(Day 7, LE) Hold Me... In a Headlock

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I can certainly give it my best try," he says with a nod. After taking a moment to think the steps through he moves through them slowly and with calculation.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo moves with the motion, taking care not to hurt him. She is swept successfully. "Excellent. That's just right." She stands back up. "Now imagine that, at a faster speed. You're wanting to throw your opponent off balance and then move into another form, so that you can control the grapple. Once you have control, its only a matter of patience. " She touches him on the shoulder, miming but not going through the motions of the next piece.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

The Shinjo does his best to move between all the different forms, stances, holds and actions, trying to keep them straight. But it was clear that he wasn't trained in this and definitely needed more practice.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo stops him for a moment. "You are getting the idea, but it is early. Here." She demonstrates the form again, smoother. "Like so. You are doing well though Monkh-san. It is very different from most other forms of combat." She smiled at him, a distinct sparkle in her eye. "But I am sure that one could find similarities and other activities that would increase one's knowledge."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"There are more things in the world than one person can learn. The key is finding the ones you want to spend most of your time learning," he says with a nod. "This is a good pursuit for me with a good teacher."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo laughs quietly. "Indeed. Wisdom again. What would you like to spend your time learning Monkh-san?" She repeats another form, a little closer to him this time. "Try again, this time, with a little more speed."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

He does as asked, performing the move a bit quicker, though still thinking his way through carefully.

"I'd like to learn about the many places here in the Empire, and about the heavens as well. It seems to me that with so much in our world modeled after the heavens... the lands there might be as well. A thought I find interesting. Not that I'll expect to see them one day, but I wouldn't mind trying to draw myself a mental image of them."

[Matsu Kogo]

She pauses. "Good, that was good." She looks at him a little closer. "You are more of a philosopher than even I thought. I wish that was something I could teach you. Though I suspect there are others here who know more of this. Moshi-san, the diviner might know a great deal."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"It's less philosophy and more curiosity. I want to see it all... everything the world can offer. I yearn to see things I've never seen before," he replies as he helps back to the start so he can go through the drill a few more times.

[Matsu Kogo]

She continues the postures, puzzling over his words. "I can understand that. It feels as if there are a thousand things to do and see, and barely a moment to do it with. You have a wanderer's heart, Monkh-san. " She moves through the motions, periodically brushing against him where it is necessary. The blush is...less. But her eyes still periodically wander. "Tell me, what do the Unicorn women wear when they spar thusly?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Whatever they're comfortable in, just like the men. Sometimes folks will spar in their armor to get used to moving with it, other times in plain clothes. Occasionally females will wear a sarashi, as the equivalent to mean going topless," he says, noticing the Lion looking. It doesn't seem to bother him in the least and he seems to be quite comfortable.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo's face blushes, as if she'd never gotten it under control. "Ahhh. I see."

Some imagery tumbles through her head that likely her sensei would not approve of. Wrestling is what it could be called under some circumstances but only loosely. She focuses back on the movements.

"Ok, now take that movement and combine it with the previous one for a sequence." She demonstrates, her cheeks keeping their red.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Moving through both parts together, he does his best to figure out the movement slowly and carefully.

"You have to consider the fact that until coming here we didn't have permanent buildings like this dojo. We did all of our practice in the open air. Some days were warmer than others."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo nods. "There's sense in this approach. It is just...unconventional." She watches him go through the movement. "No this arm needs to be just a bit higher before the next movement. Yes, like that." She corrects gently. She thinks for a moment. "Do you miss those times?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"How's that?" he asks curiously. "I've already been through them. I'm fond of the memories but how can I miss something that's already mine? What is there to miss?"