Chapter 1, Xu Jingming
If there is a break of three to five days, various aspects such as bones, muscles, and others will decline
Injuries are the greatest fear encountered in the career of every martial arts master. For Xu Jingming, the injury of a "broken leg" is nothing short of a nightmare
... ...
"When the humidity is high, my leg starts to hurt. " Xu Jingming looked at his right leg and gently rubbed it with his hand, "I have never stopped my rehabilitation exercises every day, but my right leg... it just won't get better."
How could one be like oneself, wandering through martial arts competitions, only to retire with a body full of injuries
The young man walked to the center of the room, placed his hands on the ground, and slowly and steadily performed a handstand. First, he executed a standard handstand with both hands, then he retracted one hand, transitioning into a one-handed handstand on his right hand
Xu Jingming had poor health during his childhood, and his father taught him martial arts to strengthen his body, among which was the "one-arm handstand stance." Due to long-term practice, the results were quite good, and it became one of the five major stances he practiced daily. He trained in the winter during the coldest days and in the summer during the hottest days, and he has been practicing for twenty years now. Even when he is sick or injured, he persists, and he will not stop without a significant reason. As the saying goes, "If you practice boxing without practicing the fundamentals, you will end up with nothing in old age." This so-called fundamentals refer to the daily basic skills.
"Indeed, it is the Starry Sky Fighting Arena, the premier fighting venue in Binhai City, well-equipped with weapons." The eleven members of the provincial training team all use long spears, which is why they are participating in Xu Jingming's training.
"Perhaps they will never engage in actual combat with us," the young boy murmured. They had seen many of the older generation of coaches providing guidance and instruction, but those who could actually step onto the field and engage in real practice were few and far between.
Xu Jingming
"Don't worry, Big Bear, I have already made a reservation at a barbecue restaurant," Xu Jingming said with a smile to his childhood friend, "It's raining quite heavily, so be careful on your way."
On July 2, 2081, at 13:50, in the most prosperous city of the Summer Nation, 'Binhai City', dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled, signaling the imminent arrival of a heavy rainstorm
The first time I saw Xu Jingming in reality, he looked quite ordinary, lacking the intimidating presence he had in the videos said a tall man as he tested the long gun
"Summer thunderstorms come unexpectedly." In a room on the top floor of the Starry Sky Fighting Arena, a young man is gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling window at the dark clouds and lightning outside, as the sound of raindrops begins to patter against the glass.
Training for the provincial training team in Jiangnan Province will last for ten days, with a fee of 50,000 Blue Star Coins. In reality, this amount is barely enough to cover the venue costs. However, for the martial arts gym, being able to provide training for the provincial team serves as advertising and can attract more martial arts enthusiasts to become members of the gym
See you later Xu Jingming waved his hand, and the image in mid-air dissipated
They are all very aware that a height of 1.78 meters and a weight of over 80 kilograms may seem slightly overweight for an ordinary person. However, for a professional martial artist, with dense bones and a high muscle ratio, it appears somewhat underweight.
The weapon room of the Starry Sky Combat Hall spans an impressive 500 square meters, housing an astonishing array of cold weapons including swords, guns, staffs, shields, axes, hammers, and chain flails. These are all equipment used for martial arts competitions. For instance, the swords and sabers are not only unsharpened but also covered with a layer of cushioning material, significantly enhancing safety. As for the long spears, there are hundreds of them, with their shafts displaying data such as length, head diameter, and weight, all neatly arranged in a row against the wall.
Perhaps Xu Jingming's strength has significantly diminished after retirement, but his past achievements still command the admiration and respect of these team members, who naturally are very obedient.
As the electric bus came to a stop and the doors opened, more than ten members of the Jiangnan Provincial Training Team disembarked in succession
I feel like I've lost quite a bit of weight compared to the video," another youthful boy remarked
Some professional players, after retiring, abandon training, leading to physical deterioration and a significant decline in their abilities
Gun Demon Xu Jingming
If my right leg were not injured, I should have a chance to challenge for the world number one position, Xu Jingming said quietly
"Yes, Brother Xu," the young staff member replied
Light gathered in front of Xu Jingming, coalescing into a two-meter-high image. In the image, a burly man was sitting in a car, laughing and calling out: "Old Xu, we have already set off from the hotel. We estimate we will arrive at your Starry Sky Fighting Gym in about 20 minutes. Haha, it has been over a year since we last met, we must have a good drink tonight"
The third floor of the Starry Sky Fighting Arena features a martial arts platform that meets the specifications for international martial arts competitions. The platform measures 20 meters in length and 20 meters in width, surrounded by a six-meter high wire mesh.
"How could it be possible to capsize? I actually hope you do capsize; if you do, it means our provincial team has produced another genius." The chubby man laughed heartily, "Alright, no more idle chatter, we will see each other later."
Arena Combat
"Big Bear." Xu Jingming immediately spotted the first person to get off the car, a burly and stout man, who was his good brother Liu Chongyuan
Now, the younger generation is increasingly impressive; I would be fortunate if I do not capsize myself said Xu Jingming with a smile
He has lost weight. A robust man nodded and said, I have seen him compete live several times before he retired. According to the publicly available information from the Martial Arts Alliance, he is 1.78 meters tall and weighed 93 kilograms. He has lost quite a bit of weight now, and I estimate he weighs at most 85 kilograms
Xu Jingming smiled and said, "Achen, take them to choose their weapons."
