A peek inside Master Sitok's class.
"Right kick. Right punch. Double kick. Pivot. Double punch. Lunge. Leap and roll. Up, about face, and left back kick. Retreat two, three. One, two catch, hold, downward cross-blow. Totsu-k'hai."
In the perfect synchrony that comes with endless practice, Master Sitok's orensu, his students, performed his commands, each with smooth, swift grace and faces devoid of expression. To the untrained eye, the class seemed to move as one unit, devoid of flaws. To Master Sitok, however, perfection was only the beginning.
"Attack position one. Hold it."
He walked through the lines of students, examining the form of each one. Not one dared the slightest tremble or shift of the gaze. Every form but that of the grizzled old Vulcan was as still as a stone carving.
"Sirak, your elbow. Keep it up."
"Yes Master Sitok," a masculine voice from one side of the classroom responded. Master Sitok continued on, nodding at each student who met his approval.
He stopped at a young female and raised an eyebrow.
"Your left foot. Turn it out a quarter of an inch more."
The only response was the shift of her foot and a monotone "Yes, Master Sitok."
He continued his examination, passing rows of perfect stances and stone-faced youths. Coming to the end of his inspection, he strode up the center row and resumed his place at the head of the class.
"Relax."
Again, in perfect synchrony, the class dropped their tense postures and assumed a natural standing position. He nodded. They sat cross-legged on the floor.
"We will now take this time for a short meditation before Aru-yem so you have time to rest before eating. You have performed well. Tomorrow we will begin the advanced Ke-tarya agility training."
The class nodded in acknowledgement and slipped into their respective states of meditation. After the better part of an hour, they were dismissed for the afternoon meal. As they filed out the door, Master Sitok watched two teenagers approach each other as they always did after his class, and begin to talk. He knew them well. They both were skilled youths, and, he reminded himself, they both had minds of their own.
