Page 13 of Sucker Punch Drunk Love

“Come on, Medina, what is this?” in reference to her cutesy, cartoonish, pink and grey sports bra and shorts set.

“It was the only thing I had clean,” she blushed.

“And what is that smell? Smells like fucking Bath and Body Works in here,” I accused.

“I just used my sanitizer just in case no one cleaned anything after they used it,” she admitted.

“Medina, remember when I asked you to help me forget you’re not a girl?” pointing to her workout clothes. “This, is not helping.”

“I can’t wear neutral stuff for your benefit all the time. Unlessyou’regoing to pay for all that. And I don’t like that you have to pretend that I’m not a woman just to take training me seriously. I’m a woman. Who just happens to like Hello Kitty. That’s not going to make me take what you say any less seriously,” she challenged.

At this point, it wasn’t even about that I didn’t think she would take things seriously, forgetting she was a woman was more formybenefit. Prancing around in those short ass tight shorts and leave-nothing-to-the-imagination sports bra, not to mention, I had to be subjected to that she smelled better than most fighters that worked out here, was not good for me turning my attraction button off.

Fully dressed, she was just a pretty girl with doe eyes and locs. But now I had to be subjected to her sexy white painted toes, too? “I just don’t want you to distract anyone.”

“I’m not worried about distracting anyone. The only person I’m worried about is you, andyou’renot distracted,” she spoke too soon.

“Kid, you’re working my last nerve, you know that?” I laughed, sliding into a pair of focus mitts, as I didn’t plan to waste any more time than we already had. “We’re gonna work on some basic drills, and if we have time, work on your guards?—”

“Pad work? But that’s like the most basic stuff,” she argued.

“Which youneed, because it’s clear you never learned.”

“I just think our training could be used better than basic drills. I did win my last four fights, you know?”

“And youlostyour first four. Complexity only comes after you’ve mastered basics. Now fists up. Jab-jab-cross.” Followingmy commands, she took to the focus mitts, but without intention, like she was holding back.

“What is this? Barbie’s vintage gym set? Give me a real jab-jab-cross.” Bringing distance between us so she would fucking move her feet. She went through with the command, but I reached in and tapped her face.

“First rule, always protect yourself. Keep that fist up,” as she followed through. “Jab-cross-hook-cross,” a sense of pride rising that she was finally giving me more. “There she is! Jab-cross-left body kick?—”

“But you’re not wearing kick pads,” she interrupted.

“Did I ask a question or did I give a command?” This time instead of talking back, she performed the drill, only I reached in and caught her leg, showing her where she’d made her mistake. “I did that because your power lies there, but you’re slow to react. I wasn’t trying to embarrass you, just see what you would do if someone is smart enough to know that’s where your power is,” I admitted, taking off one of my mitts.

“Sit down,” I said, coaxing her to sit on the mat with me, as I explained what she did wrong. “Medina, I’m seeing you have a natural talent. But natural talent can only win so many fights. Judges see you try to get the cheap win. Basics, endurance, working through mental blocks can stand in the way of you and a title one day, so don’t ever think that what I’m doing, I’m doing because I don’t think you can handle more. It’s because youcanhandle more, but I want you to handle what you’re missing first, ¿Me copias?*?”

She nodded, and followed me back to go over basic drills. It was insane how I never noticed how amazing sweat looked, as much as it looked dripping down her brown skin. Even though I wasn’t turned off by muscle, I had arguably never pursued a woman with strength to her build, and I couldn’t for the life of me wonder why. Medina was built like a brickhouse. If she couldjust move her body in the cage as she clearly did in the gym, half the work would be done.

“Move around Medina, there’s always an entire cage you’re fighting in, don’t let someone corner you into it,” as this song and dance went for as long as she needed a water break.

Toweling herself off, I instantly missed the contrast of strength and sweat, but figured she could use one more drill to test her endurance before I dismissed her for the night.

“Let’s see you give me twenty tuck jumps.”

“What, like right now?” she faltered.

“No, two days from now—what do you think? Twenty jump tuck jumps.Now,” I called out as Sierra proceeded to jump in, bringing her knees to her chest, but by the first two, I demanded she stop.

“Gosh, what now?” she bemoaned.

“What do you meanwhat now? I’m trying to help your form so you don’t overload your ACL. Quit that knee in landing. Focus on keeping your knees in line with your toes. For both takeoff and landing?—”

“That's what I was doing,” she interrupted.

“If it were what you were doing, I wouldn’t have stopped you. Fix your alignment, and you'll have better control over your knee valgus.” Despite not having been clearer, she performed two more with a knee in landing, forcing off my mitts, as I stepped behind her to show what she was doing wrong.

“It seems like I'm riding your ass, but I'm trying toshowyou how to utilize power in your body correctly,” as I stepped my feet underneath her, spreading her feet hips width apart. “For women, the focus has to be different.”