Post by Masao Akiyama on Mar 7, 2024 11:55:18 GMT
The sounds of steel plates and gym work echo into the black shot, no picture as a voice over starts to play that of Masao.
"Some are born with talent, and some aren't. That's true. But that said... Those with talent never make it through talent alone. You have to overcome. Find boundaries, and break them. The only way to grow is by overcoming challenges”
Masao was in the Gym, currently doing leg presses, Running the treadmill the sheen of sweat on his brow and focus on his face as he grunts the voice over continuing.
"Some reach their ceilings and go no further, never looking to push, I am in no space to Judge Roberto Verona an his actions, The man raised a valid if concerning point, why languish and just 'get by' Why sit on your laurels and collect regrets? Many questions I have to Ponder I am in a new country , with a language that I know well enough, but The way things move here is...so fast, yet so slow it is like the ice flow or the avalanche."
He keeps working, between box jumps, weighted sprints and sprawling to the Medicine balls that roll to him.
"This week I face the first of many challenges in a man who despite an unbearable weight of massive talent, seems content to crow as a rooster, never bucking, never swaying, A man who can do most everything and yet....seems to rise no higher."
We cut to Masao in a wrestling ring running the ropes at speed and then slowing down to look towards the camera with a wry smirk, more voice over as we fade out.
"El Grande Malo, A man of skill, determination and a win-loss record that does not reflect the spirit of the man I have heard so much about."
Fade back in to Masao in a Tracksuit, once again drinking water.
"I do not have the same presentation as some, The same grandeur I don't think I require such trappings, I think the measure of my skill should be enough, but this is a business of presentation, of charm and charisma, and Grande Malo has that in abundance, a beacon of geniality and this week it is my test my first foray into the world of the IWF and I know eyes will be watching, talks will be being had backstage, plots will be thickened."
He chuckles a bit and sighed
"It will not matter to me, I will be facing Malo to whom such plots also do not matter, this match, our match will be pure. Just two men seeking to prove who is better because that is he essence of competition, struggle and growth, so I feel I must begin and end with a warning Malo."
He nodded to himself thoughts brewing on a series of hidden thoughts an emotions looking into the camera with a hard gaze.
"I am not here to play games, I am here to work hard, I am her to show my worth, all I expect is the same in return, if I should get he fool instead of the talented man I know lies under the mask. Then what happens in that ring come Sacrifice will be entirely on you, with all the respect in the world I will not brook foolishness."
He leans onto his arms some more.
"I aim to win, I aim to show all those who watch my measure, you have skill but you burden is not that of talent, or skill
Your burden is that of persistence, drive you do enough for those to recognize you, enough to keep your name on people's lips but Malo you could do more if pushed but you refuse to be pushed or helped you prefer to languish as you are, El Grande Malo."
He chuckles.
"All that matters is you are the first of many tests, of the burden of competition and nothing is certain, Certainly not victory but I will do my best to obtain it, I will do my best to Put you down for the Three to make you tap, to give the IWF and the people who watch it a show they will not forget."
Another long careful sip of his water eyes tracing the room he's in , nodding some.
"Your burden Malo is to try and keep up with a man of singular vision, your burden is to match skill against skill, your burden is the hope of victory, and if all goes well, no matter what I give you the promise of respect, should you have earned it. But you haven;t earned it yet, just I have not earned yours it is forged like the steel in the forges of combat between the ropes we all call home, where the baying crowd cheers us on."
He slowly starts to rise hi large form taking up most of the shot in a forming silhouette.
"I Anticipate our meeting , I anticipate all the meetings in earnest Malo. Bring the fight and you will have my respect, bring anything else? Feel my fury."
The form chuckles before we slowly fade to black.
"Some are born with talent, and some aren't. That's true. But that said... Those with talent never make it through talent alone. You have to overcome. Find boundaries, and break them. The only way to grow is by overcoming challenges”
Masao was in the Gym, currently doing leg presses, Running the treadmill the sheen of sweat on his brow and focus on his face as he grunts the voice over continuing.
"Some reach their ceilings and go no further, never looking to push, I am in no space to Judge Roberto Verona an his actions, The man raised a valid if concerning point, why languish and just 'get by' Why sit on your laurels and collect regrets? Many questions I have to Ponder I am in a new country , with a language that I know well enough, but The way things move here is...so fast, yet so slow it is like the ice flow or the avalanche."
He keeps working, between box jumps, weighted sprints and sprawling to the Medicine balls that roll to him.
"This week I face the first of many challenges in a man who despite an unbearable weight of massive talent, seems content to crow as a rooster, never bucking, never swaying, A man who can do most everything and yet....seems to rise no higher."
We cut to Masao in a wrestling ring running the ropes at speed and then slowing down to look towards the camera with a wry smirk, more voice over as we fade out.
