ShadowClan Training Cliffs

[Levi 99]

Originally Posted by Puddle~

The belly rake was clearly no problem for his apprentice, as he performed it flawlessly on the first try. With that done, Finchwhisker began preparing to teach a few defensive operations, when Shadepaw piped up with a bright question. "Yes, I suppose every attack has a possible countermove. However, not everything has an official name or procedure. Often times, a counterattack may simply be a manuever you or your opponent comes up with on the spot." It may sound a bit confusing to the apprentice now, but he planned to further elaborate once they moved on to defense.

"Do keep in mind that the attacks I've shown you are just some of the basics that nearly every cat learns at some point. In a real battle, things are significantly more complicated than in training, so quick thinking and the ability to come up with offensive and defensive maneuvers to combat whatever your opponent tries are essential. Understand?"

Finchwhisker paused a moment to allow Shadepaw to soak everything in and ask any more questions he had. They had plenty of time, so he was in no rush to progress to defensive training. "As for how to defend yourself from attacks and counterattacks, there are several useful methods. But as I said, many of the moves you'll use in a battle will depend on what types of attacks you're dealing with."

"Can you show me?" he asked enthusiastically,

[Puddle~]

Originally Posted by Lukas Novick

"Can you show me?" he asked enthusiastically,

"Gladly." Finchwhisker crept back a few tail-lengths, ensuring he had enough space to roll without bumping into anything. "A commonly used defensive move is the duck and twist. There are several different variations of it, but the fundamental idea is self-explanatory. When an opponent approaches with an attack," he paused mid-sentence to get into position. "Simply duck down to avoid the blow, then twist and roll away." As he spoke, the deputy swiftly demonstrated the maneuver, dropping to the ground and rolling off to the left until he was upright once more. "And when you get back up on your paws, you'll have placed a few tail-lengths between yourself and your opponent, so you have more time to recover or plan the next attack."

"Keep in mind, you mustn't be afraid to let yourself fall when you go in for the roll. The ground's not that far away." He craved perfection, but was willing to let it slide if Shadepaw couldn't do this move seamlessly on the first try. It could be potentially challenging to judge the amount of force needed behind the roll, as well as smoothly transition from ducking to twisting. "With this one, I'll act as an opponent going in for an attack. I want you to attempt the move without allowing my paws to touch you. Ready?" Without waiting for a response, the tabby tom lunged forward, paws outstretched as he bore down upon Shadepaw.

[Levi 99]

Originally Posted by Puddle~

"Gladly." Finchwhisker crept back a few tail-lengths, ensuring he had enough space to roll without bumping into anything. "A commonly used defensive move is the duck and twist. There are several different variations of it, but the fundamental idea is self-explanatory. When an opponent approaches with an attack," he paused mid-sentence to get into position. "Simply duck down to avoid the blow, then twist and roll away." As he spoke, the deputy swiftly demonstrated the maneuver, dropping to the ground and rolling off to the left until he was upright once more. "And when you get back up on your paws, you'll have placed a few tail-lengths between yourself and your opponent, so you have more time to recover or plan the next attack."

"Keep in mind, you mustn't be afraid to let yourself fall when you go in for the roll. The ground's not that far away." He craved perfection, but was willing to let it slide if Shadepaw couldn't do this move seamlessly on the first try. It could be potentially challenging to judge the amount of force needed behind the roll, as well as smoothly transition from ducking to twisting. "With this one, I'll act as an opponent going in for an attack. I want you to attempt the move without allowing my paws to touch you. Ready?" Without waiting for a response, the tabby tom lunged forward, paws outstretched as he bore down upon Shadepaw.

That was close, Shadepaw had managed to duck at the last second but was a little stunned by Finchwhisker's speed, he quickly shook it off then dropped to ground and rolled to the side making sure not to put too much or too little distance in between them. Shadepaw was looking at this as if they were in a real battle and didn't want to be too far away just in case he wanted to attack.

[Mango]

@gs29513

Stempaw was relieved the warrior agreed to spar with her, she wanted to try to prove her fighting skill, and frankly, defeating Shrewstep in a fight, would make her look pretty good. And if she could defeat him, she’d be certain to ask Finchwhisker about possibly fighting together, I mean, Dawnstar was too important to spar her, but Finchwhisker, he’d probably be willing to do it. She thought it’d be great if he agreed, maybe that could even be her final assessment, she glanced at the warrior,” Do you want to do claws or no claws, I’m fine with either.” she meowed. Shadowclan was the only clan that trained with claws out sometimes, none of the other clans even considered it really.

