394 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
15 Years
Female
"Mithra-Hime"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Iwasaka Shouko on Dec 31, 2019 20:22:08 GMT -4
Time really flew at UA! Shouko was certainly surprised at simply how much had happened since she signed up at the school! The two versus one fight against Darren-senpai and the three versus three new student challenge... Both of these things felt as if they had happened a long time ago! And since then, so much... The Brawl she had called together, sparring with so many of her classmates. The slow yet steady formation of her basic techniques, now engraved in her very bones. It was a shock to think that it was already the new year, and that soon, their year's sports festival would come! How did her classmates compare to the legendary first years? She had met a few of them. The Darren-senpai she had lost so sadly to aside. There was also Yumi-senpai, whose electricity was no joke! And of course, Tetsuko-senpai! Her biggest idol in the whole school!
Speaking of Tetsuko-senpai... That was why she was so awed by the speed of time flying! They had met all they back in June, and here it was, almost January! Back then, the upperclassman had expressed an interest in seeing Shouko's style... Of course, neither of them were willing to interrupt the senior's training session for that! So they had parted with a promise of meeting again one day. And then, naturally, it had fallen apart. Either Tetsuko-senpai was busy with her duties in the Disciplinary Committee, or Shouko had already made plans to train with someone else. The last time they had almost managed to schedule it, was meant to be when she returned from the first year trip to Mount Fuji! Of course, considering how that turned out, she had had to harden her heart and cancel... Truly a disappointment.
But this time! This time, she was determined to receive pointers from the school's top student! She still watched that video, that heart pounding battle between Tetsuko-senpai and Arthur from England... The match which epitomized the school's sports festival! At least, it did for the brunette, the self-styled battle analyst. If there was one person at UA she was interested in learning from, it was Darren-senpai! But the close second was Tetsuko-senpai! And if she were to be asked her favorite it would be the latter every time! The Jishinkage-ryu was simply too spectacular, especially when fused with the steel her quirk produced! And in terms of determination, Tetsuko wouldn't even lose to Feng-senpai, who had nearly turned things around on Risaka-senpai through willpower alone!
However, unlike Darren-senpai, who specialized in martial arts alongside his quirk, Tetsuko was a swordswoman, and Shouko was not! That was the only reason that she fell to second on her list of upperclassman she would like to receive pointers from!
Shouko made her way to the training room the two had agreed to meet at- Her signature brown tunic covering her other signature, the stone armor divided in two parts. A long stone dress which somehow lay hidden beneath her much shorter tunic, and the matching stone top which covered the essentials. All the while she gave a rare prayer to a deity she'd never held much interest in- That for once, nothing should come up! Please!
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802 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
17 Years
Female
"Steelheart"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Tetsuko Shindou on Jan 8, 2020 23:32:27 GMT -4
The Weight of my pride
do i really need that?
Training, training, training.
A pillar in the lives of any U.A. student. For Tetsuko, of course, it was no exception. If anything, she had to train far more than was expected... For that was the responsibility she'd been given. Firstly, as the heiress of the Shindou family. Now, as the #1 Student who'd been entrusted with the school's very pride. As far as she saw it, it was her absolute duty to live up to the expectations placed upon her shoulders. Once, she'd had mixed feelings about it. About having this great burden upon her, adding on to the pressure she already felt from her family. Her Grandfather's expectations and her mother's legacy were of the utmost importance.
Now, after the curtain obscuring the truth behind both those things had fallen, she was almost glad to have this immutable reason to keep pushing herself beyond her own limits. Even if she doubted her own worth, recent interactions had proven to her that her own perspective didn't really matter. If others had decided she was the #1, so be it. Tetsuko had to live up to their expectations, rather than expecting others to change them.
If they wanted to believe she was #1, she'd prove them right. Kata had helped her realize that much.
Being #1 had plenty of responsibilities within it, of course. For one, she had to be constantly at the top of her game, always training and always improving. Particularly with certain events coming up, where those abilities would be on display for countless people to see.
Another one of her duties was to help train her fellow schoolmates.
