05/16 [rank 6; low security]

[not_thedragon]

[Rank 6: sent to Gai only with a regular seal and a Konoha filter in case anyone wanted to hack at it.]

Gai-san,

I would like to request advice from you, if you are available.

- Uchiha Sasuke

Comments

[Same Security Level]

[morningpeacock]

Sasuke! Of course!

I am always available for helping!

What can I do for you?

- Gai-sensei

[not_thedragon]

I've been requested to take on my cousin's genin team. At least one of them could use training with taijutsu, especially speed.

I would be grateful for recommendations on methods.

- Uchiha Sasuke

[morningpeacock]

it is a noble task and a privilege to teach young ninja! I wish you luck! And I am honored to be asked for consult!

As for speed, my suggestion to you is a combination of weights and repetition. Correct repetition will build familiarity with the movement until it becomes a motion far less hindered by conscious thought. But practice only makes perfect it they practice perfecting the techniques. Doing a kick 100 times poorly and sloppily does not help and likely will instill bad habits/bad muscle memory that will be harder to break. Practice correct technique and speed will follow!

Weights will help build muscle and make the movement even easier and unrestrained. In my case, I tend to focus more on moving around the field fast, so I wear legweights. If they need to focus on swings and punches, as per the style of Sarutobi Asuma, or if they have a handheld weapon, it may behoove them to try their reps with dumbbells or wrist weights as well. Build the right muscles for the task!

Depending on their other training habits, exercises in building stamina may also be advisable. The ninja who is fast even late in the battle can often beat a stronger opponent and most battles are not quick sprints.

I hope these prove useful, Sasuke, and if you have more questions, I am always willing to help where I can! If I think of anything to add I will get back to you!

- Gai-sensei

[not_thedragon]

Thank you, Gai-San. I will keep this in mind as I work on intensifying their training regimens.

When it comes to weights, the genin whose strength I am most concerned with improving is very small and seems unlikely to get much taller. If her focus will be on learning to use her size to her advantage, what are your suggestions?

- Uchiha Sasuke

[morningpeacock]

Start her on small weights and build up. Even Lee was small once and one may be small but mighty! Even if she will not grow further in terms of height, she can still benefit from strength training.

Practice dodging techniques (rolls, ducks, footwork, etc) and speed designed to avoid attacks. Smaller person = smaller target, which she can therefore use to her advantage. Practice attacking while continually moving as well to further utilize her speed--this is where stamina is key. Reinforce her knowledge of weak-points. I will assume she is not a Hyuuga, but you might want to review her knowledge of the pressure and chakra points as well as the location of vital/debilitating points on the body. Teach her to make her hits count because a smaller predator has to often weaken their prey, not simply knock it down in one hit.

Educate her on the advantages and disadvantages of her height: Depending on where she falls against an average-height person, she may have her head easily within striking position. Teach her how to protect that. I do not know who she is or what her height is, but pair her up with other ninja for spars. Observe firsthand what they instinctively do to combat a person of her height. Then use that to teach her to defend herself.

Alternately, she may be within perfect height to cut upwards at them, either into their chin or into their gut, or something else that her position uniquely affords her. Help her figure out what works.

It is not so much height as reach that will be her issue. Her limbs will be shorter than her opponent's and if you have ever had someone taller and stronger hold you back--as I am sure you can attest to as a younger sibling, Sasuke--you know that swinging your arms is futile if you are not in range to hit anything.

Show her how to find openings and how to escape when they use the range they are naturally gifted. Perhaps give her a weapon to extend her reach (something with length: a sword, nunchucks, a quarterstaff, etc) or give her more ranged options, so that she can pull back and recover: shuriken and kunai throwing will suffice if her aim is good enough. Those will also be useful if her opponent is armed with a weapon. Teach her how to take hits, because she will have to sacrifice her safety to gain an opening, so she has to know how to protect herself while doing so and to not be afraid to get hurt. Learning nunchucks is another good lesson in that: the weapon itself is designed to hit you, even while using it properly.

Kicks are her friend, punches are not. She will want to take her opponent off his feet--sweep the legs, etc. Most ninja fight standing and are at a disadvantage when not on their feet, so knock them over either by skill or strength. She will have to be comfortable being close if she is a taijutsu fighter, possibly grappling with her opponent. Hand-to-hand combat is very personal. Your body is your weapon. Taijutsu is not for the shy or timid. Make her comfortable with her body and with that of others.

Teach her to hit hard, fast, and aim those hits well.

Best of luck, Sasuke! Let me know how it is going and if you have any more questions. My door is always open!

- Gai-sensei

[not_thedragon]

That is very thorough. Thank you.

I will contact you again if more questions arise during her training.

- Uchiha Sasuke

[A small gift basket will arrive via enormous hawk a few days later, containing a tin of expensive tea and a proper thank-you note.]