“Are you ready for this?” Logan asked, his voice low as he adjusted his stance on the training field.
“I guess so. Just don’t go easy on me,” I replied, resolve fueling my words.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said with a grin, stepping back to give me space.
“I’ve been practicing those moves you showed me,” I added, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
“Good! Let’s see what you’ve got then. Keep your guard up,” he instructed, his eyes focused.
Before I could respond, he lunged forward, feinting to the left. I barely managed to block the jab he threw to my side.
“Good! But you need to be quicker!” he shouted, stepping back to reassess his stance.
“I’m trying!” | protested, my heart racing.
Logan charged again, and I sidestepped, countering with a kick that caught him off guard. He stumbled but quickly regained his balance.
“Nice one!” he laughed, his excitement infectious. “Now let’s see if you can keep it up!”
I took a deep breath, focusing on my movements as Logan circled me, ready for the next round. “All right, what’s next?” | asked, determined to keep up the momentum.
“Let’s work on your footwork,” he said, demonstrating a quick shuffle to the side.
“You need to be light on your feet. If you can move quickly, you can evade attacks better.”
I nodded, trying to mimic his movements.
“Like this?” I shuffled to the left, but my foot caught on the uneven ground, and I stumbled.
“Not quite,” Logan said, chuckling. “But close! Keep your knees bent and stay low.
You want to feel the ground beneath you.”
I took a moment to adjust, feeling the weight of his words. “Okay, let’s try again.”
This time, I focused on my balance, moving in sync with him as he guided me through the steps. With each shuffle, I felt more in control. “There you go! Now add some jabs as you move. Keep your fists up!”
Twenty Four
“Are you ready for this?” Logan asked, his voice low as he adjusted his stance on the training field.
“I guess so. Just don’t go easy on me,” I replied, resolve fueling my words.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said with a grin, stepping back to give me space.
“I’ve been practicing those moves you showed me,” I added, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
“Good! Let’s see what you’ve got then. Keep your guard up,” he instructed, his eyes focused.
Before I could respond, he lunged forward, feinting to the left. I barely managed to block the jab he threw to my side.
“Good! But you need to be quicker!” he shouted, stepping back to reassess his stance.
“I’m trying!” | protested, my heart racing.
Logan charged again, and I sidestepped, countering with a kick that caught him off guard. He stumbled but quickly regained his balance.
“Nice one!” he laughed, his excitement infectious. “Now let’s see if you can keep it up!”
I took a deep breath, focusing on my movements as Logan circled me, ready for the next round. “All right, what’s next?” | asked, determined to keep up the momentum.
“Let’s work on your footwork,” he said, demonstrating a quick shuffle to the side.
“You need to be light on your feet. If you can move quickly, you can evade attacks better.”
I nodded, trying to mimic his movements.
“Like this?” I shuffled to the left, but my foot caught on the uneven ground, and I stumbled.
“Not quite,” Logan said, chuckling. “But close! Keep your knees bent and stay low.
You want to feel the ground beneath you.”
I took a moment to adjust, feeling the weight of his words. “Okay, let’s try again.”
This time, I focused on my balance, moving in sync with him as he guided me through the steps. With each shuffle, I felt more in control. “There you go! Now add some jabs as you move. Keep your fists up!”
I nodded, trying to keep my fists raised while moving my feet. “Okay, here goes!” I said, adding quick jabs as I shuffled to the side.
“Perfect! Just like that!” Logan cheered, his eyes bright with encouragement. “Now try moving backward. It’s important to know how to retreat when you need to.”
“Got it!” I replied, taking a step back while still throwing light jabs. I was starting to feel more confident, the rhythm of the training becoming more natural.
Logan stepped closer, showing me how to pivot. “If you feel overwhelmed, pivot and get out of the line of attack. Try it with me.”
I followed his lead, pivoting to the right. “Like this?”
“Exactly! Now let’s add some pressure,” he said, stepping forward and throwing a few light punches for me to block.
I raised my arms, blocking his strikes while shifting my feet. “I’m getting the hang of this!” I exclaimed, excitement bubbling within me.
“Remember to breathe!” Logan shouted, his voice a mix of encouragement and playfulness. “And don’t overthink it. Just let it flow!”
“Right!” I replied, trying to relax as I moved. I feinted left, then went right, landing a jab against his shoulder.
“Good! Now keep that up!” he called out, charging at me again. I raised my guard, ready for his next attack.
As we continued practicing, I felt a sense of pride growing inside me. With each successful move, I realized I was becoming more than just a beginner. I was learning to defend myself and finding strength I didn’t know l had.
“Let’s take a break,” Logan said, stepping back and wiping the sweat from his brow.
“You’ve done amazing today.”
“Thanks! I feel like I’m actually getting somewhere,” I said, breathing heavily but with a smile on my face.
“Definitely. You’ve got the spirit of a fighter,” he replied, his eyes meeting mine with a spark of admiration. “Just remember, training takes time. Don’t rush it.”
“I won’t,” I promised, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. “Thank you for believing in me.”
“Always,” he said, grinning back.
Suddenly, as he moved to demonstrate a new step, he placed his hand gently on my waist to guide me. My heart raced at his touch, pounding against my chest as I tried to focus on his words.
“Just like this,” he said softly, showing me how to pivot while keeping my balance. The warmth of his hand sent a thrill through me, and I could feel my breathing becoming heavy.
“Okay, I think I understand,” | replied, my voice slightly shaky as I concentrated on the movement. The connection felt electric, and I struggled to shake off the sudden rush of emotions swirling within me.
Logan noticed the shift in my expression.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and concerned.
“Yeah, just… a little overwhelmed,” I admitted, attempting to regain my composure. “Let’s keep practicing.”
“Alright, let’s work on your footwork again,” he said, stepping back, but the lingering warmth from his hand still echoed in my mind. “But remember, it’s not just about the moves. It’s also about how you feel while you’re doing them.”
I nodded, feeling the energy shift back to the training as we resumed. But deep down, I couldn’t shake off that racing heart. It was a reminder that this journey was about more than just fighting; it was about everything that was changing in my life-and the connection I shared with Logan.