Speed& Grip
The following afternoon, the rhythmic crack of wooden swords filled the dojo. Students paired off, trading blows under Koushirou's watchful gaze.
Zoro was in the middle of his match, his movements sharper than yesterday. His posture was better — legs steady, steps firm. But every swing of his bokken was fierce, heavy, and… reckless.
CRACK!
The sound was sharper than the others. Zoro blinked down at the splintered wood in his hands. The tip of his bokken lay on the floor a few steps away.
Some of the younger students giggled. One whispered, "That's what happens when you swing like a wild boar." Said a student who was once a victim of Zoro's aggressive offense
Before Zoro could bark back, Koushirou's voice cut through the room.
"Enough."
He walked over, knelt, and picked up the broken piece of wood. His expression was unreadable, but his tone held quiet disappointment. "Zoro… do you know what this means?"
Zoro straightened, gripping the jagged bokken handle. "It means I hit too hard."
Koushirou shook his head slowly. "No. It means you have disrespected your sword."
Zoro frowned. "It's just wood. It's not like I broke a real blade."
"That is the kind of thinking that gets swordsmen killed," Koushirou replied, voice calm but carrying the weight of a reprimand. He held the broken piece out in front of Zoro's face.
"A sword, whether steel or wood, is an extension of yourself. When it breaks from your carelessness, it is as if you have broken. To treat a sword as disposable is shameful — to a swordsman, to your teacher, and to yourself."
The dojo was silent. Even the giggling students kept their eyes down.
Koushirou stood, holding his own bokken lightly in one hand. "This brings us to the second principle of Swordsmanship: Grip and Control."
He stepped into a ready stance, the wooden sword held with both hands. "Your grip changes the nature of every strike. Too tight, and you sacrifice speed and fluidity. Too loose, and your blade will be knocked away or shatter like yours just did. You need to bring out the power out of each blade without overdoing becauseif you do it breaks ."
He demonstrated, loosening his hold until the bokken almost floated in his palms, then tightening just as he struck, delivering a precise blow that made the air whistle. "A light but firm grip for speed. A strong, deliberate grip for heavy strikes. You must learn to change between them as easily as breathing."
Zoro watched closely, his jaw set.
"Control," Koushirou continued, "is knowing where your blade will land before you swing. It is not enough to hit hard — you must know what you are hitting, and why. A swordsman without control is just a thug with steel in his hands."
He tossed Zoro a fresh bokken. Zoro caught it without breaking eye contact.
"From this day forward," Koushirou said,
"you will never break another sword through carelessness. If you do, you will spend the day cleaning this dojo with your bare hands. Am I understood?"
Zoro tightened his grip, the wood creaking faintly. "Understood."
"Good." Koushirou's expression softened, just a little. "Now… show me you can hold a sword without breaking it."
Later that day
The students were running laps around the village with kyoshiro following closely behind them . It made for a beautiful scenery as the sun was setting in the background .
Most of the students were already struggling to keep up this was their 4th lap around the village and there were still 6 more remaining. Just as the other students were contemplating giving up .
They saw Zoro passing them and leaving them in the dust , not only that but while he was at it ,he was carrying another student on his back . He had said this was extra training, the training they were doing was to easy . This motivated the other students because not only was Zoro carrying another student but he had overlapped them for the 3rd time now
"Damn it , we cant be losing this badly !! We might not be as strong as him but that doesnt mean we are not strong " One of the students said
"Yeah x4" the other students agreed and they began picking up the pace pushing themselves to their limits as they attempt to catch up to Zoro . Seeing this take place Koushirou smiled.
Later that night
Zoro was practicing alone under the moonlight swinging his wooden blades against a wooden dummy and had a barbellin hid mouth . Sweat poured down his face but that did not obscure the determination that was in his eyes.
"I will be the greatest swordsman "