It is interesting when people just don't grasp the currents
Subtlety, I have learnt it. The art of deliberately throwing people life-preservers. I have watched my superiors do it, and sometimes I am smart enough to grab hold. Sometimes, no doubt, I miss it. Sometimes I willfully flout it. Most times, actually.
"Is that a present for me?"
"I can give it to you if you want..." [pantomiming an attack to the head, phonebook style]
[presenting a vulgar block] "You know, the last guy to pretend to attack me accidentally got smacked in the head. 'Cause.. You know, I did MMA. He did this as I was turning around, and I just went ****"
[visualising a take-down from his position] "... Has Gary1 ever shown you anything...?" [here's a hint, free of charge]
[electing to follow his ego] "Oh yeah, he's shown me heaps, but I just don't think aikido is suitable for the street. Maybe for him, cause he's been doing it for ages, but not for me."
"... Ah."
1. Our resident 20+ year black-belt. Trained with the Royal British Navy in a martial art that's now illegal. Trained with gurkas. Now a blackbelt in aikido, helping me with mine. The boy in question knows this. He's asked me about my training before.
Next time, I may just take him dancing.
"Is that a present for me?"
"I can give it to you if you want..." [pantomiming an attack to the head, phonebook style]
[presenting a vulgar block] "You know, the last guy to pretend to attack me accidentally got smacked in the head. 'Cause.. You know, I did MMA. He did this as I was turning around, and I just went ****"
[visualising a take-down from his position] "... Has Gary1 ever shown you anything...?" [here's a hint, free of charge]
[electing to follow his ego] "Oh yeah, he's shown me heaps, but I just don't think aikido is suitable for the street. Maybe for him, cause he's been doing it for ages, but not for me."
"... Ah."
1. Our resident 20+ year black-belt. Trained with the Royal British Navy in a martial art that's now illegal. Trained with gurkas. Now a blackbelt in aikido, helping me with mine. The boy in question knows this. He's asked me about my training before.
Next time, I may just take him dancing.