A Martial Arts Lesson
As I enter, I bow. Other students are here, waiting for our lesson to begin. The instructors call us forward and the wait is over. The lesson has begun.
Warm-up. Stretch. Jog. Do jumping jacks. Do push ups.
Practice. Punch twice. Roundhouse kick. Spinning kick. Chamber for a block.
More practice. Get a partner. Kick simultaneously. No contact. Attack. Step back. Counter. Repeat. Add another attack. Roundhouse kick. Jump to the side. Roundhouse kick again.
Curriculum. Required to earn the next rank. Advance from second degree black to third degree black. Forms. Step forward and block. Turn and kick. Repeat on the other side. Maintain your stance. Self-defense. Break their hold. Take them down.
Board Breaking. Aim first. It hurts if you miss. Choose a technique-a palm hit. Add a spin or jump for style. Strike at the board. Don't hold back. Go to the next board. Repeat the process but kick this time.
Nunchucks. For black belts only. Useful in a fight, but only used for show. Learn trick to perform in tournaments. Spin the nunchucks. Toss them and catch them. Throw in a few kicks and punches for extra style.
Sparring. My favorite part. Put on your gear. Today it will be contact sparring. Face your opponent. Begin. Strike first. Catch them off guard. Dodge the counterstrike. Strike again. Miss. Block. Get close enough to punch. Avoid kicks to the head. Roundhouse kick. Spinning kick. Punch twice. Repeat until the round is over.
Dismissed. The lesson has ended.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Post #6: Flash Fiction-Fourth Attempt
Encounter With Riva
Riva, the fire dragon with gray and blue scales, rests in the forest. She is laying down, but still alert. Maybe she was just hunting but wanted to relax for a few minutes before returning to her cave. She looks in my direction. Another person would flee, but this is not my first encounter with Riva. I have seen her before and even earned her trust, which is not an easy thing to do. Riva is slow to trust others, especially humans. In fact, the only reason she would even speak to me initially is because I am only half human. My other half is one of Riva's kin. Yes, I am half dragon.
I approach her. The first time I saw Riva, my approach was slow, but now I walk to her as I would with an old friend. She watches me, somewhat suspicious, but this is Riva. She is still weary around me, despite claiming that I earned her trust, but she is weary around everyone. Once I asked her why and she said that when you trust someone too quickly, they can easily betray you. I guess she was talking from experience.
When I'm close enough, Riva gives me a silent greeting and I give a small wave. I sit near her and ask, "What are you doing in the forest?"
"Hunting," Riva answers, confirming my earlier thoughts, "And you?"
"Just going for a walk," I say.
Riva scoffs, "Why walk when you can fly?"
Of course, she is referring to the wings on my back. As I said before, I'm half dragon, which means I have some draconic abilities. One of those abilities is flight. My wings are large enough to carry me and Riva has seen me fly before. I even flew with her once.
"Because I enjoy walking," I say.
Riva only rolls her eyes, but she is a dragon, not a hybrid. She does not always understand things that bring me pleasure that a dragon might not enjoy. She does not see the point of walking long distances when flying is faster. She also does not see the point of entering the forest for anything that isn't a hunting expedition (unless someone promised her treasure of course). But now she is used to seeing me in the forest for no reason.
That is how we met actually. I had been walking in the forest like I was today when I saw a dragon with gray and blue scales and two gold necklaces around her neck. Based on how she moved, she had been hunting when I saw her. She quickly detected my scent and looked in my direction, somewhat surprised to see a hybrid.
I should have run, but I didn't. I stayed and convinced the dragon to talk to me. I learned that her name was Riva and that she was a fire dragon, but her scales were unusual colors for one (fire dragons are normally red or orange, not gray and blue). I also learned that hybrids were extremely rare, which explained why Riva seemed so surprised to see me.
After that, we met a few more times and usually had short conversations. I think Riva considers me a friend now, but it's hard to tell with her.
