The Bull Pen Group

[Odin Reeves]

Deep within the heart of the city, amongst the openings of one of the many backstreets leads a door that opens to a small yet well-kept gym. Down an alley linking sixteen and seventeenth street a small sign saying “Bull Pen” barely illuminates in white neon writing. Inside a few patrons find themselves using the different machines and instruments to get in shape, but on the wrestling mat there was an unusual scene. A total of six men were on the mat, five surrounding one as a young women, no older then 23 years old barked orders to the five men whom began to attack.

“Don’t give him time to breath! Look for an opening an take it!”

Jennifer Carper, also know as ‘Missy’ stood no taller then five foot two, the classic appearance of a ‘pretty girl’ having blonde hair and blue eyes. A Caucasian complexion, and at first look many would be attracted to her petit and well kept frame. The only thing that would set potential suitors off would be her voice and personality. Well, not so much her voice, but her tone. She seemed angry, and was constantly shouting.

[Missy] “DAMMIT! IT’S ONE GUY!”

Flopping back out of the circle of men a fairly tall man, Hispanic descent, flicked his hair back and laughed peacefully while sitting down, enjoying a breather after being tossed on his ass by the man in the middle.

“Don’t sweat it, you know how serious he takes this.”

Despite sitting down he looked as though he nearly came up to Missy’s shoulders, showing how tall Daniel Ruiz actually was, standing just shy of six foot eight, though weighting just over two-hundred pounds. He was lean, though not mean, and trying to become a fighting machine. He had started off in kickboxing and just got his first lesson in grappling and Judo all at once.

[Missy] “I don’t give a damn! GET YOUR ASS BACK IN THERE!”

Snapping the toe of her sneaker into Daniel’s butt Jennifer remained persistent in her attempts to overthrow the defender. After no movement she gave the towering Hispanic another kick to the rear, finally getting him to move as he stood up and got back in the circle. As though tagging out his partner a small, bulkier man stumbled out of the circle, his right cheek swollen. Holding it he reached in with his other hand and tried to wiggle a tooth.

[Missy] “Did he knock one out Gerald?”

[Gerald] “Uhnoh. Itz jusb swollben.”

Grabbing a water bottle Gerald, standing just a bit taller then Missy and weighting just over one hundred and sixty pounds, rinsed his mouth out into a bucket, a small bit of blood coming with it.

[Missy] “Ah, gross. I told you, he’s just going to punch you if you keep coming straight at him. Try to throw him when he’s distracted, leave the forward assault to Ruiz, or Pete.”

Nodding Gerald grabbed his mouth guard from his bag, sticking it in as he moved back in the join the circle. As though on command Pete turned away from the group and trotted over to Missy, a big smile across his face brimming from ear to ear.

[Pete] “I heard my name, did ya want something?”

[Missy] “No Pete, get back in there.”

Sighing softly Missy shook her head as Pete trotted back over the circle. He was a good wrestler, but a bit lazy when it came to training, always looking for an excuse to move away from training, especially when being partnered with someone who took things so seriously. Regardless, he was trying hard to actually get something done, but despite being just as tall he weighted in at one hundred and eighty-three pounds, just over twenty pounds less then the defender. Made taking him down with strength a bit harder, and technique wise they were on the same level.

As Pete strolled back in he slapped Mark Wang on the back, and after a puzzled look the young Chinese-American tried for an opening. Leaping forward he tried to cling to the defenders back. He was successful in getting both leg hooks in, but his choke wasn’t completed as his right arm was blocked at the elbow before being locked in. He was successful in allowing Ruiz to hit a strong kick to the stomach, but didn’t hold much duration afterwards as he was grabbed by the back of the head and flipped over onto the ground.

Winded and coughing Mark rolled out of the way, his petit frame barely bigger then Missy’s, and only because of his lean muscle. He had studied Jujitsu since he was young, but didn’t start implementing it against other style until recently. So far he was finding it… Difficult to adjust, but kept trying.

Kneeling down Missy wiped his forehead with a towel; out of all the men she probably felt sympathy for him the most, that is, if she could feel. She still seemed like too much of a hard ass to everyone else for this to be possible.

[Missy] “Good try, but remember to switch up your hands every once and a while. He saw through your attack, making it predictable.”

[Mark] “Damn, he’s really good. How long have we been trying to take him down for? It feels like it’s been hours!”

[Missy] “Not hours, just twenty minutes. Unless you count the last three weeks of failed attempts.”

[Mark] “Ouch, that’s low.”

