LionHeart: A Fighting Story

A Fighter who Kicks Like Trees

"Two, One!" I rip off two jabs and a kick as the final buzzer goes off. I take a quick sip of my water as the thirty second break clocks wind down. fifteen seconds. I thought as I looked around the gym. The Rising Sun Muay Thai gym was where I trained, founded by my Coach and best Friend, Kinji Minato. Kinji saved my life. When I first moved to Thailand to get away from the terrors that haunted me back home, he found me and protected me while eventually allowing to me to sleep at his gym until I got on my feet.

"Noah! Come here for a second." Kinji called out as I got ready for another sparring round. I bow to my partner as I jog over to where he stood. He was wearing his normal sweats with a team shirt and running shoes. Getting closer, i notice he was talking to someone; specifically a young woman. she looked around my age, stood around 5'3, and looked like a fighter. She had a stocky build with legs that were built like trunks and arms that look like her slim bats. Her jet black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. They both turned to me as I walked up. The girl let out a huge, radiant smile as Noah began to talk.

"Wassup man. This is Amara Anchali. She is an up and coming fighter and she is looking for a camp. Now, she needs a workout buddy and why not my best fighter?" He said as he shoulder bumped me. I looked at her as she reached her hand out to shake mine. "Hello. My name is Amara. She said with broken English. I looked at her then back at Kinji before rolling my eyes. "Fine, get dress. I'll be on the mats." I said as I walked away toward the mats. I heard Kinji let out a nervous chuckle as he talked to Amara. "I'm sorry. He usually has a stick up his ass so don't mind him."

While I was waiting for her to finish. I work on my striking. I made sure every punch and every knee was crisp and sharp. I took my Muay Thai very seriously, it was my pride and joy. Nobody could handle me in the stand up because it always ended one way. Them knocked out. "Your Muay Thai is very good. Very crisp." I heard Amara's voice behind me and I let out a final combo of punches. Turning around, I see Amara in a deep purple sports bra and matching spats. She had her gloves on, taped up and ready to go.

I let out a deep sigh as I grabbed the pads  and strapped them to my arms and legs. "Ok give me some of your combos" I said, holding it up for her. She let out a small nod and then the craziest thing happened. Her eyes changed from happy go lucky to intense focus. He let out a flurry of punches and kicks that honestly set me back. Her punches felt like pistons rocketing into you and her kicks felt like you was getting hit with trees. Her Muay Thai rivaled mine and I was honestly thrown back. Where on earth did she learn this?

The bell sounded and she stopped, a light sweat covering her body. "Where did you learn how to swing like that?" I asked as she took a swig. "I learn from my father. He used to be a fighter." She said as she set her bottle down and walked backed up to me. "Another round?" I just shook my head as we continued on. Round after round, I was met with a barrage of kicks and punches that rivaled my own. This girl was like a machine in the stand up. Is this how my opponents felt? By the time the final training round ended, I was positive my legs were bruised up even with the pads. The coaches called for a break as she walked back to her water and Kinji walked up to me. "So, how is she?"

"I don't know where she learned how to strike like that but she is a monster." I said as he let out a big smile. "I know right! Girl is a straight up beast. I hope we can get her to train here." He said as he patted my back and leaned in close to me. "Look, I'm leaving you out of sparring today to recover since you got a fight in two days. Also, I'm taking her with us to the fight so she can see what top notch training looks like in a real fight. You ok with that?"

I looked over at her. She was talking with some of the other fighters here and smiling away. I'll admit she had crazy talent. Her striking was incredible and who knows what her ground game was, but for her to be apart of my squad on fight night was extreme for me; but I trust Kinji so why the fuck not. "Sure, if you think that what's best."

"Great man! Go over to the ring, she finna spar now." Kinji said as he walked over to the sparring ring in the corner of the gym. I just shook my head as I stripped off my pads, threw on my gym shirt and walked over to ring as everyone gathered around. There she stood, with a protective helmet on and gloves, standing across from one of our top female fighters. Kinji pointing at both girls who nodded then threw his hand down, starting the sparring match.

It was a massacre.

Amara absolutely dominated this poor girl from word go. No matter what this girl threw, Amara blocked it with such precision and when she returned fire, it was like watching a master at work. Every combo hit, every kick left a red mark; it was was brutal. Five minutes felt like 30 as we all watched her dismantle this woman. "Her stand up game is on oar with Noah's." Someone whispered behind me and at this point, I couldn't disagree with them. The bell finally sounded and as they bowed to each other, we all knew who won. "This girl is something else." I said as I saw her walk over with Kinji to his office.

As the day ended, I packed up my bag and started to head out before Kinji stopped me. "Hey man, so good news, Amara decided to make this her official gym going forward." He smiled brightly as I slapped his back. "Congrats man, I knew you had the sleazy sell man thing going for you." I laughed as he looked at me annoyed. "Hah hah. Anyway, she staying at the same housing you are so I need you to walk her home. Can you do me that solid?" He asked as she walked up behind him.

I looked at them before readjusting my bag. "Fine, let's go." I said as I began walking out the gym. I hear quickly said bye before rushing to catch up to me. We walked in mostly silence to the bus stop, the sounds of the city surrounding us. "Um, where did you learn your Muay Thai?" I heard her ask me as we got to the bus stop. I looked down at her as she looked at me with curious eyes. "I had little experience where I was from but once I linked up with Kinji, he taught me everything I knew."

"Oh, where are you from?" She asked as we waited for the bus. "London." I replied shortly. "Oh! I always wanted to go there! Why did you leave?" The silence was deafening as I didn't answer her and coldly waited for the bus. She didn't ask another question as the us finally arrived and on the ride all the way home. I knew I was being cold but no one knew my story, not even Kinji, and I plan to keep it that way. Eventually, we made it to the complex and as we stepped off and into the building, I could tell she was looking for where her room would be. Letting out a heavy sigh I looked over to her. "What's your room number?" She looked at me for a second before she looked at what seemed like a text from Kenji. "Um. Room 228." You got to be fucking kidding me. "Follow me. I'm next door to you." Without saying another word, I walked to the elevator with her quickly running behind me. The awkwardness that was felt in that elevator was huge. I could tell she wanted to say something but decided not to as the metal box dinged, signaling we was at our floor. Finally, We reached our rooms and before she walked in, she turned to me. "Thank you for helping me. Can't wait to see you in gym." She said as she bowed and went into her room before I could.

I entered my room and went about my routine, ignoring the nagging feeling this girl gave me the entire day since meeting her. She annoys me and I don't know why. Was it her upbeat attitude? The fact that she was so happy yet such a dangerous woman? As I laid in bed and let sleep take over my body, I knew this was gonna be a long road.