"Professional players retire, but they still need to earn money." Xu Jingming got up and went to take a shower and change clothes
In terms of marksmanship, Xu Jingming is recognized as one of the top ten martial arts masters in history.
"Even if our strength has declined, our experience remains." The tall man beside me said with a smile, "Your guidance is still sufficient for us."
I saw a real person! The provincial team members were somewhat excited, and as industry insiders, they naturally admired this senior figure
The sound of breathing echoed in his ears, and Xu Jingming felt the core muscle groups of his body tighten, as well as the weight of his entire body pressing against his right arm.
After finishing the one-arm handstand practice, Xu Jingming walked over to the desk and sat down, took a few sips of water, and looked at the heavy rain outside the window
As the members of the provincial training team entered the third level, they saw Coach Liu and Xu Jingming standing there
After finishing up recently, Xu Jingming thought about returning home for a visit
Xu Jingming has the courage to engage in actual combat These team members could hardly hide their joy Since Xu Jingming dares to do this it signifies that he still retains most of his peak strength after retirement
In the first three minutes, the arms felt very comfortable, as the tendons, bones, and muscles were deeply stimulated. However, by the fourth minute, the muscles in the palms began to cramp and felt somewhat torturous. The fifth minute was even more painful, but Xu Jingming was already accustomed to it. He persevered through the five minutes and naturally switched to a one-handed handstand with his left hand.
Xu Jingming stood at the entrance of the Starry Sky Fighting Arena, accompanied by several staff members. In the distance, he spotted an electric bus approaching through the curtain of rain.
... ...
The profession of a combat athlete may sound glamorous, but in reality, they only earn some appearance fees at their peak. There are very few in the world whose career earnings exceed 100 million; most professional athletes barely make ends meet.
It is uncertain how much strength remains
Xu Jingming looked at these team members, as if he saw his younger self from years ago
The one-handed handstand is not a training method taught by the national team, but rather one that my father taught me when I was a child
Breathe in---breathe out
Shall we give it a try in the next match? The players looked at each other, both surprised and delighted
Liu Chongyuan, standing at 2.03 meters tall and weighing over 180 kilograms, resembles a large bear standing upright. In his prime, he was also a professional martial arts expert, wielding a shield in one hand and an axe in the other. At the peak of his career, he ranked as high as 39th in the World Martial Arts Alliance points ranking, which allowed him to secure his position within the provincial sports bureau
"Old Xu." Liu Chongyuan walked over excitedly and embraced Xu Jingming, slapping Xu Jingming's back with loud thuds. Xu Jingming grimaced, but could only consider it a massage.
I still want to see how much of a gap there is between myself and the competitors of the World Martial Arts Championship. Who would have thought that his weight has decreased, and I wonder how much of his strength remains. The burly man felt somewhat unwilling; he had also been selected for the national training team last year, with the goal of competing in the highest event in the martial arts world—the World Martial Arts Championship. Initially, he had high hopes for Xu Jingming, who had made it to the World Martial Arts Championship twice, but now he felt somewhat disappointed.
The provincial team members are engaged in discussion
"Yes." All eleven team members responded in unison
Xu Jingming raised his head and said, "Xiao Bai, answer the video call"
"Very well, since this is our first meeting, let us have a match to test our skills. Allow me to see your capabilities," Xu Jingming said, "so that I may tailor my instruction accordingly."
I wonder if Dad's back is feeling any better today. While doing a one-handed handstand, Xu Jingming's thoughts drifted to his father. This year, his father is sixty years old, and his back injury has been a chronic issue. Yesterday, he heard from his mother over the phone that his father's back injury flared up again while he was lifting heavy objects
Starting today, I will be your coach. The training will last a total of ten days. Except for today's training, which is in the afternoon, from tomorrow onwards, the sessions will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. " Xu Jingming's gaze swept over them, " I do not wish for anyone to be late or leave early.
... ...
How much strength does Xu Jingming still have after losing weight? Does he still possess the domineering power of the 'Gun Demon' from back in the day?
The team members were discussing
"Rest assured, rest assured," the burly fat man continued, "the boys from the provincial training team all admire you and want to witness your marksmanship. Later, you must give them some proper guidance so they can understand the gap between themselves and the world's top experts"
The data for the long gun competition is clear, and the eleven team members quickly selected their commonly used weapons
Weight loss will certainly lead to a decrease in strength
"Big Bear, let's go to the third floor to wait for them first." Xu Jingming and Liu Chongyuan, this pair of good brothers, happily went to the third floor.
This is Coach Xu," Liu Chongyuan said with a grin, "the Coach Xu you have been longing for day and night
"Form a line." Xu Jingming said with familiarity, as he was once a member of the Jiangnan Provincial Team and later selected as a key player for the national team
The eleven team members each held a long gun, lined up in a neat and orderly manner
As for earning money after retirement, it becomes even more difficult. Although Xu Jingming is also a world-class martial arts expert, he only reached the top eight in the World Martial Arts Championship. The income in the fighting world is pyramid-shaped, with only a very small number at the top! ... The income of the top-ranked is extraordinarily high, while that of the second, third, and fourth ... will decline sharply.
Young and full of vitality
Beep beep beep ... ... Suddenly, a sound emerged