The Squared Circle

[Kali Reyes]

[Gym]

She didn't enjoy being ordering around (alright, maybe a little), mostly because she was just that stubborn with authority and Mahak had it in spades. She was a firecracker - and the only way to point one in the right direction was with a good kick. Kali still climbed into the ring, albeit with a tiny fuss, and tried not to bounce around the ropes like an old-fashioned wrestler just because.

She still had plenty of energy left. Kind of.

"Kinda curious why you're taking boxing seriously," she shot back and then whimpered in the corner when she tried to lean on it. "It's kind of human, isn't it? I expected non-combatant stuff like... ballet." Her nose scrunched at the idea. "Interpretive dance?"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"You would be incorrect." The young Vulcan leapt up onto the apron and entered the ring between the second and third rope. "Martial arts have long been a practice for warrior monks of both of our planets to hone their hearts and bodies."

Warming up, Mahak went into a stance, a traditional right handed one, making sure his weight was evenly distributed and that his feet were in place. It was a stretch to call him a welterweight, but even despite a lack of large, stereotypical muscles he looked ready to explode into movement.

"I was a young man in training and one of your people called me out in the gym," Environment, it seemed, affected behavior. Mahak would never use the phrase call out on the bridge, for example. "Asked me if I was ready to move past traditional Starfleet workouts and put in some real PT. I have been hooked ever since."

The young Vulcan was throwing jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and body punches at a shadow opponent; after every strike he would duck, cover up, or attempt to clinch. It looked like some type of dance, albeit a violent one.

"Boxing may seem chaotic or violent, but to out fight an opponent, to observe his strategy and exploit his weakness, is not just for warriors. It is a science." Mahak said, finishing up his routine. "And requires more logic than raw emotion. You, Chief, have both. This is why you must fight and will fight."

[Kali Reyes]

"So you genuinely like boxing," she pointed out with a teasing grin. "Careful now, I can see your enthusiasm in those cracks."

His stance was very careful, controlled, and hell, would probably smash her skull in two if he wanted. Kali appreciated physical talent as much as she pursued a mental one. Hell if she knew any shame with admiring it.

"Okay, so I'm just hitting air instead of a punching bag this time?" Her back was starting to sore, but she ignored it.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"You will be hitting my hands. Line up in a fighting stance for me. No, don't try to imitate me, whatever feels comfortable." Mahak said.

"Hmm." It was like he was appraising a piece of art that might be counterfeit, might be the real thing.

"Ok, that will have to do." He tapped her dominant foot roughly with his own. "That foot back. You want the power to be in check, waiting to explode. Good."

Mahak held up his taped hands. "Hit me with a jab, with your non-dominant fist. As hard as you can, chief."

[Kali Reyes]

[Gym]

It didn't sound like fighting dirty would give her an edge like usual. She took a step forward, albeit hesitantly, and tried to emulate his stance until instructed not to.

There was something comforting about someone else taking control for once. It was easier for her to focus on something one at a time. She didn't even mind when he physically moved her, her pride cowed easily to his instruction.

This was completely different from Wing Chun. He wanted her in a powered stance while Wing Chun wanted her to be as flighty and balanced to avoid being hit.

"My..." Non-dominant? Kali glanced at her left hand before smacking it as hard as she could into Mahak's. Big mistake. It was like punching a brick wall. She yelped in pain and drew back to shake the numbness skating up her knuckles. "Ow! You're worse than a punching bag!"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"You will have gloves when you truly punch someone, don't worry." Her own hands would also be toughened by that point.

"You punch with your arm when you should be punching with your hips. Observe." Mahak lowered his hands.

"Jab." Lighting fast, his left arm leapt out and his fingers lightly tapped her on the chin, just showing how easily and  quickly she could have been hit.

"Right cross." The same from his more powerful right hand. "Now step back and observe."

It was observable that the start of his punches originated below his waist. His feet were planted, his body rotating on an axis that started with the hips, twisting to provide extra power.

"Now. Try to hit me." Mahak dropped his hands and put them behind his back, utterly exposing his face to her bare handed strikes.

[Kali Reyes]

Kali flinched when he moved, though it was more from a shy moment of her PTSD than instinct. He moved fast - way too fast - and it reminded her of those damn hunters and their giant swords. The sinking feeling dissipated when he distracted her by tapping on her chin and she could finally focus in the here and now instead of the past.

She swallowed hard and gratefully took a step back for the exhibition. He used his torso to swing. That was pretty new to her. Orion bar guys swung like toddlers in comparison.