"El Grande Malo, A man of skill, determination and a win-loss record that does not reflect the spirit of the man I have heard so much about."
Fade back in to Masao in a Tracksuit, once again drinking water.
"I do not have the same presentation as some, The same grandeur I don't think I require such trappings, I think the measure of my skill should be enough, but this is a business of presentation, of charm and charisma, and Grande Malo has that in abundance, a beacon of geniality and this week it is my test my first foray into the world of the IWF and I know eyes will be watching, talks will be being had backstage, plots will be thickened."
He chuckles a bit and sighed
"It will not matter to me, I will be facing Malo to whom such plots also do not matter, this match, our match will be pure. Just two men seeking to prove who is better because that is he essence of competition, struggle and growth, so I feel I must begin and end with a warning Malo."
He nodded to himself thoughts brewing on a series of hidden thoughts an emotions looking into the camera with a hard gaze.
"I am not here to play games, I am here to work hard, I am her to show my worth, all I expect is the same in return, if I should get he fool instead of the talented man I know lies under the mask. Then what happens in that ring come Sacrifice will be entirely on you, with all the respect in the world I will not brook foolishness."
He leans onto his arms some more.
"I aim to win, I aim to show all those who watch my measure, you have skill but you burden is not that of talent, or skill
Your burden is that of persistence, drive you do enough for those to recognize you, enough to keep your name on people's lips but Malo you could do more if pushed but you refuse to be pushed or helped you prefer to languish as you are, El Grande Malo."
He chuckles.
"All that matters is you are the first of many tests, of the burden of competition and nothing is certain, Certainly not victory but I will do my best to obtain it, I will do my best to Put you down for the Three to make you tap, to give the IWF and the people who watch it a show they will not forget."
Another long careful sip of his water eyes tracing the room he's in , nodding some.
"Your burden Malo is to try and keep up with a man of singular vision, your burden is to match skill against skill, your burden is the hope of victory, and if all goes well, no matter what I give you the promise of respect, should you have earned it. But you haven;t earned it yet, just I have not earned yours it is forged like the steel in the forges of combat between the ropes we all call home, where the baying crowd cheers us on."
He slowly starts to rise hi large form taking up most of the shot in a forming silhouette.
"I Anticipate our meeting , I anticipate all the meetings in earnest Malo. Bring the fight and you will have my respect, bring anything else? Feel my fury."
The form chuckles before we slowly fade to black.
"Let us hope you do not collapse under this burden.."
________________________________________
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He paced behind the confines of the door in the motel speaking animatedly on the phone.
"I have made my mind up, I am doing this, No; I believe this is best.”
His mother had been nagging about going to America for 3 months before it had ever actually happened, worried about the corruption of her sons spirit by Western values, Masao had assured he there was no concern but the world was larger than Japan and he wished to see it, live it go places and do things .
He could not be static in Japan any longer, and so he had made the active choice to seek out other shore, America had come calling first, and now Now he was here his mothers worries grew louder, he would gets stabbed, killed persecuted by the Gaijin because of his skin, they were ignorant.
It was old news to him, he had grown tired of his home country’s xenophobia a long time ago, and hearing his mother echo those same empty epithets just angered him.
"Will you stop? If you do not respect their ways could you at least respect my choices?"
"I have made my mind up, I am doing this, No; I believe this is best.”
His mother had been nagging about going to America for 3 months before it had ever actually happened, worried about the corruption of her sons spirit by Western values, Masao had assured he there was no concern but the world was larger than Japan and he wished to see it, live it go places and do things .
He could not be static in Japan any longer, and so he had made the active choice to seek out other shore, America had come calling first, and now Now he was here his mothers worries grew louder, he would gets stabbed, killed persecuted by the Gaijin because of his skin, they were ignorant.
It was old news to him, he had grown tired of his home country’s xenophobia a long time ago, and hearing his mother echo those same empty epithets just angered him.
"Will you stop? If you do not respect their ways could you at least respect my choices?"
His mother once again started up and he hung up in frustration, stuffing the phone into his pocket to head outside and move foe the hotel bar, leaning on his fore arms as he ordered something...anything Booze wasn't really what he was after it was just to get away form the four walls of the apartment.
A new Burden, balancing the demands of not only his faith and culture but the needs of the western world as well , he'd breath and rubs just above an eye and mutter softly.
"Step by step."
"Step by step."
The Bartender looked up at him as Masao shook his head sipping on the soda water as he breathed and then looekd outside before making payment.
Life was burdens, but they were worthwhile ones usually, this newest one? Felt heavier than the others but he would stay the course.
His gut told him everything would be ok.
His gut told him everything would be ok.
Well howdy there pardner.