built young man – with the face of a warrior. "How interesting," I think to myself before waving him inside so he doesn't hesitate to come in. After he comes in, there are none behind him, and I scan the room to see that today, I have 21 people who would like to learn, and a small smirk grows across my face. "好吧," I think to myself before I get up and clap twice to get everyone's attention.

After a long trip I get a quick rest in my hotel before I change into some workout shorts and tank top and lace up my trainers. I pack my workout bag and make my way to your studio. There are quite a few students there already. I stand in back observing. They seem very eager and happy to see you. I see you look at me and make eye contact. I give you a slight smile before you wave everyone in. I follow behind them. I am unsure what to expect and in full observation mode when you clap twice. Everyone becomes silent and focused on you and I do the same eager to see what is in store.

As everyone settles down, I project my voice: a gentle tone but magnetically deep and grounding. "欢迎欢迎! 欢迎大家！Welcome to today's Martial Arts Open Seminar," I start. "我叫桂思明。你们可以教我思明哥. For all of the internationals, My name is Siming Gui, but you can call me Brother Siming. Or, if you want to be like my regulars," I say shooting them a playful, knowing look, "Instructor is ok too," I continue.

As everyone greets me in almost unison, I raise both of my hands up to lower them with the palms facing the ground to let everyone know that isn't needed. I then continue, "欢迎大家参加今天的武术公开研讨会。Welcome, again, to today's Martial Arts Open Seminar. Today, we will be focusing on adapting the foundations of circular style movements for grappling and wrestling-based combat."

I start pacing back and forth on the raised, padded platform but with unique, circular stepping patterns. I continue with my brief introduction. "There are multiple factors that, if necessary or for show, can help you maintain your control – and even get control of your opponent's control – in a fight. It all starts with understanding how your body works in relation to the Three Principles of the Circle," I start. "Now, who would like to come up and help me demonstrate for the rest of the class?" I ask and survey the group of twenty-one. At least four of my regulars raise their hands at first, and some of the new guests raise their hand too. And though, he has not raised his hand yet, I can see in his posture and look as he observes the room, maybe he considers it.

As my gaze continues to scan the room like a hawk, my eyes come back to the new guest – seated right between two of my most senior students – who decided to raise his hand. "You there, young man," I say gesturing to you. "Want to give it a try?" I ask, with an interested tone and my hand gesturing for you to come up to the platform to join me.

"Very good," I say and as you turn to me to introduce yourself, I give you a friendly nod and reply, "你好, Ji-Hoon. Welcome to the seminar." I then turn to the class while I back up and towards the center of the platform, but just four steps behind from the center and gesture for you to do the same. "好吧大家, a round of applause for Visiting Student Lee Ji-Hoon," I calmly instruct.

As everyone gives you a brief applause for volunteering, I then settle the group as I step up near the edge. "Now, everyone, I want you to remember these Three Principles of the Circle in this upcoming demonstration: 第一， Create the Circle, 第二， Focus the Circle, 第三， Use the Circle." I then turn to you. "Lee Ji-Hoon, are you ready? In three seconds," I start and gesture for one of my students to count down from three, "I want you to advance and try to trap me in a body lock – or as the professional wrestling fans know it as, the bear hug," I chuckle a bit. "Does that sound good?" I ask you, waiting for your reply.

I nod and as one of my regular students counts us in, you move in, bring your arms down and forwards to go around my waist for the lock. I whisper, "Create the circle," and I bring my arms out to intercept yours as I settle into my stance. Then, I continue, "Focus the circle," as I bring your arms up with mine, and then coil my my left arm around your right, grabbing a hold of your right arm, and my right arm slithers around your left arm and my right hand grabs the back of your neck. I then shift our positions 90 degrees clockwise, and whisper, "Use the circle," and shift us another 45° before tossing you out, completely neutralizing your grab and throwing you away from me in the process.

I then make my way forward as you finish tumbling, going kneeling down and offering a hand, "how are you feeling?" I ask gently.

