Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana - ((BACKSIM)) Valuable Lessons
Rameses
((Azure Falls, Azure Horizon Beach & Spa, Lolagi IV))
Jenta moved towards them again, using probing strikes and measured attacks to try and overpower or overwhelm their defense. After a few moments of seeing them seem to struggle she stopped mid strike and called a pause for the two of them.
Solana: Knife work takes time. I’m going to assume based on how you’ve defended yourself that you’re not much for using weapons in melee. So, to that I would say try to hybridize what you know with what I’m teaching. ::she smiled and stepped closer to demonstrate:: Your open palm technique as you’ve shown can be good at redirecting the flow of an opponent. This can lead to opportunities to strike with your blade when it’s not needed for defense. Furthermore, you can switch hands.
She dropped one of her knives into the sand at their feet and proceeded to demonstrate for Taj’el what she meant. The lone dagger slowly made a few strikes in the air between them, then in a fluid motion at practice speed, she flipped the knife into the opposite hand. She reset her stance, then did the same motion but instead of using a flourish to swap the weapon to the other hand, she led with an open palm, the knife hand braced against the other wrist before she grabbed their arm, stepped into stab their side, pivot and slide the palm down their arm, then the blade’s hilt into that palm for some practice slashes at the previously grappled limb.
Even at a demonstration speed she was able to show multiple slashes in quick succession.
Solana: The best training is the one that incorporates what you already know and your body is comfortable with. But at the end of the day, when it comes to knives at least, they are just another extension of your body. No different than wearing shoes. Or EV suits. Now, in your case, I think I have a suggestion on gripping a knife.
Taj’el: That is logical. What grip would you recommend as the most effective starting point?
Jenta held on hand out, open palm and the other hand she gripped the knife reverse grip in the other hand but with said hand angled slightly.
Solana: Like so. This is versatile since you can either have the blade out in front of you, with your open palm behind it at the ready. Or vice versa, depending on the needs of the moment. This is the more defensive style, while still allowing the freedom to strike as needed. As you can block with your forearm or elbow and have the knife free to slice along an opponent’s arm or strike more vital areas. It also gives a foe a larger threat to defend against so you can use your open palm to slap, grapple or further defend yourself as required. Don’t forget, reach is king. Knives have little of it, so closing into your opponent’s space provides you with more options whilst limiting them depending on what weapon they’re employing.
She demonstrated a few and varied movements where she used the knife to hook at their limb, even going so far as to show how to potentially disarm a foe by doing so to Taj’el a few times.
Wren: ::getting to her feet, trying the new hold style, before looking at T’Fearne:: Wouldn’t it be easy for your opponent to make you cut yourself by…. ::holding the knife out and pushing against the blade until it pokes into her wrist:: Like that?
T’Fearne: Possibly. I believe it depends on your own strength and control of the blade. This is why I prefer longer range, blunt weapons.
Solana: Go ahead and try some of those on me. See if you can disarm me of my knife. For this I’ll only use the one.
Taj’el: Alright. I believe I can replicate that.
Jenta smiled at them and patiently went through the motions as Taj’el attempted to replicate the disarming move she’d demonstrated. The entire spectacle wasn’t overly swift, but the point was to get the movements down. And to their credit they nearly disarmed her a few times. Each time she was nearly disarmed she offered a nod of approval and words of encouragement.
Plenty of practice and repetition and she knew Taj’el would have the fundamentals down enough to be able to reliably replicate the move at faster speeds in time.
Wren: ::To T’Fearne:: Just a second, I’m still catching my breath.
T’Fearne: Take the time you need.
Taj’el: I believe I am beginning to understand the concept of extension. I am ready for you to vary the approach and assess whether I can adapt with some level of proficiency.
Solana: Very well. I will also use different grips since the way an opponent is holding their weapon can alter the outcome of the move. And requires some adjustment to properly do so safely.
Jenta repeated her attacks at Taj’el, but this time she alternated between using reverse grip to slash, overhead stabs and even a feint once. She noted measured improvement, to the point that Taj’el nearly managed a full disarm. Though, to her credit the failure was partly due to the fact that Jenta had actually let go of the knife and let it drop into her free hand to score a hit that way.
She glanced over towards her other students and was glad to see that T’Fearne and Delphina were getting along well with their practice.