Standing up Missy dropped the towel across Marks face, completely ignoring him now as she stepped over him and onto the mat. Raising a whistle to her mouth she blew it three times, signifying the end of the training session. Stepping back four men stopped their assault, Daniel, Gerald, and Pete joined Mark on the edge of the mat. Just as the defender was about to move into the group a sneak attack was thrown… Well, it didn’t hold the stealth, but it was still an attack.

[Jesse] “AAAAHHHHHH!”

With a war cry the blonde hair boy, age 16, charged at the man with his right hand pulled back, fist clenched. Spinning around the defender backhanded the boy over his right hand and knocked him face first into the floor.

[Missy] “DAMMIT JESSE! I BLEW THE WHISTLE! And for god’s sake Odin, control! You know better.”

Shrugging softly with a smile as he passed the young women Odin gave a light chuckle as he sat down with the group, goofing and fooling around as they showed off their newest battle wounds. Hearing a splash of water they turned their heads, looking back at a funny and amusing picture. Jennifer standing over the six-foot-two, one hundred and ninety pound soccer player/ Taekwondo user, holding a large pail upside down and kicking the previously unconscious Jesse in the back.

[Missy] “Asshole! Get up. I keep tell you to stop fooling around.”

[Jesse] “Yeah, yeah. I know. Just though I finally had him is all.”

Standing up Jesse gave a wink at the group before reaching back and pinching Missy’s rear before bolting behind the group for cover. The beat red color of Jennifer’s face showed how angry she was, but after turning around for a few seconds she looked back at them, seemingly happy as a clam. Everyone knew this meant Jesse was going to get it; only thing to be determined was the time and place.

[Missy} “Alright, everyone get together. I finally brought my camera, so it’s time for a picture.”

Bunching together they stood in a mess of bodies, no real sorting being done. Daniel was obviously behind everyone else, while Odin had his arms wrapped over Mark and Gerald’s shoulders, pulling them in closer – almost looking as though he was choking them if it weren’t for the smiles and laughs. Pete and Jesse stood on the ‘outside’ of the group, laughing and joking as they tried to give Daniel ‘bunny ears’.

Taking the picture everyone smiled, said cheese and continued to laugh, and it wasn’t until Jesse piped up about Missy being in the photo did everyone calm down.

[Missy] “Well, if I’m going to be in it, then so should everyone else. Dammit, I can’t work this thing. HEY! Can anyone take a picture for us?”


(Open)

[Nobu]

Nobu had been wandering the streets of San Fransisco, one specific piece of the Hagakure in his mind. The young pseudo-samurai constantly ran those words through his head, the words in question being:

"In the stories of the elder warriors it is said that on the battlefield if one wills himself to outstrip warriors of accomplishment, and day and night hopes to strike down a powerful enemy, he will grow indefatigable and fierce of heart and will manifest courage. One should use this principle in everyday affairs too."

He wanted to become untiring; he wanted to become fierce of heart; he wanted to manifest courage. Having recently stolen and eaten a meal, Nobu's stomach was contented for the afternoon. Later, during the evening, he'd have to go around looking for money or food to sustain himself, but for the moment, and for every moment following that moment until that time his stomach growled out in protest to his hunger came, Nobu's mind would be on improving himself by striking down a powerful opponent; a warrior of accomplishment. So, during his aimless wandering, which could've been used to get to know the area better, he stumbled across a gritty-looking urban gym in a gritty-looking alley.

Buru.. Pen? he read the dim white neon sign that hung outside of the gym's door. Stepping in, he received a few nonchalant glares from its members, who quickly returned to whatever they were doing, a few more lingering to get a good look of the newcomer's face. Nobu was always in comfortable attire for working out. It was his casual wear, and at the moment he had on a maroon tank top, black gi pants, and a pair of red and white vintage sneakers. Nobu surveyed the gym's patrons, believing that many of them seemed like good fighters. He respected every fighter, no matter their skill level, as long as they fought with an unbreakable resolve.

With nothing of interest to the Japanese youth occurring, he decided he'd do a little bit of warming up, since he was here already. He turned to the nearest heavy bag, and just started wailing on it with a series of straight punches, an occasional hook or uppercut being thown in for some variety. It felt kind of awkward, seeing as how most of his life he had never used his legs to attack, but Nobu threw out a low left roundhouse kick at the bag, trying to rid himself of the eccentricity kicking seemed to have to him. Being a natural southpaw trained to be ambidextrous, he felt much more comfortable kicking with his left leg than his right. He continued, mixing up his punches and low left kick before some commotion going on from somewhere behind him caught his attention.