Riva, the fire dragon with gray and blue scales, rests in the forest. She is laying down, but still alert. Maybe she was just hunting but wanted to relax for a few minutes before returning to her cave. She looks in my direction. Another person would flee, but this is not my first encounter with Riva. I have seen her before and even earned her trust, which is not an easy thing to do. Riva is slow to trust others, especially humans. In fact, the only reason she would even speak to me initially is because I am only half human. My other half is one of Riva's kin. Yes, I am half dragon.
I approach her. The first time I saw Riva, my approach was slow, but now I walk to her as I would with an old friend. She watches me, somewhat suspicious, but this is Riva. She is still weary around me, despite claiming that I earned her trust, but she is weary around everyone. Once I asked her why and she said that when you trust someone too quickly, they can easily betray you. I guess she was talking from experience.
When I'm close enough, Riva gives me a silent greeting and I give a small wave. I sit near her and ask, "What are you doing in the forest?"
"Hunting," Riva answers, confirming my earlier thoughts, "And you?"
"Just going for a walk," I say.
Riva scoffs, "Why walk when you can fly?"
Of course, she is referring to the wings on my back. As I said before, I'm half dragon, which means I have some draconic abilities. One of those abilities is flight. My wings are large enough to carry me and Riva has seen me fly before. I even flew with her once.
"Because I enjoy walking," I say.
Riva only rolls her eyes, but she is a dragon, not a hybrid. She does not always understand things that bring me pleasure that a dragon might not enjoy. She does not see the point of walking long distances when flying is faster. She also does not see the point of entering the forest for anything that isn't a hunting expedition (unless someone promised her treasure of course). But now she is used to seeing me in the forest for no reason.
That is how we met actually. I had been walking in the forest like I was today when I saw a dragon with gray and blue scales and two gold necklaces around her neck. Based on how she moved, she had been hunting when I saw her. She quickly detected my scent and looked in my direction, somewhat surprised to see a hybrid.
I should have run, but I didn't. I stayed and convinced the dragon to talk to me. I learned that her name was Riva and that she was a fire dragon, but her scales were unusual colors for one (fire dragons are normally red or orange, not gray and blue). I also learned that hybrids were extremely rare, which explained why Riva seemed so surprised to see me.
After that, we met a few more times and usually had short conversations. I think Riva considers me a friend now, but it's hard to tell with her.
Post #5: Flash Fiction-Third Attempt
Why Should I Be Normal?
I have never been considered "normal," but to be normal, I would have to be fake. Why would I want that? Being abnormal is more fun and I can be myself.
Normal girls shop for shoes and skirts and purses. I browse those stores and try not to look too bored. Normal girls gossip about their friends' love lives and the "it" couple. I find gossip annoying so I tune it out to heavy metal from my ipod. Normal girls watch chick-flicks. I watch action movies with epic fight scenes. Normal girls style their hair and put on makeup. I braid my hair to get it out of the way and don't waste my time with something like makeup.
These are ways I'm abnormal in terms of stereotypes and expected behavior for girls, but there is one more that I forgot to mention: I can fight. I am martial artist. I can defend myself. I don't need "Prince Charming" to rescue me. I'll rescue myself. Few girls have the skills needed to fight and I love being one of those few.
My refusal to play a stereotypical role is not my only abnormal trait. I have creative and unusual thoughts that later turn into drawings or occasionally stories. I have created worlds where dragons and witches and vampires live among humans. And I populated these worlds with bizarre and often uncommon characters. Female werewolves, benevolent demons, human-animal hybrids, and more. These characters refuse to be normal, so why can't I?
If someone asked me to try being normal and I would act like they are crazy. To be normal, I would have to act like a stereotypical girl. I would have to stop doing martial arts and start to gossip and wear makeup. I would have to abandon the worlds I created and the characters who live in them. Doing so would make me feel superficial and would drive me to madness.
I could never be fake, not when I have more fun as myself. I will never know how other people can pretend to be someone they are not just to fit in. I would rather be an outcast than a fake, yet I found friends who love me for my abnormalities.
So why should I be normal?
I have never been considered "normal," but to be normal, I would have to be fake. Why would I want that? Being abnormal is more fun and I can be myself.
