[Day 2 - Mid-Afternoon] Polearm Training with Moshi Kaimenko

[Usagi Zenko]

Rather than head back below deck, although he deeply wanted to, Zenko stayed on top after his duties were over, in order to be ready for Moshi Gunso's training.

He bounced a little on his feet, looking about the aftdeck for who else might be joining in on the lesson.

[Hida Musasha]

Musasha, still in his armor, strode confidently to the deck and begins to stretch a bit. His face is impassive as his joints pop and shift in ways only a trained warrior could contort them. He nods to the Hare as he finishes up.

[Usagi Zenko]

Zenko smiles, bowing. He rolls forwards and back on his feet, stretching out his leg muscles, but otherwise keeping his space where he can watch the ocean from relative safety.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

The Moshi arrives on deck with a bundle of bamboo poles under her arm. She ignores the wreckage of ships visible on the horizon and nods tersely to her two students. Kaimenko calmly tosses each a pole, "Basic drills. Show me what you know. Might have proper practice weapons in few days."

[Usagi Zenko]

Zenko turns and reaching out for the tossed pole, manages to catch it. He looks the bamboo pole over a few times, finally deciding on one end to designate as the 'pointy' end, and then moving to where he won't knock anything over with the pole while swinging it about himself.

He bows then to his sensei for this lesson, before beginning in earnest. Only a few glances are spared for the ocean, as he focuses on trying to use the pole like it wasn't a staff or bokken.

"Hauh!" he gives a guttual shout as he spins about, bringing the 'polearm' to bear against some invisible enemy with an attempt at a jab.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

From slightly further away on the deck, Nobuyoshi watches the little skiff sent out to find survivors. He'd wondered who'd be picked to go look, and if the lesson with Moshi-gunso would be cancelled because of the incident. Since the answers were apparently, 'Not him' and 'No', he went over to the practice group. He bows to those assembled, and watches the Crab and the Bunny play with their poles in public. Moshi-gunso seemed to keep a tight grip on all the poles on the ship, so he learned what he could watching the other two until something changed.

[Hida Musasha]

Musasha masterfully moved about with the practice weapon as if he had grown up using one. His motions are smooth and graceful, and the strikes he makes with it are backed with that barely controlled strength of his. The way he strikes and thrusts shows a rudimentary understanding of the ways all weapons work, backed by a natural talent to destroy anything that threatens the empire.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Having put the rest of her supplies away after cleaning up a mess on deck, she quickly joined the others and bowed. Watching silently for a few moments, she discovered what they were doing and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Not good at this sort of thing but I suppose that's what training is for.

Waiting for her turn, she nodded at the Bayushi and smiled at him with her eyes.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi returns Chihiroko's nod, though he tries to be careful to avoid too much attention from the other Moshi on deck. Perhaps the smile is returned, but his mask makes it really difficult to tell.

I wonder what makes these two so different? Perhaps Moshi-gunso was raised by wolves? Nobuyoshi wonders, watching the Crab show himself quite proficient at anything you might harm with.

[Matsu Iori]

A large set man with a mane of red hair arrived, and stood just at the edge of the area for the training. He was wearing a hakama to cover up his chest, though several burn marks were visible, a large one on his face even. He looked at those participating, and gave a deep bow towards the woman he inferred to be the instructor. Otherwise, he said or did nothing.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

The bundle of bamboo poles were left to the side, the rope tying them serving as traction to keep them from rolling around. Kaimenko watches the Hare and the Crab for few minutes before moving to the Hare. Her bare foot moves to nudge Zenko's feet apart, "Adjust your stance. You're not a farmer in the field hoeing the vegetables."

Her hard brown eyes shift over the others that appear.

"If you're here to learn something, get a pole," she growls, "Otherwise, stop standing around like a Crane at his first Court and get your sorry gape-jawed asses back to work."

[Moshi Chihiroko]

As if it were her fault that Kaimenko had been holding the poles when she arrived.

Saying nothing, she moved to pick up a pole from the ground and then went to a spot out of the way so she didn't hit anyone. Mimicking what she had seen others do in the past, she did what she was able.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

The woman nods as one of the heimen brings her, her practice nagamaki. Her attention shifts back to her trainees as the wooden weapon swings out to lightly smack Chihiroko in the stomach, "Keep your gut tucked in, back straight."

"Feet apart at shoulder width," the tip of the 'blade' moves to prod the woman's feet apart. "Otherwise a good push will knock you flat on your backside."

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Gut?! I'll show you gut!

Re-positioning herself as instructed, Chihiroko frowned a bit. This is uncomfortable. I prefer spellcasting. No particular way to stand.

Taking a deep breath, she made another attempt with the awkward pole.

Uncomfortable or not, she had improved a bit.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

"Better. Don't let your knees lock," she snaps, giving Chihiroko another poke in the muscle above the offending joint before turning her attention to the other trainees.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

She could tell she was going to be bruised from head to toe by the end of this journey.

Adjusting again, she glanced around to see how others were doing.

[Hida Musasha]

The big man doesn't ever stop practicing. He keeps moving, a dervish of spinning staff and what would be a flashing blade. His features remain blank and emotionless, the dead eyes of a killing machine at work.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi also takes one of the practice weapons wordlessly.

I wonder if I can go this entire trip without speaking to gunso honey-butt here. he wonders.

Having no real training with a polearm, Nobuyoshi practices his defensive maneuvers. He's quick, and hard to hit. Not a serious problem for someone of the gunso's skill, but difficult for others. Perhaps his plan was to wear people out until they gave up in frustration?

[Usagi Zenko]

The bundle of bamboo poles were left to the side, the rope tying them serving as traction to keep them from rolling around. Kaimenko watches the Hare and the Crab for few minutes before moving to the Hare. Her bare foot moves to nudge Zenko's feet apart, "Adjust your stance. You're not a farmer in the field hoeing the vegetables."

"Hai, Moshi-sama." He answers, doing his best to adjust his stance. It was a little troublesome, as it'd make leaping more difficult, but he thought he could handle it. His libido only barely mentions in the back of his mind that her bare feet were touching his.

Times like these, it was probably a good thing that the ocean was only a thrown Hare away. He continues with his swings once the gunso wasn't in too much danger from his flailing.

[Matsu Iori]

Iori silently grabs one of the sticks, and starts practicing. Judging by his swings, he knows how to use the "weapon", though his technique is rough around the edges. He glances meanwhile at the others, see how they are doing. He finds the Hare's stance... strange, and notices the Crab's nonstop practicing. He gives a curt nod of respect towards the Hida.