All-Asian Association (AAA)

The Traveler
As I wrap up the last day of training in pro sub with Adam, I decide I need more training. I get a buzz on my phone, a news article titled "Pro Wrestler Nikkiman crowned Champion of France." My old friend has done it. He is now the Champion of his home, his country. I decide to email my coach, letting him know that I intend to fly back east, now to France to train with Nikki... If Nikki would want to train an outcast like me.

After I send the email to my coach, I send an email out to Nikki, to reconnect. "Good morning Nikki! Long time since we last talked. Congrats on becoming the Champion of France! It was a long time coming, and you deserve it!... Listen, I have a request for you. I've been in the EU for quite a while now, moving from country to country to train myself in wrestling, grappling, submission, etc... I was wondering if you would grant me the honor of training me, in pro wrestling? I hope to hear from you soon. Your old friend, Jackson Rose aka The Traveler." I hit send and then leave my hotel to catch the first flight out to Paris, France, not thinking more of it.

Nikkiman
After almost daily fights for almost two months, my body begins to feel the effects of fatigue and blows from my opponents. Despite this, I managed to conquer the title of France champion. I was very proud of it. But my manager demanded that I take a 15-day break. For almost two weeks now, I have not been fighting. Everyone thinks I've gone to the sun. But that's not true. I am alone in my apartment going around in circles. My body is better, the bruises disappear, the muscles relax. But my mind is not well. No one wants to understand why I'm fighting. I fight because I doubt and fighting allows me to accept my doubts and let them express themselves. Fighting has become a vital need. I'm here, in my apartment, shutters closed and I don't go out very much. I go from my couch to weight machines.

But I don't live. As my opening theme says during my fights "I know that I'ma die reachin' for a life that I don't really need at all". The life I need is to fight and not rest to do good to my body. I tap on my phone watching with envy the fights of my friends, looking for new opponents. Suddenly, I see an email coming in. Jackson writes to me. I exchanged a lot with him. He is a close friend of mine in the fighting world even though I have never met him. I quickly look at his message and see words like "honor" "wondering" "request". I tell myself that Jackson must have been the wrong recipient and that this message does not concern me. However, it catches my attention. "No, that's not possible!" My emotion is great. Jackson asks me if I'm okay with doing a prowrestling workout with him.

That's not possible. I started fighting in July and he talks to me like I'm a superstar. I am really moved and I have to sit down to read this message a third time. I am so honored by this request. I respond quickly to Jackson. "Jackson, be serious. It is my honour to train you. You are a great fighter and an exceptional man. I think you're going to teach me more than I could teach you. I train from tomorrow every morning in the room downstairs. You are welcome as soon as you are in Paris." I tremble a little when I press the "Send" icon. I think this travel idea is probably Jackson's idea for the next time. I put down my phone and fall back into the sadness that characterizes me since I no longer fight. However, I can't help but smile when I imagine what these workouts could be.

And thinking about it, serenely I fall asleep. This serenity has been a new feeling for me for some time...

TWO HOURS LATER

The Traveler
In about 2 hours time, I land in Paris. I take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, check myself in, and get to my room. I settle in a little bit, notice the sun is already setting. I get a buzz on my phone, an email from Nikki. His honor and perspective of me overwhelms me. Noting that it's almost evening and I should probably get some rest, I email him back, saying I just arrived in Paris, and that I will take the night to decompress and we can start training tomorrow afternoon. I send the email and take a deep breath. I can't believe this is actually happening. Tomorrow, I'll be training with an old friend, now the Champion of France. I set my phone down and meditate a bit before heading to bed.

THE NEXT MORNING

The Traveler
Before I know it, it is the next morning. I slowly wake up, get out of bed and do my morning routine. I proceed to do a bit of stretching and some basic martial arts forms before I head back to the bed to meditate, putting the sound on my phone on to be ready for when Nikki responds. While waiting, I get deep into the meditative state.

Nikkiman
I wake up quite early as usual. But the sensations are very weird. I don't feel sad like I do every morning I didn't fight and I don't quite understand why. Without realizing it, I open the shutters, even though I had been living in the dark for several days. I decide to go do some training on my balcony to enjoy the morning sun. All of a sudden, I understand where this delicious mood is coming from: Jackson's email. I immediately stop my training to get my phone. And I realize... What a pleasant surprise.... Jackson is already in Paris. It wasn't just a project. Jackson has really been in Paris since yesterday. In addition, he proposes to start his training with me this afternoon. My heart is starting to beat very hard. I ask myself a lot of questions: will I be able to teach him anything?

I've never coached anyone and I don't consider myself skilled enough, technical enough to be able to progress a fighter like Jackson. I call my friend who takes care of the room where I train to see if he can book the room for me. The answer comes quickly: it is positive. I send an email to Jackson: "Jackson, I'm really glad you're in Paris and very happy to train with you this afternoon. Join me at the gym where I train near the Gare Saint-Lazare. I booked the wrestling room there. After if you have time, I will be delighted to show you around Paris and enjoy the hidden pleasures of this city. See you soon. Nikki!" Once the email is sent, I return to my training with a drive that I haven't had for a long time.

The Traveler
As I wrap my mediation, I get a buzz on my phone, seeing a response for Nikki. Our training is confirmed for 1pm at his gym near the Gare Saint-Lazare. He even suggests to spend some time showing me around the city, the sites and pleasures. I send him an email, confirming, "I'll see you around 1pm at your gym. Can't wait!" and I hit send. My heart starts to flutter.

It's almost an hour before our scheduled appointment. As an old friend and admirer of Nikki's, I've followed all his matches, his triumphs, his losses... I know how formidable he can be as an opponent, a wrestler. Not to mention his size matched with the skills I've seen. I haven't had a trainer this above my weight and skills since Seilan. I can't help but feel intimidated, but what couples this is excitement. I'm excited to learn what Nikki had to offer, and in between our two weeks of training, he can also show me around the city and its beauties. I take a couple deep breaths and go out to take a walk. I find a nearby park and do some more warm ups, martial arts sequences, to help ground me.

FOURTY MINUTES LATER

The Traveler
It's now twenty minutes before I am scheduled to meet with Nikki at his gym. Being that the park is a little farther away from the gym than my hotel is, I start walking. I make it to the front of the gym. I send Nikki a quick message to let him know I've arrived.

Nikkiman
I arrived very early at the gym. My excitement is real but it is different from what I can feel before a game. I'm both proud of Jackson's proposal. He is a fighter that I have been following for a long time. I know his incredible potential and his desire to progress. What if I was not up to it and if I disappointed him. Always these doubts that cross me and help me to move forward. I am facing the ring. What a pleasure to find him. He saw me for hours, sweating, suffering, sometimes victorious. I like the noise of the canvas, when the strings shake. The ring is almost my home.

I remain to enjoy the pleasure that this place gives me when I came out of my reverie with a message on my cellphone. It's Jackson. He's waiting for me in front of the room outside. My heart begins to race and I try not to rush to open the door. But I hope thanks to my subterfuges that Jackson will not see too much at which point the emotion invades me.

The_Traveler
I see you approach the door to bring me in, and as you get closer, my head tilts more and more upward, my eyes dilate. "damn, he's tall, and huge..." are my first thoughts. Then you meet me outside to bring me in. "Nikki? So good to finally meet you in person!" I hold out my hand for us to shake hands and then you escort me to the part of the gym that has the ring.

Nikkiman
I'm looking at you. I have a big smile and my eyes are shining with pleasure "I'm so happy to meet you Jackson, even though I already feel like I know you. Follow me, I'll take you to the ring." We cross the rooms where the weight machines are stored and arrive in this small room in the middle of which is a ring that is used for both boxing and prowrestling fights.