"Ah, hello Shouko-chan. Nice to see you could make it." The Shindou girl would greet her fan with a courteous bow of the head. Tetsuko had already been in the training room, awaiting Shouko's arrival, so the other girl would walk just to see her finish a kata. Tetsuko had brought a few practice swords with her, and was ready to make her own weapons if needed. Whatever was necessary to help Shouko develop this new art of hers.
It was an interesting thing, to help someone else create a new, individualized martial art. Tetsuko was sure it would be a good experience for the both of them.
Holding an iron blade safely at her side, Tetsuko would welcome Shouko into the training room, seeing she'd come prepared. "I guess we can finally work on that martial art of yours, yes?"
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394 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
15 Years
Female
"Mithra-Hime"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Iwasaka Shouko on Jan 9, 2020 21:40:56 GMT -4
A grin would spread across the girl's face as she was recognized by her upperclassman. Truly an easy one to amuse, this Shouko. "Senpai! Haiyo!" she would call out to the elder girl who appeared to have been training while she waited. As expected of Tetsuko-senpai, even in the brief gap between their agreed meeting time and Shouko's arrival, she had been hard at work on her swordplay. It was a work ethic to be envious of... Worthy of the name of the number one student! Even in that falling movement as she returned to a neutral stance, Shouko could see the beauty of her upperclassman's Jikishinkage-ryu sword arts. It was a sight she never got tired of, no matter how many times she saw it- On recordings, usually. In person, it was almost enough to take her breath away. Oh, why couldn't she have arrived but a moment sooner, and seen even more of Tetsuko-senpai's skill? No, she should have skipped class and arrived well beforehand, so she could film it from the beginning!
Ahem, weird thought directions aside, Shouko was truly excited for this! Speaking of Tetsuko-senpai, she was the precise opposite of Shouko's martial direction. What Shouko pursued was the perfect fusion of her quirk's properties and traditional theories to form something which had never been seen before... Or possibly since, as her quirk's unique properties may never arise again. However, the other side's Tetsuko, was one who pursued tradition to it's peak! Her quirk was used to stabilize and enhance the sword and bow moves she had learned, but never to replace them! As for which was the better method... Shouko disliked considering it in such terms. There was no better or worse in martial arts, only most suitable! And anyone who watched that final swing of Tetsuko's just now, would know that it suited her like Shouko had never seen before!
However, as far as advantages and disadvantages went, they were clear. A self-created style had the advantage of familiarity- No one could know her Yaogun better than she herself did, although they often had separate viewpoints that proved valuable in her own ways of looking at it! However, that came at the cost of polish- The moves themselves would hardly be more than rough sketches, concepts given form. Whereas what a traditional style lacked in intimacy, it made up for in history. Generations upon generations in an unbroken line had taken each move to it's ideal form, needing little improvement. Purposeless moves had been cut loose, and what remained was a well oiled machine. For Shouko, that amount of trial and error was something impossible to accomplish in one lifetime. And looking at Tetsuko-senpai, no one could say she lacked synchronization with her style! It was as though the entire history of Jikishinkage-ryu had been created for this one person.
Ahem, but today wasn't about Tetsuko-senpai! It was about herself! And the upperclassman's words would address that fact. Her grin somehow widening further, and her eyes sparkling, Shouko would stand at attention! Or at least, as much at attention as she ever got. "Of course, senpai! If you don't mind, I'll start explaining it, and demonstrate as I go!" Her thought processes were as important as the end result, after all- Both would help develop the philosophy further! "Eto, as I told you last time, the name of my unique style is Yaogun!" She naturally wouldn't explain the name further. Mostly because it wasn't anything important. Ahem. Moving on. "At it's heart, the main theme of it is 'weight!'
"Eto, Ah!" She suddenly would exclaim in shock. "Come to think of it, I never told you about my quirk, did I?" What an oversight! Her entire style was based on it, after all! Time to fix that. "It's called Stone Shell! Eto, to make a long story short, I wake up in a boulder every morning! I then carve that into a sort of armor I designed... Ah, it'll be easier to show you!" For once, she explained before stripping. Was this a sign of growth, or just the nerves of a girl standing before her idol? In any case, soon after her words, the sash holding her tunic together would release, dropping the thick cloth to the floor.
