And so, after that minor incident, Jason Luo gained yet another professional mentor.
But this only made his schedule even tighter.
Mornings were spent on technical drills at the training hall. Afternoons were dedicated to sparring with Kamman, and as soon as sparring wrapped up around 4 PM, he had to rush straight to Brown's estate. He barely had a moment to himself.
When strength training began, Jason Luo flatly refused to call Brown "Coach," addressing him only as "Sir." Brown didn't mind at all—he simply grinned and went along with it.
But what followed went something like this—
Jason Luo stood in a horse stance, legs spread, a 50-kilogram barbell across his shoulders. Brown, his face flushed red, spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Physical conditioning is divided into three parts: stamina and strength development, mastery of force and technique, and practical application—together forming a complete, efficient fighting style."
"Stamina and strength are the foundation. Let's start with strength. 'Force' is just a general term. Absolute strength, explosiveness, upper-body power, lower-body power, penetration, momentum... each relies on different muscle groups. I'll analyze, test, and train you step by step..."
This old man's ruthless!
While Brown rambled on, Jason Luo was squatting with a 50-kilogram barbell. His legs couldn't hold out, yet the lecture dragged on endlessly. Barely three minutes in, his thighs were trembling violently, sweat pouring down like rain.
"See? You've focused too much on your upper body, leaving your lower-body strength badly lacking. That's a common flaw among boxers. But in reality, lower-body strength is just as crucial in boxing..."
"Thud!"...
"Clang!"...
Jason Luo collapsed, the barbell crashing dangerously close to him. But Brown didn't even glance his way, carrying on as if nothing had happened.
"A strong lower body gives you balance. Power rises from the feet, gathers at the waist, combines with the core, and then drives into the upper body. When all three layers of force overlap and explode in a punch—that's the theoretically perfect heavy strike..."
Flat on the ground, Jason Luo gasped for breath. Seeing Brown still unmoved, he clenched his teeth in frustration. This old guy was definitely taking revenge on him!
But Jason Luo wasn't about to give in. It was only the first day—he couldn't let himself look weak in front of a coach. He pushed himself up, gritted his teeth, and forced another squat with the barbell...
Brown went right on, unfazed:
"...Strength is fascinating. It's born from muscle contraction and extension, but it's also shaped by mental state, willpower, and emotions. Its upper limits go far beyond what we normally imagine. You'll only start to understand once you break through your own limits..."
Two more minutes passed before Brown finally stopped. By then, Jason Luo was shaking uncontrollably.
"Alright, stop!"
The moment he heard it, Jason Luo collapsed again. His legs were completely numb, like wooden logs.
Brown crouched down and massaged his legs. "Kid, don't think I'm trying to make things hard for you. I just want you to see that a few hours here aren't nearly enough to unlock your body's potential. I can only give you the system and the methods—you'll need to keep at it on your own. It all comes down to self-discipline."
"I rarely force my students. If someone deep down doesn't want to be strong, pushing them to do things they hate won't lead to anything."
"Only when you truly hunger for strength will I help you get it."
Another test! Jason Luo felt sick. Couldn't he just speak plainly for once?
You can't tell me you're not messing with me. "Don't worry, Mr. Brown. I can handle worse than this."
"Is that so? Good!" Brown laughed brightly. "Now rest a bit. I'll check your muscle groups."
The old man then methodically squeezed and prodded every muscle on Jason Luo's body. Surprisingly, his technique wasn't bad at all—Jason Luo felt his whole body loosen up. With hands like that, Brown could easily earn a living elsewhere!
"Hmm... trapezius is weak. Latissimus dorsi needs work. Erector spinae needs correcting... lumbar muscles lack flexibility..." Brown muttered as he scribbled notes. His chubby body bent awkwardly as he wrote, leaving him a little winded. Holding up the paper, he said, "We'll fix these problems first before moving to the next stage. And we need to push your stamina—fast. The old devil said you're entering the Golden Gloves, so we have to speed up your preparation."
Finally catching his breath, Jason Luo got back on his feet. "Sir, can I ask something?"
"Oh? Go ahead."
"This feels strange. I don't feel like I'm training for boxing. I feel like a weightlifter. Are you turning me into a strongman?"
"That's a fair question. But you're mistaken. While both fall under strength, what boxers pursue is striking power, not pure strength. That said, if your base strength is too weak, your striking power will hit a ceiling."
"It's too early to explain more. Come on, let's start equipment training. You'll understand as you go." Brown led him into a room packed with machines—more than any professional gym.
Resistance bands, pulleys, weightlifting equipment, cardio machines, electronic muscle stimulators, dehydration devices... Jason Luo had never seen so much gear, and he didn't even know where to start.
Brown brought him to a lat pulldown machine. "We'll start with your lats. Two positions—standing pulldown or seated row. For the pulldown, sink your shoulders, keep your elbows in, and pull slowly. Form is key. Otherwise, you'll just bulk up your delts instead..."
"Start light. Ten minutes a set is enough for now. Slow pace, steady breathing. Let the muscles adapt..."
Jason Luo was surprised. Once real training began, Brown was focused and patient, explaining everything with care. He came across as far more approachable. Each detailed explanation steadily changed how Jason Luo understood strength.
Time flew by. Before the session ended, Brown handed him a sheet. "This is a recommended diet plan for training. Give it to your agent. Make sure your meals are balanced. Keep working on stamina at home, but don't sacrifice rest. You don't need me to explain why, right?"
"Got it, sir. See you tomorrow."
By the end of the session, Jason Luo's impression of Brown had shifted. Maybe this coach wasn't so bad after all!