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The Way of the Sword

ByCarlySmith

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Theroomissilent.Itisbare,brightlylit,hot,andsmellsofsalt.Thestudentsinsidearedressedforbattle,cladassamurai.Thekendostudentsformacircleandplacetheirbambooswords,shinai,infrontofthemtoformanothersmallercircle.Onebyone,theyinhaletogetherandthenexhaletogether.InOut.InOut.Inunisonthegroupputsoutaleg.Ichi,ni,san,shi!Martha,thepresidentoftheclub,shoutsthenumbersonethroughfourinJapaneseaseachkendostudentholdsacountforstretching.Go,roku,shichi,hachi!Theotherstudentsyellthefollowingfournumbers.Thewordsecho.Theirhakama,thelargepleatedpants,brushthefloor.Inhernaturallyquietvoice,Marthaannounces,Okay,everyone.TheotherstalkamongthemselvesoversipsofwaterandGatorade.Hey,guys,Marthacalls.Afewturnpeopleturntowardher,butothersarestilltalking.Guys!Martharepeatslouder.Alleyesareonher.Asyouallknow,somekendoteachersfromOsakaarevisitingnextweekend.Theyregoingtoleadusinpractice,andthenwerehavingaminitournament.Thisisgoingtobeafivepersonteam,andtodecidewhoscompeting,weregoingtohavetwominutematchestoday.Gin,theclubmemberwhohaspracticedkendothelongest,actsastherefereeforthematch.HesignalsforMarthaandoneotherstudenttocomeforward.Marthaadjustsherhelmet,tuggingattheties.Herhair,backinaponytail,isbarelyvisibleunderthetenugui,acottonhandtowelshewearsunderherhelmet.Marthaandheropponentbow.Theystartwiththeirswordsintheirlefthands,bowtheirheads,returnupright,swordsready,andbendattheknees.Theybackawayafewpaces.Nowthematchisreadytostart.Hajime!Ginyells.Begin!Marthaimmediatelytakestheoffensiveandshrieksakiaiduringherfirststrike.Heropponentblocksandthetwobambooswordsclackagainsteachother.Heattacksagain,andMartharetreats,awkwardlydroppingonehandfromtheswordasshedesperatelyblocksanotherstrike.Clack!Clack!Theswordscontinuetocollideuntilthetwofightersgetinclose,wristslocked.Theybreakfreeandspinaroundeachother.Do!Marthashrieks,emphasisontheoh.Herswordhitsheropponentschestpiecehard.PointoneforMartha.Theyrestart.Thistimeheropponentisthefirsttoattack,butMarthaadvancesonhiminasecond,slammingherfootonthewoodenfloor.Bothstandstillfora

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moment.Marthasfoottwitchesslightly,andshesmovingquicklyagain,striking.Head.Head.Arm.Block.Chest.Chest.Chestagain.Hernextstrikehitshiswrists.Spirit,swordtechnique,andproperpostureallthreearerequiredforapoint,andmostmatchesareplayedtotwopoints.Apersoncanswingaswordaroundallhewantsto,butwithoutaccuracyandspirit,itsjustachildwithasharpstick.Jess,thesecretary,sitswithastopwatch.Jikandesu!shesays.Itstime;thetwominutesareup.Marthaandheropponentbowbeforereturningtothesidesoftheroom.Attheendofpractice,thekendostudentslineuponthefloorbyseniority,sittingonthefloorwiththeirfeettuckedunderneaththeirrears.Theroomisquietwithamomentofreflection.Withhandsplacedinfrontontheground,theybowtogether,raisingtheirheadsslowerthantheyloweredthem.Togethertheysay,Arigatogozaimasu,aformalthankyou.Theyfileoutsidethegymonebyone,butnotwithoutonefinalbow.

