Technical Temple Technicality

Budoshi and Kurumi conversed a bit further, though it was mostly Budoshi barely able to contain his excitement— still, Kurumi was smiling all the while, happy to know someone so driven and passionate about the discipline of a warrior’s path. Most might find it a tad strange, even an oxymoron, but since Kurumi was quite old and wise, he knew that there was depth to many things. Plus, Budoshi treated Kurumi with kindness and respect. Now, Kurumi had no way of knowing, but Budoshi had seen many old masters of various fighting styles and currently was in regular contact with the elderly Saiyan Illuma— so the young man knew all about showing respect, nay, reverence for seniors that earned it.

Eventually their talking was interrupted by one of the temple’s security guards. Elder Kurumi raised a brow ever so slightly, but it was Budoshi that had been called out to. “Hm?” He looked over and saw what looked to be just another fella, but thats kind of what Androids were, people that were built in the image of organics. Now, Budoshi had nothing against Androids, per se, but he often found the people that created them dull and kind of annoying as he did with many that took technology way too seriously.

In any case, Budoshi could have sworn that he had seen this Android before, something about a tournament somewhere? Were they a participant? It just reminded Budoshi of a tournament that he had signed up for. He was admittedly more focused on his own schedule than others, but he would be a bit of a fool to not take the chance that presented itself. “Ah right—”

However, before Budoshi could say anything on the matter, elder Kurumi spoke up. “Oho, of course, of course, come on now. Young Budoshi just mentioned you actually.” Elder Kurumi discreetly gave Budoshi a sly wink. The wise monk could easily pick up on Budoshi’s intrigue in the face of opportunity to learn.

Well, that was far easier than expected. Kurumi still had a gentle smile all the while, Budoshi looked slightly confused by the actions of the security guard. If anything, he was slightly disappointed. Did they have no respect for the idea of, or ideals of this temple? Budoshi sighed, whatever, it wasn’t like he could expect everyone to understand the value of such things.

“Oho, pay it no mind. Say, would you perhaps be Patchwork? An old friend of mine told me about some of your performance in a tournament on Namek— they said you were rough around the edges, but that you had potential.” The elder monk eyed the Android curiously. “I think I understand what he means, but I would like to see something for myself as well. The fact that you came all the way here with the intent to learn is enough to intrigue me. If you’d like, I could teach the both of you some basics of the Orin Temple style.”

While the old monk spoke to the Android, Budoshi curiously raised a brow— Kurumi knew about the tournament Budoshi thought of, perhaps moreso than the young Tuffle— but the fact that this fellow participated in one, and was now interested in learning martial arts was enough to bring a bright smile to Budoshi’s face.

Maybe whoever made this particular Android was... Less of a dull and annoying mega-nerd since their creation was interested in something Budoshi saw as cool and awesome.

As such, Budoshi walked straight up to Patchwork and held out a fist for epic fistbumping purposes. “It just so happens I’m trying to do the same thing; incorporating various styles into my own to create something new!” Pending the fistbump, Budoshi would then turn to Kurumi and bow politely. “It would be a great honor to learn from you, sir!”

Kurumi gave a nod to both of his potential students. “Very good, very good. To begin, I would like to see how you interpret the following, and if you can match it. First, watch, then try it yourselves afterwards.” With a sway of his body, Kurumi fluidly entered a stance built on many years of experience and proceeded to give an example of some Orin Temple kata and techniques for Budoshi and Patchwork to follow along with after he was done.

Budoshi raised a brow curiously, noticing Patchwork had very visibly paused, almost staring at the Tuffle’s fist. It didn’t take all that long for something to happen though thankfully, and that was Patchwork going for what was essentially a handshake instead. It took all of Budoshi’s willpower to stifle a laugh, but he managed. What he couldn’t let slide was Patchwork apparently not knowing what a fistbump was. “Oh, that wasn’t a handshake.” Seriously, who programmed him and left that out? “It’s called a fistbump. You hold out your fist like how I did—” Budoshi demonstrated again. “— and you tap it against the other person’s fist. It isn’t super formal or anything, but a few people prefer it over a handshake.”

Watching Kurumi give an example, Budoshi’s excitement only rose. Although, as excited as he was, he had the discipline in him to first watch as instructed before doing anything. Soon enough it was Budoshi and Patchwork’s turns to follow the example. The Tuffle instinctively compensated for his naturally smaller size in comparison to the wizened monk, so it probably looked a little strange. While it wasn’t a perfect copy by any means, it was a worthy attempt and brought with it suitable fighting spirit!

Elder Kurumi examined the movements of the two intently, and easily took note of where both of them excelled in what they were doing as well as what each of them lacked. “Mm. I see. A fine start.” Kurumi nodded. “I would like to see the two of you repeat this kata with the following stipulations.” First, he looked to Patchwork. “For you, I would like you to forget what it looked like, and try to remember what it felt like.” Then, he looked to Budoshi. “For you, loosen your feel for it a little, you do not need to compensate for your size; simply try it as it is first.”

Effectively, each had what the other lacked.

