The Way of Restraint

Chapter 131: The Art of Air Throwing and Deception

“Zhou Chun has always regarded that incident as a disgrace,” Song Qiong said. “I’m afraid he will challenge you again, so you should be prepared.”

“You seem to know me quite well,” Su Jie said, somewhat surprised. “This is my first time meeting you.”

“Uncle Su and my grandfather are old friends. Occasionally, my grandfather mentions this incident, and since I pay attention to the fighting scene, I watched the video of you defeating Zhou Chun and even analyzed it with my master. My master said you are a once-in-a-century talent. Given time, you will surely achieve greatness, but you are still not polished. You haven’t yet mastered the principle of ‘using the opponent’s force against them, feigning to attack when they defend, and exploiting their weaknesses.ʼ” It turned out that Song Qiong understood some principles of martial arts.

“Your master is the new Judo god, Omo Hoshikawa from Japan?” Su Jie recalled that Song Qiong had managed to lift such a heavy box earlier, indicating she had considerable strength, and he had heard her mention Omo Hoshikawa.

This person was a genuine Japanese who admired Chinese culture and named himself Hoshikawa. In his youth, he was a Judo expert and later joined the Shaolin Boxing Alliance. He frequently traveled to Shaolin to seek roots, learn martial arts, and find masters, bringing knowledge back to Japan for further study.

The Shaolin Boxing Alliance was a community organization founded by a monk in Japan. Later, Omo Hoshikawa seemed to have grasped some profound truths of martial arts and joined a Judo organization, where he reproduced the legendary technique of the Judo god, Mifune Kyuzo, known as the “Air Throw,” and was hailed as the new generation Judo god.

Su Jie studied martial arts and had knowledge of both domestic and international practices, including ring fighting, expert training, competition videos, and the achievements and records of famous fighters and martial artists from around the world. He had also meticulously studied their signature techniques and moves. This was a vast field of knowledge, and Su Jie had not yet mastered it, merely scratching the surface.

The so-called “Air Throw” is a technique where two wrestlers do not physically contact each other during the throwing process, causing one to fall. At first glance, this seems to defy the laws of physics, akin to a scam. However, there are instances in daily life where this occurs. When someone attacks me fiercely, thinking they will hit me, I can dodge at the critical moment, causing them to lose balance and fall.

This is actually a high-level skill that manipulates the opponent’s force and plays with their psychology. Of course, this requires the practitioner to have exceptional agility and accuracy; otherwise, they would be hit.

Thus, this technique was only mastered by Mifune Kyuzo, a disciple of Judo’s founder, Kano Jigoro. Mifune weighed only 48 kg and stood at 1.48 meters tall, yet he could throw a 200-pound, 1.8-meter tall man using Judo techniques. This truly exemplified the principle of using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.

His signature technique was the “Air Throw,” where he caused his opponent to fall without making contact. Unfortunately, after his death, no one could replicate it.

However, Omo Hoshikawa managed to demonstrate this technique again. “It is said that your master realized the Air Throw when he discovered the similarities between Judo and Tai Chi techniques, so he went to H Province to learn Tai Chi. During a meal in the cafeteria, his companions jokingly pulled his chair away, causing him to fall to the ground. Instead of being upset, he laughed heartily and finally understood the Air Throw, returning to competitions with great success. Is this true?” Su Jie recalled watching an interview with Omo Hoshikawa.

“That’s true,” Song Qiong replied. “My master told me that everyone has a ‘root’ that supports their actions and balance. The highest realm of martial arts is to see the opponent’s ‘root’ and destroy it. This ‘root’ appears as the center of gravity to ordinary people, but to my master, it also includes inner stability.”

“The balance nerves deep in the brain can create illusions under the influence of deception. Just like a drunk person, even without anyone confronting him, he will sway and fall,” Su Jie said. “I didn’t expect you to understand so much.”

“Are you interested in trying some Judo?” Song Qiong asked. “No punches or kicks allowed.”

“Sure,” Su Jie nodded. Various martial arts have rules, and within certain rules, each has its strengths.

Su Jie often heard discussions about how, in a no-holds-barred situation, certain martial arts are the most powerful, which is self-deception. In a no-rules scenario, one could use guns, even bombs, or weaponized drones.

Even in street fights, there is a distinction between armed and unarmed combat. Weapons are divided into cold and hot weapons.

Song Qiong swiped her card to enter the Judo dojo, where the Judo coach was training some students.

“Junior sister, you’re back from Japan? How was your visit with the master?” The Judo coach was a young man in his late twenties, not particularly muscular, but his bones seemed as strong as steel, visible through his skin. He wore a pristine white Judo uniform, and his hands bore clear signs of training, with calluses and cauliflower ears from repeated grappling.

“This is my senior brother, Mu Qiang. He has been practicing Judo for fifteen years and has competed many times. He is now retired and teaching here,” Song Qiong introduced. “This is Su Jie, a coach from Grand Ascent Dojo and my friend. He is the one who defeated Zhou Chun.”

