Nanikashira kojitsuketewa
lya na koto sakete ikiteta
Naiyou nante naiyone
Dono michi no tatsujin mo
Ichinichi ja naritatte nai
Sono risouzou mune ni daki
Muda guchi kikazu
Wakime mo furazu
Demo nakidashi soude nagedashitaku natte
Yowai jibun ni makesou naraba
Sonna jibun torikago ni ire
Tani e tsukiotose
Soshite kitto dare yori shinjite kureteru
yatsura no tame shinnen no tame
Tsuyoku nareru
Tsuranukya iisa
The karate fighter, who has earned himself the nickname
of the 100th dan in street fighting- Shio Sakaki. [dan means rank and degree.]
And then there's Apachai Hopachai- the grim reaper of secret Muay Thai boxing.
And Kensei Ma- a master of all kinds of Chinese martial arts.
And Akisame Koetsuji- the warrior philosopher.
And Shigure Kosaka, who summons great skill in handling swords and weapons.
And then there's me, the elder of the house.
This is a place where masters in the practice of martial arts gather.
Masters, who have little fondness for the trends that have turned
martial arts into sports.
People do not regard this place as a dojo, but rather...
They call it Ryozanpaku.
"Ryozanpaku"
I wasn't told about this!
Well, I think I'll go and make some tea!
Miu-san, please don't leave me here alone with them!
That Miu pushed this kid on us and then just took off.
It's a child-like response of running away after trying to help a butterfly
escape a spider's web, but having seen it backfire with terrible consequences.
That's a nice analogy.
So? What are we going to do with this butterfly, my friends?
Well, I suppose we should just ask him.
You have come prepared for this, have you not?
Let me ask you again, Kenichi Shirahama-kun.
Are you here to join us? Here at the Ryozanpaku?
If I can become stronger!
Then fill out your name and address on this form here.
Yes!
Well, you need to pay 20,000 yen [$200] as a monthly tuition fee.
What? That's expensive!
We'll take 10,000 yen then. [$100]
Everyone! I've brought some tea!
Here you go, Kenichi-san!
Uh, thanks.
- Here you go. - Thank you.
We'll take 5,000 yen, then. [$50]
That's a quarter of what he asked just a minute ago.
Hey, Kensei. That's awfully vulgar.
Oh, come on, Akisame-kun.
The fact is that this here Ryozanpaku is experiencing some financial hardship.
Oh, is that right?
Thank you!
Well, we've managed so far thanks to Miu's clever bookkeeping.
What? She's still only in high school,
but Miu-san does all the household finances?
That's not all.
There's the laundry and cleaning and cooking as well.
- It's hard to imagine how Ryozanpaku would carry on without her.
- Here you go! Here you go! - It's hard to imagine how Ryozanpaku would carry on without her.
Hey! Bring me sake!
Hurry up!
Oh, my!
But we don't have any money left to afford that!
Then there's only one way!
Apachai, go pawn Miu!
Hurry up!
Apa!
Oh, no!
That's wrong! I must come here everyday and protect Miu-san!
So, what is it that you want to learn, Kenichi-san?
Huh?
Well, it'd be great
if I could learn karate since I have a particular fondness for it...
I said that I don't take on disciples!
I think... it would be best if Akisame taught him.
Hey, come on. Are you talking about me?
I see.
Akisame does have some familiarity with teaching.
Besides, anyone else...
...might end up killing him.
Oh, Miu-san!
Don't worry. Akisame is a pretty straight up fellow.
R-Really?
Well, relatively speaking, anyway.
Are you an absolute beginner in the martial arts?
Uh, yes. If I don't get stronger soon,
I'm going to be killed by a senior.
Killed?
I see. So that's how it is.
I can understand.
After all, I was bullied and pushed around a lot when I was a kid.
Huh?
Jujutsu is very effective in protecting your body.
Don't worry. I'm not a very strict teacher.
Uh, yes!
"Endurance"
Se-Sensei!
"Endurance" "Courage" "Effort" I said, sensei!
It feels like my fingers are going to rip off!
Many have said that, but I've never seen it happen.
Sensei! D-Didn't you say that you weren't strict?
Hmm?
I'm not strict. Not at all.
Don't tell me that this is what he calls "easy level"!
Owww!
Now, let's give ourselves a break and...
How about we go to Soramigaoka Park?
Wait a minute. Soramigaoka? That's like three train stops away.
Are you telling me to haul this as I walk all that distance?
No!
You'll run!
You're slow! Even a turtle could catch up to you! Faster!
You're evil!
A snail could run circles around you! Faster!
See you later!
Well, today was the first day,
so I intended a simple body workout, but...
Starting tomorrow, we will engage in real training.
So make sure you sleep well tonight and get all the rest you can.
See you in the morning.
He calls this training?
No bullying I ever got was as bad as this.
I'm going to quit!
I'm going to qu-
Kenichi-san.
I know this is really tough on you,
but I hope you give it your best tomorrow as well.
I guess I could give it another shot.
It's a bit clumsy, but I made this for you.
Good luck!
- H-He made a cane just for me!
- Keep at it! - H-He made a cane just for me!
He's a real nice guy.
Maybe I should've picked Muay Thai boxing instead.
"Ryozanpaku" Your head's too high!
Bring your hips down lower!
I want you to walk between the posts quickly by shuffling your feet forward.
Th-This is really difficult!
K-Koetsuji-sensei!
it's only been muscle training all day yesterday and today.
When are you going to start teaching me jujutsu?
Whatever you may think, we've got to work on your strength first.
No matter how good your skills and techniques may be,
an ant can't beat an elephant, right?
So am I like an ant?
Maybe I was a bit rude to compare you with an ant.
Aww! You're making fun of me now! I wanna quit! I wanna quit!
Kenichi-kun, an ant possesses the strength to carry things
that are several times its own weight.
Maybe you should learn from an ant.
It is a fact that I don't have much strength...
So, what should I do next?
Well, how about we take a little break?
- Okay, the break's over! - That was too fast!
I think it was a good idea to have Koetsuji-kun train him.
He's giving good guidance.
Lucky him. He's got a disciple.
So, anyway...
You will now be training in Muay Thai.
I look forward to it!
M-My body!!
Hmm... Maybe I ought to teach him a few things as well.
My body's not designed to contort like that!
You're lucky.
Even a king wouldn't be able to get taught by
so many masters at the same time.
I'm going to be killed!
- I'm going to be so late now...
- Hey, Daimonji. - I'm going to be so late now...
Are you really going to do it?
If you're not careful,
you might actually end up killing that spineless jelly.
What are you talking about, guys?
Having a weakling like him in the club
sullies the reputation of the Koryo High Karate Club.
I'll beat the crap out of that bastard Shirahama
and make sure that he's never able to set foot in the karate club ever again!
That's a good plan.
Come to think of it, he hasn't showed his face lately.
Maybe he's run away in fear!
I see. So that's what's going on.
"Kirigakure Park"
Oh, I somehow managed to make it through the day alive...
Kenichi-san!
Miu-san.
I figured you'd be passing by here around now.
What? Are you going to teach me some techniques or something?
Yes. Well, it's more about how to walk.
Huh?
We refer to it as "stepping methods." First, I want you to have a good look.
Sure.
This is called "kouho" when we bring the toes together.
And "haiho" is when you pivot outwards.
Uh, right...
It might be quicker and easier if I have you try it.
Kenichi-san, I want you to try and attack me.
What? I can't do that!
There's no way that I, as a man, can ever raise a hand against a woman!
Ever!
He's awfully chivalrous in an odd way.
Then I want you to touch me.
Wh-Wh-Wh-What? T-T-T-Touch you?
Yes! I'm going to show you how you dodge it.
S-So, you're sure about this? I can touch you?
Yes.
I don't like the way he's moving his hands...
Here I come again!
Why, you!
What?
Like that!
The key is how you move your feet.
The right foot, which I stepped forward with,
becomes the back foot after using it to pivot my body.
In other words, like this.
You quickly use your footing to get around to the side of your opponent.
You intentionally leave your upper body in place until the last moment,
and by quickly pivoting away, you can avoid your opponent's attack.
Let's see...
I point the tip of my right foot towards the tip of my left foot, and...
Okay...
Maybe we should start by focusing on moving just that foot for now.
Right...
Point your toes into each other.
You fall over because you're not lowering your hips.
I can't do it.
I don't have the talent for it. It's impossible.
Have you been building your muscles?
Even if I do this, there's no way that I can beat Daimonji.
If that's what you've decided,
then maybe you ought to run away while you have the chance.
That's easy for you to say!
If I fight this guy, it's a sure bet that I'm going to get killed!
There's no such thing as a sure bet in fighting.
You don't know how you'll fare unless you try.
I know that for sure! It's so obvious!
I'm sure that you would be spooked if you saw his muscles...
You're right.
It's certain that you'll lose, the way that you are now.
I mean, the way you are right now...
I can tell that your spirit has already lost before you've even started the fight.
Now that I think about it, I've always been that way.
Oh, right. There's one thing I forgot to tell you.
Huh?
Meow.
At any rate Kenichi-san is much later than usual this morning.
I wonder if he doesn't plan to come to school today.
But that's okay.
One ought to steer his own life the way he pleases.
If he chooses to run away, he's free to do so.
- Hey, look! - Oh, how creepy. What's he doing?
Kouho, haiho... Kouho, haiho... Kouho...
Kenichi-san?
Oh, Miu-san. Good morning.
I've been walking like this all the way from home.
Even though I left an hour earlier than usual,
it looks like I'm still going to end up late.
Um, Miu-san.
At this rate, we're definitely going to be late,
so feel free to go ahead of me.
