Self-defense lessons

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by 9X9

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“It just doesn’t fit.” A coyote was sitting on a bench in the locker-room. He was trying to adjust a protective cup inside his jockstrap, but something didn’t feel right. “There.” When he was sure the plastic piece was ready; he stood up to find out it still felt uncomfortable. At that point he started to question himself if rather than the placing of the cup, the uneasy sensation had more to do with the fact he wasn’t used to wear a jockstrap.

He wasn’t the kind of guy who plays sports. Looking at his frame was enough to notice he was the kind of guy who prefers to spend time indoors. He was a bronze-eyed 16 years old coyote. His fur was predominantly warm in color; a lighter grayer tone covered the lower half of his maw, extending from the jaw to the inner thighs. Some brown-yellow tint covered areas like the back of his ears and the tip of his tail. He was relatively tall for his age. Sadly, his height and slender complexion failed to harmonize, making him look skinnier than he really was.

In the end, he resolved to not wear any kind of hard-plastic gear so close to his privates if he didn’t know how to use it properly.

“Hey, Ethan. Your girl says the class is about to start,” a familiar voice called the coyote from behind the door. It was Thomas, a friend of Ethan’s.

“Isabella is not my girl!” Normally, the coyote wouldn’t mind the golden retriever’s teasing, but he was late, and his protective gear wasn’t cooperating. Ethan took the cup out of his jockstrap, and hastily shoved it in his backpack. In less than five minutes, he put on the rest of his protective gear and got out of the changing room. He was so hurried, he ignored whatever smart comment the dog had to say about his outfit and ran to the basketball court.

Two minutes later, he was before the court’s entrance. Still panting from the run, he put his ear against the door and tried to hear if Isabella already started the class. The chatting and giggling he heard coming from the other side of the door told him that his arrival wouldn’t cause any interruption.

The coyote placed his hand on the door lever, inhaled deeply, and opened the door. As soon as he stepped inside, Ethan met with a dozen girls and a couple of boys looking at him. They were sitting at the center of the court forming a half-circle around Isabella, who was standing with her back to him.

She was a 17 years old timber wolf of average height. Her light-blue tank-top let show her well-toned arms. Her gray fur adopted a lighter shade at elbows level, creating the illusion of white gloves. Looking down, Ethan couldn’t help but notice her round ass. Her perfect rear managed to stand-out, despite her baggy workout pants.

“Ethan?” Isabella’s call took the coyote out of his distraction. Looking back up, he met with the girl’s light-hazel eyes.

“Yes?” He hoped she didn’t notice his indiscreet glancing.

“Good thing you've arrived. Come here,” she beckoned.

The young coyote approached timidly. He felt nervous with so many girls looking at him as he silently walked towards the group at the center of the basketball court. He didn’t really want to be the ‘attacker’ for a self-defense class, but he was bad at saying no. Specially if it was a favor for Isabella Meyer. From few months to date, Ethan developed a kind of crush for her. But he couldn’t recognize why, maybe it was her friendly personality, her melodious voice, her charming eyes. He couldn’t tell. All the coyote knew was that there was something about her that made him not want to disappoint her.

On the other hand, when he paid attention to the gymnastics mat lying next to Isabella, the coyote remembered that his role as an ‘attacker’ would be closer to a ‘punching bag’ for the students taking the class. And he didn’t want to let his prejudices to guide him, but self-defense classes are strongly associated with groin attacks. He wanted to run-off, but he was already in the class with his protective gear on, so he could only walk forward.

As soon as Ethan got close enough, the wolf placed her right hand on his shoulder. “Alright. Now that everyone’s here, we can start with the class.”

Ethan stood firmly before the group of students sitting around Isabella and him, trying to not look intimidated by the small crowd.

“But, just to be clear, our helper Ethan, is new in his role, so the practice will be quite limited today. Be nice to him, Okay?” All the students nodded as the instructor talked. “First of all, we should proceed with the theory.” Continued the wolf before pointing the coyote to sit with the rest of the students.

Ethan put down his backpack and sat next to the other two guys in the class. He had some difficulties getting used to sit with the redman suit on, but it wasn’t long before he found a comfortable position.

“First of all, don’t try to use any complicated move. In a moment of crisis, you’ll most likely forget any martial art you practice as a sport.” The wolf continued explaining how the best route of action in the case of an attack is to avoid direct confrontations. “The best you can do is keeping yourself away from your attacker, especially if said attacker is armed with cold steel. For example, using an open umbrella to create distance before running away. Also, in the case of getting mugged whatever you keep in your wallet is not a precious as your life. Just throw it behind the attacker and run in the opposite direction.”

The coyote took note of everything Isabella told to the group of students, all her advices sounded too unfamiliar to him. He didn’t expect to be so oblivious about self-defense lessons. The wolf continued with some more examples on how to keep distance from an attacker and the class watchfully took note of her

“Now then, let’s move with direct confrontation.” This last sentence from the female lupine made the coyote jolt in his seat. He just started to feel relaxed and he was the center of attention again. Ethan followed Isabella’s beckoning and stood next to her.

“There’s the chance you don’t get to escape, and your only option is to fight back. In those cases, remember: Eyes, throat, solar plexus, groin and shins.” As the instructor talked to the group, she pointed at the respective spots she was naming on her helper’s body. The male lupine couldn’t help but shiver a little when the girl pointed at his crotch. In fact, he noticed the two guys at the left of the group, a cheetah and a hare, feeling uncomfortable when Isabella named that body part. The was also some giggling among the girls, but he wasn’t sure if it was because Isabella named the groin. It most likely was, but he preferred to not jump to that conclusion.