Wren: Okay…. I’m ready when you are.
T’Fearne: Then let’s continue. I’m curious to see what other creative tactics you will throw at me.
Mid-motion she saw Taj’el step back and raise their arms to signal a stop to the training so Jenta immediately skidded to a stop and followed their gaze to see that T’Fearne was injured.
Several scenarios ran through her mind as to what could have happened, especially since it looked like a cut on their hand. None of the knives were sharp so something else was in play.
Taj’el: Are you alright?
Wren: T’Fearne's hurt! ::to T’Fearne:: I'm sorry, I completely forgot about that, are you alright??
Solana: Completely forgot about what?
Jenta moved over to the two women, and could tell the doctor was already assessing the severity of the wound. She looked T’Fearne over for a moment as well to see if there were any other wounds.
T’Fearne: Sorry Wren, I think I broke something in your pocket. ::watching a trickle of hot green blood down her hand:: I think I got my blood on your uniform.
That revelation drew her gaze to Wren’s pocket and the dark hue of the fabric from the blood soaked into it. She understood how bad wounds like that could be but they had a physician with them so she wasn’t overly worried.
T’Fearne: ::commanding voice:: Sit, ensign. ::Over her shoulder, to Taj’el and Solana:: Doctor, Senior Chief. We have an injury over here.
As T’Fearne lowered Wren to the sand she moved alongside them and offered a reassuring smile to the Ensign.
Taj’el: What happened? Ensign Wren, I am going to carefully roll up your shirt to assess the wound.
Wren: ::doing a horrible job of hiding her anxiety about turning into a starfish:: okay! T’Fearne, I'm so sorry, I forgot that was there.
Solana: It’s alright, Ensign. That’s on me for not making sure you all emptied your pockets before we started. ::to T’Fearne:: What happened?
Jenta stood beside Taj’el and waited. This was work for the doctor, so she kept out of their way.
T’Fearne: I hit her side with a hilt strike and something on the ensign’s person shattered. ::Showing her own green blooded hand with a clear shard sprouting from her knuckle:: What was in your pocket Delphina?
Taj’el: Officer Solana, can you retrieve my bag over there? I have a medical kit. You both will require treatment.
The moment she was asked to retrieve the bag she dug her heel into the sand, pivoted and dashed to the tables where their belongings were. She grabbed the requested bag and ran back to the others.
Wren: ::A little panicked:: The secretions of a Farifay starfish. I was collecting it because they’re supposed to have camouflaging abilities and I wanted to see what would happen if I put it in a vacuum. Actually, I was also planning to take it to Kel an-ow.
Solana: Here’s your bag, doc. ::to Wren:: It’s alright, Delphina. You didn’t do anything wrong and we can make sure to collect more samples for you, okay?
T’Fearne: It is fortunate that we have the Doctor here with us. ::To Taj’el:: I’m glad you decided to come with me today.
She nodded in agreement with that statement. While the doctor popped open their medkit and began treating Wren she crouched down in the sand beside the Ensign.
Taj’el: It isn’t deep, more superficial in nature. I am going to clean the wound and then use a dermal regenerator. Do you require any analgesic for pain management?
Wren: No, I don’t think so, I- ::well aware of how silly this sounds:: It’s not- I’ll be okay to transport, right? Because, you know, accidents happen, and I really don’t want to be the transporter incident of the month.
Solana: It’s alright, Delphina. I’m sure you’re fine and don’t worry about that. We tease each other because we care, but if anyone gives you grief let me know. They’ll have me to deal with. ::she winked::
Jenta watched as Taj’el treated Wren’s wound, patched her up and then moved on to make sure that T’Fearne’s wound was similarly tended to. When the doctor moved onto T’Fearne, Jenta reached down a hand to Wren and helped her back to her feet with a comforting smile.
It was safe to say that the training class was done for the day, so once she was sure the Ensign was alright she stepped away for a few moments to gather up the various discarded practice knives and stuffed them back into her own bag. Accident aside, it had been a productive class. And she was confident that the lessons learned today would help in the future. Whether it’s one of the various fundamentals, or just the lesson to check one's pockets before a fight.
It was a good day.
[End scene for Solana]
=========================================
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana
Security/Tactical CQC Specialist
As simmed by
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga