The Martial Arts Prodigy

Chapter 10

Song up above: It's Tricky by Run DMC

"There is no difference in who started to study first; the one who achieves accomplishment is first." - Yip Man

This final flashback will focus on the backstory of Draca Swanson.

[Draca POV]

Being a martial arts fighter is something I always strived for. But the struggle was something more profound. Being a young twenty-five-year-old amateur was far from easy. I lost ten fights, barely winning fifteen and I had my right ACL torn completely off the bone. You talk about pain beyond measure, it was like I had been shot with a steel tipped arrow.

I thought my career was over before it started. While I was recovering, all I could think about was getting back into the fight, but the doctors said that I may never fight again.

It's common that when you lose all hope, something or someone comes along with a solution to your problem. For me, it was in the form of a man named Hakshu. As soon I was cleared from the hospital, I left for a flight to the Himalayan Mountains. Climbing the mountains didn’t put a strain on my leg, it only hurts when I kicked with it. When I made it up the mountain, I was greeted by a man, which was Hakashu, in a black robe, with a hood over his head. I felt like I was in a season of American Horror Story just looking at him.

Long story short, he invited me into his stronghold agreeing to heal my leg, in exchange that he train me in a variation of Muay Thai and Jujitsu. How did he heal my leg? Well, he did it in a very painful way. I remember hanging upside down, feeling the pressure on my right ACL being tied to a rope, covered with a rare kind of salt. The salt was designed to magically heal and restructure all the bones in my leg. I stayed upside down for three hours until I felt the strength return in my leg.

Hakashu stood me upright and I felt no pain or nagging burn. For the remaining three months, I was training under him in Muy Thai and Jujitsu. Training really kicked my ass in the best way, I was using muscles that I have never used before and it felt mind-blowing. I increased in power, speed and grace.

It felt like I was baptized in fire and I rose from the ashes like a phoenix, emerging a brand new person. After I left the mountains, I came back to America and I trained with the Gracie’s in Brazilian Jujitsu, adding another style to my resume.

Three months later, I would get back on the amateur scene, picking up a total of thirty-eight wins, twenty by knockout and eighteen by submission. I first arrived in the MMA organization of Strikeforce, emerging as a top prospect in the Bantamweight Division. After winning twenty-eight fights, I was called up by Bellator MMA to make my debut against Cat Zagano. I couldn't say no to that offer, so I took them up on it.

When I made my debut, it was a tough challenge for me. The cat was not holding back on me, but I would not be denied. Knocking her out with a flying knee, I emerged victorious among millions watching around the world. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had won. All the pain and the setbacks were just part of the journey for me.

After I retired undefeated as a champion, I decided to give back to the community. I became a teacher upon founding my own Fighting Style called "Muy Tai-Jitsu".
Teaching others how to be at one with themselves, was something I cherished more than any championship I have won.

Every day, I would teach them to look deep inside themselves and find your strength. It brought a smile to my face, every time I would see them improve and become friends with each other. It was like we were becoming a family, there was no other feeling than bonding with my students.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I graduated college with a degree in business and management. Meaning I knew how to take care of finances and my sponsors help fund my school.

As my teaching program grew, I knew I had built a safe haven for kids, who wanted better lives and to be off the streets. Some of my students came back as teachers upon graduating from High School and College.
When I retired, I have control of the school to MMA legend, Royce Gracie. He would be perfect for the kids at my school. My reason for retiring, I wanted to go back to school to pursue more knowledge.

That's when months later I received a letter saying that I was chosen to be in a school of Martial Arts. And that is how I came face to face with a new set of friends, as well as new horizons to explore.