"Have you ever done prowrestling Jackson?"

The Traveler
We get to the ring. "Hmm! This is a bit different. The last ring I was in was the more conventional, raised off the ground one!" I say observing the ring. "Uhm, no, not exactly anyway. I was just in Spain training in pro sub wrestling, but I've never had any official matches or anything," I answer.. then I continue, "I come to you with an "empty cup", so to speak. I'm ready to learn," I say looking at you with eager eyes.

Nikkiman
"Prowrestling is often frowned upon by other fighters. We often hear that the blows are not delivered and that the fighters are comedians. It requires a lot of agility, power and speed. If you want, we can now just try to discover the catches without necessarily fighting? Would you be okay?"

The Traveler
"Sure thing Nikki! I am here to learn from you, and I am still so honored you would like to show me some of the things you know," I say smiling at you. "Where should I set my stuff down?" I ask pointing to the dark green sling bag that I'm wearing that has the rest of my gear and some vital supplies.

Nikkiman
"The locker room is over there Jackson," and I show you a piece on the left side of the ring. "If you want, I'll show you. You want to fight in a special outfit. This is also the advantage of Prowrestling: you can fight in the outfit you want. For me, I tried the speedo, the trunks, the wrestling jersey. For some time, it is a black boxer and silver boots that serve as clothes to fight as you can see. Go change and join me!"

The Traveler
"Ah, thank you Nikki, and sure thing! I'll meet you back out here," I say and smile at you. I then go to the locker room, put my bag in one of the lockers, and begin changing. I take off my shirt and shorts, and slip on my camo-themed training compression shorts, my ankle support socks, and my dark green hand/wrist wraps. I exit the locker room to meet you, "alright Nikki, it wasn't my intention to bring MMA to the pro ring, but it's all I got!" I say lightheartedly.

Nikkiman
I laugh at your remark but I am impressed by your musculature. You are smaller than mine but your body is beautifully chiseled. "Come to the ring Jackson!" I go up with you to the center of the ring and I put myself ready for you. "You see in Prowrestling you can face someone from a category other than yours! I could very well face a guy of your size. What is needed is to know the strengths of the opponent. I imagine that an opponent like you is fast and therefore extremely dangerous."

The Traveler
I see your impressed look at my body, but can't help but keep my eyes on your towering and powerully built frame. Meeting you at the center of the ring, I nod in response to what you say. "Well, I don't know about dangerous, but I have been noted for my speed, and I have seen that you as an opponent is wildly strong, but you also hold surprising speed for a man your size," I begin to bounce on the balls of my feet, keeping myself light. "So, what shall we start out with, my friend?" I say with a determined smile.

Nikkiman
"Jackson. I propose that we start as we would in a real Prowresting match. Everyone is in their own corner. When the bell rings, the fight begins and everyone gets closer to the other." Saying this, I go to a corner of the ring and wink at you. "We don't have to really hit the blows for this test session, if that's okay with you! Just to get to know each other." I feel like I'm actually thrilled to be in this coaching position. I want you to discover the beauty of this sport, but also the pleasure I can find there. I know you a little bit and I believe we have a lot in common, including the reasons why we fight and I'm sure prowrestling will help you answer your questions as it allowed me to live with my doubts.

The Traveler
"sounds good Nikki, a light spar to begin, then you can also see where I may fall short," I say with a curious smile. I head to the corner diagonally opposite of yours, resting my arms on either side of the ropes beside me. I take a few deep breaths. "Ready when that bell rings," I say with a wink towards you.

Nikkiman
With my mouth I ring the bell with a noise a little ridiculous but which should make you understand that the fight begins. I walk to the center of the ring in a collar and elbow position telling you. "It's often a good way to start: it allows you to measure strength for opponents of my kind. The whole difficulty for you is to find a solution to this movement: the PTO will not be in your favor."

The Traveler
We move towards the center, towards each other, we both have our arms raised, signaling the collar/elbow lockup... Seems like we both had the same idea. I nod as you explain to me what this initial lockup can be used for, and we begin the lockup, pushing against each other. Immediately, we know who has the advantage, and you can already push me back. You're so strong, and now I get the chance to feel it. I try to shift the momentum of the lockup so instead of you pushing me back, I bend my knees so you can push me down, but at an angle. Like tight spring, I push back up against you spontaneously in an attempt to break your guard and this lockup.

Nikkiman
I love that physical contact in collar and elbow. "You see that's what Prowrestling is all about: being very close to your opponent, being able to feel him, being in contact with him while showing him our strength and feeling his" By saying this, I feel, that like a spring to try to break my grip. It destabilizes me and makes me fall to the ground. "Well done. You showed your agility" I quickly straighten up and get back in front of you. "You are full of abilities, Jackson!"

The Traveler
I manage to not only destabilize you, but also get you to fall on the ground. A feat, I'm sure, few of my size are able to do to a man of your stature. I smirk and chuckle a bit when you praise my move. "Thank you Nikki!" And I see you straighten yourself back up to face me. I still have this sense of awe whenever I see you near your full height. I begin to bounce lightly on the balls of my feet from side to side. "So, what next?" I ask while keeping ready.

Nikkiman
Before you finish your sentence, I say to you: "surprise the other" and I begin to lift you above me to put you on my shoulders. "You see Jackson, no matter the weight or size, prowrestling is about surprise. Kind of like life really: some surprises are good, some are very painful. Here, I could drop you and explode your temples against my knees, which would likely knock you out quickly." I put you gently on the ground. I repeat "The surprise! Do you understand?"

The Traveler
"Woah!" I let out as you lift me off the ground, wondering what you might do to me next. I nod when you mention the element of surprise, and then as you set me down gently, I nod again and breathe out a bit, "yeah! I do my friend!" I say and then I swoop to your left and grab your left arm and extend it outwards and I rotate it on your shoulder a few times to maintain control while moving you in a circle as well and then I bend your arm to your back, put a light hammerlock on you before using some force to push you away. "Surprise... Like that?" I ask.

Nikkiman
"Exactly Jackson! You've got the agility, you've got the strength! You've got everything it takes to be a great Prowrestler. Be careful to be on your toes." Saying this, I realize that your various training sessions have given you an impressive technique. "You are progressing faster and faster. You will go far! Now that you have understood the principles, do you want us to take a little more action? If you wish, we can chain a few actions to give a little pepper without really hurting yourself?"

The Traveler
Your praise of my move makes me chuckle a bit in disbelief. As we face each other again, you ask about now putting in more action, but just a bit so we don't hurt ourselves. "Sure thing Nikki, I think that would be great to continue to assess everything," I agree and bounce on my feet to observe what your next move may be.

Nikkiman
I'm coming to stand next to you. I put my hand on your shoulder. I am a little embarrassed to make this friendly gesture when I know very well that I am going to make an unfriendly grab. Inwardly I ask myself "Is it a good thing to train with a friend? How do you fight those you love and agree to hurt them?" But I know you're here to train and to learn. I told you that surprise is important. With my arm on your shoulder, suddenly I lean forward forcing you to follow me. Then in one fell swoop, I knock you backwards in an attempt to blow your back out. The shock is sudden. When you are on the ground, I wedge one of your legs with one of mine, while I put my other leg behind your neck in a Russian Leg Sweep.

The Traveler
Your sudden friendly gesture catches me off guard. The hand on my shoulder feels friendly, but then you step to my left, wrap your arm behind my neck, wrap your right leg around my left, and then swing me back in a Russian Leg Sweep. Completely caught off guard, coupled with your own natural strength, "AHHHH!" I scream out, and then you continue by bringing your leg up and behind my neck, arching my neck up while keeping your other leg laced around my right leg, locking in this interesting submission move, where you can slowly arch me inward to increase the pressure on my neck and parts of my back, should you choose. "ERGHHHHHH" I let out in struggle.