Normal girls shop for shoes and skirts and purses. I browse those stores and try not to look too bored. Normal girls gossip about their friends' love lives and the "it" couple. I find gossip annoying so I tune it out to heavy metal from my ipod. Normal girls watch chick-flicks. I watch action movies with epic fight scenes. Normal girls style their hair and put on makeup. I braid my hair to get it out of the way and don't waste my time with something like makeup.
These are ways I'm abnormal in terms of stereotypes and expected behavior for girls, but there is one more that I forgot to mention: I can fight. I am martial artist. I can defend myself. I don't need "Prince Charming" to rescue me. I'll rescue myself. Few girls have the skills needed to fight and I love being one of those few.
My refusal to play a stereotypical role is not my only abnormal trait. I have creative and unusual thoughts that later turn into drawings or occasionally stories. I have created worlds where dragons and witches and vampires live among humans. And I populated these worlds with bizarre and often uncommon characters. Female werewolves, benevolent demons, human-animal hybrids, and more. These characters refuse to be normal, so why can't I?
If someone asked me to try being normal and I would act like they are crazy. To be normal, I would have to act like a stereotypical girl. I would have to stop doing martial arts and start to gossip and wear makeup. I would have to abandon the worlds I created and the characters who live in them. Doing so would make me feel superficial and would drive me to madness.
I could never be fake, not when I have more fun as myself. I will never know how other people can pretend to be someone they are not just to fit in. I would rather be an outcast than a fake, yet I found friends who love me for my abnormalities.
So why should I be normal?
Monday, April 15, 2013
Post #4: Flash Fiction-Second Attempt
Growing Madness
As time progresses, I start to descend into madness. I try to fight off my insanity, but I can only resist for so long before it takes over.
My mental state becomes unstable. Are nightmares a sign of madness? This question and more run through my head as I slowly descend into madness.
Not all insanity is bad. Some of it gives me ideas. That type of insanity is my inspiration. Writers listen to voices in their heads and record what they say. Artists draw the people they see when no one else does. This type of insanity is called imagination. This is the type that I embrace...that I desire.
But insanity has a dark side and it does not come with cookies. Hearing voices. Hallucinations. Corruption. Multiple personalities. This is the kind of insanity I fear. I fear that i will lose my sanity because of these forms of madness. I fear that I will turn into someone so crazy that even the mental hospitals will not help me.
The things a person does with the dark side of madness takes over are the reason I fear it. Murders comitted without a just cause. Insane murderers try to justify it by blaming the voices they hear or their own twisted ideals.
As the Joker once said, "Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push." I cannot help but wonder what will push me to madness. What will it take to make me lose my sanity to both the good and bad kind of madness? I want to know, but at the same time, I fear the answer.
As time progresses, I start to descend into madness. I try to fight off my insanity, but I can only resist for so long before it takes over.
My mental state becomes unstable. Are nightmares a sign of madness? This question and more run through my head as I slowly descend into madness.
Not all insanity is bad. Some of it gives me ideas. That type of insanity is my inspiration. Writers listen to voices in their heads and record what they say. Artists draw the people they see when no one else does. This type of insanity is called imagination. This is the type that I embrace...that I desire.
But insanity has a dark side and it does not come with cookies. Hearing voices. Hallucinations. Corruption. Multiple personalities. This is the kind of insanity I fear. I fear that i will lose my sanity because of these forms of madness. I fear that I will turn into someone so crazy that even the mental hospitals will not help me.
The things a person does with the dark side of madness takes over are the reason I fear it. Murders comitted without a just cause. Insane murderers try to justify it by blaming the voices they hear or their own twisted ideals.
