“Alright, so the first thing I need to know is if you’re orthodox or a southpaw,” I tell her, and she just stares at me.
“If I’m awhat?” she asks.
“Right or left-handed,” I say.
“Oh. Right.”
“Okay, so orthodox,” I say. “So you want your left foot forward, here like this. And your right foot back.”
“Like this?” she asks.
“Exactly. Your feet should be shoulder width apart; back heel slightly raised from the ground. You want your toes pointing about thirty to forty-five degrees outward. Right about–”
“Here,” she says, moving into position.
“Yeah. How did you–”
“Dancer,” she says, and I smile. “Alright, you want to keep your weight even on both feet, maybe slightly more in the back. Keep your knees bent,” I say, stepping behind her before resting my hands on her hips. “Hips relaxed.”
“Like this?” she asks. I feel her breath rising and falling at my touch.
“Yes. Just like that,” I say, moving to face her again. “Now. Stay on the balls of your feet, ready to move. You’re going to be pivoting around the ring quite a bit. And remember never lock your knees. Good. Alright, chin tucked and eyes forward. On me, always.”
“What about my hands?” She asks, and I smile. She’s so eager. She’s also great at instruction.
“Your lead hand, so your right, should be at eye level. Your left hand should be in position to protect your cheek. Your elbows should be in position to protect your ribs,” I say, moving her arms down for her. Then I take her fists in my hands. “Andyour fists, contrary to what people think, should be relaxed, not clenched.”
I get into position in front of her, but far enough away that I can throw jabs without coming anywhere near her. “This is a jab, this is a cross, then you have the hook, the uppercut, the overhand, and then some generic body shots,” I show her.
She mimics me and then laughs. “Jesus, I feel so lethal,” she says, hammering out a few jabs.
I can’t help but laugh. “Alright,” I say, repositioning back in front of her. “The object is to hit your opponent.”
“Obviously,” she says.
“Without leaving yourself open enough for them to hit you. Go ahead,” I say, and she blinks.
“Go ahead and…?” she asks. I make a come here motion with both hands. “Hit you?!”
“Or try to,” I tell her and her expression grows feisty. She goes for a jab and I dodge it, throwing her off her balance enough that I have to catch her.
“Jesus,” she lets out and I grin.
“Not so easy, is it?”
“Well you’re not holding still,” she says, jabbing and missing again.
“I’m not supposed to,” I laugh, and she goes for a body shot, landing it right above my stomach. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a decent hit. For a girl who’s barely tall enough to reach my face.
“Not bad, not bad,” I tell her. “Now try moving a bit,” I say, circling her. She falls into step with me and I faux jab her, making the motions of hitting but not following through. She dodges it perfectly every time. I wouldn’t have hit her even if I intended to.
“Nice,” I nod, coming to a stop. “You know I’m actually impre–”
My words are cut off when she goes for an uppercut, and it lands right in the corner of my mouth, hard. While it doesn’t have nearly as much power as my usual opponents, it’s enough to knock me backward.
“Oh!” she gasps and covers her mouth. “Are you okay? Oh my god.”
I grin through the sting and nod, jutting my jaw back and forth. “I’m alright. That was good.”