Nikkiman
I see you struggling but I can still squeeze. I have no intention of hurting you. But I really like this contact with the body in these matches. I decide to let you go because we are here to train and not to fight. "When I talk about surprise, you understand what I'm saying..." I help you get up by telling you: "it's up to you to surprise me Jackson!"

The Traveler
As you let me go and help me up, I feel what you feel... This excitement from the contact of bodies. "Yes, I understand what you mean more and more," I say while stretching my body to relax from your tough hold. And as you tell me it's up to me to surprise you, I charge at you and go for a fake-out clothesline with my right arm. As you duck under that, I bring my left leg around to sweep you off your feet with sweeping kick to get back in front of you as you fall to the mats and I mount you and bring my legs around your neck and roll us around so I'm on my back and can trap one of your arms to lock in an arm-trapped triangle choke.

"The element of surprise... How I wish I learned into it more before my training too, but thank you for helping me learn Nikki," I say while I have you in the hold. And soon enough, I release you, as we're just practicing this surprise, no intent to really go all-out as we might in an actual match, and then roll us back so I'm mounted on top of you before I get up and offer a hand to help you up too.

Nikkiman
I see you coming in with a clothesline and I think you have a lot of nerve to try this kind of hold considering our size difference. Suddenly, I find myself imprisoned by your legs around my neck. "Surprise, he understands quickly the boy!" I think in my head. I like this very particular sensation of being submitted to a hold by an opponent. Who has never had a part of the body locked between the legs, arms of an opponent can not understand. It's a nice physical sensation to feel the other one so close.

The wetness of our bodies, the smells of fighters fighting as if their honor depended on it is something that also makes me want to keep fighting. I especially like that feeling where I am in trouble, trapped in a difficult movement. In fact, fighting and living are the same: using the hazards, doubts, difficulties to try to continue to live or to fight are two things that are similar. The hold you made is very well mastered and I am happy that you straightened me out, because I would have had to use more violence to push it back. I gladly accept your hand to allow me to stand up and I look at you with a big smile. "Well done Jackson, you are learning at an exceptional rate. And you're bringing MMA techniques into Prowrestling: that's good.

But I believe that these two disciplines, even if they are complementary, are different on some level. There are, in my humble opinion, two categories of prowrestlers: the powerful and the agile. They don't fight in the same way depending on their opponents. To make it quick, I am in this game the power you are the agility. It would be the opposite if I was fighting a 300lb opponent. Now that you know the surprise, let's work on the agility if that's okay?"

The Traveler
As I help you up, you begin talking about your own experiences, helping me draw a wider comparison with the cage fights of the MMA world I'm used to. I nod as you explain more. "Yes, in this case, you are power, and I am agility. I can see it, I can feel it..." I begin to say. I continue, "yes, let's move on to agility! I'm sure that even though in this case I would fall into it, you can still teach me so much," I nod and smile at you with calm determination.

Nikkiman
"Before I can work this with you, I need to know a little more about you. Some very powerful wrestlers are incapable of agility, others quite heavy can still do it. Do you mind if I show you something? "

The Traveler
I get into a cautious position, just in case. "By all means Nikki, sure thing!" I respond, wondering what you want to show, or even demonstrate on, me.

Nikkiman
"Can I ask you to go to the ropes and run at me like you're trying to run me over with a clothesline for example?"

The Traveler
"sure thing," I nod at you and go to run to the ropes and bounce off of it to give me some momentum and hold out my right arm to prepare the clothesline as I am hurdling towards you.

Nikkiman
I see you on the ropes. "Lean on it to get the most speed and really try to throw me off." I see you running in front of me. I really like the way you're learning. You listen with both humility and a great desire to progress and I think you will become an incredible fighter very quickly. But I am still on my guard and when I see you near me, I take my legs to do a leapfrog and pass you so that you go and bounce in the opposite ropes. I move a little off your trajectory and say "Surprise and agility."

The Traveler
I see you leap with great height above me. As you move a little off my trajectory and you say "surprise and agility," I chuckle a bit, feeling so grateful to be here now, and bounce off the ropes again and charge at you but baseball slide under you at the last moment and reach up to playfully tap your shoulder with my left index finger as I stand up behind you. "Surprised, I hope you are, with that last minute slide of a move... And always agile," I say with a smile as you turn to face me again.

Nikkiman
When I see you charging at me after dodging your charge, I tell myself that you have passed the stage of combat and I prepare to receive your new attack. I plant my feet on the ground, contract all my muscles and mainly those of the abdomen, as your angle is telling me that it is in this part that you want to attack me. I am ready to face you, when suddenly, you slip past me. Then I feel you tap my shoulder with your index finger and say "Surprise". I burst out laughing because I didn't expect that.

"You understand very quickly, Jackson, and you have an exceptional quality for fighting: you respect your opponents and you know how to amuse them. The audience should love that. In a pro wrestling match, people come to see a show. We are actors: everyone plays his role. You know mine I think? Sometimes these roles are real. Sometimes they don't. In a fight - and this is perhaps strongest in wrestling - you have to respect the opponent and respect the audience. You already have the quality of winning over the audience with your sense of humor! That's excellent!" I tell you this while continuing to laugh. "Let's move forward a little in the progression if you want?"

The Traveler
"Hm, well thank you Nikki! Glad to bring some entertainment into the mix," I smile at you. "Yes, let's move forward in the progression." We turn to face the center and I back up a bit, keeping light, and ask "what next?"

Nikkiman
If you don't mind, I would like to show you now the alliance between agility and power. The holds might hurt a little more. But we take our time, prepare our body and our anticipation and take a break to recover?"

The Traveler
I get into a cautious position again, as you ask about wanting to show how power and agility can and do work together... And from observing your matches, I know exactly how well you make both work together. I gulp a little bit. "Yes Nikki, do what you will! I'm ready. Let me feel what it is you want to teach me about," I say with certainty and try to prepare my body as much as I can for what pain you might be willing to exact onto me.

Nikkiman
Before I start I say to you "Jackson, we agree to train, to progress we must also hurt. I'm going to take it as easy as I can, but agility and power can cause damage! Sorry in advance!" I position myself a few feet away from you. I quickly step back into the ropes to get some momentum. When I get not too far from you, I use my legs to jump high. My legs catch your neck and knock you to the ground with a roll. I am not an expert in headscissors or aerial holds. My weight and experience don't allow me to do it, but I also want to progress. I see you rolling on the ground and hope that you don't get hurt too much and that my hold wasn't too painful.

The Traveler
I see you back to the ropes and bounce off to gather momentum. As you approach me you leap up and enclose my head between your legs and swing toss me to the ground. "AHHH!" I let out a scream as I'm tossed to the ground from your headscissor takedown. My body recoils as it slams to the ground and I roll away from where you land. I cough a bit. "Your intent is crystal clear Nikki! And you're right.." I slowly rise up, "pain is necessary to grow," I bring my left hand to my back and my right to my neck, rolling my neck and massaging my back. "Good move Nikki!" I let out. "Is this something you want me to try?" I ask you while regaining my breath.

Nikkiman
I approach you quickly. "It's okay Jackson! I'm so sorry! I hope I didn't hurt you too much! When you think of shots, always ask yourself if they are feasible. I can't powerbomb a 300 lb. fighter. Do you think you can take down my 202 lbs with this hold? If so, go for it! If not, don't start the hold. The goal is not to get in trouble, but to gain an advantage over the other guy. On the other hand, do you want to learn how to counter the combination of strength and agility?"

