Max was lying in a tub filled with cold water, with ice cubes floating around him. The chill stimulated his muscles so intensely that all the accumulated fatigue began to fade away slowly as the minutes passed.
It was clear that this method wasn't entirely healthy for the body, but for Max, it was more about relaxing his mind. The cold helped him disconnect from his body for a brief moment, something that brought him immense relief.
Gritting his teeth to endure the biting cold, he actually felt good. The pain he had been complaining about earlier was now entirely overshadowed by the freezing sensation.
As time went on, Max's hand began to move on its own, and a new sensation filled his body as he repeatedly envisioned a simulation of a battle.
"If I have control over my mind, no one will stop me from achieving my goals. Things are changing now, Sensei Chozen." As he visualized the weak points of an opponent, Max's face lit up with understanding.
He had been thinking deeply about how to improve without causing harm to others. His Sensei, Chozen, had given him a clue on how to achieve this.
In his imagination, Max was standing on a mat, striking a training dummy at the weakest points of the human body—spots that were also permitted in a karate tournament.
"Hmm, I could refine my fighting style to focus only on Karate if the opponent is weak. That way, I won't hurt anyone." Max realized he needed to become entirely familiar with Karate, the only martial art he would train in from now on.
Having trained in various mixed martial arts for so many years, fighting in just one style now felt incredibly challenging. Fortunately, Max knew that Karate allowed for many of the techniques he enjoyed using.
Moreover, he knew he had to set a good example for the other students who would look up to him as an instructor.
In this regard, Max had no concerns. As the captain of his former martial arts school, he had represented his team with pride. This experience made him confident in his ability to teach others.
"It's time..." Max stood up from the tub, walked to the sink, and began regulating his body temperature.
When he first saw the Cobra Kai dojo, he felt more than just pity. He believed that the place wasn't receiving the infrastructure future students deserved.
This realization made him determined to take action. He wanted to elevate the old dojo, the place where his uncle had once taught martial arts. After speaking with his uncle, Max learned that Terry was the sole owner of the Cobra Kai name.
This meant that anyone attempting to claim the name was well within their rights to do so. With this in mind, Max came up with a business plan to enhance the dojo and transform it into something extraordinary.
Over time, Max brainstormed countless ideas and eventually began spending his own money on high-quality equipment, which he stored in a warehouse.
Before taking further steps, Max knew he needed to speak with Johnny. Johnny would ultimately decide if he wanted the dojo's prestige to grow rapidly.
Additionally, Max wanted to ensure that all his efforts to make the dojo great wouldn't be taken away from him by someone else in the future.