"Dammit! It's one guy!!"

The harsh voice came from an attractive woman, who looked like the stereotypical American female to Nobu, sans the large measurements: blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin. Like a few of the other gym members, the young Japanese student approached the wrestling mat where all of the action was happening. The defender that all the men on the outside were trying to dominate seemed to be overcoming them, the team of fighters being thrown out of the circle one by one. Following the blow of a whistle, Nobu felt that he was becoming quite infatuated with the blonde woman, her severe tone and rough mannerisms rather appealing to the Japanese youth. Finding that he was getting distracted, Nobu shook the American woman out of his head, bringing up a hand to brush the dark chocolate locks from his face.

As soon as he saw the defender emerge from the small group of fighters, and the blonde women refer to him as Odin, Nobu thought, Odin.. that is the warrior I want to fight. While Nobu looked at the group sitting down, holding each other in friendly embraces and smiling and joking, he felt a tinge melancholic. A sad smile crossed his face as he thought of his old gang in Tokyo, who had probably forgotten him by now. Nobu nonchalantly cracked his stiff joints and began to approach the group sitting on the mat, intent on asking Odin if he'd like to fight, but suddenly, he was jerked to the side, and found a camera placed in his hand before he could react.

"E-eh!?" he stuttered, and the blonde woman simply replied with,

"You! New guy! Take a picture!"

"U-um, I guess I could..."

Nobu held the camera up to his face, looking at the LCD screen as he fixed it on the entire group. He wasn't very good at taking pictures, unless they were with his mobile, but even then he was no photographer. Wait, don't people usually say something before they take a picture?

"Um, cheese?" and with that, the Japanese student pressed the button down with his index finger, causing a small beep to sound from the camera. He lowered the camera from his face and extended it in both hands toward the blonde woman, bowing his head as he did so.

[Odin Reeves]

Laughing whole-heartedly with the group Missy took the camera back from the young Japanese male that she had forced to take the picture. Flicking the screen over the ‘view’ mode she took a glance at the picture, actually surprised that it turned out well. No one’s eyes were closed, no bunny ears, nothing. Gerald had his head turned a bit to the side, laughing at Jesse, but that just made the picture seem friendlier.

[Missy] “Thanks new guy, got a name? Or should Odin beat it out of you?”

Laughing with her loud voice she slapped Nobu on the back, acting as though she was one of the guys. Looking over to the recent graduate she smiled her cheerful, closed eyed smile as he frowned softly. Breaking away from the group Odin took the camera from Missy, looking at it himself.

”Make sure you send me a copy; I want to distort this as much as possible. You know, put in your obvious masculine features.”

Getting a punch in his arm for the comment Odin carelessly pushed Missy into the group of guys, saying something about not getting caught up in an orgy. Jesse took that instance to put his arm around Missy’s waist, only to receive a elbow to the stomach that left him wheezing on the floor. Turning to the new guy Odin obviously stood a few inches taller, but didn’t try to impose himself on the smaller individual.

“I have to apologize for Jen, or as we call her Missy. She’s pretty pushy, but great at what she does.” Stepping back he pointed at the group, naming them as he went along. “The tall one’s Daniel, the bulky little bugger is Gerald, Pete’s the lazy one – he smiles a lot. Marks the little Asian boy, and Jesse’s the Californian boy, or the Nazi. Either way, blonde hair blue eyes.” Laughing softly the guys waved back from their group before Missy started kicking them in their ass, shoeing them to the showers. Turning back toward the helpful newcomer Odin was smiling, despite what some rumours have said about him.

“Oh, and I’m Odin. So, what brings you to the Bull Pen?”

[Nobu]

The group of fighters, including the blonde woman laughed. It made Nobu feel good, but at the same time kind of depressed that he didn't have something similar to that. The blonde took her camera back and looked at it briefly. Nobu assumed she was probably taking a look at the picture. He hoped it turned out well; he didn't want to be scolded for taking a crappy photo. She thanked him and asked him his name, laughing loudly and giving him a big smack on the back, at which the Japanese youth winced. "U-um, yeah," Nobu shot the blonde a timid smile at her comment about Odin beating his name out of him, then introduced himself with a polite bow, "Yamamoto Nobuo, desu." Although he knew English pretty well, Nobu still had the habit of using a few terms from back home here and there.

