"Now, let's add some complexity," Professor Will said, switching the conversation back to training mode.
"I want you to combine your strikes into a fluid sequence. Think about the transitions between each move, how one movement flows into the next."
"It won't help your fight if your movements are rigid because you don't know how to properly sequence them together."
Alex took a deep breath and began to execute a series of punches, kicks and blocks.
He moved with ease he hadn't felt before, his body responding instinctively to his thoughts.
But he could still feel some rigidity in his moves, which he expected considering this was still only his first training session.
Professor Will watched closely, nodding in approval.
"Pretty good. You're starting to understand the basic essence of Martial Arts. It's not just about strength or speed; it's about control, efficiency and precision."
They continued to practise for several more hours, with Professor Will offering guidance and corrections along the way.
The whole time he emphasised the importance of maintaining a clear mind, and he interrupted the training whenever he felt like Alex's synchronisation was falling behind, and made him enter meditation whenever he did so.
As they wrapped up for the day, Professor Will clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"You did well for a complete beginner today."
"Remember, complete mastery doesn't come overnight. It takes time, patience and dedication. Keep at it even when I'm not here to teach you."
"Consistency is key."
"I understand, thank you Professor Will." Alex was very grateful for Professor Will taking the time to teach him today, even if it was a requirement as his teacher.
"Good. Now get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll start working on the second core principle of Martial arts."
With that, Professor Will left Alex to do his own thing.
***
Mira sat cross legged in her house, the dim lighting casting soft shadows on the walls.
In front of her lay a beast core, glowing faintly with the residual energy of the beast she had killed to receive it.
She took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
She had probably met the requirements to rank up to D+ rank as well, but she had to reach D rank to find out whether that was true or not.
Mira closed her eyes and started drawing in energy from the beast core as she began the absorption process.
She was going to hit D rank today, catching up with Alex.
But she was going to keep it as a surprise from him for as long as she could.
***
"Now that your mind is clear, we'll move on to the next step: understanding your body. This is where we begin to see the alignment of mind and body in action."
Professor Will spoke to Alex.
"Your mind and body can be as synchronised in perfect harmony as you want, but you won't be as effective in battle as you could be if your mind doesn't even know the correct stances or actions that your body should take."
"This is what I'll be teaching you today."
It had only been a day since Alex's previous session with him, but they had already moved on to the next step of the training process.
Alex had spent the morning before Professor Will arrived practising his meditation.
He had noticed that he had made a little bit of progress compared to the previous day.
But it was negligible.
He was 10 seconds quicker at reaching the harmonic state he needed to be in for his mind and body to be synchronised.
"Watch closely."
Professor Will moved into a stance, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms relaxed at his sides.
"This is a basic stance, the foundation of all movements in Martial Arts. Your body must be balanced, your weight evenly distributed. This stance allows for your body to make quick movements in any direction, allowing you to react to an attack in any combat situation."
Alex mirrored Professor Will's stance to the best of his ability, feeling a bit awkward as he was so used to just assuming the position he felt comfortable in whenever he entered a fight.
But with slight adjustments by the Professor, he soon felt more stable.
"Good, now let's focus on movement. The goal is to move with precision and efficiency, to minimise wasted effort. Each movement should be deliberate, purposeful. If your movements have no purpose, then you shouldn't be performing them at all."
Professor Will demonstrated a series of slow, controlled movements, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his arms moving in smooth, fluid arcs.