The Traveler
As I slowly am able to fully straighten myself out, "it's okay Nikki! I am here to train after all. With this move, if I play my cards right, for someone of your weight, it's entirely possible. I can certainly try this now, or if you would rather, you can teach me how to better counter the combination of strength and agility first!"

Nikkiman
"Perfect Jackson, I think I want to teach you to counter holds that combine strength and agility. Will you lie on the floor on your back please?"

The Traveler
"sounds good Nikki," I respond, "and sure thing." I take a deep breath and get down on the floor and lie on my back. "Ready, Nikki!"

Nikkiman
"See, Jackson, I'm going to get on the turnbuckle and stand up." While explaining the moves to you, I do exactly what I'm telling you. "Usually this kind of hold requires agility because you have to be quick since the opponent is on the ground. When I'm up, I'll stand up and get ready to jump on you and try to crush you. When you see me coming, you bend your knees to destroy my abs! Got it!"

The Traveler
"Understood!" I take a deep breath and see as you climb the turnbuckle. I see you launch yourself to splash me and I have to time it all right. Right as your body is completely perpendicular to mine, I bend my legs up to protect my body, hugging my thighs with my hands, and brace for impact as your abs land on my knees. I see you bounce off my knees and roll away, but I'm feeling the recoil from your weight trying to crush me, so I roll away slowly and cough a little. "Was that... Good... Nikki?" I ask in between breaths while trying to get up.

Nikkiman
I am writhing on the floor. I'm glad I contracted my abs to avoid having to deal with insurmountable pain. "You did that perfectly," I say between cries to overcome my pain. I slowly drag myself to the ropes in an attempt to get up. I stand for a few moments without saying anything to catch my breath. "You did that perfectly. In a match, you could have taken advantage of this hold to destabilize me even more with a series of moves." I say this while running my hand over my abs and continuing to wince. I'm really hurting but I'm happy because I feel like you'll be able to take full advantage of my advice, however modest it may be. I look at you as I come to my senses and see the exceptional fighter in you.

The Traveler
"I see Nikki," I say with a contemplative look. I rub my knees and abs as you rub your abs, both of us feeling the total recoil of the damage of the counter. "So," I continue while looking at you. The look in your eyes has a sense of praise, though I am still modest of myself. I still gaze at your body in awe. "There were two ways, that could have been countered. The first, being confrontational, which is what you taught me, and the second, a split-second dodge away..." I say while continuing to look at you. "So what's next, coach?" I say a little more lightheartedly, but cautious for what you want to impart next.

Nikkiman
"I suggest we work on dodging. It also requires strength and agility. Without either of these two qualities, you can't do anything. Go to your corner Jackson! You're going to come at me like you're going to spear me. Try to go for it with all your might. Without effort and pain, there is no progress."

The Traveler
I go to my corner upon your instruction. "Alright Nikki, let's do this!" I gather a couple deep breaths and, and I charge at you with blinding and surprising speed, dipping my shoulder a bit to aim directly at your solar plexus when I am just a few feet away from you.

Nikkiman
I see that you put all your strength in this race and that you follow my teachings well. I see you running towards me and I can already imagine the damage that your shoulder could cause on my plexus if you managed to reach your goal. I know it would be painful and at the same time I can't help but want to discover more of your strength and muscles. Just before you reach me, I lean on my legs to jump over you. I can see you moving at full speed towards the ropes.

The Traveler
As I leap to connect the spear, you jump up at the last second and dodge. Seeing I could fly out of the ring through the ropes, I grab onto the top and middle ropes as I slip between them just to give me the chance to rebound back in. On the swing back in, I instinctively send a kick to your direction, but you are just far enough away that the kick grazes you and you can feel the air that is "sliced" from the kick as I swing myself back in and land on one knee. "Now THAT was a narrow dodge," I say with a smirk, and forever impressed by your athleticism.

Nikkiman
I feel the air cut by your foot and I thank God I wasn't closer to you. I reach out my hand to help you up. "You know Jackson, what I think makes a good fighter is not just strength or just agility. To fight well, you have to try to combine everything. Sometimes being kind by helping your opponent up.... "I pause for a moment. An evil smile crosses my mind but I pass my hand in front of my face as if to chase away these bad thoughts. "... Sometimes you have to surprise him even when the opponent is being kind. See there when I help you up, I could have used that strategy to give you an uppercut and knock you down. I felt like it for a moment... Sometimes, meanness gets to you. Do you see a bit of the way I like to fight? Take pleasure, give it to the opponent and especially to the public."

The Traveler
I see you offer a hand to help me up, but I see a mischievous grin flash across your face as you help me up, but you don't act on it, and instead fully help me get up. I take a deep breath and take a subtle sigh of relief that you didn't act on that. I could have been knocked out if you did. "Surprise, strength, agility... Yeah, three very important things to fight well. I see what you mean too, how you can let the energy just overtake you even for a moment and use a nice gesture as a front just to knock your opponent back down." I back up a bit. "So what next coach?" I say getting into a cautious stance.

Nikkiman
"Prowrestling fights are sometimes exhausting. Another element that you have to learn is to manage fatigue, manage repeated blows. Some matches can be very long and unlike MMA, there is no round. Working on fatigue is something complicated and sometimes painful. However, it is necessary if progress is to be made. Are you ready for this? "You have to be able to keep attacking, fighting even when your body is damaged, tired. If you want, we play a little game, a spar if you will. You put me through two or three takes, like in a fight. The first one puts me in trouble and you take advantage of it to take the advantage. When both takes are done, I try to react and show you how to manage your body with fatigue and then we exchange? Are you okay with that?"

The Traveler
I nod as you explain how to manage exhaustion and stamina. "Yes, makes sense Nikki. So, how should we begin? Want me to charge at you again?" I ask.

Nikkiman
"Let your imagination run wild. You have to weaken me by taking into account everything we have seen so far. I have to feel every time the area or areas of my body that you want to weaken."

The Traveler
I get myself into a mobile-favorable position and begin circling you. "Alright Nikki, I just hope that, as strong as you are, I don't damage you either.." I then say under my breath, "but, no pain, no gain," and I charge at you as you face me and I go in for a clothesline, charging at full speed, but stop short to fake you out and send a strong right kick to your solar plexus. As you double over in recoil, I drop to the ground and send a kick straight up to your chin and then, keeping the pace going, I roll up gracefully behind you and kicking you at the back of your right knee before backing up. "Still doing good Nikki?" I ask cautiously.

Nikkiman
I concentrate when I see you walking away from me. I know I'm taking risks. But your progress and exceptional abilities are well worth a little pain. I see you coming to me with a clothesline. I see that you have understood the lesson about surprise. Our weight difference doesn't allow you to lie on the ground. Just when you approach me, I feel a blow in the solar plexus. This blow is formidable and causes insurmountable pain and reduces oxygenation. I start coughing and being destabilized when I feel another blow to my chin followed by a blow in the legs that makes me bend a knee. I'm proud of you. You just attacked three essential parts of my body for combat: breathing with the solar plexus, attention by touching my face and balance by hitting my knee.

I have to come to my senses a little bit because you just gave me three difficult blows. I am one knee in front of you and I see you pulling back. I straighten up quietly and when I'm close to you, I grab you to give you a bodyslam to which I try not to give too much strength. "Well done Jackson," I tell you once you're down.

The Traveler
As you straighten back up and close the distance on me, I impulsively back up, but with your height and long reach, you close the distance quickly and you scoop me up and bodyslam me to the canvas. As much as you try to control your strength, it is still delivered with good force. I roll on the mats, cough a bit, and grip my back, and hear you commend my beginning assault on you. "Thanks... coach" I let out strained and between breaths. I grit my teeth as I roll my way to a corner and grab the ropes to pull me back up.