Her battle dress had hardly changed since arriving at school- Showing either a lack of desire to change it, or lack of need to do so. Although lately she was having some thoughts, that was besides the point. At a glance, it could hardly be called armor- The amount of skin it showed was like it had been ripped from some western fantasy publication. In fact, the upper half was like a stone version of that infamous style. However, the lower half showed significantly more personality- A skirt of stone which dropped well below her knees. Even that was hard to describe as armor, yet... It was clear by the way it covered her legs, that showing skin was not her entire intention!
She would hurriedly explain before her idol misunderstood! "See, stone isn't exactly flexible, right? So I end up cutting most away from the middle in order to minimize the effect on my ability to move! Not to mention, it's already a lot of weight to be carrying! Adding more would be a logistical nightmare!" Was her explanation for the appearance. "But don't let it's appearance fool you! It's fine if the armor only covers this much, so long as make sure to take the hits on it!" It was a declaration which belied her confidence in her own ability to control the battle- Whether it was by redirecting moves to land on it, or contorting her body to prevent a direct hit!
"What's more... It's heavy! Really heavy, you know? Even when I'm not in a wide stance, my center of gravity is suuuuuper low! So I can more or less keep balance no matter what comes my way!" She was pretty proud of that one. "And, of course, no matter what I do!" The low center of gravity was certainly a crux of her style. It allowed her movements to hold a certain level of balance that would be impossible otherwise. Perhaps that was what she meant by the core of her style being weight? But what would Tetsuko-senpai think of her handiwork?
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802 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
17 Years
Female
"Steelheart"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Tetsuko Shindou on Feb 1, 2020 3:59:46 GMT -4
It was sure to be an excellent experience, being witness and aide to the creation of a new, personalized martial art. The idea itself wasn't that new in Tetsuko's mind, that concept of crafting a new style around one's own abilities. There were countless arts like that surely existed, after all, but never entered the consciousness of others. After all, if an art was crafted entirely for one individual, it was often difficult - if not impossible - to pass it on, leaving it lost to time. No, the idea of a self-crafted martial art wasn't new, but being able to be there in the process of crafting it still excited her. To figure out the weaknesses and appropriate influences, and to create something that may only ever be used by a single person. It was intriguing, greatly so. The Shindou girl was already thinking about how she might use her own knowledge of different styles, and her specialization in Jikishinkage-ryu, to help Shouko with her powerful fighting form. Whatever influences she offered, however, would need to be only an influence, not a substitute. To pursue this path, Shouko would have to wholeheartedly embrace the idea of building this art from the foundations up to be familiar and comfortable for her. Tetsuko had her own 'familiarity' with the traditions of Jikishinkage-ryu, but that was because it had been imprinted upon her mind and body from a very young age. She had practically grown within the mold of the ancient art. Shouko would need to acquire that 'familiarity' with compatibility and individualization alone. Of course, thinking and theorizing wasn't going to get them anywhere. Perfection was nigh impossible, but practice brought one extremely close to the summit. Shouko jumped right in with the explanation and demonstration, Tetsuko nodding lightly and stepping back to give the other girl plenty of space. "Of course. Feel free to begin." All the swordswoman could do for the moment was watch, and try to get a solid grasp on the martial art that Shouko was cultivating. It had a core theme, which was good. A central anchor held the style down, gave it a sense of 'cohesion' with all its different techniques. This core was what separated a martial art from just a collection of different moves. Furthermore, weight was an interesting theme... Which made more sense when Shouko quickly launched into explaining her Quirk. Tetsuko remained attentive, watching with intrigue. Waking up as a boulder sounded kind of troublesome, but now wasn't really the time to chat about that. Her 'armor' was the main focus here. The sudden stripping surprised Tetsuko for a moment, only to see the sturdy battle armor. Its coverage was somewhat underwhelming, but Tetsuko understood right away, and had her suspicions confirmed by Shouko. "Indeed. You don't have the ability to fine-tune it mechanically like with plate armor, nor the ability to pair it with clothing to maintain mobility..." One could be surprisingly mobile in metal armor, but stone was another story altogether. It was heavier than steel, for equal amounts of protection. It couldn't be sculpted as finely, limiting