“Yeah, and don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out soon. I can teach you all about it after the Elder tutors us.” Budoshi gave Patchwork a quick smile as his attention returned to Kurumi’s demonstration and advice.

Speaking of the monk, he was actually impressed with the things that both Budoshi and Patchwork could do— very few could adapt like the Tuffle, or learn like the Android, but those things alone wouldn’t be a suitable arsenal for those that wanted to pursue betterment through martial arts.

“Oh, okay.” Budoshi shrugged, he wasn’t all that fussed with the pointers that he was given, and the monk made a fantastic point. Besides, it would be easier to see where the fighting style could go on its own first before being integrated into something more. “I can do that.” He smiled, ready to begin again as soon as Kurumi gave the signal.

Patchwork on the other hand questioned the advice he was given, not that Budoshi or Kurumi blamed him, neither of them were upset since he was simply explaining his perspective. “I understand, Patchwork, you are indeed a machine. It is smart to know yourself.” Kurumi nodde sagely. “But as the youths of today put it; so what? So what if you are a machine? What you are should not dictate who you are.” Kurumi gestured to Budoshi in particular. “Budoshi here is a Tuffle. Tuffles are not known for doing what he chooses to do. I can see it in his mannerisms, his eyes, he is a fighter, a martial artist through and through. He is what he is, but he chose who he is.”

Budoshi, blinked a few times, caught off guard by such a supportive and honest statement. “W-well, of course! Everyone should be free to choose who they are!” He returned a big goofy grin. “So I agree with Elder Kurumi! Maybe you could... Hmm.” The Tuffle thought for a moment. “Can you make knowledge-base partitions? Maybe even use multiple at the same time or overlay them? That could simulate learning things how non-machines do if you wanna give it a try?”

Both Budoshi and Kurumi watched on as Patch considered their advice. The young man was curious and excited, the elder calmly awaited the chance to guide once more.

After a few seconds, it seemed as though Patch had actually managed something. The Android then began to move as before but with very noticeable key differences. The order wasn’t the same, steps were done on the wrong leg here and there. It was no longer a perfect mirror, no longer a stock sterilised copy of what he had been shown. It wasn’t right at all, but it flowed together all the same.

Patch was closer to what he desired than he probably thought. He was still a ways away from learning the fistbump though, and he bopped Budoshi on the head instead. Budoshi snickered, backing up a step before he corrected Patch’s gesture by reaching out his own fist to lightly bop the Android’s. “The fist bump works like this, silly!”

“But hey, I think you did quite well with that martial arts test!” Budoshi gave a thumbs up. “Keep trying things like that based on other styles you get to observe.” At some point Patch might not even need the training footage or data therein... Could a natural instinct be born from this? Budoshi had to know! “I wonder how far you’ll be able to go. Elder Kurumi, what do you think?”

The Monk stepped forward and recalled what Patch had done, choosing to try and follow along so as to understand each odd movement a bit more as well as the intent behind it all. After finishing, Kurumi couldn’t help but smile. “Very intriguing. Hm, hm! Now, Patch— could you tell me how you felt as you did that?”

While Patch had the time to think, Kurumi gave Budoshi a nod. “In the meantime, Budoshi, please perform the kata again, with my guidance in mind.” The Tuffle blinked a few times but then got right to it. “I almost forgot, I was focused on encouraging Patch.”

Unsurprisingly, Budoshi did as he was instructed prior, he repeated all of the steps without adding anything beyond the basics, he practiced it exactly as it is demonstrated earlier. It was clear via Budoshi’s expression that he was quickly understanding why he was given such a task; doing this would make building on it much easier.

It was unknown if elder Kurumi had met an Android like Patch, or indeed any any Android at all... Or if even the elder themselves was secretly an Android too— they never brought attention to anything that could allude to an answer for these questions. Simply put, they were just patient, yet direct with their tutelage.

In any case, Patch came around to a conclusion that allowed him to speak on what he was questioned with. Though a rough approximation of ‘feeling’ it may be, the monk found it satisfactory. It could be likened to the thrill of discovery, perhaps? “Hmm. Interesting. What value do you personally place on that which is ‘new’, young Patch?”

After finishing the steps simply as they were given elder Kurumi’s advice to not make any adjustments, Budoshi straightened out and raised a brow at Patch. Budoshi knew what Patch was talking about, it was what he did naturally prior. “Well... Yeah. That’s why I made adjustments before. That wasn’t the point of what the elder asked me— I went with that immediately without understanding it at its core. Now that I’ve tried it as intended, I can make better adjustments.”

Elder Kurumi gave a sagely nod to both of his current pupils. “It seems my advice has landed on it’s mark. Essentially, what I had truly asked was for the two of you to see things from the perspective of the other.” Elder Kurumi stepped forward, settling into a stance to perform the steps himself again. “Now watch this...”

First, he performed it as he knew it— years upon years of the basics in a state of high quality, then as rigidly as Patch did the first time, then with instinctual adjustments like Budoshi had done; it was almost as if he could mirror them himself! Finally, the elder repeated Patch’s ‘collage’ technique, then Budoshi’s fresh outlook on the kata. “As you can see, there are many ways to process and learn, and you can grow by employing various parts of many methods.”