Self Defense Without Weapons‪.‬

Cam Gratz wheeled and pivoted, fighting for a grip, balance. Feigning trips and sweeps, he made several full turns around the mat before he sensed an opening. He stepped and swept his opponent across his posted foot, pulling on the heavy cotton jacket, gripping so tightly the thick cotton bit into his knuckles, tore calloused skin. The burn would come later, creep across his fingers like blue flames licking kindling. He stood for a fraction of an instant, poised on one foot, back straight, leaning slightly backwards while one arm pulled his opponent's shoulder to him, and his other arm simultaneously pushed his opponent's shoulder away, tipping him like a table top. His opponent, wiry, nimble, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu player, good with arm bars and fighting from the mat, but not as good on his feet, stepped and stumbled over Cam's extended foot. He caught his balance mid-step, adjusting his center of gravity in midair like a human gyroscope. Moving in a half-circle across the mat, Cam stepped deep, this time hooking with his leg, catching his opponent for a second before he slipped back and out, and then a fierce flurry ensued as the men tumbled to the mat, wrapped and rolled out of bounds with elbows and knees flying, the sound of their struggle echoing sharp and high in the rafters of the cold gymnasium. Cam glanced at the referee. No points scored. Next time, Cam thought. I'll get him with that sweep. He got lucky. I can beat this guy. I'll win this thing. He pulled his jacket down snug, retied his belt and walked back to the center of the mat. A tough draw for a first round match, but the tournament was small and they'd have to meet sooner or later. OK, Cam thought, so it's now. That's what he came for anyway. It was a tune-up tournament for the world championships in the middle of Pennsylvania coal country, not too far from the hundred acres of rolling hillside pastures and muddy ravines he'd grown up on. Who would have thought the Brazilian would have made the trip to nowheresville, but Sombo tournaments were scarce anywhere and the world championships were only four months away. They had the same idea and there they were.