Nikkiman
I approach you to help you up. "It's okay! Sorry Jackson. I didn't want to hurt you. Everything's fine. Do you want us to take a break where you're ready to continue? Now if you want, we will do the same thing but in the opponent's sense. I give you two or three holds and you react. Ok?"

The Traveler
"I'm good Nikki, I'm okay!" I say while restoring my breath. "Sure, let's do that. I'll see if I can keep up with your moves now," I let out cautiously.

Nikkiman
You set the bar very high in the blows you gave me. I put myself in front of you. I feel that you are not reassured and I am torn between the desire to make you progress and the fear of hurting you. I come close to you and grab you by placing one arm on your back and the other on your leg. That you are light. That's always what strikes me about agile fighters. Their low weight compared to other opponents. I feel your body against mine. We're both sweaty. I lift you up a little and come and hit your back against my knees while I bend them in a backbreaker before dropping you to the ground.

I pick you up and come and land you against the turnbuckle. With my hand, I knock on your pecs several times. I intended to work the upper part of your body: the back and torso to see how you will react because they are two very sensitive areas.

The Traveler
Again, I back up impulsively as you approach me, but with your reach you close the distance in no time, and you lift me very seamlessly before dropping my back down onto your knee and then dropping me to the ground. "AGHHH!" I let out as you crack my back and drop me to the ground. I begin to roll away while trying to keep my eyes on you, but you already get up and pick me up and toss me to the turnbuckle. Some air is knocked out of me and with no time to respond, you chop and pound my chest several times, my body arching up. As you go in to hit my pecs again, I try to take advantage of the momentum from the blow. As I arch up, I bring my left knee out to collide with your abs, and the in a snap-motion, extend my left leg out to kick you in your solar plexus again, hoping that would put some distance between us as I try to breathe again.

Nikkiman
I feel your knee hit my abs and then see your foot hitting my solar plexus again. In a real match I would grab that ankle and start an anklelock but I can't. I take this terrible blow; the second one of our training. I know it is capable of killing if delivered with violence. I contract my obliques so that I can have as little pain as possible "Well done Jackson! You're playing on strength," I say as I back away a little and try to catch my breath.

The Traveler
I regain my breath and nod, "Thank you Nikki! I was quite literally backed into a corner haha," I chuckle out and then rush at you and go low and send a sweeping kick to sweep you off your feet and for you to land on your back before getting to the other side of the ring and watching your body to see what you will do next.

Nikkiman
When I find myself on the ground after your sweeping kick, I start laughing "And you know how to use surprise too." I like the way you are progressing and I see that you are capable of doing exceptional things. At the same time, I feel like our training has taken on a new look and I wonder if I did the right thing by not wearing the ankle hold like I had thought. I get up quickly, jumping to my feet quite easily. I lunge at you and try to take you down with a dropkick.

The Traveler
I can't help but chuckle when you laugh and commend me with my use of surprise. I see you get up quickly and jump up to prepare a dropkick. "One hit from that, I'm done," I think to myself, so at the last moment as your legs are about to extend outwards, I recall this move my old friend Zay did once to "counter" leaping strikes like this: I drop to my back and roll to my right to completely dodge your dropkick, and dodge any possibility that may have been taken to land on me as a second hit. I quickly get back up and get into a mobile-ready defensive stance. "That, was a close one!" I chuckle out and then as you get up I go to the ropes and charge at you, at the last second I leap up and whirl around your body and wrap my legs around your head to swing you down in a tilt-a-whirl headscissor takedown.

Nikkiman
I thought I had found a way to take you down and show you that power was important but you showed me that agility and surprise should always be taken seriously. I hate that feeling when I see myself falling and I know I can't do anything. Sometimes I do, but it always raises all my doubts about my ability to fight. As I go to get back up, you bring me down in your headscissor takedown. I am falling like never before and my head comes crashing down on the canvas. I feel an important pain at the level of my cervicals which took the blow. I stay on the ground a few moments to recover my spirits and when I stand up my head turns a little. I look disoriented while I try to get up.

The Traveler
After you fall from your missed dropkick and I tumble you to the ground with my headscissor takedown, I see you getting up, but a little dazed. "Are you okay Nikki? Should we break here? Or is there more you would like to show me?" I ask while approaching you cautiously

Nikkiman
As you cautiously approach me and offer me a break, I know I must also surprise you. That's how I fight my doubts, turning them into something useful in battle. I straighten up before you get too close to me by jumping to my feet. I grab you by the waist and before you can realize it, I try to lift you up in a suplex. I love this contact of two torsos against each other. It's a stealthy contact but it gives so much pleasure. To wrestle is to love the bodies, it is to love to hurt the body of course. I believe that it is especially to like to respect them. As I lift you up, I turn around hoping to make you fall on your back.

The Traveler
You manage to reinforce your fondness for surprise as you grab my waist, pull me in, and then swing me up and over into the suplex. As I'm slammed on the ground yet again, I let out a few more coughs. "ooooi" I let out softly, straining and trying to shake my head slowly to get rid of the mental cobwebs. I try to roll away from you in the meantime to get to the ropes to get myself up.

Nikkiman
I say "Surprise and power Jackson, don't forget! Do you want us to take a break or continue. I should let you stand up with the help of the ropes but the urge to fight is greater. I approach you pretty quickly and start slamming your head into the turnbuckle before you have a chance to turn around. The love of the fight is too great and I can't really limit my blows... When, suddenly, I stop in shame... "Sorry Jackson! I'm sorry! I let myself get carried away by this fucking desire to win."

The Traveler
I manage to get to the ropes and bring myself up, struggling out "Yeah power is something I'm still needing to progress!" and before I know it you get behind me, absorbed by the passion to fight, and then you slam my head into the turnbuckle. "OOOI" I let out and as you stop in shame and release my head, I turn around, dazed and rocky, and fall to the ground but on my left knee, catching myself by stabilizing myself with my hands on the ground too, then bringing one hand up to grip my head. "You're... okay.... Nikki," I shake my head to clear the mental cobwebs, finding it difficult to regain clear vision since the last blow was without complete restraint, "... I... understand... your passion...." I continue to pant out.

Taking a few deep breaths in, I move the hand that was gripping my head towards the ropes, trying to grip the rope so I can pull myself to it so I can eventually hoist myself up. After a few more deep breaths, I get up on both feet, but walk along the ropes, using it as stability to get to the opposite corner and resting myself, my back leaning against the corner, while regaining my senses.

Nikkiman
I approach you quickly with a worried look on my face. "Jackson, Jackson, are you sure you're okay? I got a little carried away and I didn't mean for it to go this far. I put my hand on your shoulders. "I just showed you maybe one of the worst sides of the fighter I am. Often the pleasure of fighting gets to me and I can't calm that urge down anymore. I need to fight as if it were vital. In an official fight, it's not a big deal and it's part of the game." My face is more and more closed and my look becomes very dark: "Maybe I am not the right person to teach you? I probably still have too much weakness for that. You see an excellent wrestler should be able to control himself and his desire to fight. I couldn't do that." My gaze darkens again and I move away from you a little bit so that you don't see this feeling of sadness that fills my eyes.

The Traveler
"Nikki, my friend..." I take a couple deep breaths and fully regain my senses. "It's okay, really! I'm okay! I still believe you are the right person to teach me. There are some moments we can find it hard to refine our urges to fight. And," I place my hand around your upper arm, "you did just take some time away from fighting after you became the Champion of France. Stepping back into the ring after all that time, it can be easy to get sucked into the moment. But through it all, it's because we are friends and because of your skill and your readiness in expressing your vulnerabilities is why I still think you are the person I need to train with right now. So come Nikki," I say while getting around to you, placing both hands on either side of your arms. "Look at me, I'm okay, see? Let's do a couple more things, wrap this session, and then we will continue training for the next two weeks, each of us getting better at what we want to improve upon," I say giving you a soft smile.