I'm going to come to school like this every day from now on.
What are you talking about? I'm your friend.
I'm going to stick with you all the way.
In this way, a week had passed before I knew it.
I have done everything that I could in the past week.
After the grueling training with blood and sweat,
I have managed to learn two techniques.
This and this. That's all! This and this. That's all!
Shirahama, what are you doing here?
Well, we agreed that we'd meet in a week, so...
What?
Don't tell me you think you have a chance of beating me! Eh?
I-I wouldn't know unless I tried.
Interesting...
If you want to die that much...
I will kill you.
All right. I'll be the referee.
Do it, Daimonji!
Finish him off in one move!
Begin!
There's no way in hell!
Out of bounds!
Wow! He blasted him!
This is great!
What do you want to do, kid? You wanna give up?
N-No! I'm not done yet!
Calm down. Just calm down, Kenichi!
Give it up already.
You're gonna die!
Begin!
What was it that Miu said?
The urge to avoid the attack will inadvertently put you
in a more dangerous position.
Before your opponent's striking action builds speed, you step forward.
You got that?
The most important thing to remember here is to step forward
at the most dangerous moment!
That's right!
Die!
Step forward!
What? H-He disappeared!
Huh?
Wh-When did you
Against the armor of my muscles,
punches and strikes from the likes of you have no effect!
What'll you do?
I'll continue.
"With Your Heart and Soul"
Begin!
"With Your Heart and Soul"
M-My attacks have no effect at all!
You idiot!
No matter how good you are at dodging,
it means nothing if your attacks don't work!
He's right about that!
What am I going to do?
You!
You sneaky little bastard...
I'm finished if he lands one on me!
That's amazing. Daimonji's hits are powerful but slow.
Yeah, if the kid keeps dodging him like that...
This kid must've been training.
Do I have to tell you again?
No matter how well you escape,
if you don't attack, you have no way of winning!
That's true!
But I've got to keep dodging him for as long as I can, otherwise...
This little bean sprout!
I'm not going to let him make a fool out of me!
Huh?
What's the matter? That's pretty shameful, Daimonji!
You're getting tired in the legs?
What was that feeling I just got?
It was like I deflected his force just a little.
Oh, right, There's something I forgot to tell you.
A good technique is something that you can use
defensively and offensively at the same time.
In other words...
Like this.
I get it!
I finally understand the other meaning of the "stepping method"!
Hey Daimonji, are you all right?
What color is your blood?
I knew I was beginning to realize it.
When I get back into a stance here,
I take one extra step forward and push with my body...
I draw the opponent in with my whole body as I return to a stance!
My stepping move turns into an offensive move!
Hey! Go and get a bucket of water!
Did you just see that?
Is this for real? That little junior beat him?
He went head first!
I can't believe it!
D-Did I win?
Th-That didn't count, right? That was a throwing move!
You're being pathetic!
The one who loses quits the karate club, right?
That was a man-to-man promise.
Th-That wasn't karate! That was some kind of trickery!
I... I... I don't want to quit the karate club!
H-He's right.
Throwing moves are prohibited in this club.
I'm afraid I lose because of an illegal move.
Thank you very much!
So I'm out of the club in the end...
Yo, Kenichi.
Look, I'm tired. Just leave me alone today.
So, how did the karate fight go today.
I lost.
Well, everyone does say that you lost
because you made an illegal move.
But they can't try to fool me.
I hate distorted information!
That may have been an illegal move.
But what happened today was a real fight.
So, no matter what anyone says, you won it, Kenichi!
Thanks! Huh?
You just called me Kenichi.
That must be the first time
you called me by my name instead of calling me "coward."
As a reward for your victory, let me give you a piece of information.
That guy who refereed today, Tsukuba-senpai,
was getting all fired up saying that he wanted
to test your skill or something.
Wh-What? What did you say?
That Tsukuba-senpai is one of the top fighters in the karate club.
On top of that he's also in tight with some group of thugs.
This time you'll be finished for sure.
Wh-What am I going to do?
Amefuri de kakurete mo
Taiyou wa soko ni aruhazu
Yume sae miushinatte ita boku ni
Yuuki kureta egao wasurenai
Kimi ga irukara shinji tsuzukeru
Hikari mune no oku kara afurete kuruyo
Michibata ni saku na mo naki hana no you ni
Moshimo tsumazuki taoreta toki wa
Kono ashi de tachiagarou
Oh, no! This time I'm definitely, definitely finished!
What's the matter, Kenichi-kun?
It's distasteful to be in such a panic!
I was challenged to a duel by a really strong senior from the karate club!
I'm going to be ripped to shreds!
Oh, a duel? Well, what a wonderful situation you've gotten yourself into.
What am I supposed to do?
That's easy! The only way is through training!
150 times around the neighborhood pulling tires! Let's go!
Th-That'll rip me to shreds before I even get into a fight!