Just as Ronin was about to bark, Enough, they took the back-and-forth out of his office.
Almost on autopilot, he changed into workout clothes. He wrapped his hands on his way to the training room. He knew it’d be empty this time of day. While he usually practiced in silence, focusing on the sound of his breath, gauging the pressure of his hits and kicks by the thwack and crack of his feet and fists connecting with the practice dummy, today he needed noise. Loud distortion that fueled and fed the angry clawing beast inside him.
He found the CD with the mix of music that had one commonality: every time he listened to it, he got mad. He cranked the tunes and freed the rage.
Ronin hadn’t worked his body this hard since before his last fight injury. Concentrating on the flex and release of his muscles for maximum power. Falling back on his training and becoming the persona that demanded respect and pride.
He dripped sweat. And still he pushed through. Switching from punching to kicking to jumping rope to kettle balls to practicing orchestrated falls.
During a break in the music, he glanced at the clock. An hour and a half had passed. At some point, he’d slicked his hair into a ponytail. He didn’t remember. When he hit this zone, his violent Zen, he literally lived in the moment—from punch to punch, kick to kick.
Gil knocked twice before he entered.
Godsmack’s “I Stand Alone” started, and Ronin jogged over to lower the volume. “Are you looking for me?”
“I’m looking for Terrel. Have you seen him?”
“No. Why?”
“I came early so we could grapple.”
Ronin didn’t hesitate to offer, “I’ll grapple with you.”
Gil’s face showed shock. Then trepidation. “I appreciate the offer, Sensei, but—”
“But you’re afraid. Of what? That you’ll kick my ass? Or that you won’t?”
“I, ah . . .” Gil sighed. “Don’t put me in this position.”
“What position? I’m offering to grapple with you. That’s it. I do it with my guys all the time.”
Gil stared at him for a long moment before he nodded. “Come up to the ABC training room.”
Ronin wanted to ask what was wrong with this training room. But he realized his instructors would start showing up before too long, and chances were good they’d put a stop to the practice. “I’ll grab my gi.”
It was quiet on the third floor except for the office, where he heard Katie yakking on the phone. Didn’t sound like a business call. But she’d settled into being a decent worker, so he’d let it slide. Besides, he’d scare her in his current frame of mind.
Gil was doing warm-ups. Ronin watched him with a critical eye. He hadn’t grappled with any of the ABC guys except for Blue, and most of that fight was a blur.
When Gil motioned he was ready, Ronin bowed at the edge of the mat and stepped on.
“Standard tournament rules.”
They bowed to each other.
Like Ronin expected, Gil immediately went for the takedown. So he let it happen and ended up in guard. In most cases, top position had control. He intended to show Gil that wasn’t always true.
And prove it he did.
First round, he’d put Gil in a headlock.
Second round, he’d locked Gil into an arm bar.
Third round, he’d maneuvered Gil into a rear choke.
They circled each other, ready for round four.
Terrel interrupted. “I’m fifteen minutes late and y’all start without me? That shit sucks.”
Terrel was normally so quiet, Ronin had heard him speak only once. He had twenty pounds, several inches and belt levels on the guy, but he tossed out, “I think I wore Gil out.”
“Great. Now who’m I gonna grapple with?”
He stood and said, “Me. And you’d better bring it.”
Terrel grinned. “Cool, man. I love a challenge.” He bowed in as Gil bowed out.
Ronin bounced foot to foot, beyond impatient. In that zone where he felt invincible.
And Terrel wasn’t much challenge either.
First round, he put Terrel in an Americana lock.
Second round, he put Terrel in a scarf hold.
Third round, he put Terrel in a Brabo choke.
That’s when Blue showed up.
Ronin released Terrel and helped him to his feet. They bowed to each other, and Ronin faced Blue.
“Are you going to tell me that my instructors’ groundwork needs work, Sensei?”
“No. I was just helping out. Sometimes I fail to see the differences between BJJ and traditional jujitsu.”
“Superior training in BJJ,” Blue said.
“Prove it.” Ronin’s gaze moved over Blue. “You’re dressed.”
“You’ve got a dangerous look in your eye, my friend.”
“Don’t want to grapple? Fine. Let’s fight. Give me a chance to reclaim my honor.”
Blue snorted. “Your honor isn’t in question. Just your sanity.”
Ronin had reached that point of a reckless high. “If you’re afraid to fight me, Curacao, say so.”
“I am not afraid. And you’ve just gone grappling rounds with both of my top instructors. I hardly think this is the time to offer challenges.”
“Or maybe, with me being tired out, it’ll be a fair fight for a change.”
That got Blue’s back up just as Ronin expected it would.
“I knocked you out last time we fought.”
Ronin shrugged. “Lucky shot.”