Taekwondo: The Water Bending Masters

"Master, why is this important?"

Like all adolescents, Zeiwandao was impatient, when Master Narud had said he was going to teach him something--he suspected a new cool water bending trick that would get the jump on his opponents.

Not breathing techniques.

Narud shot him a glare that shut him up fast. He just kept breathing, inhale deeply, then an exhale. Rinse and repeat. After what seemed like hours, Narud finally said: "I'm going to teach you Taekwondo, this process is one that will never end, and you will be adamant to keep practicing even when I am gone. Promise me that."

Talk that Narud was believing that he was going to die soon made Zeiwandao clamp up, Narud was the closest thing he had to a father (his actual father literally being crazy, and rather unpleasant). He knew what Taekwondo was, it a fighting style that many of his fellow water benders understood and practiced. He thought it odd that Narud hadn't taught it to him earlier. But Narud had a reason for everything.

After a deep breath Narud continued: "I have been saving till now because you are older now, and perseverance will come harder to you now. It is a test."

Zeiwandao's spirits dropped, how could Narud not believe in him, or at least be so public with his thoughts? "I'll pass," he said steely.

"Good, now stand up and observe closely." Narud then did a number of things. First, he stood, and he moved a distance away from his student. He circled in place, bending the water from the grass and plants from around him. They were still in the Fire Nation, and ice and water were worlds away. In this land, water benders had to improvise. Suddenly the water turned into an ice cylinder at the feet of Master Narud, as fast as it had materialized. He took a stance that Zeiwandao did not recognize and brought his fists above the cylinder.

Breathing deeply he said, "In six months time, you may be able to do this." He then brought down his fist, bursting through the ice. Nothing remained of the cylinder but shattered ice at his feet. Zeiwandao's eyes shone brightly, he was eager to grasp such power.

"You could've taught me this before!" He said, half-angry.

Narud smiled, "Starting now will be good for you." His smile then faded, and he closed his eyes, more solemnly he said: "This journey will not have an end. There is no destination, only more training. Now, let's talk." Narud sat down, legs crossed, Zeiwandao was skeptical but sat down once again as well. They talked about what Zeiwandao already knew--balance and power, the essence of Taekwondo. For most practitioners of Taekwondo, the actual power comes from the feet, with the hands acting more defensively. In water bending, the feet were harldy used for anything. Zeiwandao had seen Liangxi earth bend, and earth benders used their feet much more so than water benders. Even fire benders used their feet for some attacks.

It took him a year or two to perfect it. The time flew by like clockwork, Master Narud started with simple principles of Taekwondo. Zeiwandao considered this part of the training as the simplest, since most of the principles were already associated with water bending. At the six-month mark, they sparred. Master Narud was over a hundred years old but his body was kept spritely and youth-like (as in early 70s). Zeiwandao was still slim, but he had become more muscular in his training. He thought it unfair it to be facing such an elder, and thus was planning on holding himself back.

"...and don't you dare hold back!" Narud said with a final smirk before suddenly he was upon Zeiwandao with a flurry of kicks. He managed to dodge and parry most of them just in time, thinking to himself what inhuman speed Narud must have possessed to had crossed that distance so fast. Zeiwandao was winded just defending from his attacks.

Narud saw his hesitance, and added sternly, "If you don't fight back, how can you expect to defend your nation!?" He fell upon Zeiwandao once again with more complicated combinations including swift hand attacks and sweeping kicks. Narud's assurance seemed to have paid off though, and Zeiwandao now deflected them in what seemed to be a more concentrated state.

He then began to counter attack. It was in between the interval of Narud's attacks but just enough to throw the old master off. "Good!" He said, sounding excited, "Now's your chance! Go on the offensive!" Narud was still finishing an attack when Zeiwandao took his advice and stopped a kick--causing Narud to flip awkwardly in the air and land hard on his back.

Narud laughed, "Nice, I think you popped something." He said, rubbing where he landed. Soon enough he stepped back up, "But we're not finished yet."

"I didn't think so." Zeiwandao said calmly, taking another stance. He was smiling also.

This time, Zeiwandao charged at Narud, and it was his master's turn to dodge and counter. Narud found himself equally matched with his student, Zeiwandao was a learner of great capacity, he knew. Six months with this type of progress stunned Narud. Zeiwandao tried many different kicks, but Narud was too familiar with them, and they were ineffective.

Narud sidestepped, dodging another attack, he said sternly in his 'teacher' voice: "You're going to have to come up with something original to attack me!

Zeiwandao thought of something quite underhanded, but it was the best way to land an attack on Narud. Knowing how Narud would react to the next kick, he planned accordingly. Zeiwandao attacked with a sweeping kick, to which Narud expectantly jumped to avoid. The window was only a few seconds, but it was there. Instead of positioning his stance, Zeiwandao launched at him with an open-palm attack. He could see his master's eyes widen at the unexpected attack.

Zeiwandao hit the chest of his master with such power that he went flying a few yards. Narud was skilled enough to land on his feet, and seemed unaffected. "That was a good one." He admitted. They bowed to each other.

Word Count: 1018
Total Word Count: 1018
RUP: 1

Technique Trained: Taekwondo
Rank: Master