[Day 3 Early Morning] Once more at it

[Usagi Tomoe]

((As I understand it, Kogo wins the first round of grapple and we go now into round 2, where it's Kogo 1 - Tomoe 0 ))

Tomoe was surprised at how quickly Kogo used her strength against her, and the Hare tried to twist it around by applying pressure to Kogo's joints. It was much more effective than she had expected!

---

D3 EM Sparring with Kogo. Grappling untrained (round 2): 2d10 16

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo feels the pain in her joints as the clever Hare seeks their pressure points, but she pushes through. Pain is no stranger after the Matsu gempukku. She uses it to propel her, moving her into ample postion for an excellent grapple and another pin!

Grapple rnd two: 3d10k3 24

[Matsu Nintoku]

Both women were fairly unskilled with the Matsu, as expected, being the physical superior of the two. The Usagi had spunk though and despite her shortcomings she was going at it with a ferociousness that would pride any Matsu.

He now understood why one of his cousins had married a hare.

[Usagi Tomoe]

The Hare pressed her lips together as she struggled against Kogo's muscles. No matter how much she knew of joints, anatomy and the workings of the body, brute strength was much more effective when both combatants were equally skilled. Or unskilled as in this case.

She tried to leverage her way out, but Kogo's hold on her didn't leave her much room.

---

D3 EM Sparring with Kogo. Grappling untrained (round 3, the last chance!): 2d10 10

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo continued on. Though not as skilled as the time before, she manages to keep her hold on the tricksy hare, but just barely.


3rd round sparring, grapple: 3d10k3 15

[Usagi Tomoe]

The Hare, knowing she had lost, stopped struggling against Kogo's hold.

[Matsu Kogo]

The Hare, knowing she had lost, stopped struggling against Kogo's hold.

Kogo released Tomoe, bowing her to her after doing so. "An impressive fight Usagi-san. You nearly had me several times and with your lack of previous training, that is no small feat."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Thank you, Matsu-sama," Tomoe took a moment to catch her breath, feeling for any signs that this might have been too much stress for her.

Much to her relief, she felt fine, and even a little invigorated.

"I knew the Matsu were strong, but not this much. I felt I had little chance against your might."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Thank you, Matsu-sama," Tomoe took a moment to catch her breath, feeling for any signs that this might have been too much stress for her.

Much to her relief, she felt fine, and even a little invigorated.

"I knew the Matsu were strong, but not this much. I felt I had little chance against your might."

Kogo laughs, relaxed in this setting. "Usagi-san, your punches were more than enough defense. Had we not been grappling, I might have been in for some trouble! And strength is something that can be gained over time, with practice. Remember, our training paths have been different to this point. Our focuses have been different."

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Matsu stepped towards the two woman visibly pleased for their performance "Good job. You've really demonstrated the potential that lays inside of you both."

He turned first to his cousin "Matsu-san as expected of someone of our family your strength and martial abilities are on point." he congratulated her "It comes to no one's surprise that you managed to defeat Usagi-san."

He then turned to the Usagi "Usagi-san you surprised me." his tone conveyed that it had been a good surprise "You showed a fearlessness and bravery that I simply did not know you had inside of you. With a bit of practice you will be a great fighter and even if you wield no weapon you will at least manage to defend yourself."

"Tell me Usagi-san do you remember yesterday?" he questioned her "When I defeated the Mantis?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe accepted the praise from both the Lion with quiet pride. She knew her father would disapprove, but it felt good to act out on the instincts of a true samurai.

"Hai... I remember," she answered, wondering where Nintoku was going with the example of Yuzuki.

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Do you remember how I grappled her?" he continued "That is what you're probably are going to aim for"

"If someone ever tries to attack you, you will want to lock them into a deadly grapple and slowly drain the life out of them." he continued "Nobody will ever know you're a good fighter because quite simply you'll never look like on and I doubt you'll ever actively display your skills. At least I wouldn't if I was you."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Oh, you mean how I was trying to use leverage on Matsu-sama's joints? Well, I've studied medicinal texts, and some are... a little detailed in weaker points of the body, I thought maybe I could take an advantage of that."

She smiled a little sheepishly. "Perhaps with more training I could manage it..."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"You should ALWAYS aim for the weaker joints." he stated "The beauty of jiujutsu is that it allows you to defeat much stronger opponents."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Hai," she nodded. It wasn't often someone like her got these sort of compliments from a Lion, a Matsu too even!

"Please teach me, Matsu-sensei."