As the Joker once said, "Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push." I cannot help but wonder what will push me to madness. What will it take to make me lose my sanity to both the good and bad kind of madness? I want to know, but at the same time, I fear the answer.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Post #3: Flash Fiction Ideas
-Dragons/Fantasy
-Insanity
-A person surrrendering to their dark side
-A girl fighting stereotypes
-Secrets that you badly want to keep
-Nightmares involving your worst fear
-Depression/Emotional pain
-Standing up for what you believe in
-A fist fight that turns into a martial arts showdown
-Being robbed but fighting back
-Doing something that is considered abnormal or unaaceptable
-Guilty Pleasures
-A martial arts class
-A self-defense lesson that later benefits you
-Feeling betrayed by loved ones
-Being "fearless" or doing something that requires courage
-Insanity
-A person surrrendering to their dark side
-A girl fighting stereotypes
-Secrets that you badly want to keep
-Nightmares involving your worst fear
-Depression/Emotional pain
-Standing up for what you believe in
-A fist fight that turns into a martial arts showdown
-Being robbed but fighting back
-Doing something that is considered abnormal or unaaceptable
-Guilty Pleasures
-A martial arts class
-A self-defense lesson that later benefits you
-Feeling betrayed by loved ones
-Being "fearless" or doing something that requires courage
Post #2: Flash Fiction-First Attempt
A Dragon's Revenge
Betrayal. Hurt. Pain. Anger.
That is what Riva felt as she flew towards the humans. She trusted them and they betrayed her. They claimed to be her allies and convinced Riva to show them her cave in the mountains, but all they wanted was her treasure. They robbed her while she was hunting and now she wanted revenge. After all, nobody can rob a dragon and expect to live, unless they killed the dragon of course. But Riva was very much alive.
The only warning the humans would recieve would be a savage roar and it would be quickly followed by a powerful blast of fire that would easily burn their camp. Riva could easily seek her revenge from the sky and choose to just burn down the camp wihtout landing, but that would not satisfy her. So she would land, but her fire cloak would be ignited. When she landed, the humans would not be able to touch her without being burned alive. Some of the humans might have bows, but Riva's scales would provide her with protection against the arrows if her fire cloak did not. The humans would be killed by claws and by fire. If any of them tried to escape, Riva would take flight again and find them. None of these humans could be allowed to live.
After Riva carried out her revenge, she would reclaim her stolen treasure and return to the mountains. And she would be careful to never allow herself to trust humans again. They were not her allies, only her enemies. Humans have always been the enemies of dragons, but Riva was young and thought that these humans were different than the elders of her kind claimed.
She had thought coexistance between their species had been possible. After all, human Dragon Riders existed, though they were rare. If some humans were worthy to ride dragons and fight with them, why couldn't the two species live together?
So when the humans claimed that they wanted to be her allies, Riva made the mistake of completely lowering her guard. She assumed these humans were telling the truth even when humans are somewhat notorious for lying. But this had been Riva's first encounter with humans that did not occur on a battlefield or on a brief hunting expedition and Riva was still young by dragon standards. Had she been human, Riva would have been a teenager when she met these humans.
Young dragons are often the most naive of their kind. For Riva, that meant being too quick to trust humans who just wanted her gold. Despite her young age, Riva had an impressive hoard of treasure in her cave. She should have known that any human who claimed to be an ally just wanted her treasure. But she didn't know.
And what these humans did not know is that young dragons are also the most savage of their kind when they have been angered. An older dragon would still seek revenge, but it would not be as brutal as what Riva had planned for these humans who betrayed her.
She was a fool to think that humans could be trusted. And she would never make that mistake again. She would never be betrayed again. Not by humans.
---
Author's Notes: I wrote this about my dragon character Riva because I couldn't think of anything else to write about and I've already established that I love dragons. To me, this seems kind of short, but writer's block is bothering me.
Betrayal. Hurt. Pain. Anger.
That is what Riva felt as she flew towards the humans. She trusted them and they betrayed her. They claimed to be her allies and convinced Riva to show them her cave in the mountains, but all they wanted was her treasure. They robbed her while she was hunting and now she wanted revenge. After all, nobody can rob a dragon and expect to live, unless they killed the dragon of course. But Riva was very much alive.
The only warning the humans would recieve would be a savage roar and it would be quickly followed by a powerful blast of fire that would easily burn their camp. Riva could easily seek her revenge from the sky and choose to just burn down the camp wihtout landing, but that would not satisfy her. So she would land, but her fire cloak would be ignited. When she landed, the humans would not be able to touch her without being burned alive. Some of the humans might have bows, but Riva's scales would provide her with protection against the arrows if her fire cloak did not. The humans would be killed by claws and by fire. If any of them tried to escape, Riva would take flight again and find them. None of these humans could be allowed to live.