Practicesinvolvebeinghitoverandover.Repeatedly.Abulu,thevicepresidentoftheclub,standsinthemiddleoftheroomrunningdrillswithMartha.HeholdshisswordoutforMarthatostrikewitheachstepshetakes.ShefinisheswithamenstrikeandrunspastAbuluwhilesheshoutsanasallyaaaaaaa!OnlyMartha,Abulu,andJessarepresentfortheWednesdaynightpractice.Withexamscomingup,mostclubmemberstakethenightofftostudy.Weregoingtogooversomeofthebasicstoday,Marthasays.Weshoulddothismoreoften,anyway.Everythingstartswiththefundamentals.Astheycontinuedoingdrills,MarthaseesAbuluadjustinghisgriponthehiltfrequently.Makesureyouhaveastronggripbeforeyoustrike,Abulu!Butyouwantyourbodytoberelaxed.Youcantattackproperlyifyouretense.Justrelax.Heshakesouthisarmsandtakesadeepbreath.Eventhoughhesthevicepresident,AbuluisanewcomertokendowhencomparedtoMartha,whosbeenpracticingsinceshewasachild.Buttheresroomforimprovementforeveryone.

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Marthastartsanotherbasicdrill.She,Abulu,andJesslineup,facingthemselvesinamirror.Oncountstothree,theypracticeaseriesofstrikes.Jesscountsofffirst,Abuludoesitsecond,andMarthadoesthethirdround.Ichi!Swordsup.Ni!Stepforwardandstrike.San!Return.Ichi!Ni!San!Ichi!Ni!San!IchiMarthastandsstillwithherswordaboveherhead.AbuluandJessbothstepforwardandstrikeforthesecondcount,buttheyhesitatehalfwaywhentheyrealizeMarthahasntmoved.Gotyou!Thethreetakeamomenttolaughbeforeitsallbusinessagain.Oh,andmakesureyourbackheelisraised,Martharemindsthem.

ThreeolderJapanesemenwalkinbarefoottoamiddleschoolgym.Uponentering,theybow,andstudentsbothJapaneseandAmericandothesame.Justoutsidethegymdoors,Martharunsbackandforth.Rightthisway,shesaysinJapanese.ShelaterrecallsthatmanyofthestudentsvisitingfromJapanknewEnglish,butbecauseshesfluentinJapanese,itwaseasiertoconverseintheirnativelanguage.Arigato,arigato,theyoungJapanesestudentsreply.Theyfileincalmly,andsoonMarthajoinstheminthemakeshiftdojo.Itwasthegymofanearbymiddleschool,butfortodayspurposes,itisadojo.Alonglineofvaryingshadesofdarkbluesandblacktopsandhakamapantsformsacrossthegymfloor,madeupofstudentsfromOsakaUniversity,Cornell,NYU,andSyracuseUniversity.Marthastandssomewhereinthemiddle.ThethreesenseifromKyoto,Japan,standfacingthem.Ofthethree,onedoesmostofthetalking.HisnameisIchiharasensei.Heissmall,standingroughlyatfivefeetandfiveinches.Marthaseesthemusclesofhisforearms,whicharentcoveredbyhiskendotop,andnoticesheiswellbuiltforhisage.Infact,theonlythinggivingawayhisoldageishisgrayinghair.First,thankyoutotheCornerustudentsforhostingus,IchiharasaysinEnglishfortheAmericanstudents.HestruggleswithdoublelinCornell.MarthasmilesslightlyandtheothersfromtheCornellKendoClubnodtoIchihara.

