July 29th 109 PA - Situational boxing lesson

From Chronicles

Today, Sage leans a lightly against the sparring ring that is empty today. It seems she's either claimed it or the timing is just fortune. She has her own set of boxing gloves and protective gear this time around. Tek wanders into the sparring room wearing shorts and a tee-shirt looking around until seeing Sage. After heading over he says, "Hey there Sage. I have been practicing like we talked about. Is today the day we get in the ring and start sparring?" excitement or possibly fear can be heard creeping into his voice.

Sage considers the man, "We will get into the ring, but I'm not sure you would consider it a proper sparring match." She replies, "Or are you feeling ready to spar me as you are right now?" She asks, raising a brow faintly. Tek chuckles, "Are you kidding me? I... uhhh... well I guess but I don't expect to win. But isn't that the point? Or... Umm why don't I keep quiet now and let you do the teaching." he seems a bit embarrassed but still eager to move forward.

Sage offers a small smile, before nodding faintly. "Very well." She replies before she moves to climb into the ring herself. "Come, then. We shall take a different approach to this particular lesson than the previous one." She comments, holding the ring open for the other man's ease of entrance. Tek follows Sage into the bouncing around a bit loosening up a bit, "So where do we begin today?"

Sage moves a little away from the ropes along the side of the ring, "There is one important thing to bring up." She replies, "Knowledge of your opponent... one thing that is very important is the arms length." She mentions, "Since we are a about the same height, who would you say has the advantage?" She asks softly.

Tek smiles as he thinks he knows the answer, "You have the advantage for sure. Wait ohh I see what you are saying then umm... well I guess there would not be one cause if we are the same height our arms are the same right?"

"There may be some length difference, but we would probably be pretty even - yes." Sage replies with a nod,

"There may be some length difference, but we would probably be pretty even - yes." Sage replies with a nod, "But, if you have a reach advantage, its generally better to use your reach to make sure that the other person will take some punishment to close in. And, similarly, if you have a shorter reach, you try to close in... so that you can work on your opponent." she explains, "Now then, what do you suppose you do if your in trouble against your opponent?"

Tek thinks about that for a moment before saying, "Umm cover up?" he put his gloved hands up to block his face to show what he means

Sage wanders over to the man, "You could do that, but then I would be able to do this..." She replies as she begins to lightly tap her gloves against the mid-section. "If I were to punch you hard enough here, I could get you to drop your arms." She comments before she stops her light pummelling of the man's midsection.

Tek nods understanding the problem with his logic, "So what shoudl I do in that scenario then." he definately seems truely interested.

"You use what's typically called the clinch." Sage replies, "You'll have to be a little careful against stronger opponents since they might be able to push you backward before you can complete it... but, simply put if someone's working your stomach and trying to setup an upper cut... you hug them, trying to trap the upper part of their arms while doing it... and you lean a little against them to keep them from being able to get much of a punch off... typically your opponent will only be able to get off little punches to your midsection which typically wont have the power to drive you away." Tek nods as you explain, "That makes alot of sense. And then wait till I catch my breath, get an opening or the ref seperates us I would guess right?"

Sage nods faintly, offering a faint smile to the man. "Yes, you may not get too many openings but it is generally to rest until your forced to separate." She replies, "So..." She continues before she begins to move limberly around. She assumes a fighter's pose with her arms up to protect herself, "What do you do with an opponent that's making it hard for you to get a punch towards their head?" She asks.

Tek shakes his head as he thinks, "Ummm... I'm not sure... ohh uhh bob and weave?"

"You can dance, yes." Sage replies before she begins to edge in closer to toss some light punches to see if the man will react by getting moving and facing her. "But, I won't respect you if you wait too much for a good shot at me... and you should already know the answer from something I just mentioned a moment ago."

Tek gets dancing pretty much right away and dodges here and there as light punches come in and he says as he dances, "An uppercut?" Sage makes a dismissive noise, before she very pointedly begins to see if she can start working on the man's midsection. This time around, she doesn't hold back as much. Boxing is a sport where pain isn't a stranger, after all. Tek tries to dance out of the way but after taking a punch or two to the midsection he tries a couple jabs to see if he can get you to back up off him a bit.

Being the more experienced boxer, Sage keeps her guard up as much as possible and is able to keep the jabs from getting to her. She doesn't really seem to be overly uncomfortable as she remains on the moderate offensive. To prove the point, she throws one more punch towards the man's midsection. "Do you see what's happening?"

Tek shakes his head, "Umm no. Unless you mean that my choices to get you from hitting me failed miserably then yes. But otherwise no." Chuckling a bit Tek continues to dance and try to avoicd getting hit

Sage finally backs away, "Okay, hold up then." She explains before she begins to lower her guard, "There is a good chance that getting someone in the head will make them more leery... but if you aren't able to land that punch... and your opponent starts working your midsection over, you're going to want to drop those hands down some to better protect your midsection... that's when your opponent is really going to be able to attack your head. Fighting's a tiring sport and making your opponent cringe at being punched by you is one step towards winning the fight."

Tek nods along as he pays close attention to the lesson, "So I should lower my hands to help block and then jab when I think the distance is just right to land it or don't throw it at all. Gotcha."

Sage shakes her head, "No... don't lower your hands." She replies, "Punch your opponent in the stomach... they lower their hands... you get the advantage because they'll give you more openings." She replies.

Tek smiles seeming to finally understand, "Ahh ok now I get it. Ok I understand now."

Sage makes a faint noise in response, "Yes, its probably a good thing you didn't want to spar just yet." She comments, "But, it is good to mix in some punches up towards the head to avoid being too predictable. If your opponent realizes you're just focusing just one spot, he'll try to look for an opening like when you're punching down." She comments, "Now, let's see what you remember..." She comments, "I'm forcing you back..." She explains as she moves towards the man in more of a walk with an indication the man should pretend to be forced to the side or corner. "I've got you in trouble..." She'll close in, "My punches are really starting to hurt..."

Tek leans forward as he rushes in to hug you and trying to be in too close for any thrown punches to be able to do much damage, "Grab ahold to catch my breath until seperated."

"Yes, that's right... now, let go." Sage replies, before she makes sure that a little space develops between them but not too much. "Now then, let's practice your ability to defend yourself against the different kinds of punches... we won't go full speed just yet... let me know when you're ready... unless you have some questions."

Tek smiles as he gets it right. Keeping up with his dance Tek moves in from there. to try an make contact with Sage. being sure to not go so fast as to not see any surprizes.

Sage moves to simulate a fighter's movement, compensating for the man's movements. When she's the target of a punch, she demonstrates what that man should be doing. She'll keep things simple for the man to understand. She may well be able to do something subtly more complex. Then she tests the man's knowledge with some punches that aren't full speed.

Tek doing his best to keep up follows the instructions and tries to keep track of everything going on around him while he is there.