Today was indeed going to be an exciting day, a thrilling episode in Timi's journey of mastery of the art of fighting. The day had finally arrived. After months of studying Karate and other styles of hand-to-hand combat, Uncle Kayode had finally decided that it was time to start working with weapons. Unfortunately, they were to start slow with the least deadly weapon, a knife, much to Timi's disappointment but at least, it was a step further in the direction he wanted to go.
After school and walking Shade to her doorstep, Timi got home and quickly did his chores and his math homework which was quite difficult seeing as he was in his second year at senior secondary level of school and rushed off to start his knife training with his uncle.
As Timi got there, he was glad to see that Uncle Kayode had already gotten ready and had everything set up for their training session.
"Good afternoon uncle!" Timi greeted his uncle with much enthusiasm.
"Good afternoon Timi. Welcome. If you're ready to go, then let's get started," his uncle responded.
Uncle Kayode took out a foldable bag and rolled it open onto a table. It was filled with various types of knives of different shapes and sizes. Timi was astounded as to how sharp and deadly they looked. He was itching to hold one but controlled himself as his uncle lay them out on the table and told him what type of knives they were and how each would be best utilized.
"This, Timi, is the 'F-S Fighting Knife", the famous Fairbourne-Sykes fighting knife, developed for Commandos during World War 2 and adopted by numerous Special Forces after the war," he explained.
"Damn, it's very thin and sharp," Timi said with a look of awe on his face.
"It's sharp on both edges and it's light, making it one of the best knives for close combat."
Uncle Kayode pointed at another, "This one is called a 'KA-BAR USMC' Combat Knife, the standard U.S. Marine Corps combat knife during and after World War II. As you can see it has only one sharp edge, a pointy end and a very firm handle. It's deadly and dangerous even to its wielder and that's why it comes with a sheath to cover it."
"Oh, I see!" was all Timi could say.
"And then there's this, my absolute favourite, the modern KM2000 of the German Army. A thing of beauty and a true instrument of death. When you hold it, it feels like you're holding a mini machete and you see how the direction of the edge changes to the left side to give it more damage capabilities. Yes, this one is a good one," Uncle Kayode said, staring at the blade like it was a bowl of catfish pepper soup.
"Okay, let me show you a few ways to wield it and use It."
They moved to a spot in the compound where there was a training dummy and Uncle Kayode told Timi to stab at the dummy.
"Now, fighting with a knife in your hand is a lot harder than fighting with only your fists. You're at more risk of harming yourself or having your opponent counter your attacks and use your blade against you, so you have to be smart and strategic."
The next few days had Timi working with knives. He and his uncle would spar against each other with wooden knives and Timi was getting better every day. Uncle Kayode showed him the most vulnerable parts of the human body and the best spots to use a knife on that will cause a quick but painful death, gruesome stuff but Timi paid attention like he was learning how to drive a car.
His uncle showed him how to block against knives, how to swing them, throw them and even catch them in mid-air. It was very hard work but it was worth it as in a few more weeks, Timi became a master of knives and a very good fighter as well.
Sometimes, he would take walks along shady and dangerous streets filled with riffraff, rouges, gangsters and vagabonds, hoping to find the man with a scar on his left eye, Ayo's killer, but each time wouldn't find him but he didn't give up and he kept looking. He would often ask around but no one gave him any useful information.
"Mom, I'm off to uncle's place for the weekend." It was Friday and Timi since he started his training usually spent the weekend at his uncle's.
"Wait, can I talk to you before you leave?" His mother asked.
"Of course," he said while standing. "What's up?"
"What are you and your uncle up to that has been making you go there almost every day for the past few months?"
"Nothing much. I just like spending time with him, we talk and do fun stuff and he's also teaching me things."
"Things like what?" She asked with a brow raised.
"Common things, like you know, how to ride a motorcycle and fix a car engine and how to shav.....You don't need to know that last one."
"How to do what, Timi?"
"Trust me, Mom, you don't need to know. It has to do with hairs, that grow, in places other than your head."
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry. You're right, I don't need to know that. You can get going now."
"Thanks, Mom!"
"Be safe, and say hi to your uncle for me."
"I will."
Timi got to Uncle Kayode's place and was surprised to hear his uncle tell him that they were going out and that Timi should pack some clothes because they wouldn't be back till Monday.
They got in the car and drove for almost two hours and Timi didn't know where they were going.
After a while, he asked and his uncle responded by saying that it was a surprise. After what seemed like days on the road, they finally arrived at a huge estate and right at the gate of the house stood a huge board that read "Annual Teen Martial Arts Tournament" or A.T.M.A.T.
"Uncle, why are we here?"
"Well Timi, YOU are here to participate in this fighting tournament for boys your age"
"WHAT? How could you bring me to a fighting tournament and not even tell me about it?" Timi was worried. He wasn't sure that he was ready to actually apply what he had learned to a real fight against real opponents.
"Don't tell me you're scared, boy?"
"I'm not scared, I just wish you had told me so I could have prepared."
"Well, there's no backing out now. I've already signed your name in and registered you as one of the participants."
Timi got out of the car and looked around. There were many different boys all over the place and they all looked tough and intimidating. Most of them were muscular and tall, very tall. Timi wasn't sure if he was ready for this but he sucked it up. This was a crucial step that he needed to take in his training and he decided to stop doubting himself and start preparing to win this competition.
"Timi?"
"Yes, Uncle?"
"Let me make a deal with you."
"Ok, I'm listening."
"If you win this contest, I will, effective immediately, start training you on how to use guns. I had told you that we would start using guns in a few months but win, and we start on Tuesday."
Timi was excited but his excitement quickly subsided as he realized what his uncle was up to.
"And if I don't win?" He asked already knowing what his uncle's response would be.
"No more revenge, No more thoughts about killing and No guns. We can continue training on how to fight but solely for self-defence purposes, Deal?" Uncle Kayode reached out his palm for a shake.
Timi thought hard about it. He had been training for months. He had developed some serious skills. He could win this and if he did, he would be taught to shoot and his training would be a step closer to being complete. Uncle Kayode would regret offering this deal, he would make sure of it.
He reached out and shook his uncle's hand.
"Deal."