As I go for the Bearhug you easily intercept my arms and grab them before you grab my neck and throw me over onto the platform. It all happened so fast I don’t even know what you did. I look up at you as you offer me your hand. “I am good” I reply simply as I grab your hand and get back to my feet. Inside feeling a little embarrassed. I wait to either be dismissed from the platform or for further instructions.

"好吧," I reply as I help you get back to your feet. I then gesture for you to take the three steps down back to the group to where you were sitting before. "Thank you for volunteering," I give you a pat on the back and send you back down to the group. As soon as you get back to where you sat before, my attention shifts to the entire group again. Can anyone tell me, based on the three principles I mentioned before the demonstration, what you noticed in the demonstration?" At that, hands raise one at a time mentioning each moment one of the three principles was noticed. I smile and nod, happy to hear people catching on so quickly. "Very good, now," I say as I continue to walk back and forth along the lip of the platform, "I want all of you to break out into groups of two." I then observe the room, noting there are twenty-one attendees today. "淮南," I call to my most senior student, "Step back and help me supervise for now. Ji-hoon," I turn my attention to you for a brief moment, "Partner with him," I say, gesturing towards my second senior student who is seated to your right, "可以吗，小璟？“ I ask him, and he stands up next to you and nods.

 "好吧," I say with two claps and everyone begins to partner up with my most senior student making his way to the back to supervise. "In your groups, practice changing between initiating offensive grapples counters to grapples, switching every two minutes. Remember the three principles I mentioned and demonstrated, and above all, exercise restraint as to not hurt you partner." I take a pause for it all to settle, and then after that, "Begin," I calmly instruct. I step down off the platform and start circling the room with my senior student, 淮南 (Huainan) doing the same.

I head back to my seat and listen as the students tell what they noticed trying to take as many mental notes as possible. You then instruct us to pair up. I get anxious as I don’t know anyone but you quickly pair me up with another student almost like you sensed my uneasiness. I also can’t help but wonder why you chose this particular student for me to pair up with. I follow him to our spot and listen to the instructions. As you finish I turn my attention back to my partner. He looks in good shape. I smile about to introduce myself when you instruct us to begin. I take the initiative and put up my guard as I bounce from foot to foot. I reach up like I will go for the simple collar and elbow lock up but I continue my moment around his body and I try and slide my arms around his waist to lift him slightly.

As I circle around the studio and Huainan circles from the opposite side, we both notice how you bounce from foot to foot -- like it's trained. He and I give each other knowing looks before we see you advance. As your arms continue to wrap around Jing's waist to lift him, he lets you lift him off his feet to get a feel for your strength before he uses the momentum to re-plant hi feet on the ground in a way where he arches his body back to lift you off so he can shift position, bring his arms into yours to try to widen and weaken your grip, and then around your torso to lock behind your back, cinching a bodylock of his own. As I observe this whole thing, I think to myself "Ji-Hoon is trained,"  with an interested look before my eyes shift back towards the nine other groups of twos.

He is able to reverse my body lock and I am definitely impressed. i immediately squat down lowering my center of gravity. I reach down for his hands and I put pressure on the inside of his wrists as I lean forward hoping the pressure was enough for me to escape his grip and to get away and start to circle again with my guard up.

Jing grits his teeth and sets you down on your feet before breaking the body lock and resets his stance. As it is still within the two minutes and you initiated offense first, Jing waits for you to initiate offense again as he gets into a stance and circles you as well. My eyes make my way back to you and Jing, a small smile growing across my face as I observe how you both adapt to each other.

I take a deep breath before I put up my guard and circle him again. This time I move in reaching for the back of his neck and shoulder with my other hand for a classic collar and elbow lock up to test his strength.

Jing responds in kind, his opposite hand reaching for the back of your neck and and his other hand pushing 

against your arm, his fingers around your delts and his palm against the long head of your bicep. He shifts around, using his weight advantage against you, pushing and pulling you back and forth before he leans forward and down in an attempt to get you onto your knee. If he is able to do that, he will attempt to break the lock-up and go behind you.