the ability to create complex shapes. Even in Tetsuko's wide knowledge of historical arms and armor, she did not know of any cases of 'stone armor', ceremonial pieces aside. All that said, the armor still did show a bit of skin... Not exactly Tetsuko's style, but she understood the theory. Shouko had a good approach to it - taking the hits on her armor. It sounded like a simple approach, but there were countless examples of it in historical armor. Designs that covered only covered relatively little skin, but enough to resist slashes over the entire limb. The stone maiden also had the advantage of low center of gravity. That took Tetsuko's interest, not only because of the balance it surely provided, but also certain advantages in different fields... Once Shouko was finished explaining, Tetsuko nodded her head lightly, feeling she grasped the 'core' of the style. "You have a good 'pillar' around which to build your Yaogun. 'Weight' is a simple concept, but it can be a deciding factor in various match-ups. Standing your ground, keeping your stance firm, redirecting your opponent's strikes and delivering your own steady-footed attacks." Tetsuko would raise her practice blade, shifting back into a firm stance as she held her blade in a central guard. "It isn't all too dissimilar to Jikishinkage-ryu's fudōshin. Well, as similar as an armed an unarmed style can be."Lowering her sword, Tetsuko would look to Shouko again. She'd already learnt plenty, but Tetsuko wanted to see more of the 'foundations' of Yaogun. "I can already see the particular advantages your armor and weight may grant you, but before we even start talking about attacks, we need to focus on the the 'roots' behind them. Shouko-chan, I'd like to see what 'stances' you have in mind." Tetsuko would explain further. "Your armor is pretty sturdy, I'd guess. But like you said, you need to make sure you take the hits on it. Having the appropriate stance, for your art, is extremely important. Especially because, with skills like those, you're very much suited for 'infighting'. That means getting into close range with your opponents, and a skilled attacker might be able to fend you off without the proper defensive posture. I'd like to see what your footwork is like with this weight and armor..."The Shindou girl would leave the floor open again for Shouko to continue explaining, as the Shindou girl waited to see what the stony lass had in these regards. Tetsuko could already see the benefits that Shouko had, the natural aptitude towards grappling and infighting. But before any of that could be tested, they had to get the basics down right.
Tetsuko had heard once, from her Great Grandfather, that a martial art was constructed from the feet up. Stances and footwork were the pillars of proper striking and grappling. |
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394 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
15 Years
Female
"Mithra-Hime"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Iwasaka Shouko on Feb 1, 2020 17:02:24 GMT -4
Speaking to an expert was always a pleasure! A brief explanation, and the core points of Shouko's armor's style was understood by the other! Stone wasn't metal, or really akin to any other material used to make armor. It could not be molded, only carved- And the strength and weight were miles apart! It was frankly impossible to use realistic examples, and so! She had molded it based on feelings, and tested it until it became a force to be reckoned with! Although some would argue that it would have been more efficient to just take it off and wear proper armor... Where was the thematics in that, hey? There was a certain romance to an armor carved from her own living stone! And she certainly made it work!
"En, that's exactly it! In theory I could take off a piece at a time and make it into a more plate-mail like form, but... When I tried that, it just didn't work! It's not as smooth as metal, nor does it fasten to more flexible materials the same way, so it's just not feasible..." Which was a shame, because that would have been cool too! Like Takkicchi's bone armor! But what she had was cool too! "So, since I had to keep the stone in one piece... This kinda ended up being the most effective?" She couldn't tie together smaller pieces, again, so she had to leave it in as intact a chunk as she could! The wide skirt and empty midriff became her compromise between mobility and protection!
She nodded along at the further explanation by her respected upperclassman. "En, en! That's exactly right!" That was exactly how she used it! "Ehehe, but... Mm, nevermind." A mischievous chuckle crept into the girl's voice. But apparently she was keeping it a secret for the moment. "That's just right, Tetsuko-senpai! By leveraging my weight and it's distribution, I can keep myself planted against any force! Well, maybe not any... But you know what I mean! And that means that more of the force of my blows is transferred to the target, mmhmm!" There were some strengths that could not be calculated by common sense- Such as the hero, Red Horn. Obviously Shouko couldn't resist those on her weight alone! Even in the first year alone, there were a few who could send her tumbling if they tried.