Odin walked over to the woman, separating from the group. He had a frown on his face, but seemed natural rather than one used out of displeasure. Words were exchanged between the blonde and Odin, but it seemed like it was just Odin speaking before he pushed her into the group of men, making a lewd comment that made Nobu chuckle mentally. He never really laughed out loud, even as a kid. There could be hysterically laughter in his head, but he would never show it on his face, except for maybe a slight smile. There was a little scene that occured on the mat, that ended up with one of the men crumpled onto the floor as a result of the blonde.

The taller, heavier young man that was the defender and whom Nobu believed was Odin, turned to him and began speaking, apoligizing for the blonde's, who he now knew as Jen, behaviour. He then introduced, individually, the team of men that tried to take him down before the blonde kicked them off to the showers. Odin introduced himself as, well.. Odin, confirming Nobu's beliefs, then asked him why he was here, at the Bull Pen.

The young Japanese fighter stood there for a moment, staring at Odin's chin as he thought about what to say. He simply wanted to say "You!", but decided that wouldn't be the best approach. He also didn't want to go on another rant about the Way, so he decided he'd go for something concise. "Well, I am constantly trying to improve myself, mentally and physically, by fighting warriors of accomplishment. I happened to stumble upon this gym while I was wandering around San Fransisco, because I'm new to the city--no, new to the country and all. Anyway, I entered the gym and as soon as I saw you fighting off that team of men, I knew at that moment that you were a warrior I wanted to fight." In the middle of his explanation his eyes slowly drifted from the taller man's chin and were now locked onto his eyes. "I know you must be tired from that session, so perhaps another time, when you're one-hundred percent, we could fight? It'd be quite interesting to me, since I have never fought with someone from America before."

[Odin Reeves]

[Sorry it’s short]


“Well, that certainly is interesting.” Odin looked down at Nobu, looking him right back in his eyes. His smile had changed, his features becoming a bit more serious. He wasn’t angry, just trying to think about the situation. “Got any gear, or do you wanna do this without equipment?”

Taking a few steps back Odin tossed his head from side to side, working out the cricks in his neck before stopping and hopping in place. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt he brought it over his head and twisted it around his fist before tossing it to the side. He was still wearing a pair of training gloves from before, but now just stood there in long shorts and taped ankles.

“If you want a serious fight, well now’s the time to do it before Missy gets backs.” Lifting his hands he held the backs of them towards Nobu, the classic Irish boxing stance. Slapping either wrist he indicated the pads on his hands. “Yes or no?”

[Nobu]

[OOC: No problem; I prefer shorter posts because I don't feel as compelled to make a long one.]

Odin replied by commenting that his explanation was interesting, and his face suddenly hardened from its previous smile. Nobu was glad that he took fighting seriously. Those who smiled, as if fighting was a game, were looked down upon with contempt by the Japanese fighter. He was asked by the larger boy if he had any protective gear, which Nobu simply shook his head at. "I've always trained and fought without any, so sans equipment is fine."

It looked as though Odin was preparing himself, stepping back, cracking his neck and hopping in place. Nobu followed suit, cracking his stiff joints, the loud popping of his elbows and knuckles indicating that they had been loosened, before doing some light stretches. When the larger fighter pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the side, Nobu bent down and untied his laces, removing his sneakers and tucking his socks into them. Now barefoot and clad in his black gi pants and maroon tank top, the Japanese youth stepped onto the wrestling mat, turning to Odin as he spoke about having a serious fight before Jen got back.

Nobu hopped up and down on the balls of his feet, alternating his legs as he went, warming up a bit more before the fight actually started. "Do you even have to ask?" he replied, getting into stance. He stood almost perpendicular to the larger fighter, with his right side leading. His right arm was bent and held loosely at his waist, while his left was held next to his cheekbone in a semi-closed fist, and his chin was tucked neatly into his right shoulder. Nobu remained light on his feet, knowing that Odin was probably stronger than him. This made his usual tactic of getting inside and brawling undesirable. Instead, the Japanese fighter would utilize his lighter frame against his larger opponent.

[Odin Reeves]

Lets mix it up a bit. Time to try something new.

Unwrapping his gloves Odin pulled them off with haste, tossing them to the outside perimeter of the wrestling mats. Flicking his fingers outward he felt refreshed in letting his hands breath after being released from their sweaty confines. Tightening his fingers he formed two brick-sized fists, stretching the skin across his knuckles and showing the numerous scars that were bestowed upon his hands. He literally couldn’t feel anything in his knuckles, fingers, or on most of the back of his hands. Having killed the nerves over years and years of practice he formed two brutally savage weapons.