We are all locked up both pushing hard as we continue to go back and forth. I am enjoying the struggle and I am feeling like I could maybe get him down. He is bigger but I know I have bigger muscles than him. Suddenly though he makes a strong push down. Maybe he was born playing with me up until now I think because the force is enough to get me to my knee. He immediately breaks the lock up and I rise up and see him moving behind me. I continue to turn not wanting to give him my back and as I do I raise my arm up and try and wrap it over his head and neck to bring him down into a side headlock.

He brings his left arm up to block your arm that was coming up to try to bring him down, before using his left hand to grab onto your left wrist to bring it down behind your back and wrapping his right arm around your neck to go for a half-sleeper submission hold. His movements are slow, fluid, and controlled. Right as he gets it locked in, the first two minute timer goes off, so he releases the hold and gets up to his feet and extends a hand to you to help you up.

As soon as you both get up again, a new practice session commences, this time, he initiates offense and you would defend and counter-attack.

Jing is able to intercept my arm as I go for the headlock and trap one arm behind my back as his other arm wraps around my neck in a kind of sleeper. I have to admit this is an impressive counter as I am about to attempt a counter the time runs out. 

After about another 50 minutes of this pattern continuing on, switching between offense and defense every 2 minutes, with my interceptions in between for some groups that may have lost balance or were close to injuring one another from a bit of lack of control, I move back up to the upper part of the studio, standing right in front of the lip of the platform, clapping my hands three times to gather the attention of the room. "Alright everyone! Break from your groups and follow me into doing some cool-down stretches," I calmly instruct.

I then get up onto the platform, face the group again, and start doing some stretches to help us all relax our bodies.

After we stretch for another five minutes, I clap my hands together once and start to wrap up, “好吧, that's all for today's session. Thank you all for attending today's Martial Arts Grappling Open Seminar. I'll be here for another twenty minutes to clean up and if any of you have any questions. Other than that... 散会，下次见吧!" And I close my ending remarks with a martial arts departure gesture.

My ears perk up as you tell us you will be around for a while cleaning up if anyone has any questions. I stick around and continue to stretch waiting for most of the students to clear out before I approach you. I walk up to you. “Excuse me Brother Siming. I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed today’s session. I feel I could really learn a lot from you and I have about a month of free time and if you are willing I would love for you to train me.” I wait nervously for your response.

As students everyone starts to filter out, my ten regulars stay behind and help me start cleaning up. Unexpectedly, you stay behind too and even approach me. While they clean, they all take glances at the two of us as you approach me. As you call to me, I nod and smile as I hear my seminar had the impact on you I always hope any of my classes do on anyone. But more than that, even though I have ten dedicated students now, hearing you nervously open yourself up to me and wanting to be a student of mine, even for a a little bit of time does surprise me a little. "Oh really?" I ask. "First, I am glad to hear my seminar today has benefited you. May I ask you a question?" I bounce back, and I as soon as you let me continue, I add, "Based on your form and how you carry yourself, you do not seem a stranger to fighting and combat. You are strong and fast. So, what brought you to my humble studio today? Also, what would you be hoping to get out of training with me? In other words... Why have you sought me out?" I ask with a keen and deducing tone, knowing there are intentions behind why you found me out specifically.

I smile proudly as you compliment my skills and strength. You go on to ask why I sought you out and what I hope to learn here from you. I think for a moment. I’m not sure how much I want to offer you yet. “Thank you for your compliments Brother Siming. I have been training in Seoul for many years. In my home Dojo I am one of the top students and a leader. Recently I have started to wrestle professionally at Hiro’s Tokyo Dojo. I have had mixed success. It seems my training is not translated to competition. I am looking for some unique and different skills to set me apart from the others. Do you think you could help me?”

I listen to what you tell me, hearing a bit of reservation as you share what you want about your reasons, nodding as you explain. After a moment of consideration, I look back at you with a calm smile. "好吧," I reply, "We start tomorrow, ten in the morning. You will also join my ten other students for group sessions every Monday and Wednesday for the month you are here. After tomorrow, we will figure out what your one-on-one training schedule will look like. Does that work with you?"

