Post by Daichi Kusumoto on Sept 11, 2018 19:05:24 GMT -5
With his back on the mat of his dojo and his legs tied up in some sort of submission hold by Matt Pulver, Daichi Kusumoto stares up at the ceiling of his dojo, focusing on a single point, as he tries to ignore the pain, wishing he would’ve spent those years in retirement doing more deadlifts.
Counter wrestling and squirming out of holds has never exactly Daichi’s strong suit, and being tied up by a grappling-specialist like Pulver, doesn’t help much. How does this kid think he can teach him anything if he’s keeping him down on the mat? That’s the youth of today; they don’t have any respect. He didn’t even bow when stepping onto the mat.
In the J1 summit, he was beaten by youth again and again. The only matches he managed to win were against Musket who, as skilled and experienced as he is, is even older than Daichi, and against Mitsuo Shimada, who is so nonchalant that not even all of his talent and youth can make up for it.
The pain continues, but his gaze remains focused on the ceiling.
This upcoming tour he will face youth from all over the world, and not only will he defend his own honor, but the honor of MAX-Japan and even Japan as a whole. To show the world that you don’t have to turn to darkness to defend your nation, he will have to step his game up.
GRIM defeated him without even breaking a sweat. He didn’t do it with so much as an ounce of honor, but he got the win and that is what everyone will care about. Darkness and dishonor has always been tough opponents, but it’s even tougher now in the autumn of his life, when leaf after leaf falls off the tree that is his ageing body.
Someone like Lynx, who is in the physical prime of his life, will be able to run circles around Daichi without breaking a sweat. It will be like trying to catch a fly, but a fly that will strike back with the force of a bear for every attempt at swatting at it. If there ever was an opportunity to test if the Stone Golem still has it, this is it. And if he manages to beat Lynx, a shot at the MAX-Japan Junior Heavyweight title would surely be in his future.
Masanori Kawada is another opponent this tour. While not in the physical prime of his career, he stands right at that perfect edge where his his body hasn’t yet become a burden, allowing him to use all of his experience to its maximum potential. Daichi is impressed by what he’s seen of Kawada so far; he has a warrior’s heart and a champion’s attitude. But how is his spirit?
The point in the ceiling that has become his solace now becomes a blur. This is the time.
Pulver still clinging to his legs, he sits up, ignoring what feels like bones turning to dust in his knee, shin and ankle. He raises his elbow and starts driving it into Pulver’s knee. With every shot that lands, he can feel the bursitis vibrating in there in his elbow somewhere. But that’s what the fighting spirit is all about; to keep fighting regardless. Even if the Lynx outpaces him, he will only need one opening to strike. And when he does, he will make it count. One carefully executed strike can be stronger than a thousand rushed ones. It’s not about the size of the army, but the might of each warrior.
Pain will cause the body and the psyche to panic. But once you get through the resistance, and you reach the top of that waterfall, the spirit will react and defend it’s domain relentlessly like a dragon. If pain tries to break you, you hit back until pain is the broken one. If Kawada doesn’t know that, he will become painfully aware of it.
Finally breaking his grip, Pulver clutches his knee. Daichi stands up, his leg almost crumbling beneath him. He looks over at Pulver, who has returned to his feet and assumed a defensive stance. Daichi raises his hands and motions for the hesitant young man to bring it. The kid has a lot to learn, but he will learn it, if he so has to break his own bones beating it into him. The body is only temporary, the spirit is forever.
Counter wrestling and squirming out of holds has never exactly Daichi’s strong suit, and being tied up by a grappling-specialist like Pulver, doesn’t help much. How does this kid think he can teach him anything if he’s keeping him down on the mat? That’s the youth of today; they don’t have any respect. He didn’t even bow when stepping onto the mat.
In the J1 summit, he was beaten by youth again and again. The only matches he managed to win were against Musket who, as skilled and experienced as he is, is even older than Daichi, and against Mitsuo Shimada, who is so nonchalant that not even all of his talent and youth can make up for it.
The pain continues, but his gaze remains focused on the ceiling.
This upcoming tour he will face youth from all over the world, and not only will he defend his own honor, but the honor of MAX-Japan and even Japan as a whole. To show the world that you don’t have to turn to darkness to defend your nation, he will have to step his game up.
GRIM defeated him without even breaking a sweat. He didn’t do it with so much as an ounce of honor, but he got the win and that is what everyone will care about. Darkness and dishonor has always been tough opponents, but it’s even tougher now in the autumn of his life, when leaf after leaf falls off the tree that is his ageing body.
Someone like Lynx, who is in the physical prime of his life, will be able to run circles around Daichi without breaking a sweat. It will be like trying to catch a fly, but a fly that will strike back with the force of a bear for every attempt at swatting at it. If there ever was an opportunity to test if the Stone Golem still has it, this is it. And if he manages to beat Lynx, a shot at the MAX-Japan Junior Heavyweight title would surely be in his future.
Masanori Kawada is another opponent this tour. While not in the physical prime of his career, he stands right at that perfect edge where his his body hasn’t yet become a burden, allowing him to use all of his experience to its maximum potential. Daichi is impressed by what he’s seen of Kawada so far; he has a warrior’s heart and a champion’s attitude. But how is his spirit?
The point in the ceiling that has become his solace now becomes a blur. This is the time.
Pulver still clinging to his legs, he sits up, ignoring what feels like bones turning to dust in his knee, shin and ankle. He raises his elbow and starts driving it into Pulver’s knee. With every shot that lands, he can feel the bursitis vibrating in there in his elbow somewhere. But that’s what the fighting spirit is all about; to keep fighting regardless. Even if the Lynx outpaces him, he will only need one opening to strike. And when he does, he will make it count. One carefully executed strike can be stronger than a thousand rushed ones. It’s not about the size of the army, but the might of each warrior.
Pain will cause the body and the psyche to panic. But once you get through the resistance, and you reach the top of that waterfall, the spirit will react and defend it’s domain relentlessly like a dragon. If pain tries to break you, you hit back until pain is the broken one. If Kawada doesn’t know that, he will become painfully aware of it.
Finally breaking his grip, Pulver clutches his knee. Daichi stands up, his leg almost crumbling beneath him. He looks over at Pulver, who has returned to his feet and assumed a defensive stance. Daichi raises his hands and motions for the hesitant young man to bring it. The kid has a lot to learn, but he will learn it, if he so has to break his own bones beating it into him. The body is only temporary, the spirit is forever.