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Theothertwoarequietfornow.Actually,thesecondteacher,Ikedasenseiisquietinspiteofastudentaskinghimaquestion.Thethird,Kakinokisenseiistheyoungestoftheteachersandletstheothersanswerquestions.ButsomethingblinkingonhischestcatchesMarthaseye.Squintinghereyes,shecanseeitsanametag,flashingKakinoki.Itsstrangelyoutofplacecomparedtoalloftheembroiderednametagspeoplewear.Nowyouallwillhavetoknowmyname,hesaysquietly,butwithalaugh.TurningtoMartha,whoseattentionisclearlyonthebling,headds,Illevenmakeoneforyou.Theroomeruptswithgiggles.Butkendoisnolaughingmatter;theroomisseriousminuteslater.Thefirsteventofthedayisaminitournament,oneononematchesinfivepersonteams. Marthastepsforwardasthecompetitor.HeropponentisoneoftheJapanesestudentsfromtheOsakaUniversityKendoClub.Althoughsheissmallerthanhim,heisalsoshortafitbutcompactsize.Shebowsatthekneesandtakesalonglookathim.Hiseyesnarrow.Itsalookofdetermination,butalsoperhapsofarrogance.Sheseeshiseyessay,Imnotlosingtoagirl.Hajime!Ichiharayells.Thematchbegins.Eachtakesafewmomentstosizeuptheother,bothinabasicreadystancewiththeswordheldoutinfrontofthebody,theendoftheswordpointedattheopponentsneck.Marthatakesonestepforward.Heshouts.Marthafeelsthevibrationfromhisswordonherhelmet,andthefeelingreachesallthewaytoherstomach.Asolidhit.Hescoreshissecondpointinlessthantenseconds.Thematchisalreadyover.

Marthatakesaswigfromherwaterbottleandwipesawaythedribbleonthesidesofhermouth.Practiceisquietwithonlythreepeoplepresent,andJesstriestodisturbthesilencebyplayingonthepianointhecorneroftheroom.

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Ugh,Iatetoomuchfoodovermyfallbreak,Marthagroans.Igotfat.No,shedidnt,Jessmouthsfrombehindher.Abulustiflesalaugh.MarthaarrangesJessandAbuluforalessoninnukido.SheandJessdemonstrateforhim.Theystandattheready,andwhenMarthabringshersworddownatJessshead,JessalmostwalksunderMarthasarmpitassheswiftlydropsherswordparalleltothegroundandstrikesMarthasexposedside.Abulugivesitashot.HeandJesslineupacrossfromeachother,staringateachother.Abulutowersoverher.Hestallandskinny,andfightingsomeoneofaradicallydifferentsizetakessomeadjustment.AsJessraisesherswordtostrike,Abuluclosesthedistanceandtriestostrikeherside,butsheeasilyhitshisheadfirst.Faster,Abulu!Marthasays.Hetriesagainandagain,butJesshitshimeverytime.Ifitmakesyoufeelbetter,girlsarenaturallybetteratnukido,Jesssays.Weresmallerandfaster,Marthaadds.Thetwogirlsgrinateachother.Abulurubsthebackofhisheadandsighs.Thekeyistoalreadybeinmotiontoanticipatetheirattack,Marthasuggests.Anddontwaitforthemtoattackyou.Forcethemtoattack.Kendoisntonlyaboutthephysical.

Jesssitsatasmalltable,theonlyoneinjeansandajacket.CORNELLKENDOCLUBisprintedonthebackinlargeredletters.Aseriesofpaperslayonthetable.Sheleansbackintheuncomfortableschoolchair,jumpingtoattentionwhenayoungmaninkendogearappears.ThenametagbetweenhislegsreadsALLEGHENY.Theresaproblemwithourliabilitysheets,hesays.We,ah,forgottobringthem.Jesslaughsandwaveshimoff.Thatsokay.Justdontgethurt.