I listen closely and take a deep breath as you agree to train me for the next month. “Thank you very much Brother Siming. I will be here bright and early in the morning. I appreciate you giving this opportunity and in return I will give you 200 percent effort.” I am very excited.

I smile gently at you and nod. I then look to my ten students who continue cleaning, and my most senior student gives me a reassuring nod that they all can take care of closing the studio and that they also approve. I nod back and turn back to you. "Come, Ji-Hoon," I gesture for you to follow me out of the studio. As I gesture, my eyes scan your form, and can tell the subtleties in your current condition and how you arrived here very recently, maybe about 12 to 13 hours ago at least. "You just arrived here very recently, correct?" I half-ask, half-state. "Take a walk with me. Allow me to treat you to lunch and let us get to know each other more," I propose.

You ask me to follow you and of course I do. I am excited to learn from and spend as much time as I can with you during my stay. I feel a little nervous as I see you looking over my body like you are inspecting me. Then you ask me if I would like to accompany you for a meal and to chat and get to know each other. I smile as I answer you. “Yes Brother Siming. I would like that very much I have not even been here 24 hours yet and have not had a good meal. I would love to chat and share a meal with you.”

I smile and nod as we break to the outside of the studio. As I guide you through the city center, we head two buildings down and we get to a frequent food spot of mine, 翠湖火锅店, Cui Hu (Green Lake) Hot Pot (disclaimer: a fictional place). I open the door to let you go in first, and then I follow behind you and guide you towards an empty table that only contain napkins, chopsticks, plates, and a teacup on top of each set. As we sit, I call out to the server "服务员。。。” and begin ordering for us. First, two glasses of room temperature water and a pot of tea is delivered to our tables.

Soon after, a huge pot of soup is placed in the middle between us and the server turns on the stove in the middle for it to stay on a simmer to boil temperature range. It all happens... Very smoothly. After the soup was delivered and starts simmering, a cart with plates of thinly sliced raw meat and fish, vegetables including lotus roots, spinach, and other assortments are delivered to the table. Using one of the two skimmer spoons and a pair serving chopsticks, I place some of the raw meat in the spoon and set it inside the soup to let it cook, and hand you the serving chopsticks for you to grab what you would like. "So, Ji-Hoon, what brought you to Kunming?" I ask to break the ice and to start hearing your story.

I follow you to the restaurant and I definitely am very hungry and am honored to have this time alone together. As we get to the table and the pot of soup is delivered the wonderful smell is making me realize even more just how hungry I am. I watch as you place some meat in the soup to cook and I add in some fish and vegetables. “This all looks so good and I’m so hungry after my trip ant training session I could eat a little of everything.” I smile and chuckle a little. You ask what brought me here and I respond. “I have heard about you and your school through the wrestling grapevine and I was intrigued. I feel like I could use a different strategy in my competitive wrestling after a rocky start to say the least. I am very honored that you have agreed to train me.”

I take out the skimmer spoon with the cooked meat and use the serving chopsticks to put one slice of the meat in your bowl and the other into mine. "So... You are trained, as I observed and deduced. Just in wrestling? And you said that your professional wrestling officially started at this underground pro wrestling champion, Hiro's, and his pro wrestling... Company... called Hiro's Underground Tokyo Dojo, correct?" I ask back and start eating.

I wait for you to start eating before I start and listen as you ask me about my training and Hiro’s Underground Tokyo Dojo. “Yes mostly in professional wrestling. I did most of my training in Seoul at a small wrestling school and when I found Hiro’s Dojo I have also done some training there.” I eat some more trying not to appear like I’m starving. “This meal is fantastic Brother Siming. Thank you again.”

I nod as you share a bit of your background. "Eat more if you like it," I reply with a calm muse. "So," I continue between bites, "How long have you been training for? And is there a style of professional wrestling you focused on during your training in Seoul?"