Nikkiman
I love the way you talk to me, I love the sound of your voice that comforts me. I like your friendly gestures that soothe me. I know I can talk to you with confidence. I know that you are a friend who is ready to listen to my doubts. I shake my head briefly before I smile again. "You're right Jackson! We're here to make progress. I'd be so mad at myself if you got hurt during this training. Let's go again! I'm going to watch my emotions now. I trust you and I know that with you too I will progress in confidence and in managing emotions." I totally got my smile back and put myself back in the center of the ring. "Shall we try to string together several actions according to our good old "Surprise and Agility" formula?"

The Traveler
I smile as I see you relax. "Yes, Nikki, I would like that," I say as I join you at the center of the ring, getting into a cautious stance and circling you. I then smirk and raise my arms in the air to signal for the collar/elbow lockup. "Humor me for a bit," I say with a gesture and a wink to see if you'll lock up with me.

Nikkiman
The collar and elbow.... A wide smile crosses my face. I think you're very brave to start a fight like this with me given the weight difference. I plant my feet on the ground and connect with you. I know you'll try to use agility and surprise to throw me off balance but I have to let you. I contract my muscles as much as possible to absorb the pain of your attacks. But I also want to show you my power and I start to press on your shoulders to try to make you bend. I know I am taking risks in doing this but my goal is twofold: to allow you to practice what we have seen and to show you again how it is possible to progress.

The Traveler
I grin wide and pant as I feel you press down against me. I slowly decrease my resistance and actually subtly pull you in at a downward angle so you can push me down, helping me build more energy. "Nikki.... Do you know why.... Bamboos are so revered... In Chinese culture...?" I ask through struggle, and as my left knee almost hits the canvas I spring back up and send a knee to your solar plexus to break your grip on my shoulders, and then I send a low sweeping kick to hopefully get you to fall to the canvas on your back. "Because bend as the will, they do not break." I let out in resolution. To keep up the surprise, while you're on the ground, I rush at you, grab your legs, and try to lock in a figure four leg lock!

Nikkiman
I see you against me and I know you will prepare a counter attack. My goal is clear: that you find ways to resist the power. I fight you in the finest way possible. And I see you taking advantage of what we have worked on. You combine surprise and agility and my solar plexus is destroyed again. The pain starts to be strong and I see that this part of my body starts to redden. Again, my breathing is disturbed and I feel that your repeated blows on this place are more and more painful. I see you approach me and get into position to do a figure 4. "Good job Jackson! That's a tough hold to counter. You had the surprise and agility on that one."

The Traveler
I fully lock in the figure four. And lean back, placing one leg on the targeted leg. "Thanks! Learned it from my last coach. So what is your counter?" I say while slowly wrenching the hold.

Nikkiman
"The figure 4 is one of my favorite holds, Jackson, and I've applied it to quite a few of my opponents to make them quit" I say this with a face that is starting to contort in pain. "But it's not a hold you can't counter." I begin to put all my strength and willpower into my body so I can turn around and get on my stomach forcing you to get on your stomach too. The pressure is now on your legs and not on mine in this modified Indian deathlock.

The Traveler
"urghhhh, AHHHH-AHHHH!!" I let out as you use your size and strength to counter it. I wiggle out of it as fast as I can and roll away from you, but not without sending a swinging kick to your oblique before completely rolling away and slowly trying to get up. "PHEW!" I let out as I slowly get up.

Nikkiman
You are running away from my movement and by leaving you try to destroy my oblique. I get up as quickly as possible and approach you. I see that you have rolled away from me. I have to be quick if I want to achieve my goal: to try to put you back on the ground with a busaiku knee kick. I take my momentum into the ropes and when my knee reaches your head, I send it into your face.

The Traveler
I can't let this knee hit me, or I'm done. As you go to the ropes to gather momentum I see you lift your leg to knee me in the face. Through impulse I raise my hands to block it and let the momentum from your strike force me onto my back, which I use to send my legs upward so I can wrap them around your neck and twist my body to bring you down in a variation of the headscissor takedown.

Nikkiman
I see that you prepare to protect yourself to avoid my blow but you fall to the ground. I think for a moment that I may have struck too hard. But when I see your legs raised to take me down, when I see that you succeed and that you are going to give me a kind of headscissors takedown, I tell myself that you are progressing rapidly. I know that if I let you do it, you're going to make me run out of oxygen. Your blows to the solar plexus have done me in. I have just enough time to grab one of your ankles with my hand and squeeze the nerve very hard to try to get you to release the pressure. "The ankle lock is an effective way to get out of a situation where you are in trouble. Way to get me into trouble, Jackson! Surprise and agility are now two of your allies," I say as I continue to keep the pressure on your ankle.

The Traveler
I see you grab one of my ankles and apply an ankle lock. "fuck" I think to myself. "AHHHH!" I scream out as you keep the pressure on my ankle. With my free leg, I wildly lash out and send two kicks, one to your solar plexus and another to your lower abs, hoping that would get you to release me.

Nikkiman
I think to myself as I receive another blow to the solar plexus. This time the pain is very great and this part of my body has turned red. A second blow hits my lower abs. They are more resistant but the pain of the first blow is such that I cannot contract them anymore. Your two blows force me to let you go. The blow in the plexus makes me cough violently and I really have difficulty to catch my breath. This is a move that is not used much in prowrestling and I feel that I am not ready for it. I have to hold on to the rope to keep my balance. "Jackson, do you want to blow my organs out?" I say, trying to keep a smile on my face.

The Traveler
As you let me go I swing my legs around to sweep you off your feet again and then I roll away and get to one knee. "Well, not exactly," I chuckle out shyly.. "I did say I may bring MMA to the ring," I say a little lightheartedly. "Are you okay Nikki?" I then ask genuinely

Nikkiman
"Yes, I'm fine Jackson! A little disoriented to tell you the truth. I have to find the balance between continuing to teach you things and not wanting to hurt you. MMA is a terrible sport and look at the marks your hits made. I guess I need to learn a couple of things too. I want to fight you but I think I don't dare hurt you. You are probably too precious to me. But don't worry, I will progress and improve. I will eventually find a balance between teaching you and fighting. I felt so bad when I was afraid to hurt you earlier." As I say this, I get back in my corner and attack. My body is upright, my muscles contracted even as a red mark appears at my solar plexus.

The Traveler
"We are here to fight our own doubts, fight with them, and progress Nikki," I respond to you. "You have this overwhelming worry of hurting me, but it's through that pain I can grow too," I say as I get up to my feet and to the corner nearest to me, diagonal from yours. "Don't worry, I can take it," I give you a reassuring nod. I then ser you stand up fully, contracting all your muscles, and I see the red spot at your solar plexus, a result from the times I targeted it. I gulp a little waiting for you to launch your attack.

Nikkiman
Once again your words soothe me and allow me to progress. I understand that your vision of pain is identical to mine: not only to allow us to progress, to harden ourselves but above all to express it as a way of living, of feeling the world. I take a deep breath after saying "Thank you Jackson". I straighten up and smile at you happily. I quickly approach you and grab you by the head to try to make you fall over me in a Fireman's carry headlock. I don't necessarily want to hurt you right away but to show you that I still have some reserve and that I continue to fight no matter how much pain your blows have inflicted on me.