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Duringthisweekendlongtournament,heldbytheCornellKendoClubeachyear,Jessgreetsthecompetitorsandkeepstrackofpaperwork.Insidethegym,MarthaandGinsitonoppositesidesoftheroomattwodifferenttables,callingcompetitorstotheirmatches.Jesssitsoutside,alone.Imsupposedtocompetetoday,butIhonestlyhavenoideahowbecauseIllbeatthistableallday,shegroans.ShehearsshoutsofFightOOOO,fightOOOOO!fromthegym.Therestofthedayisgoingtobeloud.Helmetsandshinailayscatteredacrossthegymfloor.StudentsembroiderednametagsreadRutgers,NYU,Yale,Harvard,Allegheny,andofcourse,Cornell.BothundergraduateandgraduatestudentsfromtheeastcoastcometoCornellonceayearforthefallcompetition.WeiLinfromCornell,red!Marthacallsfromhertable.Evenfromacrossthegym,Ginsshoutsovertakehers.WeiLinfromCornell!sherepeats.Thecompetitorsettofightnextstandsatthecorner.Marthacheckshisribbontomakesureitistiedsecurelytothebackstringsofhischestplate.Shegiveshimathumbsupandreturnstoherseat.AmatchonGinssideends,andamanwalkstothebleachers.Ashetakesoffhishelmet,hewipesoffalayerofsweatfromhisbrow.He,andthemajorityofpeoplehere,reeksofsweat.Heslumpstoaseatandsighs.Itwasmyfirsttime,headmitstoateammate.Ididntdothatwell.Well,shit.Histeammatepatshimontheback.Itwasclosenearlyatie.Whatwouldhavehappenedthen?Thejudgeswouldhavemadeadecisionbasedonyourspirit.Thatswhatitcomesdownto.Jesswalksintothegym,nowinherkendouniform.Shesnifflesandrubshernose.Thewomenstournamentwillbeginsoon.Thetablewillsurvivewithoutherforafewminutes.Marthaalsoleavesherstation.Afewpeoplewavetoherasshewalkspast.Shereturnsthegesture,butscurriespast.Onthegymfloor,Jessstepsforwardashernameiscalled.Sheandheropponentbowandwaitforthejudgessignal.

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Hajime!Jessiscautiousatfirst.Heropponentislargerandmoreaggressive.ShestrikesatJesswithferocity,slappingthefloorwithherfeeteachtimesheattacks.Jessblocksandreturnsfire.Theyrotatepositions,circlingeachother.Men!Jesscanseethestrikecoming.Sheraisesherswordenoughtoblocktheoverheadstrikeassheslidestotheleft,bringinghersworddowntoherrightsideandswingingitacross.Do!Thejudgesflagshootsintotheair.Outsideinthehallway,swordsclackagainsteachotherasMarthaloosenshermuscles.Shetakesamomenttorollhershouldersandstretchherlegs.Imnottoonervous,shesays.Ivedonekendoforyears,sothisisntmyfirsttournamentbyanymeans.IalsohaveabytothesecondroundbecauseIvedonekendothelongest.Shecoughsonceandclearsherthroat.AbugisgoingaroundinthechillyOctobermonth.Illbeupinafewmatches.Wishmeluck.Shenodstoherself,firmlygripshershinai,andwalkstothecornerofthegymwhereshewaitsherturn.Jessfinisheshersecondmatchwithaloss.Shedropsherselfonthebleachers.Acoldplussportsinducedasthmaisneverhelpfulforwinning,shesays.Marthawillbecompetingagainstthegirlwhobeatme.Shecoughsandwipesthesweatoffofherface.Hermatchshouldbefuntowatch,sodontmissit.

Ondeck,JoofromNYU,red.AdamsfromCornell,white!Thetwowomenbowandstareateachother.Marthaadjustshergriponhersword,lefthandonthebuttofthehiltandherrighthandnexttothehandguard.Herlefthandgripsitstrongly.