I help myself to another bowl as we continue our conversation. “I have been training for about 5 years. I started in high school. I was small and often picked on and instead of backing down I wanted to build muscle and become a pro wrestler.” I take another few bites and then continue. “My training has been focused on the Puroresu style mixed with powerhouse. So more of a hybrid style. I might not be very big but I am very strong” I chuckle a little and take a few more bites. “The problem is that most wrestlers in my area and in Hiro’s Dojo have similar training and more experience plus most are bigger than me. My last couple losses have shaken my confidence and I am having similar feelings to those early days of high school. That is why I have made this trip. I needed to make a change and improve and I desire to return to the wrestling scene an improved fighter.” I open up more to you and feel a little nervous as I await your response patiently.

I nod as I begin to form more of an understanding on your current level from my observations through the open seminar earlier today as well as from what you're telling me, my mind already formulating how to approach guiding you back into the ring.

The rest of the lunch goes by smoothly. I take slight humor in you wolfing down the food. "He's a growing young man," I think to myself in an amused tone. 

After the lunch, I take you around the city for you to live in the moment and see how everyone around here lives, to just relax and exist. Rest for today. Training starts tomorrow.

After a more leisurely day of taking you around, stopping by another restaurant for dinner, I bring you back to your hotel and drop you off. "Have a great night, Ji-Hoon, see you tomorrow morning. I'll pick you up at your hotel, bring you to have some breakfast, and then after, we will begin your training," I inform you with a calm warmth and then wave you off for you to head inside your hotel.

After dinner we take a nice walk around the city before you bring me back to my hotel. I thank you for dinner and agreeing to train me and head up to my room.

After you leave, I turn and make my way back to my apartment. "I certainly never expected my practice to gain... International attention...'"  I think to myself, chuckle, and shake my head.

As I get back in my apartment and wrap up for the night, I send you a WeChat message for final confirmation details: "I'll be at your hotel by 07:15. See you then."

And with that, I end my night, thinking about how tomorrow will go. "This will be interesting..." are my final thoughts before I slip into a gentle sleep (21:30).

 I undress down to my briefs and I set my alarm for 6 am to give me enough time to get ready before you pick me up and after such a long tiring day I pass out almost immediately and the next thing I hear is the sound of my alarm.

I wake up with a long stretch of my body and start my day as usual -- almost... There's something new to look forward to. After freshening up a little, I slip into a white tank top and then over it a green compression turtleneck shirt, followed by black athletic sweatpants, and then socks and my white running sneakers, and then breeze out of my apartment and head out for my daily morning run through the city and through the eastern woods beyond the eastern edge of the city.

After my run, I have made my way to my apartment to freshen myself up again, put on my white compression tank top, black athletic sweatpants, and slip on my green athletic shoes while slipping on my green jacket.

With that, I grab my bag hanging beside the door, slide out of my apartment and make my way to your hotel in a light stride, getting there in the following fifteen minutes right after you've gotten down to your lobby. "诶, Ji-Hoon!" I say with a friendly voice and wave as I spot you and approach you. "Ready for today?"

I smile back and then gesture to you to follow me as I walk you out of the hotel and down a few blocks to a restaurant right across the street from my martial arts studio. I let you go in first and then lead you to an open booth and order our breakfast for us. "Something light but nourishing to help sustain our bodies," I briefly elaborate. "Never too full to train, but fed enough to be energized," I say with a calm and confident smile.

I huff a soft laugh, finding your gratitude a bit cute. "That is just what we teachers do," I reply.

Three minutes later, a pot of tea is delivered to our table and I pour us both a cup. "I find that jasmine tea helps with energy, focus, and healthy digestion," I casually elaborate.

Another seven minutes later, our breakfast is served: two bowls of 猪肉粥, a pork rice porridge, and a sharable plate of 油条, Chinese Fried Dough Sticks. As we eat, we chat casually about life and what brought us to where we are today.

As we finish our breakfast (including tea), I flag for the server and pay the bill and turn to you and gesture for us to make our way to my martial arts studio. As we exit and make our way across the street to the studio and inside, I then press a button on the wall next to the entrance doors that frosts all the windows, including the windows on the door into the studio.

"For privacy," I say with a gentle smile. I then continue, "give me one second, I'll be right back. Feel free to stay out here." I then head into my office to the far left of the room, just right before the door that would lead to the locker rooms and showers. In my office, I set down my stuff and take off my jacket, and then walk back outside, now only wearing the white compression turtleneck tank top, black athletic sweatpants, and green athletic shoes.