Keeping his hands rose he brought them up to shoulder level while standing with just a slight hunch forward. He was using his height advantage over Nobu to his advantage, keeping his hands low enough to strike quickly and effectively, while keeping his head up high enough so that he wouldn’t really have to block. Stepping forward with his left foot he barely slid it forward, giving him a classic boxing stance in terms of feet position, that is if he was an out-boxer. His feet weren’t set for stability at the moment; despite how much balance he may or may not have.

Before sliding forward he began to hop steadily, then moved into a slid, then altered his movements by stepping forward. It wasn’t an exaggerated step where his body completely switches sides, just a step forward with his right foot, guard still up, then another step forward with his left. At this point he’d be well within his own range, as well as Nobu’s. He was obviously trying to provoke an attack, but if he could get close enough to grapple that would work as well.

[Nobu]

The larger fighter took his stance, which seemed like a classic boxing stance that he had seen numerous times before. Odin had both a size and strength advantage, so Nobu's plan was to get in, and get out, quickly. Even though the Japanese fighter was about as strong was your average heavyweight, his opponent seemed stronger than your average heavyweight. Also taken note of were his opponent's marred fists, which were not unlike Nobu's own. With a few taps on his own jaw with his left hand, he backpedalled slightly as the larger fighter began to advance.

When Odin stepped in, Nobu pushed off of his lead foot, moving to Odin's left and away a few inches. As soon as the balls of his feet met the mat, he snaked his right arm out as if to throw a jab, but retracted it before it fully extended and used the retracting motion to add some extra torque on the lead roundhouse Nobu released, his right shin aimed for the outside of Odin's left thigh, just above the knee.

[Odin Reeves]

As Nobu kicked out Odin stepped in with his right while pivoting slightly to his left. This step however was much more direct then his last step as he lunged in toward his opponent. Not only was it a long step but he tucked his body in was well so that his right shoulder would be running along his opponent’s stomach as his arm wrapped around his torso. With his left hand Odin reached down and scooped up the kicking leg of his opponent, pulling it in close as he bull rushed his way forward.

Whether Nobu choose to go down instantly or in a few steps didn’t matter, Odin would lift him off the ground and charge right on through before stepping down with his left foot and pivoting his body over his left. After that it would follow like a classic slam seen on most wrestling programs, Odin brings the boy down and flattens him out over the training floor. The slam wouldn’t slow Odin down from pressing forward, proven well as he’d reach up with his left arm and try to pin Nobu’s right down while bringing his body forward and mounting the torso of his opponent. After that it would be a simple serious of ground and pound, should his opposition choose not to submit before the pain began.

[Nobu]

Following his avoided kick, Nobu immediately saw Odin shooting for a takedown, his posture lowered and his knees bent in order to maximize the effectiveness of the single-leg. Even though the Japanese fighter was capable of stuffing the shot, he decided to let it go through. He wasn't uncomfortable at all on the ground, or on his back, even, but he'd make sure in the midst of the takedown they'd be going to the ground on his terms.

Just as his opponent's right shoulder was closing in on his midsection and his left arm reaching for his right leg, Nobu used his low right hand, which was held at his waist, to send a tight and quick right hook at Odin's unguarded face, aiming to catch him as he shot in. When the larger fighter's shoulder hit his body, Nobu threw his free leg back and leaned forward, maintaining his balance for a few moments longer and feeding Odin shots to the head with his right hand before he was lifted up into the air.

The takedown was inevitable. Nobu could have delayed going to the ground with technique, but his opponent's gruesome strength would eventually overcome his technique and he'd be taken down with raw power. He simply adapted to the situation, making it work for him. Nobu's right arm was wrapping around Odin's upper back, over his shoulder, and his left foot was tucked between Odin's legs in order to prevent being pivoted to his side. The Japanese fighter felt himself descending, and exhaled in a timely fashion as he hit the mat.

As soon as his back met the mat Nobu wrapped his left leg around the back of his opponent and positioned his right foot against his hip to maintain the distance between their bodies. Nobu's left arm moved up from Odin's back and pinned his head against his stomach in order to prevent him from rising up as he attempted to squirm his right arm out of the larger fighter's grasp. Having difficulty with freeing his right arm, Nobu extended his arm and moved it up in the air and away from his body. This would move Odin's arm as well as he struggled, and as soon as he had enough room, Nobu slipped his right leg under Odin's left arm and brought it up over his shoulder and across his upper back so that his thigh was pressed against Odin's neck and shoulder and his calf was almost horizontal across his back.