That said, there was another use of her weight which she had not mentioned to the upperclassman... And by the giggling she occasionally let slip, she was really looking forward to showing it off!
And Tetsuko-senpai was happy to give her that chance! "Of course! The stances are the core of my Yaogun so far!" Really, they were all she had. No special techniques, just four basic stances and a solid understanding of martial arts. "It's quadrant based, really! You can take it as the 'form'" If this were a manga, the helper katakana for that word would read 'upper body.' "And the 'posture'" 'Lower body,' naturally. "But for both, the scale is the same! On one end, heavy, and the other, light! Eto... Form is easier to explain. It's whether I'm using this!" She held her arms up in front of her, fists clenched. But suddenly... "Or this!" And suddenly, a greyish fluid with a consistency of concrete would flow out over her arms, swiftly congealing into brown stone which matched the rest of her armor.
"Ehehe, pretty obvious which is which, right?" The girl chuckled. It was the only part of her quirk she could control at will, so of course she had worked it in! Besides, with the raw, heavy stone covering her arms... She was even heavier than usual! However, that was not what Tetsuko had asked for- It altered her upper body, but not necessarily her footwork. "As for footwork, that falls under the category of posture! En, watch!" A picture was worth a thousand words, and a movie was thousands of pictures! Why would she explain, when she could show!
"First, the light posture!" Heavy form, light posture! "Treating the Heavy as though it were Light!" She so rarely got the chance to use her style names, how could she miss now? For the demonstration itself... Those newly formed clubs would swing through the air. But once started, they did not stop- Each swing carried into the next, whether it was using one arm's swing to birth momentum for the other's, or even using both arms to perform a cartwheel which transferred the momentum of both into the legs... And then, back into the clubs, lifting them off the ground in a fluid motion. Her footwork was clear and precise- The stance overall held highly, and not nearly the firm form she had described. A childish grin spread as Shouko imagined the reaction her senpai would have to this surprise!
And, at the peak of the demonstration... The girl spoke again. "Treating the Heavy as though it were Heavy!" And all of a sudden, her movement stopped. Her legs, bowed, lowering her center of gravity yet further. Those swings which had been so fluid, became individual motions. No longer did they weave into each other- And yet. Due to no longer needing to retain momentum for the next blow, the force of each swing became amplified. Climaxing, as Shouko raised both arms high into the sky... And slammed them down into the training room floor. Stone cracked and shattered under the motions she had put it through, once more revealing those thin arms which seemed incapable of wielding such weight. The secret?
"En, one of the points of my battle dress... It can act as a counterweight to my clubs! Without it, I doubt I'd be able to lift them, you know? Ehehe, but their power is undeniable!" However, for their strengths, the weaknesses were visible as well. The former required momentum to be held throughout, and to be built up from the beginning. The second had devastating impacts, but was far too slow to reliably connect with. "En, it's pretty similar with the light form as well!" The girl would explain, proceeding into a demonstration of her first stance's footwork- "Treating the Light as though it were Light!"
Much like the fourth stance, the first stance held the light posture- Raised up, and legs bent only slightly. Her weight shifted ever so slightly between her two feet, ready to dart at a moment's notice. And, unencumbered by the clubs, her arms moved with both strength and speed, dealing out a barrage of blows to an imaginary foe, as she circled around. Truly, a lightness unbefitting of the weight both knew belonged to the armor she wore.
"And finally! Treating the Light as though it were Heavy!" This was the stance Tetsuko would have been expecting. Feet planted on the ground, whole body lowered as well. It could be said to be similar to Karate's horse stance, or even the crouch of Sumo. However, as her center of gravity was naturally low due to her quirk, she was not quite so low as either of those stances, and her arms came up in a more defensive form. While the light forms were characterized by their mobility, much like the previous heavy form which shared this stance, Shouko did not move once it was taken. She did not need to- Her stance was exactly as sturdy as she had sold it as being. "What do you think?" The girl would ask as she displayed a few moves from this stance, which emphasized her sturdy footing to fend off incoming opponents.