"Alright then," I say with a clap of my hand as I approach you. "Let's get things started. First, stretching," I say and then get into position about 1.8 meters (~6 feet) in front of you to get us started. As we begin to stretch, I also start with my own analysis of what I've observed of your skills so far. "So, after our conversation and dinner yesterday, I took some time to look at video of your matches at Hiro's Dojo so far. The summary of it is is that from my eyes, it seems you lead in strong... But it does not always work out for you, does it?"

I nod and let out a soft hum as I continue guiding us through the stretches. "Mm, yes, I noticed those too. When you are faced with more experienced opponents, especially if they are your size or bigger, it can be more challenging to fight against them and win. Even more so when the rules – or lack of rules – are stacked against you, and they start to take advantage of that by combining technicality with... Sensuality. You have trained for five years, however, most mainstream wrestling classes and coaches will not touch upon this, because they will likely be focused on pro wrestling and other wrestling that's done 'above board.' That is the difference between what you trained and the environment you debuted in. You debuted and started matching up in an underground environment, where rules and what is considered appropriate are looser and not as strict or defined. I think that within this month of you being here, training with me as well as with my students, we can help you adapt that mindset to work with these more underground elements," I reply. "But," I start and then bring us up to the finishing stretch, "today, we focus on expanding your foundation," I inform. "Does that sound good?"

"Good. Then let's get started," I say as I back up two steps. After thinking a bit more, I continue, "first, I want to assess your strength and technique, to see how well coordinated they are. I want you to do your three most favored power submission moves on me and see how long it will take me to tap. What are your favored submissions?" I ask you. "From there, I will have you apply them in a specific order," I briefly elaborate.

I am very excited to get started. I listen intently as you tell me how you want to start as well as surprised that you want me to try out my favorite submission holds on you. I think carefully for a moments before I give you my reply. “A few of the submission holds I have been using so far have been the camel clutch, torture rack, and dragon sleeper.” I wait to hear how you react to this

I nod as I begin to understand what your own style really is, connecting these three submissions together. "Very well. Then we start with the camel clutch, second is the dragon sleeper, and the last is the torture rack. First, the camel clutch. I'll get down and let you apply it onto me, and I will assess and we see how long it takes for your application to get me to tap." I bring my watch to my view in front of me, press a few buttons, and the time display in front of us behind the raised platform above the chalkboard lights up - 00:05. "Once the timer hits zero, it will become a stopwatch for you to begin applying the hold. Ready?" I elaborate and then get down on the mats on my front, my head facing the raised platforms some meters in front of us.

You explain to me that you would like me to apply the camel clutch to you first. You get down on the mat on your stomach and instruct me to wait until the timer reaches zero to apply the hold. As it approaches zero I sit on your lower back and as it reaches zero I grab one of your arms and I put it up over my knee as I squat and then I place your other arm over my other knee. I lock my hands underneath your chin and I start to slowly pull your head up toward me as I bend your back. I flex my big biceps as I crank up the pressure. “How does that feel brother Siming? Will you submit?” I ask you holding back just short of applying my full strength.

I am surprised at how much you can take and feel almost reluctant to apply more pressure in just a training session but I follow your instructions. I change my grip and lean down a little to wrap one arm under your chin and the other over the top of your head adding a sleeper to the camel clutch then I lean back more and bounce my butt on your back to really add the pressure as I watch the clock and wait for you to respond.

After also applying the sleeper you free your arms from my knees and manage to escape and even throw me off you. I am impressed you were able to withstand the hold so long and even have the strength to throw me off you. You explain that I focused too much on your head and neck and I can’t really argue with that. You help me up and pause the watch. I take some deep breaths and look at you. “So, what’s next ?” I ask with a smile.

“I usually will apply it once my opponent is down on the mat. Either to weaken them more or to force a submission if I can. So I would pull them up to their knees and apply it from behind.”

