I'm used to taking people out to dinner, not onto the floor of the mat.
[ That's a lie. Alan's gotten pretty good at clearing the way. But those are shadows, and he'd had a gun and a flashlight, and this is different. He breathes out. ]
I wouldn't blame you if you wanted. I'm good at taking a punch. [ A pause. ] And I'm free for dinner.
[ Matt stands near the punching bag, but far enough away that they won't hit it just yet. He stands with one foot slightly in front of the other, and his hands in fists up by his chin. ]
If you're ever in a real fight, you're never going to use the right stance. But it's good to get that feeling in your body.
[ Matt takes his new place while Alan is more than a little baffled at the sudden turn of the conversation--Matt's not serious, is he? Would it be so bad if he was?--and does his best to mirror Matt. ]
Like this, then?
[ matt he has no idea where to fucking start, he's hopeless right now. ]
[ He waits for a yes or a no, and, if consent is given, he runs his hands over Alan's arms and hands, manipulating them into the right form, and then he taps Alan's knees. ]
Soft knees, keep a bend in them so you can move around easily.
If you're swinging like a maniac, maybe. The power comes from here - [ Matt presses a hand to the front of Alan's abdomen. ] - not from flailing your fists around. We'll go easy and start with the first two punches, work our way up to the others over time.
[ Matt demonstrates the jab and the cross, in real time the way he punches, the snap of his fists going out and coming back in to guard his face again, but slowly, too, so Alan can see the set up. The way the foot and body is supposed to pivot just a bit to the side, like a spring being coiled, and then how the momentum of turning back to the front is what drives the punch forward. He hold Alan's arm and guides it for him, feels over Alan's closed fist and directs him how to turn it and where the punch should connect. ]
I know when you're going up against someone, the last thing you think about is this. But once you know it, it's like muscle memory. I know it feels stupid right now. But trust me.
[ Alan winces at the maniac part--that is exactly what he does--but at least Matt glides past it. He's not interested in lecturing, which is good for both of them, and as those hands gently guide him into the proper position.
He's thinking too much about this, right? Right. Matt's just helping him out. He's blind, of course he's going to touch. It's probably nothing. Alan, touch starved, is just going a little crazy over it. Not a big deal. he exhales softly, forcing himself to focus. ]
I trust you.
[ He waits for the other to be done, and then once he's not in the way, Alan tries to wind up for a punch. He over-extends immediately, wanting to put all of his weight into on single punch, but he doesn't fall or lose his balance like he usually does if he puts that much momentum in it. He makes a small, affirmative noise, clearly impressed. ]
It'll get easier with practice. I remember the new guys at my dad's gym, they'd spend hours just working the basics slowly, step by step, until the coach decided they had it.
[ Matt smiles, nostalgic and a bit sad, as he steps away to grab some gym tape - he really should ask Jesse to get him some proper hand wraps for this. ]
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[ Matt smells the gym as they come up on it, and he lets Alan walk them over to the the area where the punching bags hang. ]
You ready to learn to take a guy out?
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[ That's a lie. Alan's gotten pretty good at clearing the way. But those are shadows, and he'd had a gun and a flashlight, and this is different. He breathes out. ]
I'm not punching you, right?
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[ Matt stands near the punching bag, but far enough away that they won't hit it just yet. He stands with one foot slightly in front of the other, and his hands in fists up by his chin. ]
If you're ever in a real fight, you're never going to use the right stance. But it's good to get that feeling in your body.
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Like this, then?
[ matt he has no idea where to fucking start, he's hopeless right now. ]
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[ He waits for a yes or a no, and, if consent is given, he runs his hands over Alan's arms and hands, manipulating them into the right form, and then he taps Alan's knees. ]
Soft knees, keep a bend in them so you can move around easily.
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He leans into it, trying his hardest to do what he says, trying to ignore the flush on the nape of his neck at the strangely intimate gesture. ]
Okay.
[ He's turning his head to look at Matt properly. ]
if I'm too loose, won't I just fall over? Don't you need a solid base before you can throw a punch?
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[ Matt demonstrates the jab and the cross, in real time the way he punches, the snap of his fists going out and coming back in to guard his face again, but slowly, too, so Alan can see the set up. The way the foot and body is supposed to pivot just a bit to the side, like a spring being coiled, and then how the momentum of turning back to the front is what drives the punch forward. He hold Alan's arm and guides it for him, feels over Alan's closed fist and directs him how to turn it and where the punch should connect. ]
I know when you're going up against someone, the last thing you think about is this. But once you know it, it's like muscle memory. I know it feels stupid right now. But trust me.
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He's thinking too much about this, right? Right. Matt's just helping him out. He's blind, of course he's going to touch. It's probably nothing. Alan, touch starved, is just going a little crazy over it. Not a big deal. he exhales softly, forcing himself to focus. ]
I trust you.
[ He waits for the other to be done, and then once he's not in the way, Alan tries to wind up for a punch. He over-extends immediately, wanting to put all of his weight into on single punch, but he doesn't fall or lose his balance like he usually does if he puts that much momentum in it. He makes a small, affirmative noise, clearly impressed. ]
Like that, then.
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[ Matt smiles, nostalgic and a bit sad, as he steps away to grab some gym tape - he really should ask Jesse to get him some proper hand wraps for this. ]
Ready to actually try hitting the bag?
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Your dad seems great, bringing you to a place where you can learn to defend yourself.
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I don't think he'd be too happy to see how I spend my time.