Taking his challenge to heart, Kali put up her dukes and meandered around just to check and make sure he wasn't fooling her. It was a habit, but it saved her a lot of bruises in the party circuit.

Instead of using her shoulder, Kali tried to mimic the momentum of her body to do it for her. She was stunned by how easy the follow-through was when she aimed to sucker punch him.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

Mahak saw her punch coming and even with his hands behind his back managed to gracefully move aside.

There was real fury in her movements and he had caught the flinch when he'd moved too fast. He wondered what was the matter.

But it was a question for another time. He'd known a few Starfleet officers and such like her, who had been in battle so much that they lost their minds. Vulcans, too. No one was immune to it. Maybe being in control in the ring could help her.

"Good." Mahak said. "Again. Keep trying. Throw some combinations, chief."

[Kali Reyes]

He dodged her! Kali huffed and tried her left this time with each unsuccessful contact she got a little more sloppier in her form. Sure enough, now it was less about control and more about getting a hit in and every sound she made was one of frustration when nothing connected.

If he wouldn't let her get him in the pecker, she was going to play dirty. After a missed uppercut, Kali swung her leg in an arc to get him in the side - a product of her Wing Chun that resurfaced unintentionally.

"Hold still, dammit!" she whined.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"Kicks are prohibited in boxing," Mahak said as he dodged her artfully. To show her he meant business, he chose that moment to again gently but quickly tap the side of her face with his fingers, just a lingering touch to let her know no matter how much she kicked and whined that he was still in control.

"You're punching at my face," The Vulcan said. "Punch at a point behind it. That's how you break boards, chief, and faces."

[Kali Reyes]

She felt like a damn puppy being trained into (or out of) something. It was humiliating, but needed. Without Grey around to leash her in, she had been spiraling - even worse now with the unmitigated Vulcan part of her that never experienced the relief of meditation or control.

So there he was: control personified and she couldn't make heads or tails of how well he does it. It pisses her off. It intrigues her.

It was just her mouth. She couldn't help but let it loose. "Kickboxing isn't a thing?" That was when he got her cheek again. Dammit!

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"It is not a thing here." Mahak said. He stopped dodging and raised his hands. "I think I've proven my point."

He walked around her and took in her stance. "You are flailing all over the ring because you are punching from an unsteady position. Firstly, right leg here."

He tapped a portion of the ring with his foot, tapped it until she aligned her own foot there.

"Leg left about here." Tap. He was facing her now.

"Hands at your chin level. Align your body your shoulders are facing towards your opponent. Like this." Gently, he turned her. "This will present less of a target to your opponent and allow you to lead off with your jab."

"Weight on your back foot and always on the balls of your feet." The young Vulcan said. "Tuck your chin to your chest. Always protect your chin and be prepared to draw your elbows to your body to protect it."

"Now, chief, you are looking like a boxer." Mahak said. "How do you feel?"

[Kali Reyes]

Boxing looked so much easier watching two guys duke it out in a professional match. Kali's mind whirred trying to keep track of where her feet went where or how she's supposed to stand and she felt like a mannequin as she was guided around. She tucked her chin and felt ridiculous - but surprisingly stable.

So that's what she said. "Stable, I guess. Like I'm bracing myself for a mugato attack." She couldn't convey in words how difficult it was for her to remain still. She even bounced a bit on her feet to ease off the nervousness flicking up her spine. No one could sit her down in silence, even when she was little.

Maybe that was the problem.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Gym]

"Good." Mahak said approvingly. "You have a natural affinity for this stance, the orthodox stance. Knowing you I thought you would be drawn to the unorthodox stance."

The cringe worthy joke was reflected upon by Mahak for a handful of seconds. He seemed like he wanted her approval for it, but thankfully for the both of them he moved on.

"Now we will begin foot work. This is helped by jumping rope, as well." With an almost happy and jaunty gesture, Mahak began carefully circling to her left, talking as he did so.

"Follow me. Footwork is absolutely crucial in boxing. And perhaps it will be an outlet for all of your energy, chief." The Vulcan said. "Straighten your spine, it was made to hold you upright. Balls of your feet, remain bouncy and ready. Bounce, chief! You have to remain ready!"

[Kali Reyes]

"I wouldn't know what the unorthodox stance is," she murmured. Was it standing on her head? Because she could do that just fine too.

Then he was bouncing. Bouncing and ecstatic if his body language meant anything. Kali stared, almost flabbergasted at the physical emoting until she realized she had to follow. She started shifting from foot to foot, her fists raised up to her fists, and tried to emulate the cadence of the jump rope lest she looked like an idiot to the holographic NPC's.

Bounce, bounce, bounce. "Ready for what?"