Chapter 2 - THE SPINNING KICK
Blake cleared his throat loudly, gesturing for the crowd to settle down.
"Now, to demonstrate real combat distance and reaction timing under pressure," Blake announced, his voice echoing off the high gym rafters, "I need a volunteer from the beginner class."
His bright, confident eyes scanned the line of young students before landing directly on Evan. Blake flashed a wide, theatrical smile for the recording phone cameras. "Evan. Step up to the center."
Evan swallowed hard, his face flushing red as dozens of eyes turned toward him. He bowed nervously, stepping barefoot onto the padded black mat, taking up a basic defensive guard opposite his instructor.
"Remember, folks," Blake said to the parents, shifting his stance into a flashy kickboxing guard, "precision requires striking a target that isn't expecting the speed."
Without warning or slowing his execution for a thirteen-year-old student, Blake pivoted sharply on his lead foot, spinning his entire torso with explosive, competition-grade force. His right heel whipped through the air, driving a hard, heavy spinning back kick directly into Evan’s padded torso.
THUD.
The impact was far too severe for a demonstration. The force of the strike lifted Evan’s feet off the mat, slamming his small body backward onto the dense foam floor. Evan rolled onto his side, curling into a ball as he gasped violently for air, his lungs completely paralyzed by the shock of the blow.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Several parents immediately lowered their phones in shock, exchanging uncomfortable, startled looks.
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Blake didn't offer a hand to help the boy up. Instead, he adjusted the black belt around his waist, standing over Evan with a smug, untroubled smile as if he had just delivered a masterpiece.
"Keep your guard up next time, kid," Blake said casually, stepping toward the center of the mat and flexing his shoulders for the crowd. "Nobody in this room can beat me."
