Shi clapped his hands, the sound echoing through the night. "Resting is over."
Tai groaned, rubbing his eyes. "But it's still dark."
"Yes. Training time. Get up," Shi said firmly.
Sai stirred. "Master, what's today's training?"
"Meditation," Shi replied.
Both exclaimed, "What?"
"Focus, concentration, and resilience," Shi explained. "With breathing, your mind becomes clear and controlled."
Though doubtful, they sat cross-legged. The night was quiet, their thoughts restless.
"This is hard," Sai whispered.
"I can't stop thinking," Tai muttered.
Shi corrected them. "Meditation isn't emptying your mind. It's observing thoughts like clouds. Inhale, hold, exhale. Always return to your breath."
They followed, slowly finding rhythm. Calmness replaced struggle. As dawn came, Shi asked, "How do you feel?"
Sai admitted, "Hard at first, but I understand now."
Tai nodded. "I feel more focused."
Shi smiled. "Meditation is a tool for life. Now, physical training begins."
Snake Style
Shi turned to Tai. "You will learn Snake Style Kung Fu."
Tai smirked. "Easy."
"Not simple," Shi warned. "Snake Style is precise and internal. Watch the ocean—focus on one fish, strike." He caught a fish with a swift motion.
Sai tried, missing. Tai failed as well. Shi urged, "Meditate first." After centering, Sai caught one. Tai transformed, focused, and succeeded too.
"Good," Shi said. "Now let's study the style itself."
In a clearing, he showed the stance—low, flexible, fluid. "Feet apart, knees bent, body relaxed. Move like a snake gliding through grass." His steps were smooth, silent.
The brothers copied, clumsy at first. Shi adjusted their posture until their movements grew steadier.
Next, he showed strikes, fingers like fangs. "Aim for weak points—the eyes, throat, joints." They practiced, their speed and precision improving.
He introduced coiling and uncoiling. "Twist to evade, uncoil to strike fast. Power comes from your core." His body twisted and snapped with grace. Sai and Tai mimicked until movements flowed.
"Breathing is key," Shi said. "Inhale deep, exhale slow. Calmness in combat keeps your energy steady."
Weeks passed. Their stances grew solid, strikes sharp, breathing steady. They began moving like snakes, smooth and controlled.
The Philosophy
One evening by the fire, Shi spoke. "A snake wastes no energy. It waits and strikes at the perfect time. Be patient, observant, efficient."
Tai realized, "So it's a mindset too."
"Exactly," Shi said. "Watch, understand, then strike."
To test them, he led them into the forest. "Move silently, without disturbing the environment."
Tai slipped lightly through the brush. Sai, at first heavy-footed, focused on the forest sounds. His steps grew precise until he surpassed Tai, exiting first.
Shi nodded. "You have mastered Snake Style."
Muay Thai
Tai frowned. "But we're not done with Kung Fu."
"You've learned Snake Style," Shi replied. "Now you'll add Muay Thai."
Sai asked, "Why?"
"Snake Style sharpens the hands. Muay Thai adds kicks, elbows, and knees. Together, they make you formidable."
Shi explained, "Muay Thai is the 'Art of Eight Limbs.' It uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Clinch fighting turns your whole body into a weapon."
He told them its history. "Over 2,000 years ago, it began in Siam. In 1774, a prisoner named Nai Khanom Tom defeated nine Burmese fighters in a row, proving its strength."
Sai asked, "Why share this?"
"Because knowing its history deepens respect," Shi said.
Tai yawned. "Can we rest now?"
Shi chuckled. "Yes. Tomorrow, Muay Thai begins.