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"Add this kick!" I ordered loudly, de a sharp kick to a kneecap "Punch! Punch! Punch! Kick! And again! …"

I walked down the rows vertically, watching the After five full minutes, I already had six who I kneouldn’t have the sta with me

"Stop If I walked by you and touched your shoulder at any point in that exercise, please step out"

The six heavy-breathers left the group, all of them with heads held down

"You can leave or stay, but you lack the stamina necessary for the tea sessions later so I can remedy that" I didn’t mean to be harsh, but I didn’t have tih this It was onlythe pressure This was going to be harder than I thought, picking the best eight Sta point, but there was so much more

The six I had pulled out stood off to the side, none of thenored them and continued with my evaluation

"If you’re taller than the person in front of you, tap him on the shoulder andconfused

"Do it!" I said loudly

Feet shuffled and they moved to follow my instructions The taller kids would now be in front

I was happy to see that they didn’t question ood in that they kne to follow orders, but bad in that it didn’t help ht cause us trouble on our e had specifically said in his journal that troops who questioned orders all the tiht!" I waited for all of the "If you’re taller than the person in front of you, tap him on the shoulder and move forward!"

They moved faster this time Now all the tallest kids were on my left and close to the front Once ht where I wanted theain "One more time If you’re taller than the person in front of you, tap him on the shoulder and roup in size order, from tallest to sht corner

"Look around at the people on either side of you and behind you These people are closest to you in size You …" I pointed to the largest one of the group standing in the front, the farthest on my left, "… step out The rest of you, et ready to spar Do it now!"

They wereeach other a quick once-over and then nodding to indicate their partnership I had four tea confused He kept glancing at the tearoup of kids who’d already been asked to leave

I got his attention and motioned for hiet in one long line, one partner on one side of the clearing, the other partner on the other side Like this …"

I walked up tohi, his back to the group of rejected kids who had moved away until they were nearly in the trees They atching with rapt attention

I let hio and backed myself up until I was about twenty feet away, and then looked at the other teams "Spread out Line up with me and …" I looked at my partner "What’s your name?"

"Rob"

"Other partners, line up with Rob" In less than a ainst their teaoal in this exercise is to overwhel for any specialto demonstrate a possible scenario Please do what you need to in order to show me your skills I knoe don’t want anyone hurt, but if you hold back too e what you can do"

A couple of the girls looked at each other warily Others seee I could’ve probably just eliminate candidates based on that, but decided to hold off until I actually saw theested that people who love fighting too much were almost more trouble than they orth He said that rational, thinking warriors were the most valuable - the ones who didn’t rush to violence, but used it when necessary, and only in the amounts needed to neutralize the threat

I looked at ave me a half-smile "Do you have a cup for me to wear? I’ve heard about you"

That earned hihs and smile back from me "Sorry, dude Do what you can to protect yourself Pretend I’ to eat you for dinner"

That wiped the smile off his face

He dropped into a crouched stance that instantly had ood balance already, the way he held hiht back and forth between ht inches and sixty pounds, ure out what his plan was for attack He was the kind of fighter who didn’t broadcast ood for him but not so much for ed oal, since he’d been stupid enough to tella lot of ti e, I realized his plan I was going to be his football tackle du to be anywhere near wherehimself down to a point that could easily put him off balance

He hit me like a ton of bricks, buthis upper body bent over to grab hi the round-level

I twisted my body around and went doith him, but ended up on top instead of under him like he’d probably planned I laid across hi my superior position to slam him in the face a few ti around and ha a fist down into his crotch

I pushed hirabbing for his aching body parts I stood up and brushed ain

"Okay, so that’s what I’ for Who’s first?"