“Grand Ascent Dojo? Su Jie?” Mu Qiang’s eyes lit up. “I’ve seen the video of you defeating Zhou Chun. At that time, he was overwhelmed by anger and not calm enough. If he had used throwing techniques while trembling, the outcome would have been very different.”

“I haven’t practiced ground techniques much; I mainly focus on standing techniques,” Su Jie nodded. In reality, he knew that in a sudden street fight, ground techniques are not very useful, as one could easily bump their head while rolling around.

In the ring, they are practical, as the environment is simple, and the ground is soft, suitable for rolling and locking techniques.

“Let’s give it a try,” Song Qiong said, changing into a white Judo uniform and standing face to face with Su Jie. “Senior brother, you be the referee. By the way, the master is taking a group to Minglun Martial Arts Academy for an exchange in three months. I heard that Haoyu is hosting a large-scale international martial arts exchange competition.”

“Let’s use throwing techniques and not striking techniques,” Su Jie asked.

“Of course, I can’t compete with you in striking techniques,” Song Qiong nodded.

In Judo, “striking techniques” refer to using fists, elbows, knees, and legs to strike the opponent, similar to free fighting. “Throwing techniques” are purely wrestling, bringing the opponent to the ground to subdue them.

In international competitions, even in the Olympics, Judo primarily consists of throwing techniques, akin to the pushing hands in Tai Chi.

“I’ll be the referee,” Mu Qiang said. “Begin.”

As the signal sounded, Song Qiong assumed a Judo stance and advanced aggressively.

Hey!

Suddenly, she made her move, directly grabbing Su Jie’s clothing, preparing for a “back throw.” This was somewhat similar to a “shoulder throw,” with a graceful and beautiful motion, often used in real combat. However, it requires significant grip strength, waist strength, and explosive force from the user. In fact, Judo practitioners generally possess better physical fitness than ordinary free fighters, with immense strength.

In Judo, technique is crucial, but physical fitness and strength, along with agility, or speed, are even more important.

Song Qiong weighed about 60 kg, standing at 1.75 meters tall, neither thin nor fat, but of a healthy build. She had considerable strength in her hands, and if she were an ordinary person, they would likely be thrown to the ground the moment she grabbed their clothing.

However, after Su Jie was caught, no matter how much Song Qiong pulled, he remained completely still, like a massive iron man.

Song Qiong initially failed to move him, but she quickly changed her tactics, tripping him, pulling, and throwing, using techniques like “knee throw,” “foot sweep,” and “hip throw” in succession. 

Yet Su Jie remained unmoved, no matter how she tried to disrupt his balance, sway him, or trip him.

To Song Qiong, it felt as if Su Jie had rooted himself deep into the earth; to shake him was akin to shaking the entire planet.

“A thousand-pound drop?” Mu Qiang observed as Song Qiong used all her techniques without being able to budge Su Jie, realizing that the gap between them was not on the same level, especially considering their weight difference.

Su Jie weighed 85 kg, and they were fifty pounds apart, which would be unacceptable in a competition.

“Junior sister, let me try,” Mu Qiang said. “I weigh about 90 kg. Our weights are similar.”

“Forget it, I really can’t move you. Is this the stance training in martial arts? I’ve heard that once Tai Chi is mastered, no matter how one pushes, they cannot be moved. No one can make them fall. My master also said that indeed, there are Tai Chi masters whose stances are so stable that even a bull cannot move them after their internal energy sinks.”

Song Qiong felt a bit frustrated. Initially, she had some doubts about Su Jie’s strength, but now it seemed to far exceed what was shown in the video.

“Senior brother, you go,” Song Qiong said, sitting aside to catch her breath.

At this moment, Mu Qiang stepped onto the mat.

He faced Su Jie.

Suddenly, he swayed left and right like a bear that had just woken up, then charged at Su Jie, targeting his center line. His fingers were like eagle claws, not only grabbing his clothing but also penetrating the grip into the bones beneath the skin.

An ordinary person would likely bruise or even feel pain to the bone from such a grip, immediately losing their strength.

Even Su Jie felt the opponent’s grip like an iron hoop, especially as it caught the critical nerve in his wrist.

Hey!

Mu Qiang let out a loud roar, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, shaking the dojo, startling many students.

He swayed and charged, closing in, grabbing, pulling, and with each action, there was a roar, a throw, a slam!

This was strikingly similar to Su Jie’s “hoe and shovel” technique.

A series of actions resembled predatory tactics of animals, fierce and ruthless, embodying the brutal spirit of nature’s competition.

Even a master, once caught and roared at, would likely soften and be at the mercy of the capture and throw.

“This Judo technique is quite formidable,” Su Jie felt his body shake as he pressed down hard, like an eagle catching a rabbit, surprisingly matching Mu Qiang in strength.

Bang!

Mu Qiang felt as if he was facing not a person, but a several-ton elephant. Not only was his strength no match, but he couldn’t even apply his techniques effectively.

When strength exceeds a certain level, technique becomes useless.

In that moment, his master’s words echoed in his mind, and then his body was thrown to the ground.