ANA Reborn by Carl Facciponte - HTML preview
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Chapter 17
alph addressed the MMA class. “Okay, gang, R we’ve been in class three days a week for seven weeks. Do you think anyone has earned the right to spar just shy of full force?”
Everyone in the class responded with vigor.
“It’s about time we got to kick some butt instead of these baby sparring exercises. Let’s do this,”
Bill shouted out. He drew applause.
“I agree,” said Ralph. “Most of you came in with pretty good skills.” Several in the class glanced at Ana and Rhett, the obvious exceptions.
“And even with your knowledge, you have all progressed to a much higher level. Let’s have some fun today.”
“Can we pick partners?” Julie asked, looking directly at Ana.
“If the other partner agrees, I see nothing wrong with it. The rules will be the same as in the octagon, except you will be wearing more padded 153
gloves and helmets. I want you to have a good match, but no beating each others brains out.
Understood?”
A faked groan of disappointment rippled through the class.
“Pick a partner, and I’ll assign the fighting order. Remember to stay on the mats since we obviously don’t have a cage set up for you here.”
Julie walked over to Ana and stared into her eyes threateningly. “What do you say we two go at it? Would that be okay? Afraid?” she sneered.
“I’ve been waiting for this day to come.”
“Sure, no problem,” Ana said. “This should be fun.”
Ralph continued with the announcements.
“The rounds will be two minutes each. Points will be awarded for scoring hits and take-downs.
However, you will lose points if you hurt your opponent. Keep it hard-charging, but friendly.
Got it?”
Everyone agreed. Bill and Rhett pointed at each other, smiled, and pointed to the mat. They nodded and walked out to the center of the mat.
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“Bill and Rhett, you are apparently the first up,” Ralph said. “Let’s get to it.”
“Rhett, are you sure you want to fight me? I have a lot more experience and about thirty pounds more muscle. I don’t want you getting hurt. It’s okay if you want to swap partners.”
A friendly smile broke over Rhett’s face. “No problem, Bill. We aren’t supposed to kill each other anyhow. Let’s have some fun with this.”
Ralph rang the starting bell. The two men started circling each other, looking for penetration points, testing their opponents reaction with light jabs.
Bill suddenly shot a punch at Rhett’s head, which was blocked by a sweeping right forearm by Rhett. The punch was followed with a kick to Rhett’s thigh, who used superior speed to jump back and spin to the side, allowing the kick to only graze his leg. While Bill was off balance from missing the kick, Rhett stepped in and pushed Bill to the side and landed a light kick to his bottom.
Bill came back with a flurry of kicks and punches, all of which were blocked. Rhett landed the majority of his lighter punches and kicks.
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Martha madly typed pages of notes on Rhett’s performance into her laptop.
The bell rang, stopping the match after two minutes. The men shared friendly hugs.
“Geez, Rhett, you’re a lot more agile and faster than I thought you would be from watching you in class. Good job.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it, but I would hate to come against you in the octagon, though. I’m sure the results would be a lot different, and I’d end up happy my medical insurance was paid for.” the men laughed and walked off the mats together.
“Ana and Julie, you are up next,” Ralph announced. “Tap gloves and stay in the circle.”
“I’ve been wanting to do this since the start of class. You are too pretty to be a MMA fighter, and I’m going to mess you up a little, Missy” Julie threatened. She only received a small shoulder shrug as Ana dismissed her threat.
Julie came out with a forceful series of punches to the head, all blocked or dodged by Ana, frustrating Julie. The two women circled.
Julie kicked at Ana’s midsection. Ana sidestepped 156
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the blow and grabbed Julie’s leg as it flew by, using it to throw her to the mat on her back.
Julie kipped to her feet. Ana nodded her head in acknowledgement of the athletic move. The two women circled again. Julie attacked with a lightning roundhouse kick to Ana’s head. Ana ducked under the foot, reached up and pushed the leg along it’s circular path, spinning Julie around. “You need a kick in the pants, lady,” Ana said as she kicked Julie in the butt and sent her flying out of the circle.
Julie lost her temper and attacked Ana with a furry of wildly aimed kicks and punches, all of which were blocked or only lightly grazed Ana.
The end of the match bell rang early. “Okay ladies, things are getting a bit hot out there. Save it for the octagon. Stop, and give each other a hug.”
Julie gave a wan smile and wrapped her arms around Ana, pinning her arms to her side. Ana felt the muscles tightening as Julie prepared to throw her to the mat. Ana quickly did a no-hands acrobatic cartwheel, carrying Julie with her. Julie lost her grip and fell her on her back to the floor.
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Ana landed smoothly on her feet after the cartwheel.
Ana reached down and offered Julie a helping hand to get up, but her hand was slapped away.
“I’ll see you in the real octagon someday. Then we’ll see how it turns out,” Julie threatened.
Martha typed furiously.
Rhett, I think this would be a good time for you to come up with a story about why two newbies are so good at combat, Ana wi-fi’d.
“Sensei,” Rhett said to Ralph as he pointed to the center of the mat. “May I say a word?”
Ralph nodded and motioned him to come out to speak.
Rhett walked to the center of the mat. “Class, I have something to tell you all. Firstly, you are all an amazing group of fighters. Secondly, Ana and I will never meet you in the octagon for a real fight.”
“Why not?” asked one of the male class members. “You guys are amazing!”
“I’ll tell you why,” Rhett said. “You see, we are not MMA fighters. We are actually a military 158
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Special Forces team who joined you for advanced training.”
“What do you mean, ‘for advanced training.’
Isn’t being Special Forces training superior to what we do?” one of the women in the class asked.
“A very good question,” Rhett continued. “In some cases, yes. The bottom line is this, though; you guys can kick the butt of over half of the Special Forces team. Yes, you are that good at basic brawling and fighting technique. Ana and I my be going on a special assignment. We needed to bring our skill level up a notch by training with you guys.”
You have more poop than a Christmas goose, wi-fi’d Ana. What a yarn you’re spinning!
Martha stopped typing and shook her head in disbelieving amusement at the story.
Ana walked out and stood next to Rhett. “I want to thank everyone for their patience with us over the last seven weeks. You are all wonderful people.” Then, turning towards Julie, said, “And Julie, I fully expect to see you holding the Ultimate Fighting Championship belt some time 159
soon. You are and exceptional fighter. Thank you.”
Julie smiled as the warmth of Ana’s compliment washed over her.
Ana and Rhett raised a fist in the air, signaling unity and strength with the class, as they joined with Martha and left the dojo.
Two weeks later, Ralph shipped out to Afghanistan.
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