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802 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
17 Years
Female
"Steelheart"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Tetsuko Shindou on Feb 10, 2020 9:39:36 GMT -4
Shouko certainly did her homework, which was delightful to see from one of Tetsuko's underclassman. All too often she'd had to deal with other peers who had a view on martial arts and combat in general that seemed to be entirely inspired by anime and manga. Which, needless to say, did not exactly lead to the most well thought-out styles or training regimens. Shouko, however, had managed to draw upon plenty of inspiration and experimentation to craft this fighting style of hers in a way that felt organic and understandable all the way through. Compared to Darren's self-taught style, it seemed to to prioritize more theory over raw instinct and experience, though did have elements of both.
"I see. Well, this stone armor of yours won't really limit you, I think. Crafting your own style naturally handles the messy specifics..." Tetsuko commented. Her only other comment she had on the armor was that she might want to supplement it with a bit more clothing, but that felt more like a personal take, and an unnecessary one at that...
Armor aside, the basis behind Shouko's style seemed reasonable enough. It was also naturally something that came with endless possibilities, thanks to its relative simplicity as a 'pillar'. Every martial art utilized 'weight' in one way or another, so choosing to focus on it could effectively turn that simple piece in to a powerful asset. Not just for defensive purposes.
"That's a solid strategy, though, you'll need to be careful with it. In the age of Quirks, it's not something that will work against everyone, obviously." Some people were tanks in their own right. Others could deal plenty of damage without needing to apply physical force in any kind of traditional sense. In the age of Quirks, adaptability was something every martial artist needed, and Tetsuko intended to stress that as much as possible.
Much to her satisfaction, Shouko had already taken stances as the core of her martial art. The Shindou girl had a fairly solid grasp on the underlying metrics right away, or at least she felt she did. A four-point system upon a binary scale. It sounded complicated, but aspects of her style of swordsmanship were actually quite comparable. "I see. Go ahead." Tetsuko said, letting Shouko demonstrate. The first part, 'form', seemed to be dependent on her weapons. Two club like attachments to her arms, which did pique Tetsuko's curiosity. Yes, a weapon like that was very much suited to 'weight'.
As Tetsuko understood it, one's stance and the 'weight' of their attacks were the two switches at Shouko's disposal. Depending on which was set to what, her stance changed. The Shindou girl confirmed those beliefs with the demonstration of Shouko's first technique, which had her smiling at the girl's talent. Much to the surprise of people who dismissed blunt weapons as primitive or simple, such tools could be as graceful and elegant as any blade in the right hands. Shouko displayed that well.
It was similar to the techniques used by many blunt weapons. As the center of weight for such weapons was much farther from the hilt compared to a sword, it was difficult to stop one's own swings without some deal of effort. Thus, flowing strikes that kept the weight in motion, the force of each blow flowing into the next, had been devised.
Her second technique was what one might consider a more conservative approach. A downside to the 'flowing' approach was that it did sacrifice some raw impact for greater control, and didn't keep one's guard as centered. The powerful finishing move Shouko unleashed preceded an explanation for how those 'weapons' of hers might be used. "Hmmm... While powerful, such a method does have its downsides. We can discuss that later." Reliance on a counterweight did seem reliable enough, but there were concerning aspects to it. That aside, Shouko was happy to show off her light form next. It was about what Tetsuko had expected. A much more free-flowing and orthodox technique compared to the heavy clubs. The final technique was similarly straightforward. Either would be much more effective in a standard fight, but lacked the extra power and specialization that one might need to draw on for combat against Quirked opponents.
As her opinion was sought, Tetsuko brought a hand to her chin. "I think it's a very good idea as 'base' for your style. Having a four-point style, along a single binary scale, offers you plenty of versatility in combat. I don't have much criticism for what you have so far, only thoughts on how it could be expanded. Both inward and outward."
The Shindou girl would observe Shouko's techniques as she spoke on, detailing her thoughts. "You see, the orthodox forms of Jikishinkage-ryū have a similar system. The foundational Hōjō Kata, which serves as the base of these forms, is also called the Four Seasons Kata, as it is itself divided into four distinct parts, each based on one of the most important things to swordsmen, dating back to Musashi himself. Tempo. There's four seasons, four tempos. Spring, Accelerating. Summer, Fast. Autumn, Decelerating. Winter, Slow. Those are the four stages to the Hōjō Kata."
