Captain Shunsui Kyōraku (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sake_shinigami) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2020-04-20 07:44 am
sake_shinigami) wrote in fandomhigh2020-04-20 07:44 am
Entry tags:
The Art of Pacifism; Monday, Second Period [04/20].
Shunsui wasn't quite sure exactly how it happened (though it really didn't take a wide stretch of the imagination), but he'd somehow wound up with too many old notes from the last time he taught this class and not enough days to use them all in, as he was pretty sure (though he wouldn't be too shocked if he was wrong) that this was their last class. Which left him feeling like he should take advantage of it and use it as an excuse to not do anything, but there was one lesson that he rather enjoyed and would actually feel bad about having missed that he'd been trying to save for toward the end, but, well, this was the end, so why not? It was always a fun one.
So the students might be a little surprised to find a heart-laden note directing them to the gym that morning, which, if anyone commented on, he would simply point out that it was intended to be a little mini-lesson on assumptions or surprises or something like that.
He honestly wasnt' expecting anyone to comment, anyway.
When they arrived at the gym, they'd find mats on the floor and their teacher tilting his head to them.
"Good morning, ducklings ♥," Shunsui said, greeting them with his usual warm smile. "Welcome back to the gymnasium, and to what I am fairly certain is our last class together!" Here, he affected a small sort of pout. "But don't worry; I've saved the best and most interesting," and most show-offy, shhh, "lesson for last ♥! You should know that being in the gymnasium 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 this morning, on a lesson for this class the last time I taught it that was a very big hit, and I would have hated for you all to miss it this time around, so I thought to myself: we must take advantage of your youthful spryness and teach you 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 the peace of both body and mind ♥. Though there are many ways to manifest Ki, I have decided that, today, for your final lesson, 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 center himself, then started moving, slowly at first, and then, suddenly, 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, nor have I attemted to call on the assistance of our lovely helper, Rosa-chan, either." She would have probably said no, anyway. "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 drew out his swords, which, inexplicably, when they appeared, looked nothing like the katana and wakizashi one might expect, but, instead, two large Chinese schimitars, and he 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 practice 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, for the purposes of this class, please," and, as if to put the proof in the pudding, he sheathed his swords, which then seemed to turn back into the Japanese style ones always at his hip, "though you're welcome to the practice swords available if you'd like to try the moves while armed ♥."
So the students might be a little surprised to find a heart-laden note directing them to the gym that morning, which, if anyone commented on, he would simply point out that it was intended to be a little mini-lesson on assumptions or surprises or something like that.
He honestly wasnt' expecting anyone to comment, anyway.
When they arrived at the gym, they'd find mats on the floor and their teacher tilting his head to them.
"Good morning, ducklings ♥," Shunsui said, greeting them with his usual warm smile. "Welcome back to the gymnasium, and to what I am fairly certain is our last class together!" Here, he affected a small sort of pout. "But don't worry; I've saved the best and most interesting," and most show-offy, shhh, "lesson for last ♥! You should know that being in the gymnasium 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 this morning, on a lesson for this class the last time I taught it that was a very big hit, and I would have hated for you all to miss it this time around, so I thought to myself: we must take advantage of your youthful spryness and teach you 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 the peace of both body and mind ♥. Though there are many ways to manifest Ki, I have decided that, today, for your final lesson, 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 center himself, then started moving, slowly at first, and then, suddenly, 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, nor have I attemted to call on the assistance of our lovely helper, Rosa-chan, either." She would have probably said no, anyway. "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 drew out his swords, which, inexplicably, when they appeared, looked nothing like the katana and wakizashi one might expect, but, instead, two large Chinese schimitars, and he 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 practice 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, for the purposes of this class, please," and, as if to put the proof in the pudding, he sheathed his swords, which then seemed to turn back into the Japanese style ones always at his hip, "though you're welcome to the practice swords available if you'd like to try the moves while armed ♥."
Sign In - AoP, 04/20.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 04/20.
Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 04/20.
That is, if you're not the type to think fighting with invisible enemies just looks kind of silly...
Practice Bāguàzhǎng! - AoP, 04/20.
There are also much less impressive practice swords available if you would like to give the weapon dancing a try, too. But please, no 'fights' with weapons! Or else Shunsui will feel he failed even worse than expected at this class...
Talk to Shunsui - AoP, 04/20.
Look, sometimes a man just had to show off his swords, in a not dirty way for a change.
OOC - AoP, 04/20.