The Traveler
You come at me fast and I charge at you too to try to meet you, but you take me by the head and swing me over into a side headlock. "OOOF... Fffuck...." I let out as I'm swung to the ground and feel your powerful arms begin to constrict me. I grip your arm that's around me... They feel so strong still... And I try to take as deep of a breath I can and try to send a couple knees to your back to see if that would effect you at all where you would loosen the hold, my breathing getting heavier as I feel your power.

Nikkiman
As I'm squeezing you, I feel you trying to break my back with your knee strikes. I refuse to let it happen and I have to be quick. I make myself slide on my stomach in order to be in front of you and put my back to you. I start punching you in the face. I tell you "You told me you were going to bring MMA to the ring, I'm trying to follow your advice".

The Traveler
"OOI-OOI-OOI!" I let out as you punch me in the face. I try to block more of your punches, but between the half-locked side headlock and your punches, I'm getting weaker. I try one last attempt to nail a couple knees at your exposed oblique nearest to them as I continue to try to block your punches, hoping this counter-assault is enough.

Nikkiman
I feel you working my obliques again. I need to quickly make sure you can't attack them again. I'm still glued to you. I say into your ear softly "I'm sorry" and my voice is almost heartbreaking so much I know I'm going to hurt you and myself. I move my head close to yours and I'm not sure you can tell from the look in my eyes that what I'm about to do fills me with sadness. I hit your head hard with a headbutt to try to show you the importance of power in a fight.

The Traveler
Getting weaker and dazed from the half side headlock and the punches my guard gets looser. You whisper into my ear, and I simply whisper back, "I asked for it," and you headbutt me hard. My arms collapse to my side. I'm barely conscious, and breathing heavy.

Nikkiman
I see you lying on the ground and I feel like you are breathing hard. I rush to you. I take care of you by putting you in the most comfortable position and putting my hand on your cheeks "Jackson, Jackson, are you sure everything is okay?". I'm worried that I hurt you but relieved at the same time. I look at you again and quickly go downstairs to get some water so that you can quickly come to your senses. I sit next to you, watching and caring for you until you regain consciousness.

The Traveler
I'm breathing heavy and my hearing is numb, so whatever you're saying it's all muffled. But feeling your sentiment, I nod and smile at you, knowing I got you to loosen up a little bit more. I came to you, not just to train with you, but to also get a glimpse of facing the Champion of France, even in a simulated fight. I close my eyes and give in to the exhaustion and pass out for a bit as you set me in a comfortable position. I softly wake up and see you sit next to me, caring for me, and I lean my head on your shoulder. "...thank you," I whisper softly.

Nikkiman
I'm next to you. You even manage to soothe me half-consciously. You've always done it and even your shots have made me calmer and you have made me progress. I'm looking at you. "Don't thank me Jackson! You're the one who makes others better. You are one of the rare fighters, those who manage to transform their opponents for the better. You gave me a lot during this training. You taught me how to teach, you taught me to use my doubts, you taught me especially that you were not only an exceptional wrestler but above all an extraordinary friend.

The Traveler
I lean against you more, putting more weight on you as I put a hand on your shoulder and push down to try to get myself to stand up. "UGHHH!" I let out as I attempt to fully get up. "Well, thank you for saying that Nikki, that means a lot," I say as I now fully stand up. I look you in the eyes kindly. "So, what do you say, we hit the showers for today, and then meet here, same time, for the next two weeks to continue training?" I ask.

Nikkiman
"I will be so happy to continue our training. Do you have points that you particularly want to work on? Tell me. If you feel like it, I can also make you discover Paris one day or another. You're not going to stay at the hotel all this time. Come to my house if you want, it's not very big but I have enough to put you to bed. You will be much better at my place and we could discover not only the city but also meet my friends."

The Traveler
"I would love that Nikki," I say gently smiling at you. "I know I said I may... And well, did... Bring MMA to the pro arena, but I think what I want to work on these next two weeks is not just bringing them in, but adapting them for the pro ring. I would hate to unintentionally make enemies when I have a real pro wrestling debut by seriously damaging them with raw MMA skills. Perhaps you can help me learn how, not to abandon them, but to adapt them for the pro ring," I toss the idea to you. "And thank you Nikki, that would be great. After the showers, I'll head back to the hotel to get my bag and I can head to your place, drop it off, and you can start to show me the wonders of the city, and even meet your friends. Your hospitality is amazing, I appreciate it!"

Nikkiman
"Go shower Jackson, we'll see you after. You send me a text message and I give you my address. We come together. I'll just have time to tidy up my apartment so that you can be set up as well as possible. We're both going to have fun in Paris!"

The Traveler
"Sounds good Nikki, I'll see you later!" I say as I slowly hobble out of the ring and head to the locker room to shower. As soon as I finish, I head to the locker that has my bag, and put on a fresh pair of clothes: dark green athletic shorts and a black compression T-shirt. I take my bag and head back to the hotel. As I get back to my room, I collapse on my bed a bit and reflect on the training today, and I grin with excitement and contentment. "Thank you Nikki, for taking an undisciplined fighter like me in," I think. I then reach into my bag and take out casual clothes, but more suitable for meeting people and showing "class". I slip into a white button up short sleeve shirt and black denim shorts.

I then take out my phone to message you that I'm ready to head to your place, zipping up my bag to get ready and then go down to the lobby to check out, waiting for your message.

Nikkiman
I go home before showering. I live too close to the room not to enjoy it. When I enter my home, I feel both excited and exhausted. I undress in the bathroom and look at my solar plexus. It is red. I get my hands on it. I think of the pleasure I had coaching Jackson. I like his meetings that allow you to progress. I'm going to shower and change: jeans and a tshirt close to my body. I text Jackson to give him my address and start tidying up. I feel the pain of these blows in my plexus when I bend down and when I set up his bed in my office. I am happy to be able to spend time with him and I know that our friendship will only grow.

The Traveler
As I finish checking out of the hotel, I get the message with your address, so I begin walking to your place. As I get nearer to it, I get more excited; I ring the doorbell to let you know I've arrived, waiting and smiling.

Nikkiman
I hear the front door ringing. My heart tightens a little and I feel the stress coming. I open the door, unable to hide my emotion. "Jackson! What a pleasure! It's okay! Not too bad everywhere? Come in and be welcome here: it's your home all the time you want" I let you in and you're in the main room of my little studio: dumbbells hang on the floor next to works of contemporary literature. "Come and put your things in your room. This is my office. I still have a few days of vacation and we'll enjoy it."

The Traveler
As my eyes dilate, still in a sort of awe of your sheer size, they move around to scan your studio, drawn to the works of contemporary literature. I subtly gesture to them, saying, "looks like we have more things to talk about," I say with a soft grin. As you take me to your office which is to be my room, I respond, "feels like home already," I smile at you as I set my bag down next to the bed. I look over and see little, subtle winces of pain that pulse through your face. "You okay Nikki?" I ask and then I look dead center at the area of your solar plexus. "I didn't hit you THAT hard, did I?" I shyly chuckle out

Nikkiman
I like the way you look at contemporary literature and I understand that we have a lot in common. I tried to hide my pain from you but I see that you know me well. I tell you with a grimacing "No, no it's okay... You have to like to have a beautiful red mark in the middle of the torso. Fortunately I did not plan to go to the pool in the next few days, I would have been taken for a beaten man" then I start laughing. "Do you want to see something special in Paris: museum, concert, exhibitions, coffee...?"

The Traveler
I laugh with you, then smile. "Let's start with some coffee, give ourselves some needed, added energy, and then we can go wherever you think would be worth showing me!" I give you a soft and reassuring smile

Nikkiman
"It's a great program. Follow me, I'm going to take you to one of the mythical cafes of Paris, that of existentialists and artists. This is the café de Flore in Saint-Germain des Près. You'll see. It's one of the most famous places in Paris." We take the metro and quite quickly, we find ourselves on the terrace on the boulevard Saint Germain. Pretty quickly, I ask you "What made you fight?"