Tetsuko raised her own katana, which she'd kept at her side, and held it out in front of her in a loose stance. No demonstrations just yet, but she wanted to feel the weight of the blade in her hands as she described its uses. "However, there are are a total of five orthodox kata in Jikishinkage-ryū. Each one builds upon the Hōjō Kata, focusing on a different 'season' and expanding its potential, while also adding different elements to the system as a whole. The Tō Kata focuses on 'Spring', and introduces the ōdachi to the system. Next, the Kodachi Kata is centered around 'Summer', and, well, the kodachi." Lowering the sword into a lax low guard, the Shindou girl continued to speak.
"Now, the kata I've most recently learned is the Habiki Kata. It focuses on 'Autumn', but doesn't introduce anything new to the system otherwise. Instead, it focuses on incorporating teachings up to this point into the Four Seasons Kata. The Habiki Kata is not only an expansion of the 'Autumn' stage, but it also seeks to reinforce the connections between the other stages too. After all, Autumn is the season of change. To understand that 'change', we need to understand the space between every point on this 'quadrant'. The Habiki kata doesn't just push the Autumn corner further out, it also explores the space between each corner, if that makes much sense."
Lowering the blade to her side again, the Shindou girl was smiling as she spoke, evidently having fun rattling on like this. "All this to say, that although you have a good foundation now, you need to expand it both inward and outward. Not only is it important to determine new ways to expand the usage of each technique, but also to explore the territory between them. If you imagine all of 'martial arts' as an endless expanse, and your own art as a diamond of territory in that expanse, you need to control what's between its corners as much as you need to expand them. Doing so allows you to flow between stances and styles readily, which given the specialties of these forms, is extremely useful. Keeping them too separate, too segregated, limits your potential."
It was all very old-school, one might say, but it worked for Tetsuko so far. "Of course, it's always good to just be flexible in general. I've picked up a few techniques here and there from completely outside the orthodox kata, and it's helped my when nothing I know from there quite works. Generally, just be careful of locking yourself into something too much. Now, all that aside... Let's talk about techniques. Both striking and grappling."
Tetsuko had a feeling the latter would already be a specialty of the stony girl, which was a shame, cause it wasn't exactly Tetsuko's area of expertise. But it was still worth talking about. "For your most basic techniques, you should fill the 'inward' area first. Moves that can be used effectively in all stances, but are simply better used in some, are a good way to train your flexibility within your own style from the start. For example, that first stance of yours would be highly suited towards combination striking techniques. Adapting the principles of some Polynesian club fighting, or European combat with the mace or quarterstaff are good starts - as they're handy with your arm-clubs in general, given some of the heavier styles."
Was arm-clubs the right phrase? Gauntlets? Maybe. Thinking she'd spoken on a bit much, Tetsuko leaved the floor open for Shouko again, to speak about her own thoughts.
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394 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
15 Years
Female
"Mithra-Hime"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Iwasaka Shouko on Feb 11, 2020 21:46:20 GMT -4
The brunette nodded frantically at the other's gentle reminder. "Of course! But that's what makes things interesting! A quirk, a combat style that has no gaps... Where would be the fun in that!" Her own weaknesses were quite obvious. The first, her own physicality! Having to use her own body as a weapon naturally put her at a disadvantage. For one example- When attacking, Shouko had to be careful or the impact of her own blows would be enough to break her arms! If another could say, do the same damage by throwing a fireball, there was no such risk to the self! And speaking of throwing a fireball, there came Shouko's second weakness. Range! Even her greatest range was only the tips of her fists, and using her stone clubs only lowered it further! She could somewhat overcome this with speed... But there was naturally a delicate balance between that, and the heavy armor which was central to her style!
As she displayed her techniques for the upperclasman... Yup, Tetsuko had concerns with the third stance! The same one she had the most concerns with! It was definitely the right choice to talk to her. "En, it's the simplest of my forms in theory, but in practice... It's definitely the hardest to time! If I use it at a bad spot, it's like asking to be countered, right?" Very strong, but with glaring flaws. However, by being able to switch her stances smoothly, she controlled which weaknesses she showed at a given time! And she was proficient enough to switch at a moment's notice!
