fandomhigh | The Art of Pacifism; Tuesday, Fifth Period [ 04/05 ].

The students would find a heart-laden note on the door of the usual classroom directing them to the gym once more and, when they arrived, they'd find mats on the floor and their teacher tilting his head to them.

"Good afternoon, ducklings ♥," Shunsui said. "Welcome back to the gymnasium; you should know that this means I hope you're feeling limber and, if not, then you can use this time while I talk to stretch out a bit ♥. I was ruminating, while enjoying the songs of the birds outside my window in this beautiful incoming spring, on how much everyone seemed to really take to our lesson in Aikido ♥. So I thought to myself: what else could I teach these young, spry bodies about the use of Ki, one of the central focuses of Aikido, which is the principle of energy flow and how important it is to peace of both body and mind ♥. There are so many options, and I've decided that, today, I will teach you the graceful art of Bāguàzhǎng ♥.

"One of the three main Chinese martial arts, Bāguàzhǎng literally translates into 'eight trigram palm,' in reference to the symbols in Taoist philosophy: Heaven, Lake, Fire, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, and Earth. The creation of the art is attributed to Dong Haichuan, who combined already existing aspects of martial arts to the Taoist practise of 'turning the circle,' or circle walking ♥. The circle walking is an integral part of Bāguàzhǎng training. Allow me to demonstrate ♥."

And so Shunsui, drawing in a deep breath and taking a moment to seem to centre himself, then started moving, slowly at first, and then, suddenly, started turning and moving as if dancing, as if in a believable battle with some invisible enemy, the flutter of his haori only enhancing the gracefulness of the moves.

"Note," he said, still moving, "that I have not chosen one of you to assist me in this demonstration. Bāguàzhǎng is commonly practised without a partner; if one chooses something to focus their moments on, many times there will be a post in the centre of the circle. Many times, a practiser will involved weapons..." And so, of course, from the folds of his robes, Shunsui pulled out two blades and continued to move. But the focus is not on striking or attacking; it is on using the ability to 'flow' in and out of the way of objects. This is the source of the theory of being able to fight multiple attackers. Bāguàzhǎng's evasive nature is also shown by the practice of moving behind an attacker, so that the opponent cannot harm the practitioner. Smooth coiling and uncoiling actions, utilizing hand techniques, dynamic footwork, and throws are the focus of this art. Rapid-fire movements draw energy from the center of the abdomen. The circular stepping pattern also builds up centripetal force, allowing the practitioner to maneuver quickly around an opponent ♥. It is something that can be used in a moment of danger, and you can imagine just how moving it might be to watch two opposing Bāguàzhǎng practisers working off each other ♥."

"So allow me to lead you through learning some moves, and then I will let you all take a chance to practise on your own ♥. If you would like to partner up, please do, but remember, this is not a fight, but an evasion of a fight ♥. No weapons in partnered Bāguàzhǎng, either, please ♥."

[[ ~~wait for~~ the ocd is up! ]]

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The teacher is there if you need him, though his swords have mysteriously disappeared again.

Edited 2011-04-05 15:14 (UTC)

If Gabrielle noticed the mysterious disappearance of the swords, she didn't think it was anything worth commenting on. Who knew where her staff disappeared to while she was riding horseback behind Xena most of the time, anyway? She had no answer to that question, so why ask anyone else about it?

Watching the demonstration and then working with the knives had her curious, though, so she approached Shunsui after class.

"I'd never really thought of weapons being used this way before," she commented.

It was, indeed, one of the great mysteries of the world. Disappearance of weapons, the fountain of youth, true love...

Shunsui smiled at the girl's comment though, feeling pleased to have added a new perspective for someone. "Ahhh, it is truly a shame that weapons are so often seen as methods of violence and destruction, when they are just as much pieces of fine art as paintings on a wall, no ♥? And a weapon used only for defense is the only sort of weapon to have ♥."

"My tribe crafts some beautiful weapons," Gabrielle agreed with a slight smile. "I have a hand-carved staff that was a present from my friend Ephiny; it was passed down to her from her mother, and I think from her grandmother before that."

She shrugged thoughtfully. "The first time she showed me the kind of damage you could do with a staff it surprised me." The melon as a stand-in for a centaur's skull had been a particularly effective visual aid. "I've learned to use one as non-lethally as I can, but blades . . . that's always been a different story for me. Is it really possible to use them defensively?"

She had a hard time believing that vague memory of a different her could do that.

"Anything can be used defensively, Gabrielle-chan ♥," Shunsui informed her, growing even more pleased, especially at the word non-lethally. "Everything from weapons to words ♥. It's a good skill to have, too, because no matter how convincing you try to be, some will always insist on fighting and leave you no choice but to fight back, but that doesn't mean you should harm them any more than absolutely necessary ♥."

"Some people are just too stubborn to negotiate with," she remarked, looking a bit put out by that. "As hard as we try. Is it hard to learn to use a blade defensively?" Gabrielle asked; she was careful to keep her tone academic, just pure curiosity. "The kind of precision it takes -- it seems like it would be trickier than just attacking."

The one time she'd ever asked for sword lessons, she'd only had one revenge-fueled objective in mind, and she couldn't make herself go through with it in the end.

"It can't be too difficult," said Shunsui with a sly grin, "if even I managed to learn how to do it, Gabrielle-chan ♥. Are you interested in learning ♥?"

"Not interested, exactly," Gabrielle answered after a moment -- not to make it sound like she was leaping on the opportunity, because she really shouldn't sound too enthusiastic about this. "Curious, though. It's a skill that would be useful at home, oh, about every day of my life."

Shunsui chuckled lightly. "I know the feeling ♥," he mused. "And you're right; it is useful ♥. And not that difficult to pick up, once you really know it. Half the time, I don't even think about it....ever ♥."

"Once you get the movements down, if you practice enough it's just like breathing," Gabrielle agreed. If that sounded like she was reciting something, she was; Xena had said it more than a few times. "I never would have guessed you were as skilled at it as you are. No offense," she added hurriedly.

Okay, look, some part of her was still dubious.

"But that helps too, doesn't it? If they never expect it of you, the element of surprise is an effective defense too."

To that, Shunsui was only going smile that dreaming smile of his and shrug his shoulders. "Pity we're in class, Gabrielle-chan ♥," he said. "All this talks of work makes me thirsty for some sake ♥."

"Oh, no no no no no," Gabrielle laughed, holding up her hands. "The only mixing of weapons and liquor I want anything to do with is when Xena's breathing fire at people."

"Sounds like a pretty good weekend, if you ask me ♥!" Shunsui had to comment, laughing in response himself.

"Doesn't that go against the spirit of this class a little, though?" Gabrielle asked, the corners of her mouth quirking up in amusement.

The Art of Pacifism; Tuesday, Fifth Period [ 04/05 ].

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