After Riva carried out her revenge, she would reclaim her stolen treasure and return to the mountains. And she would be careful to never allow herself to trust humans again. They were not her allies, only her enemies. Humans have always been the enemies of dragons, but Riva was young and thought that these humans were different than the elders of her kind claimed.
She had thought coexistance between their species had been possible. After all, human Dragon Riders existed, though they were rare. If some humans were worthy to ride dragons and fight with them, why couldn't the two species live together?
So when the humans claimed that they wanted to be her allies, Riva made the mistake of completely lowering her guard. She assumed these humans were telling the truth even when humans are somewhat notorious for lying. But this had been Riva's first encounter with humans that did not occur on a battlefield or on a brief hunting expedition and Riva was still young by dragon standards. Had she been human, Riva would have been a teenager when she met these humans.
Young dragons are often the most naive of their kind. For Riva, that meant being too quick to trust humans who just wanted her gold. Despite her young age, Riva had an impressive hoard of treasure in her cave. She should have known that any human who claimed to be an ally just wanted her treasure. But she didn't know.
And what these humans did not know is that young dragons are also the most savage of their kind when they have been angered. An older dragon would still seek revenge, but it would not be as brutal as what Riva had planned for these humans who betrayed her.
She was a fool to think that humans could be trusted. And she would never make that mistake again. She would never be betrayed again. Not by humans.
---
Author's Notes: I wrote this about my dragon character Riva because I couldn't think of anything else to write about and I've already established that I love dragons. To me, this seems kind of short, but writer's block is bothering me.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Post #1: The Welcome Entry
I titled my blog "Deviantart is Superior" because, in my opinion, deviantart is the superior website, but that does not mean my blog will be about just deviantart superiority. Of course, I will be attaching a link to my deviantart account as well as some of my artwork.
I will also be commenting on Batt M's blog about supposedly non-existant feathered dragons while pretending to be a female dragon named Riva (a character I created) who is trying to prove to him that feathered dragons do exist.
My deviantart username is dragongirl117 and I usually portray myself as a human-dragon hybrid or sometimes a dragon. Things you should know about me are that I am an artist (most of my art is done in anime style), I love dragons, I know Taekwondo, I hate stereotypes (especially ones about females), and I don't like stalkers, so if there is something you want to know about me that I do not reveal on this blog or my deviantart account, don't bother asking.
Most of my favorite books are fantasy or sci-fi novels including Eragon, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Ranger's Apprentice. I also love mangas including Vampire Knight, Fairy Tail, Bleach, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Eventually, I would like to write my own novel series or illustrate a graphic novel series. I already have plenty of ideas.
Deviantart Account: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/
My Persona: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/gallery/11757161#/art/Deviant-ID-9-353393604?q=gallery%3Adragongirl117%2F11757161&qo=5&_sid=23c509cc
Riva: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/gallery/#/art/Riva-364772148?q=gallery%3Adragongirl117%2F10485156&qo=1&_sid=284af81a
I will also be commenting on Batt M's blog about supposedly non-existant feathered dragons while pretending to be a female dragon named Riva (a character I created) who is trying to prove to him that feathered dragons do exist.
My deviantart username is dragongirl117 and I usually portray myself as a human-dragon hybrid or sometimes a dragon. Things you should know about me are that I am an artist (most of my art is done in anime style), I love dragons, I know Taekwondo, I hate stereotypes (especially ones about females), and I don't like stalkers, so if there is something you want to know about me that I do not reveal on this blog or my deviantart account, don't bother asking.
Most of my favorite books are fantasy or sci-fi novels including Eragon, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Ranger's Apprentice. I also love mangas including Vampire Knight, Fairy Tail, Bleach, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Eventually, I would like to write my own novel series or illustrate a graphic novel series. I already have plenty of ideas.
Deviantart Account: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/
My Persona: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/gallery/11757161#/art/Deviant-ID-9-353393604?q=gallery%3Adragongirl117%2F11757161&qo=5&_sid=23c509cc
Riva: http://dragongirl117.deviantart.com/gallery/#/art/Riva-364772148?q=gallery%3Adragongirl117%2F10485156&qo=1&_sid=284af81a
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