[Puddle~]

Originally Posted by Lukas Novick

That was close, Shadepaw had managed to duck at the last second but was a little stunned by Finchwhisker's speed, he quickly shook it off then dropped to ground and rolled to the side making sure not to put too much or too little distance in between them. Shadepaw was looking at this as if they were in a real battle and didn't want to be too far away just in case he wanted to attack.

"Excellent, but try to react a bit faster next time. If I had been just a fraction of a heartbeat faster, you would've been struck down easily. Let's try again, shall we?" Almost as soon as he'd finished his phrase, Finchwhisker lunged forward once more, this time coming in from a higher angle, which would ideally give Shadepaw practice in ducking lower as he began the roll. That is, if he managed to avoid the incoming attack once more. Other than the extremely close call, however, his apprentice's transition had been a smooth, fluid motion. Rather impressive for the first time, and exactly the kind of skill the dark tom wanted to see. But working on that reaction time and movement speed was part of the next exercise he had planned.

[Levi 99]

Originally Posted by Puddle~

"Excellent, but try to react a bit faster next time. If I had been just a fraction of a heartbeat faster, you would've been struck down easily. Let's try again, shall we?" Almost as soon as he'd finished his phrase, Finchwhisker lunged forward once more, this time coming in from a higher angle, which would ideally give Shadepaw practice in ducking lower as he began the roll. That is, if he managed to avoid the incoming attack once more. Other than the extremely close call, however, his apprentice's transition had been a smooth, fluid motion. Rather impressive for the first time, and exactly the kind of skill the dark tom wanted to see. But working on that reaction time and movement speed was part of the next exercise he had planned.

Even though Finchwhisker jumped higher then the last time shadepaw was ready for it, he was starting to get quite a good grasp on his mentors speed and the surprises were becoming a little easier to predict. Without wasting anytime the young apprentice ducked an inch lower than before and rolled to the side while keeping the same distance as the first time.

[gs29513]

@Zesty Mango
Claws or no claws was a good question. Shrewstep did plenty of clawed fighting, against Frogfart and his 'friends' and didn't particularly fancy another scar, but no claws was boring. No claws was more of a gentle game, not an actual spar. Claws if you're alright with that. he mewed, unsheathing his own into the sand. His first thought was he hoped to have to clean them later, but he quickly squished that away. He didn't want to be bloodthirsty, one of those cats that killed for fun. He.....he just wanted to fight well and land hits, that was all. It wasn't that he wanted blood, it was just a product of success he rationalized, lowering into his battle stance with a shake of his head. Front paws light on the ground, tail touching the dirt, ears flattened against his head.

[teddy.]

╰┈➤ Halfblood | @Slushie

Stars, why was he here? During the day of all time...

But he always felt drawing to watching the students of the clan train. He watched from the branches alongside the cliff quietly; a shadow with eyes.

His attention was drawn to one cat out of them all; a tom covered in scars. He was seemingly older than the others down there but not as seasoned as a cat his age... Whisperpaw. How odd.

Halfblood jumped from the branches almost silently, save for a single crack of a twig. He was swift on his thin paws, coming up besides Whisperpaw without much hesitation. "Whose your mentor, boy?"

[Mango]

Originally Posted by gs29513

@Zesty Mango
Claws or no claws was a good question. Shrewstep did plenty of clawed fighting, against Frogfart and his 'friends' and didn't particularly fancy another scar, but no claws was boring. No claws was more of a gentle game, not an actual spar. Claws if you're alright with that. he mewed, unsheathing his own into the sand. His first thought was he hoped to have to clean them later, but he quickly squished that away. He didn't want to be bloodthirsty, one of those cats that killed for fun. He.....he just wanted to fight well and land hits, that was all. It wasn't that he wanted blood, it was just a product of success he rationalized, lowering into his battle stance with a shake of his head. Front paws light on the ground, tail touching the dirt, ears flattened against his head.

Stempaw gave a nod and unsheathed her claws before she lowered herself into a fighting stance, her her tail low, her hind legs wide and low her front leg in the middle, a small adaptation she developed which was more of a tripod stance which gave her more stability. She didn’t want to make the first move because she wanted to make sure the warrior was ready.

[dino.]

// @Romulus

>Whisperpaw<

To be totally honest, he didn't really know what he was doing here. His mentor (both of them, really) was never around, he didn't ask any of the other apprentices to spar, and he couldn't really learn much by watching. He'd come to realize that he learned better by doing, something that couldn't happen if he never had someone to tell him what to do.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as a voice sounded behind him and he whipped around to stare (thinking maybe, even for a second, even if it was silly, that Foxbite was back to finish the job) before he visibly relaxed. It was just a warrior. It was fine! All fine

"Uh, it's..." He hesitated, scrunched up his nose. "I don't remember. Whoever it was, was never around to take me anywhere."