Free Pep Squad by Eileen O'Hely

assemble yourselves into four rows of six.’
    The cadets got into four rows with Jess, Emily, Matt and Ben in their usual spot at the back.
    â€˜On Mondays throughout this term,’ continued Master Qing, ‘I will teach you the martial art Aihi Choo. It is one of eight martial-art disciplines of which I am a Grand Master. Aihi Choo is primarily hand-to-hand combat. The movements are smaller, faster and more powerful than in similar disciplines, therefore more effective against an opponent.
    â€˜Before we begin, I have a very simple rule. Here at Theruse Abbey there are many strong personalities. Your course load is heavy. That can lead to some stress. Let me make it perfectly clear that the practice of Aihi Choo is only permitted inside this classroom, under my strict supervision. Is that understood?’
    All the cadets nodded.
    â€˜Very well,’ said Master Qing. ‘We will start with the warm-up.’
    He pressed his right fist against his open left palm and bowed deeply. The cadets bowed back. Then Master Qing launched into a series of movements, shouting each movement’s name as he did so, expecting the class to follow.
    By the end of the warm-up Jess’s already aching arms had gone completely numb. She was beginning to regret not finishing her breakfast.
    â€˜Gather round,’ said Master Qing softly when the warm-up was over. ‘Today we will practise felling an opponent.’
    He beckoned to Jess.
    â€˜Have you studied a martial art before, Ms Leclair?’ asked Master Qing.
    â€˜No,’ said Jess.
    â€˜Good. Sometimes it is harder to unlearn than to learn from scratch,’ said Master Qing. ‘Now, the secret to felling an opponent is to get in close and use their weight against them,’ he continued, moving quite close to Jess. ‘This can be difficult if your opponent is armed, particularly with a short, stabbing weapon. So the secret is to be swift.’
    Master Qing took another half step towards Jess and the next thing she knew he’d snaked a foot behind her leg and kicked her feet out from under her. Jess found herself flat on her back staring at the ceiling.
    â€˜Notice how I stepped swiftly behind her, without allowing her time to react?’ said Master Qing, helping Jess to her feet. Jess looked at the teacher warily. She had been expecting a little more warning and a lot less thump.
    â€˜Now, find a partner and practise. Remember, use your opponent’s weight against them.’
    Jess and Emily paired up. Ben turned to Matt, but he had joined a large group of boys clustering around the blonde-haired Russian girl, whose name was Svetlana.
    â€˜I get on my back for no man,’ said Svetlana, instead choosing to work with her roommate, Lauren.
    During the class Jess found it was a lot easier to fall over when Emily was on the attack than to hook her own leg in behind Emily’s knee and try to knock her over. In the course of their little duels, Emily only fell once, and Jess thought that had more to do with Emily sneezing than her own Aihi Choo skill.
    With ten minutes to go, Master Qing split the class in two and sent them to opposite sides of the gym.
    â€˜Line up along each wall,’ said Master Qing. ‘Now, the person at the head of each line, come into the centre, bow, then try to fell your opponent.’
    The first two sparrers were Svetlana and Matt.
    As Matt sauntered towards Svetlana he shook his head, saying, ‘I can’t fight a girl, sir.’
    Svetlana used his temporary distraction to step up to Matt’s side and he was soon flat on his back.
    â€˜That’s right,’ she said, smirking. ‘You can’t fight a girl.’ She turned to go.
    â€˜Stay there,’ said Master Qing. ‘This is a knockout competition. What is your name?’
    â€˜Svetlana Hanikova.’
    â€˜And your name?’ asked Master Qing, turning to Ben who was next in line.
    â€˜Ben Sykes,’ Ben