Weeks passed, and Robby had fully integrated into Miyagi-Do. We successfully taught him the wheel technique, and together, we even developed a new three-person version of the move. This adaptation was significantly more challenging, as we formed a triangle, akin to the structure of a diamond. The strength of diamonds comes from the perfect arrangement of their atoms, making them unbreakable. Just thinking about the countless times we fell into the pond during practice sent a shiver down my spine.
The Wheel Technique
Rotation was a crucial aspect of our wheel technique. One of our innovative moves involved changing places with each other during an attack. Picture this: a triangle with Robby, Sam, and me positioned back to back—me at the front, Sam on my right, and Robby on my left. If someone attacked Robby, I would take his place, he would switch with Sam, and Sam would shift to my position. This maneuver allowed Robby to dodge the attack while I could strike the opponent without exposing my back.
We also created a move that, while not particularly practical, looked impressive. During our switch, we would spin in a circle and leap into the air, delivering kicks to potential enemies. It was a crowd-pleaser, and we enjoyed the flair it added to our training.
Introducing Souzou
One day, while lightly sparring with Daniel, I decided to showcase a new move I had been working on. "Sensei, I've developed a new technique. Can I try it on you?"
"As long as it's not like Hakai," he replied with a knowing smile.
I grinned and charged forward. Daniel assumed a defensive stance, but I slipped past him effortlessly. He anticipated a shoulder flip, preparing for it, but instead, I pulled his arm toward me and struck a pressure point, immobilizing it.
In a blur, I rushed behind him. He turned his head to track my movement, but I was too quick. I hit pressure points on his legs, causing him to collapse to the ground. I stood over him and delivered a light punch to his chest. Daniel looked up at me with a dazed expression.
"This is the complete opposite of Hakai," I explained. "It uses pressure points, so it doesn't hurt the opponent. If they know how to recover, they'll be sore; if not, I win the match." I struck the pressure points again, and Daniel got back up, clearly impressed.
"That's brilliant," he said, nodding appreciatively.
"I'll name it Souzou, meaning 'creation,'" I declared.
"Interesting name, and totally legal, unlike Hakai," Daniel replied with a chuckle. We continued sparring, and he helped me refine Souzou further.
Training Against Sam and Robby
As our training progressed, I found myself sparring against both Sam and Robby simultaneously not as a competition, but more like a street fight. While Sam was talented, she was significantly weaker than me, and Robby was nothing special in comparison.
Sam launched a high kick at me, but I caught her leg and pushed her back, causing her to stumble. I charged forward, delivering a kick to her torso that sent her flying. Robby rushed in, attempting a head punch. I grabbed his hand, pulling him toward me, which disrupted his balance, and I tripped him, sending him face-first to the ground.
Just as I was about to strike him, Sam jumped onto my back, trying to pull me down. In a swift motion, I grabbed her waist and flipped her over my head, slamming her onto Robby. They quickly recovered, and we continued the fight.
This time, they attacked in unison. Robby aimed for a head punch while Sam attempted to sweep my legs. I fell back, kicking Robby's arm to deflect his punch while avoiding Sam's leg sweep. I flipped a few times to create distance between us, then sprang up and charged at them. All they saw was a flash before Robby was sent flying back.
Sam kicked my chest, but I blocked it. She followed up with a punch, which I caught, striking a pressure point to render her arm useless. I spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick to her shoulder, sending her flying across the training area.
Suddenly, Daniel jumped in, calling, "Fight's over!" Sam and Robby gritted their teeth as they got back up. Daniel helped Sam regain the use of her arm and turned to me. "You're getting stronger by the day. Soon enough, there won't be a match for you."
I puffed my chest with pride, but Sam punched my stomach, making me fold in half.
Preparing for the All Valley Tournament
As the All Valley Tournament approached, we felt ready. Although Hakai and Souzou were impressive moves, I knew I wouldn't use my signature techniques unless absolutely necessary. The competition would be between us and the Cobra Kai students. They were strong, but we were stronger.
Now, it was time to win some tournaments. The anticipation was palpable, and I could feel the excitement building within our team. We were prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united and ready to prove ourselves.