Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Jiu-Jitsu (3)
At the master's call, the named member reflexively lifted her head.
"Yes!!"
The answer rang loudly through the gym.
The member called Yu-ri bounced out with a bright expression as if she had been waiting, no, like someone going to collect the lottery first prize.
Long flowing black ponytail. Firm physique revealed even over the uniform.
The master looked at me with pitying eyes and said.
"Try it for now... and if you feel even a little uncomfortable while doing it, Jin-hyuk-ssi, please tell me immediately. I'll switch you with someone else."
"Yes, understood."
The master looked back at Yu-ri and warned with a low voice.
"And Yu-ri... you know right?"
"Yes yes! Don't worry! You know I have good manners!"
Yu-ri answered energetically and bowed to me.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Kang Yu-ri!"
"Ah, yes... nice to meet you."
"Yes! Oppa! (Brother)"
"......?"
Oppa out of nowhere. Coming in strong.
I scrutinized the punk closely. Youthful face. Doesn't look like an adult no matter how I look.
"...By any chance how old are you?"
"Eighteen, high school senior!"
"Ah.. I see.."
Was a high school student. But a blue belt is wrapped around her waist.
A high school student wearing an adult blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu is proof she lived on the mat since middle school, no, even before that.
Feeling the aura of ‘Born Strong’.
'Looks like I'll get techniques used on me by a high school girl.'
While I was distracted, the master stepped into the center of the mat. She fiddled with her chin contemplating today's lesson content.
"Since Jin-hyuk-ssi came today too... let's learn the most basic yet most important movement in real combat."
The master's eyes sparkled.
"Escaping from Mount Position, and recovering to Closed Guard."
"......"
Why Mount of all things.
To explain for those who don't know Jiu-Jitsu, this is simple. The opponent climbs on top of my belly, and I am pinned underneath.
In a fight, it's the best posture to get beaten up, and between a man and woman... it's the perfect posture to be misunderstood.
The master looked around, then pointed out another member.
"Now, need to show a demo... Yu-ri is too good so pass. So-young, you come out."
The one pointed out was a middle schooler with some size wearing a white belt. Strong as an ox but clumsy with techniques, a perfect assistant for failure examples.
"Yes!"
So-young walked out thumping and lay spread-eagled on the mat.
Thud.
The master familiarly climbed on top of So-young's belly. The posture digging knees into the opponent's armpits is solid. Like a rock placed on top.
"Now, So-young. Try to escape. Push with strength."
"Ura-cha-cha!"
So-young shouted and extended her arms like bench pressing trying to push the master away. Face turned red as if to burst and groaned but...
Doesn't budge an inch.
The master sat enduring like a great mountain, neutralizing the opponent's strength just by shifting her center of gravity slightly. So-young, who used only strength, eventually discharged in less than a minute and panted.
"Now, see? If you try to push only with strength you can never get out. You can't overcome my weight and gravity. Only strength drains and stamina wastes."
The master helped So-young up and continued the explanation.
"This time opposite. I'll be pinned. So-young, climb on."
This time the master lay down and the large So-young climbed on top. A picture where anyone would think the master would be crushed to death.
But the master was relaxed.
"Now, flipping (Sweep) here is also a method, but for beginners, returning to my safety zone, Guard, comes first."
The master supported So-young's pelvis firmly with her arms to make space. And cast the shrimping motion practiced earlier.
Swish. Thud.
Moving hips to the side created space. Into that gap, the master's knee slid in, and pushed the opponent's leg away.
Like a loach, the master's body escaped from So-young's pressure. And instantly the master's legs wrapped around So-young's waist.
Click.
Situation end. The master was no longer pinned defenselessly, but became Closed Guard state, trapping and controlling the opponent with legs.
"Trapping the opponent between my legs like this. This is Guard Recovery. It's the most basic."
The master got up lightly and explained.
"You need to know how to do this so you don't die even if pinned. We'll practice this today. Do it taking turns and being considerate. Jin-hyuk-ssi can pair up with Yu-ri. Yu-ri will receive it well."
The master's gaze turned to me.
"Now, start!"
"......"
So...
Get pinned under that high school girl, pull hips out between legs, and wrap my legs around that punk's waist, right?
'...If I didn't perform the holy ritual, I would have been in big trouble really.'
I lay spread-eagled on the mat with a liberated expression.
'But, did they always teach this kindly?'
The gym in my memory was the wild itself.
Technique explanation 5 minute cut, the rest was "Now, roll! You learn while getting hit!" filling time with ignorant sparring. Indeed because it's a Reverse World, or maybe because it's a hobby class.
Just then, Yu-ri prepared to climb on top of me beaming.
"Oppa, excuse me~? I'm gonna press hard so brace yourself!"
"Uh, o...kay.."
As soon as words ended, a heavy weight covered my belly.
Thud.
