They started off with basic punches and jabs.
"No, that's not how you throw a punch" Uncle Mike stopped him mid punch "straighten your legs and spread them a bit, then keep your shoulder next to your head and swing. Just like this"
He demonstrated. Jake could hardly see the punch, it was to fast and though he had no idea what a good punch seemed like, he thought it was perfect.
Jake was quite the fast learner, he picked up whatever he saw instantly. It took him just a few more trials to master the placement of his arms and his body posture and soon enough he was able to throw punches efficiently. Though his punches were slow, they made progress.
"We still need to work on your speed. But firstly, you should know that your opponent can throw punches as well as you, if not better than you. So you'll learn to evade attacks. You should try to leave every one of my attacks.
Thus, the next phase of the days training began. Mike realized that Jake had quite quick reflexes. But that didn't stop him from landing his attacks, even having brought down his abilities to Jake's level.
"Duck left, duck right, duck right, palm down" Uncle Mike chanted as he threw his punches. They had been at this for almost two hours and Jake was getting used to the feeling, or so he thought. "Palm down".
Jake was too slow to react to the upper cut as he instantly found himself on the ground.
"Get up" Uncle Mike motioned to Jake with his outstretched hand.
" You have to focus, you have to be more aware of your surroundings and learn to move faster else your dead. Out there, the dangers are like nothing you've ever seen. You need to clear your mind and respond faster, okay?"
"Yeah"
"Let's go again. This time a little bit faster."
"Sure"
"Duck left, duck right, duck right, palm down, duck left" This time the attacks were coming quicker than the words could leave his mouth. "block, block again, bend and block" a hand came down on Jake's shoulder sending him to the ground once more.
"You're doing well, but we have to call it a day for now."
"No… I can still go on for a while"
"No, Jake. Listen, everything has to be done in moderation, you have to know when to fight and when to back down. In the same way, you have to know when to work and when to rest.
The body is a fragile vessel and it needs to be taken care of. Moreover, tomorrow is another day. So let's rest for now, alright?"
"Sure" replied Jake, a little but unsatisfied.
Days were flying by quickly, Uncle Mike and Jake were at the clearing once again. For the past week, Uncle Mike had made him run ten laps round the clearing each day they came to help his endurance.
Jake wasn't totally used to it, but he could do ten laps now without running out of breath.
Today, his Uncle had increased it to thirteen laps. Jake once again found himself gasping for breath after running the twelfth lap, he was soon done and after a few stretches, they got down to business. Jake had gotten better at ducking Mike's punches.
It took him nine days to learn to anticipate the direction of the punches, he didn't need tips on where to duck in order to avoid the punches.
He could do that much on his own now though the punches came a while lot more quicker than they ever did.
Uncle Mike bombarded him with a barrage of punches, Jake weaved them expertly, a punch coming from the left he quickly weaved right, another came almost immediately, he stepped back just in time as the air from his Uncle's fist skimmed his face.
He lunged forward and tried to attack, but his Uncle was too fast for him, he was shocked to experience such agility from someone his age.
Mike was quickly in his front before Jake could complete his move, raining down punches on him.
A low swift jab caught him in the abdomen, he reeled back in the pain and shock from the contact.
Jake quickly regained composure in an attempt to counter but there was no such chance, Mike didn't give him a chance as he continued with his continuous assault, trying to slam his palm into Jake's head.
Jake was thinking of a way to create an opening, in order to attack and put an end to this continuous onslaught, but there was no such thing with his Uncle, he had to remind on the defensive.
He had thought too much, there was a fist flying right at his face, he quickly picked before the fist could make contact.
"Shit."
It was a distraction, while bending down, there was an upper cut reaching out to his jaw which was bending to meet the fist as fast.
In a moment of quick reflexes, he brought up both palms and…
"Bam" his palms connected with his Uncle's fist, he had evaded both attacks but at a price.
He could feel a sudden pang of pain from the contact of his Uncle's fist on his palm.
Jake quickly jumped back calculating his next line of attack when he looked up and saw his Uncle clapping.
Thinking it was a ploy to lure him in for the next attack, Jake held his stance, wary as a feral cat.
"Come on my boy. That was amazing" Mike appraised him
"That was sublime. Who would've thought you would stop my silhouette fist move in one trial." He smile happily at Jake and beckoned to him as he sat at the river bank.
"Silhouette fist?" Jake asked
"Yes, it's a technique where I aim for your face and divert you attention from the main danger which is actually below. It's a killer move, and only two people except you have been able to evade it."
Jake was short of words. He just kept on staring at his Uncle like he was some creature who had ended up in Earth after orbiting outer space.
"You passed the test, Come on we've got to celebrate. Let's head home" he grabbed Jake.
"We are done?" Jake stared at him in awe
"For today, Yes"
"But, I can't keep up with your speed. I'm not even fast enough to attack, I always have to stay on the defensive trying to ward off your attacks without getting the slightest chance to attack."
"Jake" Uncle Mike held him by his shoulders, "It took me 15 years of training to get to this level, but it's just been a week and you can efficiently evade my attacks. Don't you think you've improved?"
"If you put it that way then, I guess"
"So, home?"
"Sure"