The Traveler
As we head to the cafe, you ask of my motivation to fight. "Well.. since I was young, I was always drawn in by the dangerous allure of the MMA cage. I never had formal training, and I only watched my grandfather practice some Northern Shaolin Kung Fu forms, every day, day and night, to keep his mind and body sharp. It mystified me. So when he moved out of my parents' place, I started remembering the forms he practiced, taught it to myself, picking up fragments of knowledge along the way. And eventually took it to the cage when I was 18, wanting to experience what it was that drew me to that setting. And once I set foot, fought with guys, I couldn't stop. Because more than anything, it was like I was connecting with a part of me that I never knew was there," I explain. "How about you? How did you get started?" I bounce the question back to you.

Nikkiman
"What a wonderful story. For me, it's a little different. No one in my house practiced wrestling. A sport considered unnoble compared to rugby in my family. I was the only boy in a large family. My parents expected a lot from me: in the studies, in the activities offered, in the family model. I never wanted to and from a young age I built myself in opposition to their choice. They wanted me to be in the military, I studied business. They wanted me to have a big family, I'm gay. They wanted me to be Catholic, I am atheist. The struggle became very early for me, from the age of 11, the way to show this opposition to family choices, to escape my condition. After when I was able to assert myself I went to bodybuilding and I got tattooed to continue this opposition.

At 18, I was doing pretty well in wrestling and I told myself that I was going to prowrestling. Everyone laughed at me: my family because it was not a sport, my opponents because I was too nice, too well raised, the public because I was not charismatic enough. I decided to build my character on these characteristics: to be kind, well-mannered, but rough and sometimes violent when fighting. To fight for me is to show where I come from, who I am but to express it in a different environment. It's my way of showing where I come from while being different and not continuing a clear path."

The Traveler
As I listen to your story, I see echoes of mine. I did pretty well for myself, also in resistance to my family, so it makes listening to you with empathy and compassion so much easier. "Thank you for telling me your story Nikki," I stop in front of the entrance of the cafe and spontaneously hug you with warmth. "You've done very well for yourself, my friend," I whisper, and then I bring myself back out and say with a playful breath, "Mr. Champion of France," and I grin as we head into the cafe.

Nikkiman
As I sit in the café, I am relieved to have introduced you to who I am and once again soothed by your words. I guess we have a lot in common and I have a hunch that some of our sufferings and doubts are common. But I don't want to talk about bad memories and I order a coffee. "What would you like Jackson?"

The Traveler
"I'll have whatever you're having! You know this place, what's good," I respond with a warm smile. I ponder on this light feeling that came about from our shared stories, and for a brief moment reach out to your hand and warmly grip it before gently retreating and folding my hands together.

Nikkiman
As I order you a coffee with croissants and an orange juice, I feel your hand touch mine and quickly put it back in place. Wow. The feeling of your skin is so... I get goosebumps because of the emotion. I've already had the opportunity to feel your skin but now... I can't even concentrate on my order anymore. The waiter looks at me with an amused look. I see your hands crossed over each other. Have I dreamed? I know that my imagination can play tricks on me. It must be that! I don't really know what's going on anymore but since we met I've been in a strange state. The impression that you allow me to express my sensitivity totally. I can only look at you with a smile. I can no longer formulate my ideas.

The Traveler
"uhm, earth to Nikki?" I say a little amused too, "you were about order something for you?" I say gesturing my head to the waiter, who is also amused, and smile at you softly while trying to stifle any laugh at your speechless state, and I move my left hand again to warmly grip your right hand to hopefully ground you.

Nikkiman
When I feel your hand against mine again, my face takes on a serious expression. I am quickly removing it. I quickly become serious and close in on myself. Emotions go too fast in my body. I have to concentrate a little before I can speak again.

The Traveler
"Nikki," I start when I see a serious expression grow on your face. "Is everything alright?" I ask with concern and fold my hands in again.

Nikkiman
"Jackson, have you ever had a boyfriend who brings you a lot?"

The Traveler
"... I did, for a brief time... Two relationships actually, and they happened when I was in the beginnings of my training travels... But... I don't know where they are anymore," and I cut myself off as to not bring down the mood any further than I may already have.

Nikkiman
"Well, for some time now, I met a great guy at a game. Since then we've been together! A free couple but a guy who makes me better every day. It allays my fears, much like you. The feelings I have for him are immense. When I fight or when he fights, we allow ourselves to take advantage of our opponents after victory or defeat. In a fight, tactile contact does not bother me but only it can touch me in everyday life. Sorry but this is something I can't control."

The Traveler
"I understand. And I apologize if any of my gestures earlier alluded to wanting to start a romance with you. You are an amazing guy Nikki, but I only want to grow our friendship, and not jeopardize it. Any gestures I've expressed as an act of sympathy, I only meant it out of friendship, so I do apologize if it felt like anything more," I say and give you a soft smile.

Nikkiman
I look at you smiling Jackson "Don't worry! Here as often the problem is not you but me. As in battles, as in my doubts, I know that I still have to improve my relationships with others. You really help me with this and your gestures, your smile, your words soothe me. I'm so proud to have a friend like you Jackson! To grow and be stronger, that's what you allow me" My tone is always a little moved by what I say. At this time, your coffee and orange juice arrives as well as my hot drink and croissants. "Let's enjoy this moment, Jackson."

The Traveler
I continue to smile at you. "I completely understand Nikki, and I'm so honored that you think of me in this way, that you feel I am able to even help you at all. Thank you Nikki, for your continued kindness," I say with warmth and humility. And our orders arrive, so we sit and talk and enjoy what we have. The food, the beverages, the nice conversations.

Nikkiman
"You see Jackson, an idyllic setting, nice drinks and above all a moment shared with a precious friend. You don't want to stay in France. We could see each other more often. You will come to participate in the championship of France... A fight against each other for the title, it would be so much.... Especially chat and train for hours with you, happiness."

The Traveler
"Oh Nikki," I begin to chuckle with a little doubt, "I think I have a long ways to go before I can even be formidable competition against you for that championship title," I gently laugh, and even gulp a little, just at the thought of competing and fighting against you. "I know that, even though I've only signed up for two weeks of training with you, we will cross paths again. This period of time won't be the last we meet. And after this training, the next time we do meet may very well be as opponents in the ring... Though it may be for regular matches and not championship titles quite yet," I chuckle out again. "It's been a pleasure so far, getting to know you more, conversing, laughing..." I say with a warm smile.

Nikkiman
"Jackson, I'm looking forward to these new workouts," I say as I eat my croissant, but you can hear more of the puff pastry in my mouth than my words.

The Traveler
"Me too Nikki, me too!" And I chuckle out a bit as your mouth is full. We continue to sit and chat and laugh for what seems like hours. After you take me around the city, to the museums and exhibits, and other beautiful sites. As the sun sets and the city lights flicker on, we head back to your place, chat a bit about what the future trainings will look like, and quite a bit about the contemporary literature you have in your possession. As time passes, we call it a night, head to our respective rooms and reflect on the amazing first day to the next two weeks of trainings and adventures.

NARRATOR

The Traveler spends the next two weeks training with Nikki, honing his senses and techniques in the pro arena. He begins to develop his own pro style that works well with his pre-existing MMA skills, learning to balance those skills at its most unrefined, to adapting some of them to work with the ring. As the end of the two weeks nears, he feels he wants more training, and further considers Adam's suggestion of going to Berlin to train with Rob.

Published: 2022-11-15, viewed 71 times.