Now using his right leg to keep Odin's body held down, Nobu freed his left arm and began sending elbows to the top of his opponent's head as he maintained a tight hold on his body with his legs and struggled to release his right arm from the larger opponent's grasp.

[Odin Reeves]

If there was one thing that could throw a wrench into Nobu’s plans it would be his own left foot, the same left foot that he used to prevent a pivot before the slam. Big mistake, as this alone would destroy any hope he had of winning. Odin didn’t know Nobu’s plan once they went to the ground, only his own – which was to ground and pound. He had become quite proficient at it over the last couple of years, and to date he hadn’t found one person who could stop him once he started swinging from up top. But, this is getting a little ahead of himself, first there was still the shoot.

When Odin did come in, grabbing his opponent with his strong limbs he did in fact get hit by his opponent’s right fist, the first shot a glancing blow that did nothing to deter him from moving in, the others were felt like mosquito bites as Odin called him, as though someone was trying to throw hammer blows upward while laying on the ground: Utterly ineffective. As he pushed forward he left his opponent move into a sprawl, and so he dug his shoulder in deeper and lifted upward as he took a few more steps forward. The easiest way to defeat a sprawl was to take away the ground, and by lifting Nobu into the air Odin ensured that he’d get the takedown without problem – and with a bit of extra power.

As he slammed Nobu to the ground the young man would attempt to wrap his left leg around Odin’s back, but would find it blocked off by both of Odin’s legs. Whoops, did preventing the pivot cost him position while on his back? Seemed so, and Odin didn’t mind pressing his head down into his opponent, in fact that’s what he did without his opponent’s pull. Not only did he push his head into his opponent, but also his right shoulder as well as he kept Nobu’s arm pinned down with his left. Pushing his right foot against the ground sideways he’d spin into a halfway side control, his feet spread out with his knees bent as he kept applying his weight to his opponent. Doing so would keep the young man from squirming while also prevent him from pushing off his hip and separating them with his right foot.

At a moment’s notice Odin would switch his weight from pushing his right shoulder down to his left, applying a bit more pressure to his opponent’s arm to keep the struggling arm down. Turning his hips over as much as he could they’d be facing the same rough direction as his upper body, his left still trapped between Nobu’s, and vice versa, but with one major difference: The brick-like-fist of Odin’s wouldn’t he swinging around to strike him in the side of the face from a blind spot, like it was destined to do for Nobu. Whether his opponent was trying to pull his head down to gain control, or trying to land shots with a elbow that would be a bit to short to do any major damage, or a fist that didn’t have the weight or hip torque, any of it wouldn’t matter, as Odin’s right fist would curl around Nobu’s left shoulder like a snake to attack the head.

After the first punch he’d start to rain down his right hand from different angles and position’s, no longer worrying about whether or not his opponent could see it. He’d rush his opponent with heavy right blows until he tapped or was knocked unconscious.

[Nobu]

Nobu found his attempt at getting his opponent in his closed guard halted, and he didn't bother trying to weave his right leg through their arms. His opponent shifted his position and slid over the smaller fighter's left knee, getting into a half-mount. Nobu locked his legs together to prevent Odin from passing any further, and moved his body up as far as he could, which wasn't much, before his opponent began moving his body to change position. More weight was holding his right arm down, as Nobu could feel, making the struggle to release it more difficult. However, he could also feel sweat building up on his opponent's palm as well as his arm, both having warmed up before the match, with Odin participating in more of a workout than warm-up with the addition of gloves, which would make his hands rather damp.

Using this to his advantage, Nobu jerk his elbow up, toward his own head, causing his arm to slip out of Odin's grasp and be replaced by his wrist. Now he would work on escaping, twisting and turning his wrist in order to find an optimal position to slip his fist right out.

While all this was happening the young Japanese fighter felt the older, larger fighter's heavy fist collide with his head, rattling his skull quite a bit. This caused Nobu to push down and inward on Odin's head while rotating his shoulders to the right and propping himself up as much as he could with his right elbow, slipping the American's head under his left armpit and hooking his left arm around his (Odin's) neck.

With his back now partially turned to Odin, Nobu had taken his head out of the range of the larger fighter's right-handed strikes. The Japanese fighter began working with his left arm, trying to slip his forearm under Odin's neck. If successful, Nobu would tighten his left arm and lean back, putting pressure on Odin's trachea with the bone of his forearm. This would cause severe pain in his opponent's neck and cut off his air supply. If it failed, Nobu would simply continue to work for a guillotine and for escaping Odin's grasp while maintaining his position.