In The Next Life, I'll Have To Get Stronger

Today, I will begin training in martial arts with my parents. I have no clue how either of my parents will teach. I know that the training will be tough and I'm glad that I'll have the opportunity to learn how to get stronger.

 I got myself ready and put on some clothes, went down stairs only to find my dad waiting on me, standing by the door. The first time I laid eyes on him I could tell he was a very strong man, not just from his physique but you could tell he was a man that wasn't easily shaken.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Good morning, son...Are you ready to go?

"Absolutely, I've been waiting for something like this."

We both walked out the door, closing it behind us to get to our location. I don't know exactly where were going or who I'm going to meet but I honestly don't care. Just spending time with my parents, is something I cherish and don't take lightly. 

"Son, why do you want to learn martial arts?"

This question caught me a bit off guard but I knew how to respond to his question. "I want to learn martial arts in order to be strong." This was the truth because if I had been stronger I wouldn't have died in the way I did if, I was fit.

"What will you do with that strength, once you have it."

"Dad, I am still so young and do not know what the future may hold, but?"

"But..."

"I can count on devoting myself to training because in the end, it won't fail me and allow me to learn something even when I lose."

Dad smiled faintly, I could tell that he was glad that I answered the way that I did. I have to make sure to never lose sight of myself in my pursuit of strength.

We both stopped and looked at a building, it was a dojo. The sign above it revealed the dojo's name, Morisawa Ryu. It was a family name dojo, wait...Why didn't my parents tell me anything about this?!

"Dad, why didn't you or mom tell me about this?!"

"Well...You see, we weren't really sure if you wanted to continue a family tradition?"

"Family...Tradition?

"Yeah...The people in this family who follow tradition, learn martial arts in order to improve themselves and discover their own path."

"Oh...I got off track there...How about we go in?"

"Ok."

As we walked in the dojo, I realized that it was a very old dojo. The wood beneath my feet creaked with every step. I traced the room and found two "dogi" folded up as if our arrival was expected. This dojo clearly has a long history because the wood found in here is nothing like what you would typically see in a house. 

"Sotaro, get dressed"

I walked towards the two dogi that were folded up and put on the smaller one in a changing room. I walked back to my father who was already dressed in his dogi as well.

"To begin, we will focus on building up those muscles of yours."

Muscle training seems like a good start, how could I expect to grow stronger if I don't train my muscles.

"I'll have you start with pushups because the more you do them the bigger you'll get."

In order to build a foundation for your strength, the muscles must be developed for the activity that they were trained for.

"Start whenever you're, ready."

I started doing the pushups, they tend to be pretty easy at the start so, I was able to get 10 pushups then after exhaustion began to kick in.

11...12...13...14...15... I have to get ten more because that's the sweet spot. Getting to 20 was easy and now the finale had begun...21...22...23.....24.....25.

"Whew...that was a bit tough."

"I think you exceeded your limits a bit there but that's fine...Good work, rest up now.

I had my head and body tilted backwards with my hands planted behind me...This is the typical position of someone who has exhausted themselves. I inhaled and held my breath longer then I exhaled to reduce the effects of exhaustion.

"You ready to go again. You don't have to rush the training son; these things take time."

I took my fathers word for it and scanned the room for something, a sign maybe. I locked my eyes on an emblem of some sort...It seemed to be a forest.

"Dad, why our family emblem a forest?"

"Our emblem is a forest because we are called the Morisawa clan. This clan of ours is less known throughout the world as we didn't seek to be the strongest in martial arts instead, we traveled the world to discover and make innovations."

"What do you mean by, 'innovations?"

"We are innovators...Its in our blood as humans because we tend to get bored from things that we are already familiar with. Whether we realize or not, at some point we've strived for something different, something outside of our boundaries. Morisawa, scour the earth in the hopes of acquiring some new "fruit."

"I see...So, what you're saying is Morisawa, aren't so different from the average person you see, walking about the street."

"Exactly, the urge to sate, that hunger for something "more" is human curiosity in its essence. The trees that make up the forest represent the people of this clan and how they have achieved their by discovering their path."

"Thanks for telling me that dad, I needed to hear that and by the way I'm ready to get back to training."

"No problem, and for asking me about the emblem I'll reward you by teaching you a couple techniques."

"I'll do the 25 pushups first."

.

.

.

2 minutes later

"Ok, Sotaro look at me"

I turned my attention towards my father and he took a stance getting ready to explain a technique.

"This technique I will show you is super easy. Pretty much anyone can do it. Let me explain the context of it.

"If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are nervous, anxious or perhaps excited from battle, do this: stand on your tippy toes, inhale and when you strike your heels down as hard as you can, exhale."

Simple enough?"

"Yep."

"This technique will allow you to move without being restricted by your *excited state,* which can help you avoid getting hit and calmly plan your next move.

The next technique I'll teach you is called, the knee wheel throw. The first thing you should do is put up your guard, right hand by your cheek and left hand sticking out with a diagonal angle. When your opponent throws a right hook or haymaker, use your left arm and make sure to hook your hand on the other side of it. Put your foot on the back of their right knee and push. That is how you can execute a knee wheel throw.

"The last technique I'll teach you today will be the ultimate stance, sanchin."

"Turn both feet inward like this and now take both arm and turn them inward so the palms are facing you. Your body should form this "X" like shape."

"This will allow you to defend against attacks through constant tension but you can try to combine it with some other techniques as well to bolster your defenses."

"I think I get it...If I time the tension right I can possibly not only dumb down the damage I receive but also reflect back on to my opponent."

"Yep, you're starting to understand what it means to be an innovator, and it seems it won't be long for you to developing your own techniques. Well should we go home now?"

"Yes, father!"

We left the family dojo after finishing up the lessons. Learning about the history of my clan makes me want to experiment already.

But I don't have enough knowledge yet to begin working toward the road ahead of me. I'll take it easy and give all of it time to finally sink in before I begin my own journey just like, Morisawa before me.