The weather forecast calls for cloudy skies turning overcast, with possible showers.
In Training Hall No. 2, on a mat-covered floor,
a group of young students in white gis are warming up with leg stretches and rolls.
Having just finished a Jujitsu sparring class, Fang Cheng simply stands aside to rest and watch.
He takes the opportunity to audit the class and learn related techniques.
Today was scheduled to be his day off.
But having already taken a leave of absence on Tuesday, he needs to make up for the time missed due to illness.
After warming up, the students start practicing ’kumite’.
’Kumite’ refers to grasping each other in simulated combat training, which involves throwing and striking.
Fang Cheng is not very familiar with this combat style but is quite interested in it.
Many of its techniques, such as throwing techniques, Throwing Techniques, Locking Technique, Choking Techniques, and Sleeping Skills, are also incorporated into Karate.
Historically, Karate has absorbed techniques from various styles.
To put it nicely, it’s all-encompassing; less charitably, it’s a bit of a mishmash.
Perhaps for that reason.
During the past few days sparring with Shijima Gorou, Fang Cheng has yet to unlock the corresponding Skills.
Therefore, he simply focuses his efforts on other more specialized and distinctive combat styles,
such as Jujitsu and Muay Thai...
At this moment, a succession of shouts can be heard from the floor.
The coach constantly reminds the students to pay attention to the key points of the movements, correcting and instructing their basic techniques.
Fang Cheng watches intently, silently noting the relevant principles.
During his previous training session with the Jujitsu competitor,
he basically wore protective gear, assumed a defensive stance, and played the role of the defender,
allowing his opponent to use various techniques on him, such as throwing techniques, Throwing Techniques, Locking Technique, and Sleeping Skills.
Even with a firm stance, Fang Cheng would often get his balance shaken, almost thrown out of place.
Fortunately, thanks to his long-term practice of Deep Squat, he managed to withstand several rounds of his opponent’s throws and Throwing Techniques.
Seeing this, the Jujitsu player then focused more on using Locking Technique and Sleeping Skills.
For a while, this indeed caused quite a bit of trouble for Fang Cheng.
Nevertheless, with his reaction speed, he was able to dismantle the moves and cope with them, albeit barely.
In the end, the Jujitsu player, in a moment of desperation, resorted to a Sacrifice Technique.
Using his thigh’s Strength and the momentum from spinning in the air, he dragged him to the ground, his favorite battleground, for strangulation.
Caught by this move, if Fang Cheng had not promptly used his palms to block his neck being choked by the thigh, he might have suffocated.
But ultimately, the Strength of hands could not match the Strength of the thigh.
At the end of the sparring session, the employer, with a slightly bruised leg, declared victory with great satisfaction.
Many of Jujitsu’s moves are extremely vicious and dangerous, often fatal.
’Sacrifice Technique’ implies a do-or-die tactic, defeating the enemy by risking oneself.
The moves are mostly ground techniques, leveraging the opponent’s Strength, and while defending against their moves, throwing them down, and strangling them.
This is a fighting skill that seems unorthodox but is actually highly sophisticated.
Through several real combat experiences, Fang Cheng has come to appreciate the effectiveness of Grapple and throwing techniques Combination Skill.
If he wishes to learn more deeply, Jujitsu is a good choice.
Mastering this Fighting Skill will not only unlock new skill slots but also help compensate for any shortcomings in close-quarters combat techniques.
......................
The rainy night streets.
Only occasionally few pedestrians pass by under umbrellas.
The neon sign of "Martial Arts Friend" audio and video store still flickers in the persistent drizzle.
But only half the lights are on inside, casting a somewhat dim glow.
At this time, in this weather, customers are unlikely to visit.
Wu Datong sits behind the counter, in front of an old seventeen-inch television.
He stares at the flickering screen, one hand clutching a tissue roll, the other clenched into a fist.
The sallow complexioned face was flushed and the breathing was slightly hurried.
Just then, the glass door was suddenly pushed open, and a voice followed.
Wu Datong shuddered with fright, hurriedly turned off the TV, and looked up.
A tall and thin young man stood at the door, folding up his umbrella and turning to look over.
"I’ve come to return the tapes and to rent some instructional videos on Jujitsu."
The customer who had come late at night was none other than Fang Cheng, who had just gotten off work and rushed over.
Wu Datong first clumsily tidied up the counter, then chuckled and nodded:
"Yes, yes, I’ll get them for you right away."
This time, his attitude was even more earnest and attentive than usual.
Wu Datong, dragging his slightly lame left leg, rummaged through the left audiovisual rack and found an old packaged disc.
He turned around and came back, saying:
"Here, this is ’Jujutsu Life and Death Path’."
"It features a well-known master demonstrating in person, mainly including the Jujitsu of Life and Death, various schools’ Forbidden Techniques and Training Experience. It’s rare to find it anywhere else except here."
"However, the moves inside are a bit dangerous and only suitable for those with a certain Martial Arts foundation."
Fang Cheng took the disc, then took out the two tapes he had rented last time from his bag and returned them to Wu Datong.
Upon seeing this, Wu Datong couldn’t help but murmur:
"Rushing over in such heavy rain, renting it for another day wouldn’t cost much extra..."
In the midst of speaking, while looking at Fang Cheng’s earnest eyes, he seemed to recall something.
So he added another piece of advice:
"Jujitsu isn’t anything special. Martial Arts like Fighting Skill also share its philosophy, which is about using the opponent’s force against them and leading into nothingness. It’s just that Jujitsu is more extreme."
"To practice this Kung Fu and achieve a high level, it is best not to rely too much on your body’s Strength. The most important thing is to use your heart to feel, to feel the cycle of life and death, and understand the changes of life in the universe..."
Saying this, Wu Datong hesitated and scratched his head:
"Hey, am I talking too esoterically?"
But Fang Cheng was listening intently and replied:
"Thanks for the lesson, Uncle Wu. I seem to understand a bit."
"That’s good, that’s good."
Wu Datong said with a smile.
Suddenly he noticed a hair fallen on the 5-yuan note that Fang Cheng passed over.
He couldn’t help but ask:
"Ah Cheng, have you been losing a lot of hair recently?"
"Uh, it seems so, why?"
"Pay attention to that."
Wu Datong said sternly, warning:
"Young people need to understand restraint. Don’t just rely on a good body and eat anything unclean, and definitely don’t take drugs for fitness. Especially, you should give up certain manual ’activities’."
Fang Cheng didn’t argue, but his eyes blinked.
Looking towards the half-opened drawer of the counter, the pink cover of a disc was revealed.
Wu Datong followed his line of sight and immediately his face turned red, bashfully saying:
"What’s wrong? I’m over fifty, unmarried, why can’t I relax once in a while?"
Fang Cheng nodded, showing understanding.
Wu Datong became even more ashamed, losing all the demeanor of a profound expert that he had moments ago.
Putting the disc into his bag and picking up the umbrella by the door, Fang Cheng was ready to push open the glass door and leave.
But behind him came another inquiring voice.
"Ah Cheng, you love Martial Arts so much, would you be interested in finding like-minded sparring partners to exchange and progress together?"
Fang Cheng was startled upon hearing this and turned to look at Wu Datong.
Similar words, should have... been heard for the second time already.