The wolf took her assistant’s hand and guided him to the mat. “Well, if you’re cornered you must fight with your all. Punch, scratch, scream; do anything you need to both, become a hard to get victim, and draw as much attention as you can to your condition. An attacker will most likely flee if he feels it’s not worth it to insist, or if he can’t escape scot-free.”

Ethan grew tense as Isabella continued with her explanation.

“During this class, we’ll focus on fighting back. It might not look like it, but getting mentally prepared to defend oneself can turn difficult in some cases. So, rather than practicing moves, I want you to fight without hesitating.” The wolf turned towards her helper. “Now, I want you to place your hand on my shoulder and push me.”

The coyote obeyed and placed his right hand on the girl’s slim but toned shoulder. As soon as he pushed her, Isabella moved his arm aside and held him by the strap of his suit’s chest protector. For a split second, the coyote pictured the female crushing his testicles against his pelvis with her knee. “Wait!” shouted the helper, surprising the instructor and the class.

Isabella looked at him confused, “What’s the matter?”

“I… Um.” The coyote was doing his best to not look so frightened to the wolf. “This might sound stupid, but I… I forgot to put my cup on.”

Some more chuckles could be heard from the students around them, this time the guys joining the girls that giggled few minutes ago.

“Well…” The wolf tried to hide her own smile. “We won’t be practicing the rough stuff today. So, you should be fine with just the suit.”

“Oh, I see,” Said Ethan awkwardly.

“Now, if you feel more comfortable that way, you can wear it,” Added the girl, noticing her friend’s uneasiness.

“No, it’s fine.” The coyote preferred to not keep interrupting the practice even if he wouldn’t feel completely safe without that protection.

After getting back in position, both lupines started the exercise again. Ethan grabbed Isabella by the shoulder and pushed her. She responded grabbing his forearm with her right hand and pushing it aside. Then, she grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him with a loud “No.” Ethan took one step back and paused, concluding the demonstration.

“Alrght, who wants to go next?” asked the instructor to a class that suddenly didn’t feel like laughing. “Come on. Don’t be shy,” continued the wolf to the silent group of students. “Don’t make me pick one of you myself.”

Some seconds passed before one of the girls raised her hand. She was a chestnut mare of average build. Though, she was notoriously taller than average, intimidatingly taller from Ethan’s perspective. The fact it was all simulated didn’t calm his nervousness regarding he was about to provoke her. The girl stepped into the mat and with a calm voice said, “when you’re ready.”

The coyote stepped forward and grabbed the mare by the left shoulder. He had some difficulties pushing her since the equine opposed a certain resistance from the start, but he made her take one step back. She quickly responded by grabbing him by the straps at his shoulders and pushing back with a firm “no.”

Contrary to what he imagined, the girl didn’t use too much force and managed to push him just two steps back. It was clear the mare has some sort of experience with pushing people. Ethan wondered what kind of sport she practiced. The mare looked at the wolf and asked, “like this is fine?” Isabella nodded at her and let her go back to take seat.

Once the mare sat, Isabella picked another student to get up and do the exercise. Eventually, all the other students passed to the mat and did it. And, besides some of them having to repeat it until they could push the ‘attacker’ without doubts, everything turned fine.

“During tomorrow’s class we’ll see on detail how to escape a hold and how to attack the regions we discussed today.” Isabella said goodbye to the class. “Also, tomorrow’s attacker will be Mr. Brownn, so remember to bring pencil and paper if necessary.”

After the last student left, Isabella picked up the gymnastics mat and Ethan took off the redman suit, they took the tools and gear to the equipment room. Then, the wolf locked the basketball court’s door, and both students walked outside the gym area.

“Thanks a lot, Ethan! I owe you,” said Isabella patting Ethan’s shoulder. Both lupines walked down the school grounds, passing next to the soccer court on their way to the bus stop.

“It’s fine, really.” The coyote responded timidly. He wouldn’t say it was fun, but at least he got the chance to spend time with his crush.

“Okay, but there’s no need to push yourself so much. You looked pretty nervous back there,” giggled Isabella.

Ethan’s whole body tensed when he heard she noticed. He didn’t aim to turn into her knight in shining armor, but at least he hoped she got a better impression of him. “Well… I was expecting the job of test-dummy to be… harsher.” Ethan tried to sound funny.

“Good thing it was easier than-” Ethan cut himself when he saw a soccer ball approaching at high speed towards him. The coyote threw his backpack to the side and tried to deflect the spherical projectile, sadly he only managed to change its course to make it crash against his gonads. As the ball bounced away, the coyote felt weak. His sight blurred in a mixture of vertigo and wateriness. His knees shut close before he collapsed on his side. His ears pulled against the back of his head at the same time his tail curved up between his legs. The throbbing ache forced him to almost instinctively curl in fetal position and cup his groin.

Isabella turned to the players at the soccer court angrily. “Hey, asshats! Watch your aim!”

Ethan certainly didn’t pursue to turn into Isabella’s hero, but the coyote didn’t expect to turn into the guy in distress either. As the girl confronted the guys at the soccer court, only one thought crossed the coyote’s mind. “Don’t cry. Whatever you do, don’t cry.”

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