"......Hup."
Breath blocked. No joke. Not heavy because of fat. Felt the density of muscles solid like a rock.
Blue belt experience isn't for nothing.
Yu-ri tightened my pelvis with her knees and lowered her center of gravity. The pressure is significant.
"Oppa, won't be able to escape right? I'm confident in pressure at least."
The punk looked down at my face and grinned. Eyes burning with competitive spirit.
But sorry, I'm used to this level of pressure. How long did I live pinned under bulky hyungs over 100kg in the past.
I moved instinctively.
First folded arms to make space at Yu-ri's pelvis side. And pushed the mat strongly with soles of feet.
"Eup?"
Yu-ri's upper body lifted slightly at the momentary force. Didn't miss that gap.
Shrimping. Pulled hips out to the side smoothly. As soon as space opened, thrust the lower knee in, and pushed the punk away with the shin.
Swish.
Movement natural like flowing water. My body escaped like a loach between Yu-ri's legs. And instantly my legs wrapped around Yu-ri's waist, and crossed ankles to lock.
"......Uh?"
Yu-ri's eyes grew round.
"Wow... Daebak. What was that just now?"
She looked down at me as if she couldn't believe it. Because I didn't force it with strength, but the timing of turning the pelvis and the technique of pulling out legs were natural like flowing water.
"Oppa, really first time right? Totally flexible?"
"Ah... Yes. Did a little.. in the past. Since elementary school."
I avoided her gaze and used awkward honorifics. Nothing to hide, nothing to brag about either. Just told the truth.
"Um... let's do one or two more times and switch positions."
"Yes! Good!"
Yu-ri excitedly climbed on top of me again. A few repeated practices. I just did guard recovery as the body remembered, relaxing appropriately and accepting the technique.
"Now, switch!"
The master's command fell.
Now... my turn to go on top.
"......"
Yu-ri was lying spread-eagled on the mat looking up at me.
I hesitated and carefully climbed onto the punk's pelvis.
'...The posture, f*ck.'
Even if it's exercise, can't help being embarrassed. Moreover, I'm a sturdy adult male, and underneath is a high school girl. If I just load my weight, the punk's solar plexus won't survive.
I placed both hands on the mat floor. And put strength in arms to lift the upper body.
Then, Yu-ri underneath looked at me blankly and tossed out.
"Oppa, why are you floating like that?"
"Yes? Ah... that, thought it might be heavy..."
"Ay~ It's fine. You can just relax and press down."
Yu-ri tapped her solid abs.
"I'm sturdy. And Oppa has to load weight for me to practice escaping. Floating like this is no practice. Just pounce."
Pounce. Choice of words please.
"Ah... Still a bit..."
As I hesitated and kept enduring with arms, stinging gazes from surroundings landed. Members practicing in other groups were glancing at us.
"Wow... Look at that manner. Crazy." "Yu-ri that girl, hit the jackpot." "I want to be pinned too... Want to be pressed heavily..."
Whispers mixed with envy and jealousy.
"Ah... Yes... Tell me if it's heavy."
I eventually surrendered and relaxed my arms. My weight loaded heavily onto Yu-ri's body.
"Eup!"
Yu-ri let out a short moan, but her expression looked rather enjoyable. She pushed my pelvis and bounced her hips as if she waited.
Swish. Thud.
Movement was smooth as expected of a blue belt. Made space, thrust knee in, and instantly pulled legs out to wrap my waist.
Click—
Yu-ri's ankles crossed behind my back and locked.
Closed Guard. Jiu-Jitsu's most basic defensive and offensive posture. But when a man and woman take this posture, the meaning degenerates subtly.
"......"
The posture, driving me crazy.
Yu-ri's thighs wrapping my waist tightened solidly. Upper bodies are closely attached, faces close enough to feel each other's breath. This is basically hugging openly.
"Hehe."
Yu-ri grinned inside my embrace.
"Oppa, caught perfectly right? Can't run away now."
The punk playfully put more strength into her thighs and pulled me towards her.
Press.
Lower belly and lower belly touched.
At that moment.
Emergency siren rang in my brain.
My alter ego that was dead, no, momentarily knocked out through the holy ritual. My junior.
The guy wiggled.
"......Father."
Felt like hearing auditory hallucinations.
"Son... seems it is time to rise again."
'No, you little sh*t. Go back inside and sleep... It is not time yet...'
I screamed inwardly.
But cruelly, the tightening of thighs and the closely attached body heat were enough to stimulate biological instincts. To suppress the guy trying to lift its head, I had to clench my sphincter tight and sing the national anthem up to the 4th verse.
'Until the East Sea waters... and Mt. Baekdu... dry up and wear away...'
Cold sweat flowed down my spine.
If I react here, it's over. An ominous premonition that I might spend a very terrible and long time at the police station if I make a wrong move.