Spirito long ago decided that sparring was fun. Even with his private instruction, he was always happy to go to his training. Long before he even began training, he recalled going with Shasis to hers. He watched and cheered her practice and always went to her advancement ceremonies. Shasis showed full commitment to her studies. 

Impressed by her progress, he was motivated to pursue the same training path. Practicing stance and Kata routines in front of his mirror in his room, he flew through his beginner levels like he was born to the sport by the time his Da allowed him to begin at five years old.

Realizing that the ways of Fac would enhance his strength and fluidity, he understood the importance of studying Chu to gain additional power. So, his mixed studies gave him endless strategies to revise and use for the mat battles that took place. 

Being aware of the advantages it would bring him; he regretted not having more time to spend in the gym facilities. While he was here, he could observe the upperclassmen who possessed more experience to learn more advanced techniques.

Whenever his class gathered inside simultaneously with the upper-level classes, he stood close to the advanced class training mats, eagerly listening to any feedback the Doha’s might give to their students. Hearing feedback, he could improve his skills, and that led to continuous growth and development. To his advantage, he came out unharmed in sparring.

His class had the gym all to themselves today. The instructors and aids split the students into four groups, while placing them on four mats, and effectively defined their level. Beginners, intermediates, students with higher levels, and wildcard fighters—those who received private instruction and possessed skills beyond the standard coursework—were all sparring with the limitations of experience. 

Waiting for his turn to spar, he watched the sparring session of the two other wildcards. The open training allowed him to try some older Fac techniques at a slower pace but with more strength. He was eager to add in Chu and see the differences. His head might get clocked by his faster opponent, of course. So, he took part while wearing the safety head-guard, which cushioned his brow, neck, and throat. His plastic mouthguard, large and practical, covered his teeth, jaw, and mouth from any impact. His ear-guards covered his ears to avoid the damage of tearing off the delicate skin. And he wore sparring gloves on his paws, as insisted by his private instructor. Like his mouthguard, they were custom fit and, while bulky, they reduced the impact of his strikes, and the thin leathers controlled the damage to his knuckles and palms. He also wore groin and partial chest protection because of the occasional fluctuating control of the wildcard students. 

While mentally reciting, he added to the ever-growing list of stances and notations of the forty Tao diagrams. Clarifying 14 through 16, the associated tree methods that multiplied the grounded forms of the Tao student using root, willow, and flower stances, he saw a small group of five canids enter the gym from the corner of his eye. Prince Tanue was among them. With a wave but a shrug at his bodyguards, the other pup met his eyes.

Spirito observed as someone instructed Tanue to share an empty mat on the deserted side of the gym, and then a private instructor started their workout with a standard warm-up routine.

“Mr. Deshik, attend the mat, please.”

Startled, Spirito turned towards his mat and noticed the other two students had finished. His sparring partner stood waiting. His Doha instructor, wearing a frown, was staring at him.

He expressed his respect and apology to the Doha by bowing. After he set foot on the mat, he bowed again to his opponent, a boy named Greenit, who originated from a southern continent. His intricate and strange training moves learned down there made him a WildCard. His techniques were different but often practical. To pin his opponent, Spirito would need to watch out for his legs and arms. If the aim was to get a point, like performing in a tournament, Spirito needed to watch for spins and kicks. However, once in a while, Greenit threw a new move. Spirito almost always discussed it with him after, to learn the timing and distance. 

Spirito regarded Greenit while anticipating the Doha. The instructor held his paw outward between them. 

“Are the opponents ready?” he asked.

“Ready.” They both responded. 

With a sudden jerk of his paw and a loud shout of “Begin”, he started the open-mat spar.

Spirito immediately ducked as Greenit flipped a kick to his head. The boy, quick and deadly, displayed his skills. As Spirito hit the mat, he rolled away and quickly sprang up in defense. He waited to use the Chu power of force with only his forearm. That was the only primary point of focus he felt confident in at the moment. Eventually, he hoped to train his entire body to contract and provide force. But being a first year and having only four weeks of research, he was not ready to do more. This meant he must deflect an overhead strike. 

With his hind leg, he lifted it to deflect Greenit’s kick by sweeping upward. Spirito twirled to redefine his place and set his feet more securely. Fac was built on the essential foundation of the base stance. The fighter tested any form of balance and understood that external balance and internal calm were necessary, whether on the heel, claw, or paw. Spirito found a breath of space against the edge of the mat and reacted with an uppercut kick that just nicked Greenit’s muzzle. Spirito performed a back flip, carrying through and landing on all four, thrusting the boy backward. He stood and stayed low. If he knew anything about Greenit, he knew the boy was bound to come in wailing if he felt in danger of losing the fight. 

Sure enough, Greenit saw red, and although the Doha warned him to remain in control; the attack was quick to return. Spirito saw the moment of choice for his strategy, and he panted just before drawing in a deep breath.

It happened so quickly, but Spirito saw it in slow motion. Greenit swung a haymaker paw around and his yell spoke volumes, trying to cause fear, but before it could touch him, Spirito clasped his paws and moved to the side to bring them up to deflect the swing. The move in itself knocked the blow away, but Spirito used the Chu way and guided his strength into the movement.

For a scant moment, he felt a warmth flow into his arms and, though it was fairly weak, he knew his Chu force was engaged. The idea was to artfully deflect the blow and twist the direction down to the ground to force Greenit to fall and allow Spirito to pin him in place.

A scant moment before they touched, however, the Chu force wavered and threw more heat outward. Spirito realized his control was wrong and something awful was about to happen. He was going to break Greenit’s arm at the strength he now held.

“Freeze.” A voice spoke inside his head. And with its command, his body froze. He couldn’t even look to see the Doha. He only saw Greenit’s eyes widen just before he became frozen in movement.