“Yes. That is correct. Thank you. That is the perfect position.” I get behind you on my knees and wait for the clock to reach Zero.

When the clock reaches zero I bring my arm over your head and secure it under my armpit and I bend you back with my knee pointed in your back. I flex my big biceps hard on your neck as I grab your arm to trap it behind my knee.

As you ask if I have more I roll my shoulder and flex harder to force your face deeper into my armpit and also apply more of a choke on your neck. Then I lift us both up a little before I drop your back on my knee with a back breaker and pull your head back more and really increase my flex.

Even after all that I feel your hand on my shoulder and I feel an enormous amount of pain as you squeeze my nerves. I let out a yelp as my grip loosens allowing you to toss me off you. I roll up to my knees and rub my shoulder. “Good move brother Siming, “ I chuckle.

I grab your hand and get to my feet. I smile as you compliment my dragon sleeper. “Thank you very much” I grab my water bottle and take a big sip. “So one more?”

I bend down and grunt as I lift you face up onto my shoulders. I put one arm around your neck under your chin and press down and the other arm presses down on your leg as I flex and bend your body. I move up and down a bit to intensify the pain on your back as I bend you.

I am shocked as you bring your free leg around my head and distracted by that you manage to wrap them both around my head and twist your body to bring me to my back. You intensify the scissor so your calf and thigh are wrapped around my neck. I can’t breathe and I’m also stunned at the reversal. You surprise me again with a little taunt and I feel my eyes rolling back fast and have no choice and I tap on your thigh.

You release from your grip and I cough a little. Wiping the sweat from my forehead. I take your hand and get to my feet and rub my neck. “Impressive counter. I’m good “ not wanting to show weakness but I rub and favor my sore neck

I listen to your words and am thankful to take this short break knowing that the next session is likely to be both painful but also very informative and useful to me. As they say. No pain. No gain. “Thank you brother Siming. A break sounds good. I look forward to learning how to improve my technique. “

You set the timer and we both take a drink of water. I feel a small shiver go up my spine as you explain how you toss and throw around you senior student who is TWICE your size and ask if you were too rough. “No. Not at all. I can take it” I respond with a smile. I get down on the mat on my stomach ready for you to apply the camel clutch on me

You mount my back and ask if I’m ready. “Ready,” I respond as you secure my arms over your legs. I look at the stopwatch and already feeling vulnerable in this position as I wait.

neck combined with the lack of oxygen has me instantly panicking. It’s hard to even tap with my arms over your legs and I weakly tap at your thighs as I feel myself starting to go out.

 

"Let us begin," I say with a more neutral tone and start circling you in a clockwise direction, my eyes fixed on your form and your face.

If this works, I will get you to the most optimal body posture where I can go for an undersided scoop up onto my shoulders before throwing you across the mats towards the point I charged in from.

I then pull you back and throw you down to my left and then mount your back and immediately go for a slight lift to bump my butt into your back and go for a joint weakening hold, going to grab your wrists and stand and plant my foot on your back as I stretch your arms back.

"How are you feeling so far?" I ask, half-genuine, half-taunting.

"You remember this, correct?" I taunt, keeping it tight and my balance absolute.

"Now," I say as I wrench it back tauntingly. "This is definitely not the most foolproof way to lock a headlock. But it is fun," I chuckle into your ear as I wrench it back in accordance with recentering my gravity to bring you closer to the edge of submission. For three seconds, "1... 2... 3...," I count it all slowly and out loud before I release the hold and get off of you, putting some distance as I circle your recovering form.

I bring you to the locker and showers room of the studio, guiding you to fully wash up, handing you a bath towel. "You have great potential Ji-Hoon. From our spar today, despite what you may believe about your professional wrestling career so far, I do not think that your first win was just 'beginner's luck'. In time, I think you will be able to be widely recognized as you originally sought out to be when you began training all those years ago. And, I hope that this next month training with me and my students will serve you well," I tell you. "Now go on and shower. I will treat you to a great lunch for a great training session and showing your potential... And for surviving me," I chuckle and pat your shoulder before heading off to get a towel for myself to prep for showering as well.