Combat Arts class on Thursdays was everyone's favorite.
Not because they enjoyed getting beaten up. But because Master Jiang had a habit of turning every lesson into a spectacle, and there was always someone who left the arena looking like they regretted every life choice that led them to this moment.
Today's lesson was joint combat techniques.
"Pair up," Master Jiang barked from the edge of the training arena. His one eye swept across the students like a searchlight. "I want to see coordinated strikes. Timing. Communication. If your partner gets hit because you weren't paying attention, you both run laps until I get bored of watching."
Students scrambled to find partners. The strong gravitated toward the strong. The weak tried to hide behind each other.