But the upperclassman, rather than elaborate and reveal if their thoughts on this coincided, would continue. Unsurprisingly, Shouko would beam at the statement that there wasn't any criticism- Possibly forgetting that a criticism had just been made and set aside for the moment. And that smile could only grow at what came next- Inward and outward expansion! The very thing she was currently struggling with finding a path for! Unusually for the girl known for her inability to sit still, Shouko would listen raptly to Tetsuko's every word.
Well, of course she would. A lecture on the Jikishinkage-ryu from it's successor was rare! Even if there wasn't the implication of her learning from it, she would regret not having brought a recorder so that she could listen to it again and again! The younger girl would watch carefully, listening to each ability! As expected of a form with hundreds of years to its name, it was way more comprehensive than her several months of improvisation! "Ah, I see! My forms are designed to supplement each other, using their strengths to hide the weaknesses of the others... But in Jikishinkage-ryu, each form is built on the foundation of the last!" She liked it a lot! Partly because the comparison was reminsicent of her theory on how to become stronger- That one could eaither work to shore up their weaknesses, or hone their strengths to an overwhelming state!
Of course, just because one of those two was the core, did not mean you couldn't shore up weaknesses while honing a strength, or vice versa!
However, when it came to the description of the stances themselves... The first two were self explanatory. Each added a new weapon, a new style to the table, based on the framework of the original kata. But... When it came to the Habiki kata, she could only rub the back of her head. "Eto... Not really? In the first place, when you say inward and outward..." In the end, she was someone who had learned by watching rather than through structured study... And while her style was based in theory, she always learned best by feeling! Much to the chagrin of those whose quirks she desired to learn more about...
And while she kinda got the idea about change, since her own style incorporated so much of it... Her face would still show a sort of puzzled expression. Well, to be fair- Before speaking about expanding the autumn corner, or finding the space between the corners... She didn't know what those corners were! However, she knew her own corners. Her four quadrants! Separate, yet equal. And if she still hadn't understood by the time Tetsuko was finished speaking, what was she doing learning martial arts?
"Oh!" She would exclaim as it clicked. "Eto, so, like how I switched from my heavy form to my light form, right?" She would call back to a moment before, when she had used the force of her own blow to shatter the clubs, and reveal her hands. "En, that's a huge part of it! Each stance has distinct strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to be able to change on the fly!" However, as Tetsuko said... Her methods of doing so could use some polish! She realized with a start.
However, before that... Something was bothering her. "Eto, eto... Spring, Summer, Autumn... What about Winter? Oh! And you said there were five, right? What comes after that?" Her curiousity refused to be held back! Her battle analyst's spirit surged as she asked an entirely besides the point question.
But while she occasionally dropped such a non-sequitur, in general, Shouko made a good audience! She nodded along as Tetsuko mentioned taking in other techniques- Having seen firsthand her absorption of the Heki-ryu into her repertoire. Shouko herself was not above stealing a good move or three! "Nyahaha, that's what's nice about creating your own style! Anything you do is orthodox!" The girl cheekily flashed a v. However, the joke out of her system... She nodded, to show that she was taking this seriously.
And of course she was. The first suggestion Tetsuko made was already one that brought a contemplative look to her face. Moves for all stances? What kind of move would that be... Her stances each had their own distinctive flavor, after all. Was there really a move that could suit the flexibility of her first stance, the sturdiness of her second, the brute force of her third, and the fluidity of the fourth...? And if Tetsuko merely stopped there, perhaps that would be the end of her ability to comprehend. But the upperclassman suggested some sources, and the girl's eyes brightened up! And not only because these were styles she had never seen before!
"Ah! I see what you mean! I'll definitely check those out when I have time! En, my clubs are heavier and don't have the reach of a real club or a mace, but the ideas should still be applicable! After all, being longer isn't necessarily an advantage when working with weight!" There were physics behind it, she was pretty sure. In any case, she should be able to take some inspiration from those!
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