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Herleftheelisslightlyofftheground.Herlegsareloose,butstrong.Thejudgesconsulteachotherwithquickheadnods.Oncetheyyell,thetwofightersspringforward.BUM.Men!Do!CLACK!BUBUM.DOOO!MarthaandJoomovebackandforth,screaming,slammingtheirfeet,andswingingtheirswords.Chatterfromthesidelineshasquieted.MEN!MarthashrieksasshestrikesJooshelmet.Ajudgesflagwavesintheair.Oncethejudgegivesthesignal,MarthaandJoostrikeatthesametime.Justlikeinpractice,asJoowenttostrikeMarthashead,Marthablockedit,broughtherswordtohersideandstruckJooschest.Theclackagainstthechestplateechoes.Ooooh!thecrowdsays.Fromthecornerofhereye,Marthadoesntseethewhiteflagrise,soshecontinues.SheandJoobothadvancequicklyandstrikeatthesametime.Theirswordspushagainsteachotherasbothfighterswristsarelockedtogether.Joopushesharderandjumpsbackward,almosttrippingoverherfeet.Thecrowdoooohsagain.Marthatakesaswiftstepforwardandstomps.Do!sheshoutsoncemore.Withthetechnique,herkiai,andthefootwork,thejudgeraisesthewhiteflagasecondtime.ThecrowdscreamsinbothEnglishandJapanese.MarthaandJoobow.Theybothwalktothesidelinesandshakehands.Marthatakesamomenttobreathedeeply.Theresnotimeforawaterbreak,buttheadrenalinekeepshergoing.Marthastepsbackonthecourt,waitingforheropponenttodothesame.Shestandstall,legstogether,swordattheside.Herwhiteribbonhangsfromherback.Thismatchwilldecidethewinnerofthewomenstournament.Theopponent,theonewhodefeatedJess,walksforward.Withtheirrespectivebows,sheandMarthatakeadeepbreathtogether.Marthaholdsherswordcomfortably,thetipinlinewithheropponentschest.Haaajime!thejudgeyells.Go,Martha!somebodyshoutsfromthecrowd.Ganbare!anotherpersonsays.Doyourbest!Kote!heropponentyells,swingingatMarthaswrist.Marthamovestotheside.

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Shestompsforwardandattacks,butitsnogood.Marthakeepsstomping,shouting,andattacking.HeropponentstopsMarthasswordwithablockandmovesin.MEN!shescreams.HerswordhitsMarthasquarelyonthehead.Marthaflinchesonlyforasecondfromthesuddenstrike.Theredflagpointsupward.Afewwhisperedvoicesutteranouchinsympathy.Thehelmetssoftentheblowofallmenstrikes,butthesoundoftheswordonthehelmetcanbemoreoffputting.Thesecondroundbegins.IfMarthadoesntgetthenextpoint,shelllose.Sheensureshergriponthehiltissecurebeforeshedashesforward.Tryingtominimizewideopenareas,Marthakeepsherswordclosetoher,doingsmallstrikesatthewrists.Someofthemconnect,butshehadntstompedorshouted.Marthaforcestheyoungwomanintothecorneroftheboundariesforthematch.Shecontinuouslyswingshersword,forcingheropponenttoblock.Shebacksupfartherandfartheruntilthejudgeraisesthewhiteflag.Throughherhelmet,Marthabreathesinandout.Nooneintheaudiencedaresmakeasound.Thetwowomenonthecourttakeamomenttocomposethemselves.Thenextpointwillbethelast.Hajime!Botharecautiousthistime.Marthastoesgripthefloorasshewaitsforthemoment.HeropponenthesitatesashereyesmeetMarthas,butsheslidesforwardandattacks.Marthasidestepsandtakesonestepforward,forcingheradversarytofollow.Asshedoes,Marthaalsorunsforward,herbarefeetsqueakingonthefloor.MEN!MEN!Theyshoutandstrikeatonce.Marthastrugglestogetaway.Retreatingwouldmeanputtingherselfindangerofbeingstruck,butnothingwouldhappeniftheywereinastalemate,tooclosetouseaswordeffectively.Theirglovedwristspushbackandforth,neithercompetitorgivingway.Theycirclearound,tryingtousemomentum,andbothpushupward,leavingthemselvesopen.Theyquicklystepbackwardbeforerunningbackin.BUMBUM.Marthastompstwiceasshestepsforwardandattacksheropponentsopenleftside,butshestooslowanditsblocked.Sheputsmorespacebetweenthem.Neithermoves.Thecrowdissilent,holdingtheirbreathinunison.

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Marthasuddenlyscreamsandstompshardenoughforherfoottotingleasshereadiesherselfforastrongswing.KYAAAA!shescreeches.Marthasswordslamsintotheopponentssidewithaboomingclap.Thejudgewhipsthewhiteflagintheair.Thecrowdjumpsintheair.Teammatesletgoofthebreathtrappedintheirchests.AsMarthareachesthesidelines,sheripsoffherhelmetandgrins,sweatshiningonherface.Itoldyouitdbegood,Jesssays,watchingfromthedoorway.ThatsMarthaforya.